Madrid's largest reservoir, on the lower Lozoya system 70–90 minutes north-east of the city. Big, scenic, serious water that is not easy to read — bank access varies by water level and the steep walled arms mean covering water is a real exercise. Holds black bass, pike, carp, and barbel. For the fly angler this is an exploratory day, not a beginner trout substitute: lower catch certainty but genuine potential for the angler willing to walk and search.
Summer pike — dawn and dusk topwater
Good wave on — drift country. A useful wave. Work the productive shore.
Pike are ambush-feeding from weed cover. Fry and small perch concentrate in the warm shallows, drawing pike in during low-light periods. Mid-day pike retreat to deeper weed channels.
50% confidence in this read
Live now
Conditions on the water
Trends shown where the gauge supports them
Wind
NE 16 km/h
Gentle breeze
Wave
20 cm ripple
Water temp
—
No reading
Air temp
19°C
Cloud
Clear
Pressure
1020 hPa
Rain · 24h
0.0 mm
No rain
Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.
How to fish · for pike
The brief
When · where · method · kit
How to fish it · for pike
When
Pike are ambush-feeding from weed cover. Fry and small perch concentrate in the warm shallows, drawing pike in during low-light periods. Mid-day pike retreat to deeper weed channels.
Where
Summer pike on the fly. Fish early (first light) and late (last hour) when pike push shallow to feed. Topwater is king — poppers and gurglers over weed beds. Mid-day fish hold deep in weed channels. Take a break during the heat of the day. Use a 9-10wt rod with a stiff butt for turning big fish away from weed.
Today's tactical plan
The plan
Plan A · Plan B · what to watch · bank or boat
The plan
Plan A
Summer pike on the fly. Fish early (first light) and late (last hour) when pike push shallow to feed. Topwater is king — poppers and gurglers over weed beds. Mid-day fish hold deep in weed channels. Take a break during the heat of the day. Use a 9-10wt rod with a stiff butt for turning big fish away from weed.
Plan B
If the main plan is not working, switch to a smaller, more imitative pattern fished slower and deeper. A change of drift angle can also make a difference.
Watch for
Evening tends to be the best period in summer — stay late if you can for a sedge or spinner fall.
Boat — drift
A gentle ripple is ideal for drifting — broadside drift covering the wind lanes should be productive.
Hatches & runs
What's on, when
Twelve months at a glance
Through the year
0–3 scale · June highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Black MidgeHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Reservoir BuzzerHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
2
Gray DrakeHatch
2
2
Silverhorns & LonghornsHatch
1
2
2
2
1
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
Today's fly · curated pack
Top pattern + the box
5 patterns from this venue's curated pack
Evidence
Why today scores what it does
The factors driving today's verdict
Why this score
- Temperature (moderate) is in the sweet spot for summer fishing.
About this water · Lough note · 4 min read
Embalse de El Atazar · profile
Who this water suits
Strengths · watch-outs · best for
About this water
Embalse de El Atazar, on the water
Field guide · contributor-editedEmbalse de El Atazar · about
What this water is
Background · character · contributors
About this water
Madrid's largest reservoir, on the lower Lozoya system 70–90 minutes north-east of the city. Big, scenic, serious water that is not easy to read — bank access varies by water level and the steep walled arms mean covering water is a real exercise. Holds black bass, pike, carp, and barbel. For the fly angler this is an exploratory day, not a beginner trout substitute: lower catch certainty but genuine potential for the angler willing to walk and search.
- Reservoir
- Granite
Embalse de El Atazar · directions
How to get to the water
Directions
Embalse de El Atazar · permits
Good to know
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
- Comunidad de Madrid licence required
- Check the current accessible shoreline — water-level changes can isolate bank access points and reveal or submerge bays
- No fishing in the buffer zones around the dam infrastructure.
Embalse de El Atazar · learn
Related guides
Learn-zone playbooks for this water
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Embalse de El Atazar
Terrain map
Madrid's largest reservoir, on the lower Lozoya system 70–90 minutes north-east of the city.
Species
Summer pike — dawn and dusk topwater
Good wave on — drift country. A useful wave. Work the productive shore.
Pike are ambush-feeding from weed cover. Fry and small perch concentrate in the warm shallows, drawing pike in during low-light periods. Mid-day pike retreat to deeper weed channels.
50% confidence in this read
Conditions
Wind
NE 16 km/h
Gentle breeze
Wave
20 cm ripple
Water temp
—
No reading
Air temp
19°C
Cloud
Clear
Pressure
1020 hPa
Rain · 24h
0.0 mm
No rain
Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.
Condition match
77%
Cloud70%
Wind65%
Temp100%
A good match for this venue — most conditions are close to what it fishes best in.
Reservoir levelas of 8 Jun
┄ 85% 10-yr norm
▬ Steady
86% full
About normal
▲+1 ptsvs seasonal norm
▼-11 ptsvs last year
▼-1 ptsthis week
How to fish it · for pike
When
Pike are ambush-feeding from weed cover. Fry and small perch concentrate in the warm shallows, drawing pike in during low-light periods. Mid-day pike retreat to deeper weed channels.
Where
Summer pike on the fly. Fish early (first light) and late (last hour) when pike push shallow to feed. Topwater is king — poppers and gurglers over weed beds. Mid-day fish hold deep in weed channels. Take a break during the heat of the day. Use a 9-10wt rod with a stiff butt for turning big fish away from weed.
The plan
Plan A
Summer pike on the fly. Fish early (first light) and late (last hour) when pike push shallow to feed. Topwater is king — poppers and gurglers over weed beds. Mid-day fish hold deep in weed channels. Take a break during the heat of the day. Use a 9-10wt rod with a stiff butt for turning big fish away from weed.
Plan B
If the main plan is not working, switch to a smaller, more imitative pattern fished slower and deeper. A change of drift angle can also make a difference.
Watch for
Evening tends to be the best period in summer — stay late if you can for a sedge or spinner fall.
Boat — drift
A gentle ripple is ideal for drifting — broadside drift covering the wind lanes should be productive.
Why this score
- Temperature (moderate) is in the sweet spot for summer fishing.
Through the year
0–3 scale · June highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Black MidgeHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Reservoir BuzzerHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
2
Gray DrakeHatch
2
2
Silverhorns & LonghornsHatch
1
2
2
2
1
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
- Comunidad de Madrid licence required
- Check the current accessible shoreline — water-level changes can isolate bank access points and reveal or submerge bays
- No fishing in the buffer zones around the dam infrastructure.
Directions
About this water
Madrid's largest reservoir, on the lower Lozoya system 70–90 minutes north-east of the city. Big, scenic, serious water that is not easy to read — bank access varies by water level and the steep walled arms mean covering water is a real exercise. Holds black bass, pike, carp, and barbel. For the fly angler this is an exploratory day, not a beginner trout substitute: lower catch certainty but genuine potential for the angler willing to walk and search.
- Reservoir
- Granite
About this water · Lough note · 4 min read
Madrid's largest reservoir, on the lower Lozoya system 70–90 minutes north-east of the city. Big, scenic, serious water that is not easy to read — bank access varies by water level and the steep walled arms mean covering water is a real exercise. Holds black bass, pike, carp, and barbel. For the fly angler this is an exploratory day, not a beginner trout substitute: lower catch certainty but genuine potential for the angler willing to walk and search.
Other water nearby · 5
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