Stillwater · Limestone · Cantabria (south), ES

Ebro headwaters / Embalse del Ebro

Broad view of the Embalse del Ebro reservoir under an overcast sky, open water to distant hills.

A different, quieter Cantabrian trout option.

Fair · Trout
Klinkhammer · 14-18
Fairlive now
Reasonable autumn fishing likely at Ebro headwaters / Embalse del Ebro
Useful ripple, fishable wave. Worth a session if the wind holds.
56% confidence

This is peak season for Ebro headwaters / Embalse del Ebro, though today's conditions aren't quite ideal. Worth fishing — the timing is right even if the weather isn't perfect.

What moved it
  • WindS 25 km/hModerate breeze
Today's fly
Klinkhammer
Klinkhammer14-18
High-confidence seasonal pick
Conditions on the water
Estimate
Wind
Moderate breeze
S 25 km/h
N
S
from the south
Wave40 cm chop
Water temp11.6°C
Air temp13°C
CloudBroken
Pressure1015 hPa
Rain · recent0.0 mm

No gauge on this water — readings are regional estimates from weather, not a live gauge.

Head to
Wind driftS wind
Northern end

A southerly has held for 7 hours, running warmer than the water (15°C air against 12°C water). Expect fish at the northern end — the bank it is blowing into — where the drift piles food, colour and warmth together. This reads the upper water, though — a bottom bait at range feels it far less than a floater or a fish in the margins. Treat it as a tiebreaker between good swims rather than an override — features and angling pressure usually count for more.

How to fish it · for Trout
When
April–July in line with the open period, with different tactics for margins, inflows, and headwater sections
Where
Start with Klinkhammer (14-18) on a As per local method. If that does not produce, switch depth or speed before changing the pattern entirely.
The plan
Plan A

Start with Klinkhammer (14-18) on a As per local method. If that does not produce, switch depth or speed before changing the pattern entirely.

Plan B

A fry-imitating pattern stripped through the margins can save a blank in autumn.

Watch for

Keep an eye on changing conditions — wind shifts and cloud breaks can trigger short feeding spells.

Bank, sheltered shores

In wind, bank fish the lee shore — boats can anchor in productive areas if conditions allow.

Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface

Hatch predictions

Top nymph shown — see all 2 guilds as a supporter.

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Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey(1)

Hatch predictions

Top prey shown — see all 5 as a supporter.

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Through the year
0–3 scale · September highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
1
Daddy Long LegsHatch
2
3
2
Black MidgeHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Claret DunHatch
1
2
1
Silverhorns & LonghornsHatch
1
2
2
2
1

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

Ranked for today
Trout fly box
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • Cantabrian fishing licence required
  • Reservoir-specific exceptions, fishing days, and bag limits make this a different legal setting from the Atlantic rivers.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Condition match
72%
Cloud100%
Wind30%
Temp100%

A good match for Ebro headwaters / Embalse del Ebro — most conditions are close to what it fishes best in.

Other water nearby · 5
Besaya
24 km
0
Brown trout
Río Híjar
12 km
Brown trout
Embalse de Alsa
15 km
Brown trout
Río Camesa
29 km
Brown trout
Upper Río Pisuerga
30 km
Brown trout
Gallery · 6
  1. Broad view of the Embalse del Ebro reservoir under an overcast sky, open water to distant hills.
    Embalse del Ebro
  2. The Ebro river merging into the reservoir in the Orzales area, green hillsides reflected in calm water.
    Embalse del Ebro at Orzales
  3. Wide panoramic view of the Embalse del Ebro from Retortillo, the full expanse of open water and moorland.
    Embalse del Ebro from Retortillo
  4. Aerial photograph of the Embalse del Ebro straddling the Cantabria–Burgos border.
    Embalse del Ebro from the air
  5. The Ebro reservoir seen from the sandy beach at Arija, with calm water and green slopes beyond.
    Ebro Reservoir from Arija beach
  6. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
About this water

A different, quieter Cantabrian trout option. The Ebro headwaters and Embalse del Ebro in southern Cantabria offer open water in contrast to the steep coastal basins. Official rules show trout fishing here runs with its own exceptions — fishing every day in the open period and specific bag limits in the reservoir context. Less iconic than the Atlantic rivers but useful and real for a different kind of Cantabrian fly fishing. More open landscape, reservoir margins, and headwater streams.

  • Reservoir
  • Limestone
Water quality (WFD)
  • Ecology: Good
  • Chemical: Unknown

WFD classification · ES091MSPF467

Why this score
  • Wind conditions (windy) are not ideal for this water.
  • Cloud cover (cloud) suits the fishery well.
  • Temperature (cool) is in the sweet spot for autumn fishing.
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
Seasons & zones
  • Trout 1 April → 31 July
Related guides
Scotland Playbookloch & river fishingThermal Layers & Troutreading depth and temperaturePyrenees PlaybookSpanish rivers
Booking & contacts