Category: Extremadura

Characteristics of Proserpina lake

With a capacity of 5 hm3 and an area of 72 hectares, I decided to include the small Proserpina lake because of the high quality of the fish that inhabit it. Only 8 km from Merida, its waters are quite clear and its level is very stable throughout the year, around 4hm3. Do you want to know the level in real time? Click here.

The reservoir dates back to Roman times and currently its only uses are related to leisure: fishing, bathing and water sports.

Bottom composition and structures

It is located in a granite area and we can find the typical large granite balls. For such a small reservoir, it has a certain depth and we can find areas with moderate slopes to be able to fish a little deeper.

At the bottom the naked rock alternates with large sandy beaches and some loose rocks. We also have 2 submerged islands that are very interesting when we locate them with the echo sounder.

Vegetation and cover

We can only find a few submerged trunks along the entire bottom of the reservoir. Nonetheless, when it is above 90% of its capacity, there are several fallen trees and some shrubs that remain submerged. There are also quite a few reeds on the shore which offer excellent refuge for fish in such situations, as the reservoir has so little cover.

As for underwater vegetation, there are only a few underwater plants at the mouth of the two streams and in some areas filamentous algae grow along the bottom, especially in late winter and early spring.

Main fish species

• Pike. Despite the low capacity of the Proserpina reservoir, the pike population is quite good, with many pike weighing between 1 and 4 kg. Occasionally, some specimens reach 7 or 8 kg.
• Black bass. The black bass population is also good, although they do not get very fat due to the limited availability of food, they reach very interesting sizes. There is a good population of fish of about half a kilo, but it is not rare to find specimens between 1kg and 1.5kg, some of them reaching over 2kg and even 2.5kg.
• Iberian barbel. There are some large specimens isolated, but the population is not representative.
• Carp. Also noteworthy is the size of the carp in this reservoir known among regular visitors as “the pond”. There is a lot of “big” carp, around 8 or 10 kg and some of them reach up to 20 kg, so carpfishing is the most practiced modality.

Baitfish in Proserpina lake

In the Proserpina reservoir there is no bleak so the crawfish is the main source of food. Also the black bass fry themselves, which reproduce very well in this reservoir thanks to its stability in the spawning period. We can observe large banks of small black bass with the echo sounder in late summer and early autumn.

Finally the sunfish population is also quite important, there are some frogs and in early summer we can see how small black bass prey on dragonflies and other invertebrates.

Access and navigation

Non-engine navigation is allowed, we can use float tube, kayak or pontoon without restrictions. Please note that during the summer months fishing is prohibited at weekends. Along with Alange, is a reservoir very frequented by the inhabitants of Merida and nearby towns, who come to its banks to bathe, refresh themselves and have a snack in the surrounding restaurants.

It is possible to walk along the bank without problems all around the reservoir.

Characteristics of Sierra Brava lake

With a capacity of 223 hm3 and a flooded area of 1650 hectares, it is a medium sized reservoir, located in the southeast of the province of Cáceres. It is used for the production of hydroelectric energy, but also has an important use for irrigation and drinking water supply. Sierra Brava lake is relatively stable, with average levels ranging from 140 to 200 hm3. Do you want to know its level in real time? Click here.

In addition to sport fishing, it is a very important reservoir for waterfowl, as many visit it temporarily on their migratory routes.

The waters are quite clear most of the year, although in the rainy season they get quite muddy, mainly in the creeks. Currently it is a fishing reserve, managed by a local fishing society, but we can get permits to fish one day in the towns of Zorita and Madrigalejo and through the following link.

Bottom composition and structures

The bedrock is made up of slate, gravel, schist and quartzite and the reservoir stands out for its very gentle slopes along most of its contour. We found slate points and structures that alternate with large beaches.

These slate structures are very interesting points for predators, as it is difficult to reach areas with a certain depth by fishing from the shore.

Vegetation and cover

This reservoir stands out for the large number of good-sized holm oaks immersed in its waters. There are hundreds of holm oaks, however many of them are far from the shore and we cannot access them because navigation is forbidden.

In the main creeks, right at the mouth of the streams, we find small sections with underwater vegetation and some algae.

Main fishing species

It is one of the reference reservoirs for sport fishing in our country and its waters have produced record-sized carp and black bass.

• Black Bass. There is a very interesting population, and you can find fish of all sizes. The density of large fish (over 2 kg) is remarkable, and it is not uncommon to find fish weighing over 3 kg.

• • Pike. Pike populations are also very good, with all sizes abounding. Catches of pike above one metre in length are also not uncommon. It is a really entertaining reservoir for catching medium-sized pike.

