Freestone · Slate · Castilla y León

Río Burbia

A Sil tributary draining the Ancares mountains north of Villafranca del Bierzo.

Species

A proper day on the water

Low and clear — careful approach country. Stay small, stay accurate.

75% confidence in this read
Water temperature for brown trout
Cool — slow
9°C est.ideal 10–16°C
0°14°28°
Why this score · for brown trout
  • Temperature8728% weight
  • Flow8022% weight
  • Clarity9518% weight
  • Feeding Time5013% weight
  • Pressure807% weight
  • Insect activity3712% weight
Conditions
Level
0.37 m
Water temp
9.3°C
Estimated
Clarity
Clear
Air temp
12°C
Wind
W 8 km/h
Light breeze
Pressure
1018 hPa
Rain · 48h
0.0 mm
No meaningful rain
Rain · ahead
0.0 mm
No meaningful rain · next 48h

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

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
Good — water clarity is working for you, but insect activity is the limiting factor today.
Through the year
0–3 scale · June highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
1
Large Dark OliveHatch
1
2
2
1
Blue Winged OliveHatch
1
2
2
2
2
1
Autumn OliveHatch
1
2
1
GrannomHatch
1
1

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

Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • Castilla y León licence required
  • Bierzo tramo system applies — check JCyL pesca visor before fishing.
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
About this water

A Sil tributary draining the Ancares mountains north of Villafranca del Bierzo. The Burbia is among the best wild brown trout rivers in El Bierzo — slate-and-quartzite geology, classic Atlantic freestone pool-riffle structure, and the kind of partial canopy that keeps water temperatures honest through summer. The upper reaches above Veguellina hold mountain-character trout in pocket water; the middle river around Villafranca offers technical dry-fly fishing over selective fish. Best fished from late April through July; the upper Ancares stretches hold up into August.

  • Slate
Seasons & zones
  • TroutLast Sunday of March → 31 July
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