Stillwater · Granite · Castilla y León / Salamanca–Zamora, ES

Embalse de Almendra

Embalse de Almendra — Embalse de Almendra - reservoir with the highest dam in Spain

The largest reservoir in Castilla y León — a vast, deep impoundment on the lower Tormes just before the river plunges into the Arribes canyon, feeding the Villarino hydroelectric station.

Good · Pike
Large pike streamer / baitfish (2/0–4) · 8–10
Goodlive now
Autumn pike — big fish, big flies
Glassy and bright — hard work without a breeze. Take your time — read the water before you cast.
71% confidence

Seasonally this is the right time to be here, but today's conditions are not doing Embalse de Almendra many favours. It can still fish, but temper expectations.

What moved it
  • WindNE 32 km/hFresh breeze · Gusts to 55 km/h
Today's fly
LP
Large pike streamer / baitfish (2/0–4)8–10
Strip it for fish chasing fry or in coloured water.
Conditions on the water
Estimate
Wind
Fresh breeze · Gusts to 55 km/h
NE 32 km/h
N
NE
from the north-east
Wave60 cm wave
Water temp8.0°C
Air temp9°C
CloudBroken
Pressure1020 hPa
Rain · recent0.0 mm

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

Head to
Wind driftNE wind
South-western end

A northeasterly has held for 12 hours, running warmer than the water (13°C air against 8°C water). Expect fish at the south-western 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.

Reservoir levelas of 12 Oct
┄ 55% 10-yr norm
▼ Dropping
54% full
About normal
▼-2 ptsvs seasonal norm
▼-18 ptsvs last year
▼-2 ptsthis week
How to fish it · for Pike
When
Pike are feeding aggressively as water cools, building reserves for winter. Weed is dying back, concentrating both pike and prey fish into predictable holding areas.
Where
Autumn/winter pike on the fly — big fish season. Pike are putting on condition and take large flies confidently. Fish dropping weed edges, deep channels, and structure. Start with a sinking line and move to faster-sinking as the water cools. Biggest pike of the year come in this window.
The plan
Plan A

Autumn/winter pike on the fly — big fish season. Pike are putting on condition and take large flies confidently. Fish dropping weed edges, deep channels, and structure. Start with a sinking line and move to faster-sinking as the water cools. Biggest pike of the year come in this window.

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

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Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey(1)

Hatch predictions

Top prey shown — see all 3 as a supporter.

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Through the year
0–3 scale · October 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
Daphnia SwarmHatch
2
3
3
3
2
Lake OliveHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
2
Silverhorns & LonghornsHatch
1
2
2
2
1

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

Ranked for today
Pike fly box
LP
Large pike streamer / baitfish (2/0–4)Top
8–10 · Streamer
Strip it for fish chasing fry or in coloured water.
CW
Clouser / weighted minnow (2–6)
8–10 · Streamer
Strip it for fish chasing fry or in coloured water.
OB
Olive/brown woolly bugger (8–10)
8–10 · Streamer
Strip it for fish chasing fry or in coloured water.
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • Castilla y León licence required; reservoir sits under the Confederación Hidrográfica del Duero
  • Barbel, boga and cacho are protected during spawning — check current dates
  • Zander is a non-native predator with specific handling/retention rules in the Duero basin; confirm before fishing.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Condition match
63%
Cloud70%
Wind30%
Temp100%

A reasonable day here, though wind isn't quite in the sweet spot.

Other water nearby · 2
Embalse de Aldeadávila
41 km
Barbel · Carp · Pike
Embalse de Saucelle
50 km
Barbel · Carp · Pike
Gallery · 2
  1. Embalse de Almendra — Embalse de Almendra - reservoir with the highest dam in Spain
    Embalse de Almendra - reservoir with the highest dam in Spain
  2. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
About this water

The largest reservoir in Castilla y León — a vast, deep impoundment on the lower Tormes just before the river plunges into the Arribes canyon, feeding the Villarino hydroelectric station. This is big, serious water: hundreds of feet deep against the dam, with long flooded arms reaching back up the Tormes valley. It is best known as zander (lucioperca) country, with pike holding over the drop-offs and barbel and carp working the shallower upper arms and inflows. The scale rewards a boat and a plan rather than blind bank fishing. Heavy summer drawdown for power generation exposes wide margins and concentrates fish toward the deeper basin and the dam end.

  • Reservoir
  • Granite
Why this score
  • Wind conditions (windy) are not ideal for this water.
  • Temperature (cool) is in the sweet spot for autumn fishing.
Related guides
Big Stillwater Playbookreservoir tacticsReservoir Entomologymatching the hatchThermal Layers & Troutreading depth and temperature
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