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Dry Fly Fishing in
Pyrenees
by Salvelinus Fishing Adventures
Fishing
conditions in the region
Fly fishing on these
waters in the right season and at the right spot, is one of the most
exciting, challenging and enjoyable experiences for the subtle
fisherman.
The rivers and the habits
of the trout in them are perfect for dry-fly lovers: each beat, pool or
lake provides a different challenge for this style of fishing which
offers the best results over other techniques.
Fly fishing in the
Pyrenees is for those who are looking for something different.
Surrounded by wild, unspoilt countryside, the whole day can be spent
without even seeing another angler.
Rather than fishing for
enormous fish with a sinking line; you will experience the heady
sensation of actively and continuously sight-fishing for wild trout
between 0.5-2 lb.
Welcome to the
Pyrenees
The Mountains and Rivers
of Northern Spain – Angling Adventures for the Fly- Fisherman.
“A lifetime experience fly
fishing for native brown and brook trout on rivers and lakes set amongst
wild and unspoilt landscapes...” defines flyfishing in the Spanish
Pyrenees with your hosts SALVELINUS.
In these superb
surroundings SALVELINUS invites you to discover one of the most
exclusive dry-fly fishing destinations for salmonids in Europe due to
the excellent quality of the waters and the elusive character of the
trout they hold.
The Aragonese
Pyrenees
The word “Aragon” comes
from a language older than Celtic (13th Century B.C.) meaning “region of
water courses”. This gives the visitor an idea of the region’s ancient,
close ties with the waters of the Pyrenees. Thousand-year old
traditions, a product of this region’s long history, have created a rich
cultural heritage set in an extraordinary variety of landscapes.
The total population of
the region is around 1 million inhabitants, some 650,000 of which live
in the capital city, Zaragoza [which holds the 2008 Expo] This means
that the overall density of population in Aragon is very low. In the
mountainous northern province of the region, Huesca there are only some
20 inhabitants per square mile. This means there are extensive areas of
wild, unspoilt countryside cut by rivers and streams and dotted by lakes
and tarns for you to enjoy.
The River Ebro and its
tributaries form the main river system of Northern Spain. The rivers of
the Aragonese Pyrenees alone constitute more than 50% of this system.
Additionally this region, the central section of the Pyrenees, is home
to most of the sub-systems, valleys and 3000- metre peaks.
Pyrenees, waters
for fly fishing
There are the famous
rivers fished by Hemingway when he was attending the Sanfermines
bullfighting fiestas in the 20's and again in the late 50's. With over
800 miles of water courses to choose from, there is every possible
combination of fishing condition to experience but in general these
medium-sized rivers have distinct characteristics:
Source: typical high
mountain streams with large rocks and rapids.
Mid-section: more
comfortable fishing with smaller rocks, rapids, churning pools and calm
water with an average width of 10 to 15 yards.
Lower reaches: slower
flowing water up to 90 yards wide. The rivers here are between 2 and 6
feet deep so are suitable for wading. Temperatures vary between 50-60
Fahrenheit (11-17°C.)
Hidden in the high
mountains (2000 metres and above), there are a large number of Ibons (a
high-mountain lake of glacial origin) These lakes are normally only
accessible by trekking on foot for between 2 and 6 hours.
Flies
Insects hatch in abundance
from April to September and the variety of species is enormous due to
the high quality of the water. The most widely used and successful flies
include:
It is important not to
forget:
Once your reservation is
complete we will be happy to provide you with a complete study of the
natural flies for each month.
Rods & Lines
For dry-fly fishing on
rivers we suggest rods be 8 to 9 feet and of between 3 to 4 in gauge.
Floating line. 8 to 10 foot trailers with a final tippet of 5X to 7X.
For lake fishing we
recommend a 9’ or 9’ 6” rod of between 5 to 6 in gauge, floating WF
line, 10 to 12 foot trailers and a taper of 2X to 5X.
Fishing season
General
1st of March – 30th of November
High Mountain
1st of June – 30th of September
June-July is the best
season for Dry-Fly
Fishing July-August is the best season for High Mountain Fishing
Fishery
management
The regional
administration is responsible for fisheries management. It is necessary
to have a regional (Aragon) fishing licence (there is no national
fishing licence in Spain as there is in other countries).
The fishing beats are
between 3 Km and 30 Km long with restricted access where it is necessary
to have a personal day permit in addition to the regional licence. We
are able to process applications for your licence if necessary and
relevant permits.
Legislation (and
enforcement) is very strict and catch-and-release is compulsory in most
areas.
Climate, fauna &
flora
The southern face of the
Pyrenean range, our area, has a very favourable climate.
The average temperature
during the fishing season (June to August) is around 60-80 Fahrenheit
(16- 26ºC.) In winter snow covers the majority of the valleys where we
usually fish.
The Aragonese Pyrenees has
many protected natural areas covering approximately 8% of the region.
There are also 200,000 hectares of hunting grounds.
 There are many species of
wild animals, reptiles and birds in the Pyrenees – from brown bears to
fire salamanders. Egyptian, griffon and bearded vulture, golden eagle,
dipper, capercailles, wild boar, sarrio (similar to chamois), mountain
goat, eagle owl and red squirrel are all frequent sights to accompany a
day’s fishing. There is also the possibility of spotting the elusive
Pyrenean desman in the higher mountain streams.
Text and photos by
Salvelius Fishing Adventures © 2008
Visit site for more
info:
Salvelinus Fishing
Adventures Spanish Pyrenees
"SALVELINUS is a dynamic
company with dedicated fly fishing specialists working in the earth of
Pyrenees Mountains of northern Spain, to offer you the best option in
each moment. At work, our main objective is your complete satisfaction
if you chose a fishing trip with us.
Once inside our
organization you’ll see it in everything around-all day long doing our
best in the following areas:
Fly Fishing Lodge
Fly Fishing School
Alpine Fishing Routes
We strive to achieve the
utmost quality in our products and services in order insure their
success and exclusivity." |
