Fly Fishing in the Pyrenees in Navarra, Aragón & Catalonia –
Guides, Permits, Equipment Rentals & Lodging
The crystal clear rivers of Spanish Pyrenees from Navarra to Aragon to Catalonia, hold good populations of wild brown trout as well as brook trout in some of the higher mountain streams. In the western Pyrenees of Navarra, we offer fly fishermen the chance to trace the steps of Hemmingway fishing one of his favorite streams in Spain, the Irati with outings from the city of Pamplona itself.
As we head east in the Pyrenees the options for good fly fishing increase with numerous excellent mountain venues ranging from small cristal clear high mountain creeks with significant concentrations of brook trout to larger rushing free stone rivers which offer wild brown trout up to the 20+ inch range. Because of their characteristic dark horizontal bands, some specimens of the Spanish native brown trout have come to be known as “Zebra trout” by visiting anglers. However, not all native brown trout will have these markings given that they are adaptations for camouflage which vary from river to river. Additionally, depending on the river wild brown trout descending from stocked Austrian or German strains or hybrids of these and native fish may be present. If you are interested specifically in catching “zebra trout” we can take you to the right rivers to find them.
Some of the rivers we fish incluye the Gallego River, the Aragón, the Aragón Suborden, the Veral, the Ara and a number of others. In their lower stretches, some of these rivers also offer limited access fishing in stocked areas where fishing for large rainbow trout can be had year long.
Farther to the west, entering the Catalonian Pyrenees we offer guided fishing in a number of beautiful trout rivers including the Noguera Ribagorzana, the Noguera Pallaresa, the Alto Segre, the Ter and the Valir. Our expert local guides specialized in big trout produce consistent results with Spanish nymphing or Euro-nymphing techniques. Throughout the season surprising large brown trout are caught by our guests in various venues in the Pyrenees. Some of these fish rival the trout you might expect to catch in Zealand rivers. On the other hand, if what you are looking for is abundant dry fly action, our guides will take you to their secret spots to fish beautiful the high mountain streams where wild browns will rise eagerly to your fly. If you are staying in Barcelona, we can set you up with a guided fly fishing outing with round trip transportation from the city.
Suggested gear: For trout in the majority of rivers we fish, we recommend a 3 to 5 weight rod with a floating line. Leaders will generally run from 12 to 15 feet tapering down 5x, 6x and 7x depending on the waters fished and the flies to be used.
Recommended flies are quite varied. They include sedge imitations in different colors in hook sizes from 12 to 18, Imitations of a number of ephemera including blue winged olives, march browns and others in hook sizes from 12 to 24, various stone fly imitations, midges in sizes from 18 to 24, terrestrials including ants, beetles and grasshoppers. Recommended nymphs include imitations in nymph or larval form of all the above mentioned flies.
We offer a number of lodging options from simple hostals or bed and breakfasts and rural country hotels to 4 and 5 star hotels or one of the fantastic national Paradores in the Pyrenees. This chain of state-run hotels located in historic buildings or iconic sites is reknowned for their beauty, comfort, and the wonderful cuisine of their restaurants. Some options for Parador and Fly fishing packages in the Pyrenees include the Parador de Sos del Rey Católico near the Aragón River, The Parador de Bielsa on the banks of the Cinca River or the Parador de La Seu dÚrgell near the confluence of the Segre and the Valira rivers.
We offer programs in various areas of the Pyrenees including rivers in Navarra, Aragon and the Catalonian Pyrenees. Most guests fly into Barcelona or Madrid and travel by road or train to the areas we fish. Take the early morning high speed Ave train line from Barcelona to Lerida and be there in under an hour or from Madrid to Lerida in two hours. There our guide will pick you up and have you fishing before midday.
“Miquel was fantastic. He is incredibly talented, knowledge(able) and a great teacher. His local knowledge has to be unmatched. Everything went very smoothly, the hotel was great, the fishing was great and I had a great time!!!! Thanks,”
Location: We fish rivers throughout the Spanish Pyrenees including rivers in Navarra, Aragon and Catalonia
Season: Normal trout waters: March to October, Intensive Beats: all year
Nº of rods allowed: N/A
Methods permitted: We cater exclusively to fly fishermen for these outings. All fishing is catch and release.
Species Available: Native resident and German brown trout, rainbow trout and brook trout
Other Services: In addition to all travel services, Pescatravel offers management of fishing license and permit acquisition as part of its guide service. We also offer complete rental gear and transfers from major cities. All the fishermen needs to do is tell us where to pick him up.
Best Dates: Vary depending on the waters and the species targeted, generally from May to mid July for trout. September through mid-October can also be excellent.
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