El Burguillo is the oldest big reservoir in Spain — 1913, on the Alberche between the granite shoulders of Gredos — and it has had over a century to bed into the landscape. It built a reputation as a black-bass water, though that fishing has faded; what endures, and what brings the fly fisher down from Madrid, is the barbel. On a warm day they cruise the rocky margins and the shallow tails in good numbers, and there is a small but real fly-fishing scene built around catching them on a sighted nymph or beetle. Carp share the flats; boga and the odd Alberche trout drift through. The bass, pike and zander are all introduced and best treated as part of the scenery rather than the plan. A proper warm-water day out within reach of the capital.
Summer carp — prime fly-fishing conditions
Good wave on — drift country. Drift fishing weather — three flies on a long leader.
Carp are highly active in warm water, feeding confidently on the surface and in the shallows. This is the golden window for fly fishing — visible fish, aggressive feeding, surface takes. Dawn and dusk are magic.
73% confidence in this read
Live now
Conditions on the water
Trends shown where the gauge supports them
Wind
NW 16 km/h
Gentle breeze
Wave
20 cm ripple
Water temp
—
No reading
Air temp
19°C
Cloud
Clear
Pressure
1015 hPa
Rain · 24h
0.0 mm
No rain
Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.
How to fish · for carp
The brief
When · where · method · kit
How to fish it · for carp
When
Carp are highly active in warm water, feeding confidently on the surface and in the shallows. This is the golden window for fly fishing — visible fish, aggressive feeding, surface takes. Dawn and dusk are magic.
Where
Peak season for carp on the fly. Early mornings and evenings are best — carp cruise the margins, surface-feed, and tail in shallows. This is pure sight-fishing: walk, spot, stalk, cast. Keep low, tread softly, wear drab clothing. 5-6wt rod, 15ft fluorocarbon leader for sub-surface; floating line for surface. Have both a bread fly and a nymph rigged and ready.
Today's tactical plan
The plan
Plan A · Plan B · what to watch · bank or boat
The plan
Plan A
Peak season for carp on the fly. Early mornings and evenings are best — carp cruise the margins, surface-feed, and tail in shallows. This is pure sight-fishing: walk, spot, stalk, cast. Keep low, tread softly, wear drab clothing. 5-6wt rod, 15ft fluorocarbon leader for sub-surface; floating line for surface. Have both a bread fly and a nymph rigged and ready.
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
6 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.
- Reservoir near full — settled fish across plenty of holding water.
About this water · Lough note · 4 min read
Embalse de El Burguillo · profile
Who this water suits
Strengths · watch-outs · best for
About this water
Embalse de El Burguillo, on the water
Field guide · contributor-editedEmbalse de El Burguillo · about
What this water is
Background · character · contributors
About this water
El Burguillo is the oldest big reservoir in Spain — 1913, on the Alberche between the granite shoulders of Gredos — and it has had over a century to bed into the landscape. It built a reputation as a black-bass water, though that fishing has faded; what endures, and what brings the fly fisher down from Madrid, is the barbel. On a warm day they cruise the rocky margins and the shallow tails in good numbers, and there is a small but real fly-fishing scene built around catching them on a sighted nymph or beetle. Carp share the flats; boga and the odd Alberche trout drift through. The bass, pike and zander are all introduced and best treated as part of the scenery rather than the plan. A proper warm-water day out within reach of the capital.
- Reservoir
- Granite
Embalse de El Burguillo · directions
How to get to the water
Directions
Embalse de El Burguillo · permits
Good to know
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
- Castilla y León licence required (Confederación Hidrográfica del Tajo)
- Navigation by permit; check the current order for any float-tube/boat-fishing provisions, which have changed in recent seasons
- Black bass, pike and zander are introduced predators with their own handling rules.
Embalse de El Burguillo
Terrain map
El Burguillo is the oldest big reservoir in Spain — 1913, on the Alberche between the granite shoulders of Gredos — and it has had over a century to bed into the landscape.
Species
Summer carp — prime fly-fishing conditions
Good wave on — drift country. Drift fishing weather — three flies on a long leader.
Carp are highly active in warm water, feeding confidently on the surface and in the shallows. This is the golden window for fly fishing — visible fish, aggressive feeding, surface takes. Dawn and dusk are magic.
73% confidence in this read
Conditions
Wind
NW 16 km/h
Gentle breeze
Wave
20 cm ripple
Water temp
—
No reading
Air temp
19°C
Cloud
Clear
Pressure
1015 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 1 Jun
┄ 80% 10-yr norm
▬ Steady
90% full
High & steady
▲+11 ptsvs seasonal norm
▼-5 ptsvs last year
▼-2 ptsthis week
Reservoir near full — settled fish across plenty of holding water.
How to fish it · for carp
When
Carp are highly active in warm water, feeding confidently on the surface and in the shallows. This is the golden window for fly fishing — visible fish, aggressive feeding, surface takes. Dawn and dusk are magic.
Where
Peak season for carp on the fly. Early mornings and evenings are best — carp cruise the margins, surface-feed, and tail in shallows. This is pure sight-fishing: walk, spot, stalk, cast. Keep low, tread softly, wear drab clothing. 5-6wt rod, 15ft fluorocarbon leader for sub-surface; floating line for surface. Have both a bread fly and a nymph rigged and ready.
The plan
Plan A
Peak season for carp on the fly. Early mornings and evenings are best — carp cruise the margins, surface-feed, and tail in shallows. This is pure sight-fishing: walk, spot, stalk, cast. Keep low, tread softly, wear drab clothing. 5-6wt rod, 15ft fluorocarbon leader for sub-surface; floating line for surface. Have both a bread fly and a nymph rigged and ready.
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.
- 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 (Confederación Hidrográfica del Tajo)
- Navigation by permit; check the current order for any float-tube/boat-fishing provisions, which have changed in recent seasons
- Black bass, pike and zander are introduced predators with their own handling rules.
Directions
About this water
El Burguillo is the oldest big reservoir in Spain — 1913, on the Alberche between the granite shoulders of Gredos — and it has had over a century to bed into the landscape. It built a reputation as a black-bass water, though that fishing has faded; what endures, and what brings the fly fisher down from Madrid, is the barbel. On a warm day they cruise the rocky margins and the shallow tails in good numbers, and there is a small but real fly-fishing scene built around catching them on a sighted nymph or beetle. Carp share the flats; boga and the odd Alberche trout drift through. The bass, pike and zander are all introduced and best treated as part of the scenery rather than the plan. A proper warm-water day out within reach of the capital.
- Reservoir
- Granite
About this water · Lough note · 4 min read
El Burguillo is the oldest big reservoir in Spain — 1913, on the Alberche between the granite shoulders of Gredos — and it has had over a century to bed into the landscape. It built a reputation as a black-bass water, though that fishing has faded; what endures, and what brings the fly fisher down from Madrid, is the barbel. On a warm day they cruise the rocky margins and the shallow tails in good numbers, and there is a small but real fly-fishing scene built around catching them on a sighted nymph or beetle. Carp share the flats; boga and the odd Alberche trout drift through. The bass, pike and zander are all introduced and best treated as part of the scenery rather than the plan. A proper warm-water day out within reach of the capital.
Other water nearby · 5