Spate · Mixed · Cantabria, ES

Pas

Pas — Abra del Pas

Central Cantabria's Pas is a fascinating mixed-geology trout-and-sea-trout river with strong migratory-fish history.

Today · Closed season
Black Gnat
Forecast · Today
Closed season
Out of season. Try elsewhere.
80% projected
Today's fly
Black Gnat
Black Gnat
Conditions on the water · Today
Live gauge
Level
Rising
0.04 m
lowspate
Water temp20.2°C
ClarityUnfishable
Weather20°C
WindN 17 km/h
Pressure1017 hPa
Rain · recent0.6 mm
Rain · ahead5.5 mm

The nearest gauge doesn't record temperatures, so we've estimated it — defer to the river keeper's advice.

Water temperature for Brown Trout
Warm — slow
20°C est.ideal 10–16°C
0°14°28°
How to fish it · for Brown Trout
When
Nymphing can work through most of the day.
Where
Cover mixed depths.
Method
Start with tight-line nymphs and adjust if fish rise or drift higher.
Kit
9 ft #4 rod, floating line, 12 ft tapered leader to 4–5 lb fluoro tippet.
Why this works
Water at 20.8°C — above the brown trout caution line (18°C). Fish dawn or dusk only. Land it fast, wet hands, no air shots.
Likely species
Hatch timeline · todayPeak at 12pm

12pm(now) — Heather Fly

Stage: Terrestrials on topApproach: Dry flyActivity: 70%
Also:Black Gnat36%
Peak emergence windowWeather boost7 food groups active

Peak activity at 12pm — Heather Fly (Heather Fly, Peak emergence window)

Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface

Hatch predictions

Supporters see the full sub-surface read.

Start free trial

14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.

Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey(1)

Hatch predictions

Supporters see what else is on the menu.

Start free trial

14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.

Evidence
Survey-backed · regionalHigh confidence

Backed by regional invertebrate surveys; no sampling on this exact reach yet.

Through the year
0–3 scale · September highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
1
March BrownHatch
2
3
2
Late March BrownHatch
2
3
2
Large Brook DunHatch
2
3
2
Large StoneflyHatch
2
3
2

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

Ranked for today
Brown Trout fly box
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • Cantabrian fishing licence required
  • Mixed-geology water and annex-driven rules make exact stretch checks important before travel.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Cooler water nearby · 1
Water here around 21°C — probably warm enough to stress Brown Trout . These are likely cooler.
Gallery · 2
  1. Pas — Abra del Pas
    Abra del Pas
  2. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
About this water

Central Cantabria's Pas is a fascinating mixed-geology trout-and-sea-trout river with strong migratory-fish history. Mixed geology (limestone to sandstone) creates diverse habitat and more variable water colour than pure limestone — sometimes advantageous when clarity becomes too high. The 57 km length provides extensive opportunities across distinct sections: rocky upper beats for trout, stronger middle sections that respond well after rain, and slower lower beats with some migratory interest. In modern practical terms this is better treated as a versatile trout river than as a realistic salmon-chasing destination.

Hatches & food

In Cantabria's shorter mountain and foothill trout rivers, fish make the most of spring olives and stoneflies in clear windows between freshets, then switch to evening caddis and small buzzers through the warmer months, with terrestrials becoming a key option in sheltered glides and under tree cover once summer settles in.

  • Mixed
Water quality (WFD)
  • Ecology: Good
  • Chemical: Unknown

WFD classification · ES018MSPFES090MAR000200

The full read · show the working · for Brown Trout · confidence 80%
How the 0 is built — score × weight = contribution
Temperature6 × 28%1.7
Flow15 × 22%3.3
Clarity95 × 18%17.1
Feeding Time80 × 13%10.4
Pressure80 × 7%5.6
Insect activity40 × 12%4.8
Limiting factor: Water temperature (20.8°C) is outside Brown Trout's preferred range (10–16°C)= 43
Can you trust it?
Water temperatureair-to-water estimateestimated
Level / flowon-river gaugeobserved
Prey activitysurvey-backed invertebrate datasurvey
What would change the calculation
Cooler water — back toward the 10–16 °C ideal band — would lift the score and ease welfare.
A drop and clear would lift the flow and clarity scores.
Directions
Seasons & zones
  • Trout third Sunday of March → 31 July

Sea trout: Variable seasonal (2026)

Related guides
Booking & contacts