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.
Summer pike — dawn and dusk topwater
Good wave on — drift country. Drift fishing weather — three flies on a long leader.
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.
67% confidence in this read
Live now
Conditions on the water
Trends shown where the gauge supports them
Wind
W 17 km/h
Gentle breeze
Wave
20 cm ripple
Water temp
—
No reading
Air temp
15°C
Cloud
Clear
Pressure
1017 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
- summer conditions with clear skies and breezy wind.
- Reservoir near full — settled fish across plenty of holding water.
About this water · Lough note · 4 min read
Embalse de Almendra · profile
Who this water suits
Strengths · watch-outs · best for
About this water
Embalse de Almendra, on the water
Field guide · contributor-editedEmbalse de Almendra · about
What this water is
Background · character · contributors
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
Embalse de Almendra · directions
How to get to the water
Directions
Embalse de Almendra · permits
Good to know
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.
Embalse de Almendra
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.
Species
Summer pike — dawn and dusk topwater
Good wave on — drift country. Drift fishing weather — three flies on a long leader.
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.
67% confidence in this read
Conditions
Wind
W 17 km/h
Gentle breeze
Wave
20 cm ripple
Water temp
—
No reading
Air temp
15°C
Cloud
Clear
Pressure
1017 hPa
Rain · 24h
0.0 mm
No rain
Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.
Condition match
65%
Cloud70%
Wind65%
Temp60%
A reasonable day here, though temperature isn't quite in the sweet spot.
Reservoir levelas of 1 Jun
┄ 69% 10-yr norm
▬ Steady
91% full
High & steady
▲+22 ptsvs seasonal norm
▼-5 ptsvs last year
▼0 ptsthis week
Reservoir near full — settled fish across plenty of holding water.
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
- summer conditions with clear skies and breezy wind.
- Reservoir near full — settled fish across plenty of holding water.
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.
- 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.
Directions
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
About this water · Lough note · 4 min read
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.
Other water nearby · 2