Alsa is a small reservoir — a couple of square kilometres at most — tucked into the Saja country of southern Cantabria and fed, slightly confusingly, by the river Torina. Small does not mean modest. It has a quiet reputation for growing trout to a size the feeder streams never could, fish that have found a larder and made the most of it. It holds salmon and barbel as well, a reminder that the Cantabrian rivers run down to the sea not far away. You fish it from the bank, reading the drop-offs and the inflow where the cold water comes in, and you fish it patiently. It is not famous, which is rather the point — the sort of overlooked water where a good fish is a genuine surprise rather than an expectation.
A patient day, if you fancy it
Glassy and bright — hard work without a breeze. A flat lough is a quiet lough — wait for the breeze.
42% confidence — limited data
Live now
Conditions on the water
Trends shown where the gauge supports them
Wind
SE 3 km/h
Calm
Wave
Flat calm
Water temp
—
No reading
Air temp
13°C
Cloud
Overcast
Pressure
1016 hPa
Rain · 24h
0.0 mm
No rain
Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.
How to fish · for brown trout
The brief
When · where · method · kit
How to fish it · for brown trout
When
Spring through summer; the bigger fish often come early and late in the day.
Where
With limited drift, anchor or fish static from sheltered positions. Work a bushy searching pattern on the bob and drop a contrasting nymph on the point. In the calm, a single dry fly or a slowly-fished nymph tends to out-fish an active retrieve.
Today's tactical plan
The plan
Plan A · Plan B · what to watch · bank or boat
The plan
Plan A
With limited drift, anchor or fish static from sheltered positions. Work a bushy searching pattern on the bob and drop a contrasting nymph on the point. In the calm, a single dry fly or a slowly-fished nymph tends to out-fish an active retrieve.
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.
Bank
Flat calm suits bank fishing near features — points, weed beds, and inflows where fish patrol.
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
Daddy Long LegsHatch
2
3
2
Murrough (Great Red Sedge)Hatch
1
2
1
Lake OliveHatch
1
2
2
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
6 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 overcast skies and calm wind.
- Reservoir at or above capacity, likely spilling — fish congregated at the outflow.
About this water · Lough note · 4 min read
Embalse de Alsa · profile
Who this water suits
Strengths · watch-outs · best for
About this water
Embalse de Alsa, on the water
Field guide · contributor-editedEmbalse de Alsa · about
What this water is
Background · character · contributors
About this water
Alsa is a small reservoir — a couple of square kilometres at most — tucked into the Saja country of southern Cantabria and fed, slightly confusingly, by the river Torina. Small does not mean modest. It has a quiet reputation for growing trout to a size the feeder streams never could, fish that have found a larder and made the most of it. It holds salmon and barbel as well, a reminder that the Cantabrian rivers run down to the sea not far away. You fish it from the bank, reading the drop-offs and the inflow where the cold water comes in, and you fish it patiently. It is not famous, which is rather the point — the sort of overlooked water where a good fish is a genuine surprise rather than an expectation.
- Reservoir
- Mixed
Embalse de Alsa · directions
How to get to the water
Directions
Embalse de Alsa · permits
Good to know
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
- Cantabria licence required; check the annual normativa for size limits, quotas and any seasonal closures on this reservoir
- Atlantic salmon and barbel are also present — salmon are protected and seasonal.
Embalse de Alsa
Terrain map
Alsa is a small reservoir — a couple of square kilometres at most — tucked into the Saja country of southern Cantabria and fed, slightly confusingly, by the river Torina.
Species
A patient day, if you fancy it
Glassy and bright — hard work without a breeze. A flat lough is a quiet lough — wait for the breeze.
42% confidence — limited data
Conditions
Wind
SE 3 km/h
Calm
Wave
Flat calm
Water temp
—
No reading
Air temp
13°C
Cloud
Overcast
Pressure
1016 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
┄ 98% 10-yr norm
▬ Steady
100% full
Full — likely spilling
▲+2 ptsvs seasonal norm
▬0 ptsvs last year
▬0 ptsthis week
Reservoir at or above capacity, likely spilling — fish congregated at the outflow.
How to fish it · for brown trout
When
Spring through summer; the bigger fish often come early and late in the day.
Where
With limited drift, anchor or fish static from sheltered positions. Work a bushy searching pattern on the bob and drop a contrasting nymph on the point. In the calm, a single dry fly or a slowly-fished nymph tends to out-fish an active retrieve.
The plan
Plan A
With limited drift, anchor or fish static from sheltered positions. Work a bushy searching pattern on the bob and drop a contrasting nymph on the point. In the calm, a single dry fly or a slowly-fished nymph tends to out-fish an active retrieve.
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.
Bank
Flat calm suits bank fishing near features — points, weed beds, and inflows where fish patrol.
Why this score
- summer conditions with overcast skies and calm wind.
- Reservoir at or above capacity, likely spilling — fish congregated at the outflow.
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
Daddy Long LegsHatch
2
3
2
Murrough (Great Red Sedge)Hatch
1
2
1
Lake OliveHatch
1
2
2
2
2
2
1
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
- Cantabria licence required; check the annual normativa for size limits, quotas and any seasonal closures on this reservoir
- Atlantic salmon and barbel are also present — salmon are protected and seasonal.
Directions
About this water
Alsa is a small reservoir — a couple of square kilometres at most — tucked into the Saja country of southern Cantabria and fed, slightly confusingly, by the river Torina. Small does not mean modest. It has a quiet reputation for growing trout to a size the feeder streams never could, fish that have found a larder and made the most of it. It holds salmon and barbel as well, a reminder that the Cantabrian rivers run down to the sea not far away. You fish it from the bank, reading the drop-offs and the inflow where the cold water comes in, and you fish it patiently. It is not famous, which is rather the point — the sort of overlooked water where a good fish is a genuine surprise rather than an expectation.
- Reservoir
- Mixed
About this water · Lough note · 4 min read
Alsa is a small reservoir — a couple of square kilometres at most — tucked into the Saja country of southern Cantabria and fed, slightly confusingly, by the river Torina. Small does not mean modest. It has a quiet reputation for growing trout to a size the feeder streams never could, fish that have found a larder and made the most of it. It holds salmon and barbel as well, a reminder that the Cantabrian rivers run down to the sea not far away. You fish it from the bank, reading the drop-offs and the inflow where the cold water comes in, and you fish it patiently. It is not famous, which is rather the point — the sort of overlooked water where a good fish is a genuine surprise rather than an expectation.
Fishing better nearby · 5