Spate · Slate · Asturias, Spain

Río Navelgas

Río Navelgas terrain map
Terrain map

The Navelgas is an upland slate-moorland stream — intimate fishing in vast, open landscape.

Marginal · Brown Trout
Ignita CDC · 16-20
Marginallive now
Slow going — pick your moments
River temperature is the limiting factor today, not the flow. Fish dawn or dusk if you go at all, and handle everything with extra care.
80% confidence
What moved it
  • Level1.37 mDropping after lift
  • Water temp18.2°C
  • ClarityClearingClearing
Today’s fly
IC
Ignita CDC16-20
Upstream dry, on top
Conditions on the water
Live gauge
Level
Steady
1.37 m
Dropping after lift
Water temp18.2°C
ClarityClearing
Weather18°C
WindNE 4 km/h
Pressure1019 hPa
Rain · recent0.0 mm
Rain · ahead21.3 mm

Live readings — water temperature is an estimate where the gauge does not record it.

Water temperature for brown trout
Warm — slow
18°C est.ideal 10–16°C
0°14°28°
How to fish it · for brown trout
When
Nymphing can work through most of the day.
Where
Cover mixed depths.
Method
Start with tight-line nymphs and adjust if fish rise or drift higher.
Kit
9 ft #4 rod, floating line, 12 ft tapered leader to 4–5 lb fluoro tippet.
Why this works
⚠️ Water at 18.2°C — above the brown trout caution line (18°C). Fish dawn or dusk only. Land it fast, wet hands, no air shots. Otherwise poor — river flow is in the right range.
Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface

Hatch predictions

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Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey

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Evidence
Records-basedModerate confidence

Based on species-occurrence records, not local invertebrate surveys.

Through the year
0–3 scale · July highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
March BrownHatch
2
3
2
GrannomHatch
2
2
Large StoneflyHatch
2
3
2
Yellow SallyHatch
2
3
2

Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.

Ranked for today
Brown Trout fly box
Beats · 1
Navelgas · 2.0 kmC&R trout
C&R trout stretch — Puente de La Carrizal to 50 m aguas arriba del banzao del caserío de Vichavera.
Beat detail
Daily permit required, all fish returned
Upstream: Puente de La Carrizal
Downstream: 50 m aguas arriba del banzao del caserío de Vichavera
Navelgas beat map
Permits & access
Free state water
State rod licence required for trout / salmon as applicable.
  • Asturian fishing licence required
  • In 2026 many trout waters run to 15 August, but salmon zones, mountain zones, tramos sin muerte, and border stretches can differ
  • Check local coto and tramo rules before fishing.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Cooler water nearby · 1
Water here around 18°C — probably warm enough to stress brown trout. These are likely cooler.
Río Esva (Canero system)
13 km
~17°C
Brown trout · Sea trout · Salmon
About this water

The Navelgas is an upland slate-moorland stream — intimate fishing in vast, open landscape. Dark pools and clear runs hold wild browns (12–22 cm) eager for careful presentation. The 3-hour spate response ensures quick fishing windows. Mayfly and sedge hatches productive; terrestrials work in summer. Minimal development, genuine solitude, and straightforward access. A river where slowness and observation reward patience.

Under the surface

The Navelgas is a smaller tributary arriving into the Narcea system from the north. The upper reaches are step-pool slate country, steep and responsive. The descent is rapid and the water amber-toned throughout its course. The Navelgas maintains its spate character — quick response, slate signature, responsive to Cantabrian rainfall — throughout its reach. The available pools are secondary to the river's responsive descent character. The wading demands respect throughout.

Wading: Wet slate slabs with algal film

  • Slate
  • Confined
  • Step pool
  • Cascade
Water quality (WFD)
  • Ecology: Good
  • Chemical: Unknown

WFD classification · ES018MSPFES197MAR001750

The full read · show the working · for brown trout · confidence 80%
How the 39 is built — score × weight = contribution
Temperature53 × 28%14.8
Flow80 × 22%17.6
Clarity75 × 18%13.5
Feeding Time40 × 13%5.2
Pressure80 × 7%5.6
Insect activity21 × 12%2.5
Conditions total= 59
Can you trust it?
Water temperatureair-to-water estimateestimated
Level / flowon-river gaugeobserved
Prey activitymodelled from regional profilemodelled
What would change the calculation
Cooler water — back toward the 10–16 °C ideal band — would lift the score and ease welfare.
The dawn and dusk windows score higher than the midday lull.
Related guides
Pyrenees PlaybookSpanish riversEuro Nymphingsubsurface methods
Booking & contacts