High-mountain no-kill lake near Gavarnie-Gèdre. Fly-only, barbless, catch-and-release required. Wild trout in pristine alpine conditions. Hike-in access into spectacular Pyrenean terrain. Low pressure and wild fish. Short season driven by snowmelt. Permits required — this is destination water.
Rules at a glance
- Public aappma day ticket
Good drifting conditions on Lac des Especières
Good wave on — drift country. A useful wave. Work the productive shore.
No strong hatch signals at the moment — general searching tactics should work best. The ripple is helpful — fish should move onto the feed and a slow-drifted team or single wet will cover water well.
51% confidence in this read
This venue is often best in spring through autumn.
Live now
Conditions on the water
Trends shown where the gauge supports them
Wind
N 9 km/h
Light breeze
Wave
Ripple
Water temp
—
No reading
Air temp
-4°C
Cloud
Overcast
Pressure
—
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
May–September
Where
Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work a bushy searching pattern on the bob and drop a contrasting nymph on the point.
Method
Method not yet authored.
Kit
Kit not yet authored.
Today's tactical plan
The plan
Plan A · Plan B · what to watch · bank or boat
The plan
Plan A
Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work a bushy searching pattern on the bob and drop a contrasting nymph on the point.
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
Keep an eye on changing conditions — wind shifts and cloud breaks can trigger short feeding spells.
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 · May highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
1
Large Dark OliveHatch
1
2
2
1
March BrownHatch
1
2
1
Iron BlueHatch
1
2
2
1
Blue Winged OliveHatch
1
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
5 patterns from this venue's curated pack
Evidence
Why today scores what it does
The factors driving today's verdict
Why this score
- Wind conditions (ripple) closely match what this water fishes best in.
Detail · next 12h
Precipitation
The reading most likely to move tomorrow's verdict
About this water · Lough note · 4 min read
Lac des Especières · profile
Who this water suits
Strengths · watch-outs · best for
About this water
Lac des Especières, on the water
Field guide · contributor-editedLac des Especières · about
What this water is
Background · character · contributors
About this water
High-mountain no-kill lake near Gavarnie-Gèdre. Fly-only, barbless, catch-and-release required. Wild trout in pristine alpine conditions. Hike-in access into spectacular Pyrenean terrain. Low pressure and wild fish. Short season driven by snowmelt. Permits required — this is destination water.
- Lake
- Limestone
Lac des Especières · directions
How to get to the water
Directions
Lac des Especières · zones
Where the rules change
Seasons · zones · per-species rules
Seasons & zones
- Trout2nd Saturday of March → 3rd Sunday of September
Lac des Especières · permits
Licences, sorteo, the rules
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
- AAPPMA permits.
Lac des Especières
Google Places
High-mountain no-kill lake near Gavarnie-Gèdre.
Species
Good drifting conditions on Lac des Especières
Good wave on — drift country. A useful wave. Work the productive shore.
No strong hatch signals at the moment — general searching tactics should work best. The ripple is helpful — fish should move onto the feed and a slow-drifted team or single wet will cover water well.
51% confidence in this read
This venue is often best in spring through autumn.
Conditions
Wind
N 9 km/h
Light breeze
Wave
Ripple
Water temp
—
No reading
Air temp
-4°C
Cloud
Overcast
Pressure
—
Rain · 24h
0.0 mm
No rain
Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.
Condition match
73%
Cloud50%
Wind100%
Temp60%
A good match for this venue — most conditions are close to what it fishes best in.
How to fish it · for brown trout
When
May–September
Where
Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work a bushy searching pattern on the bob and drop a contrasting nymph on the point.
Method
Method not yet authored.
Kit
Kit not yet authored.
The plan
Plan A
Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work a bushy searching pattern on the bob and drop a contrasting nymph on the point.
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
Keep an eye on changing conditions — wind shifts and cloud breaks can trigger short feeding spells.
Boat — drift
A gentle ripple is ideal for drifting — broadside drift covering the wind lanes should be productive.
Why this score
- Wind conditions (ripple) closely match what this water fishes best in.
Through the year
0–3 scale · May highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
1
Large Dark OliveHatch
1
2
2
1
March BrownHatch
1
2
1
Iron BlueHatch
1
2
2
1
Blue Winged OliveHatch
1
2
2
2
2
1
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
Gallery · 1
Terrain map
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
- AAPPMA permits.
Directions
About this water
High-mountain no-kill lake near Gavarnie-Gèdre. Fly-only, barbless, catch-and-release required. Wild trout in pristine alpine conditions. Hike-in access into spectacular Pyrenean terrain. Low pressure and wild fish. Short season driven by snowmelt. Permits required — this is destination water.
- Lake
- Limestone
Seasons & zones
- Trout2nd Saturday of March → 3rd Sunday of September
About this water · Lough note · 4 min read
High-mountain no-kill lake near Gavarnie-Gèdre. Fly-only, barbless, catch-and-release required. Wild trout in pristine alpine conditions. Hike-in access into spectacular Pyrenean terrain. Low pressure and wild fish. Short season driven by snowmelt. Permits required — this is destination water.
Other water nearby · 5
Booking & contacts