Reservoir on the lower Río Alberche, downstream of San Juan, 65–90 minutes west of Madrid. A genuine multi-species water listed with barbel, boga, carp, pike, black bass, and zander. For the fly angler the headline is black bass: the pre-spawn window (roughly April to early June) is when the bass push aggressive and visible in the warming margins. Through summer, dawn and dusk poppers and gurglers over rocky shorelines are the most reliable approach. Carp and barbel reward sight-fishing in the upper arms; pike take big streamers along the deeper edges in the cooler months.
Hot — dawn/dusk onlyVery warm — fish only at dawn or dusk, handle carefully
Surface temperature is high enough to cause stress even with thermal stratification. The oxythermal squeeze narrows the comfort band — the thermocline may have warmer water than ideal and the deep water may be low in oxygen. Fish only during the coolest windows (first light to mid-morning, late evening). When you do catch, keep the fish in the water, use barbless hooks, and release without lifting. Playing time must be minimal. If fish are struggling to recover after release, stop fishing.
- DepthDo not target trout — the comfort band has effectively collapsed. Even deep-holding fish are thermally stressed.
- TimingDo not fish for trout until temperatures drop. Welfare risk is unacceptably high.
Not the day for it
Good wave on — drift country. Take your time — read the water before you cast.
5% confidence — low-confidence read — verify locally
Live now
Conditions on the water
Trends shown where the gauge supports them
Wind
SE 6 km/h
Light breeze
Wave
Ripple
Water temp
—
No reading
Air temp
31°C
Cloud
Broken
Pressure
1023 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 under severe thermal stress. Post-release mortality is high. Defer the session until water cools below 19°C.
Where
Water temperature 31.3°C exceeds the Pike welfare threshold (21°C). Do not fish — post-release mortality is unacceptably high.
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
Water temperature 31.3°C exceeds the Pike welfare threshold (21°C). Do not fish — post-release mortality is unacceptably high.
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.
Either bank or boat
Good ripple suits both bank and boat. Bank: work inflows, dam walls, and points. Boat: broadside drift covering wind lanes.
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
Black MidgeHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Reservoir BuzzerHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
2
Lake OliveHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
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
- Wind conditions (ripple) closely match what this water fishes best in.
- High temperatures may push fish deeper and reduce surface activity.
About this water · Lough note · 4 min read
Embalse de Picadas · profile
Who this water suits
Strengths · watch-outs · best for
About this water
Embalse de Picadas, on the water
Field guide · contributor-editedEmbalse de Picadas · about
What this water is
Background · character · contributors
About this water
Reservoir on the lower Río Alberche, downstream of San Juan, 65–90 minutes west of Madrid. A genuine multi-species water listed with barbel, boga, carp, pike, black bass, and zander. For the fly angler the headline is black bass: the pre-spawn window (roughly April to early June) is when the bass push aggressive and visible in the warming margins. Through summer, dawn and dusk poppers and gurglers over rocky shorelines are the most reliable approach. Carp and barbel reward sight-fishing in the upper arms; pike take big streamers along the deeper edges in the cooler months.
- Reservoir
- Granite
Embalse de Picadas · directions
How to get to the water
Directions
Embalse de Picadas · permits
Good to know
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
- Comunidad de Madrid licence required
- Check current bank access points, no-fishing buffer zones, and any seasonal closures for the spawning period.
Embalse de Picadas
No photos yet for this water.
Reservoir on the lower Río Alberche, downstream of San Juan, 65–90 minutes west of Madrid.
Species
Hot — dawn/dusk onlyVery warm — fish only at dawn or dusk, handle carefully
Surface temperature is high enough to cause stress even with thermal stratification. The oxythermal squeeze narrows the comfort band — the thermocline may have warmer water than ideal and the deep water may be low in oxygen. Fish only during the coolest windows (first light to mid-morning, late evening). When you do catch, keep the fish in the water, use barbless hooks, and release without lifting. Playing time must be minimal. If fish are struggling to recover after release, stop fishing.
- DepthDo not target trout — the comfort band has effectively collapsed. Even deep-holding fish are thermally stressed.
- TimingDo not fish for trout until temperatures drop. Welfare risk is unacceptably high.
Not the day for it
Good wave on — drift country. Take your time — read the water before you cast.
5% confidence — low-confidence read — verify locally
Conditions
Wind
SE 6 km/h
Light breeze
Wave
Ripple
Water temp
—
No reading
Air temp
31°C
Cloud
Broken
Pressure
1023 hPa
Rain · 24h
0.0 mm
No rain
Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.
Condition match
69%
Cloud70%
Wind100%
Temp25%
A reasonable day here, though temperature isn't quite in the sweet spot.
How to fish it · for pike
When
Pike are under severe thermal stress. Post-release mortality is high. Defer the session until water cools below 19°C.
Where
Water temperature 31.3°C exceeds the Pike welfare threshold (21°C). Do not fish — post-release mortality is unacceptably high.
Method
Method not yet authored.
Kit
Kit not yet authored.
The plan
Plan A
Water temperature 31.3°C exceeds the Pike welfare threshold (21°C). Do not fish — post-release mortality is unacceptably high.
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.
Either bank or boat
Good ripple suits both bank and boat. Bank: work inflows, dam walls, and points. Boat: broadside drift covering wind lanes.
Why this score
- Wind conditions (ripple) closely match what this water fishes best in.
- High temperatures may push fish deeper and reduce surface activity.
Through the year
0–3 scale · May 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
Lake OliveHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
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.
- Comunidad de Madrid licence required
- Check current bank access points, no-fishing buffer zones, and any seasonal closures for the spawning period.
Directions
About this water
Reservoir on the lower Río Alberche, downstream of San Juan, 65–90 minutes west of Madrid. A genuine multi-species water listed with barbel, boga, carp, pike, black bass, and zander. For the fly angler the headline is black bass: the pre-spawn window (roughly April to early June) is when the bass push aggressive and visible in the warming margins. Through summer, dawn and dusk poppers and gurglers over rocky shorelines are the most reliable approach. Carp and barbel reward sight-fishing in the upper arms; pike take big streamers along the deeper edges in the cooler months.
- Reservoir
- Granite
About this water · Lough note · 4 min read
Reservoir on the lower Río Alberche, downstream of San Juan, 65–90 minutes west of Madrid. A genuine multi-species water listed with barbel, boga, carp, pike, black bass, and zander. For the fly angler the headline is black bass: the pre-spawn window (roughly April to early June) is when the bass push aggressive and visible in the warming margins. Through summer, dawn and dusk poppers and gurglers over rocky shorelines are the most reliable approach. Carp and barbel reward sight-fishing in the upper arms; pike take big streamers along the deeper edges in the cooler months.
Other water nearby · 5