• Zander. It has only been a few years since it reached the reservoir but the populations arestarting to become important. The average size is very interesting and specimens of over 4 kg have already been caught. In Sierra Brava they are really voracious, not hesitating to attack large swimbaits or topwater lures.
• Carp. It is also a reference reservoir in the world of carpfishing, with frequent catches of sizes between 5 and 15 kg. But in addition to this, its waters are home to large specimens, with carp weighing more than 30 kg.

Baitfish in Sierra Brava lake

The bleak and the crawfish are tremendously abundant, hence the large size of the sport species. Sometimes we can observe real clouds of bleak of several dozens of meters moving through the reservoir. We also have important densities of sunfish and some frogs in the creeks.

Access and navigation

Most access to the reservoir is through private properties, some of which are permanently closed. Fishing from any kind of boat is forbidden by the fishing society (bait from boats is allowed for carp anglers), so the only possible option is fishing from the shore. The shores are easily crossed with the only limitation of access, so we will have to take good walks if we want to reach areas with less fishing pressure.

Characteristics of Valdecañas lake

With a capacity of 1446 hm3 and a flooded area of 7300 hectares, Valdecañas lake is the second largest in the province, as well as Alcántara in the Tajo River. Electricity production, irrigation and supply are its main uses. Do you want to know its level in real time? Click here.

The water is a little clearer than Alcantara, but in summer important levels of tubidity are also reached. Their levels also fluctuate quite a bit due to the peaks in electrical energy production. Normally the average levels range from 500 to 1200 hm3.

Bottom composition and structures

In this case the mother rock of most of the reservoir is granite, finding the typical balls, although we also find slate near the dam. The slopes are generally moderate, although we find two very different areas.

Over the first area, closer to the dam, the reservoir is really boxed in, finding a very long section in which the reservoir is very narrow in which cuts alternate with transition areas and tiny creeks.

In the second area, which reaches the tail, the reservoir opens up a lot and is full of beaches, making it ideal for fishing the abundant cyprinids that populate it.

In this area the mother rock is composed of conglomerates and sandstones, generally very degraded and eroded originating large sandy beaches.

Vegetation and cover

Both the wooden covers (trees and bushes) and the underwater vegetation are scarce in the reservoir, finding only some weeds in the mouths of creeks, in the area closest to the main tail. Abrupt changes in level make it difficult for this type of plant to establish itself.

Main fish species

Like Alcantara, the diversity of species we can find is really high, highlighting the following:

• Black Bass. Good population of black bass, although it is not the ideal place to try to beat our record, we can spend entertaining days.
• Zander. It has inhabited the reservoir for many years now, the population is also stable and abundant.
• Catfish. Present for several years, we can find larger and larger specimens, some of which have already been captured above 2 m.
• Pike. It is not particularly abundant in the reservoir, although we have years in which there are more catches than others.
• Iberian barbel. Very good population of barbels, we can tempt them with lures or other techniques (feeder, match, carpfishing, fly …)
• Carp. Carp are also very abundant in this reservoir, although most are medium sized and do not usually reach really large sizes.

Baitfish in Valdecañas lake

The bleak is the main species of baitfish, although we have very high densities of cyprinids, which also offer a good source of food during their first months of life. Carps, crucian carps and barbels are the most abundant, although there were also once large schools of nase whose populations have been drastically reduced.

We also have little channel catfish, sunfish and of course a lot of crawfish as well.

Access and navigation

Navigation is allowed with significant limitations (see map of restrictions) due mainly to the preservation of the breeding grounds of some protected birds. It should be noted that navigation with float tubes and pontoons requires a permit, as in the case of the other reservoirs in the Tajo basin.

The area closest to the dam is complicated for fishing from the shore, both because of its limited access and because of its steepness. The area that is most open to the main creek is easily accessible.

Characteristics of Valdeobispo lake

With a capacity of 53 hm3 and a surface area of 357 hectares, the small Valdeobispo lake, located in the north of the province of Cáceres, is famous for its large and elusive black bass. Do you want to know its level in real time? Click here.

Very clear water reservoir, whose main use is the irrigation of adjacent crops, usually maintains a fairly stable level ranging normally between 46 and 51 hm3. Because its stability it’s a very “natural” lake, so it’s one of the most beautiful reservoirs in Extremadura.

Bottom composition and structures

Quite a dam in which the granite is the mother rock, its banks are quite steep and we can find some submerged islands. The main structures are the large granite balls that we find at different depths, as well as stone walls at different points of the reservoir.

Vegetation and cover

The level is quite stable so we find a lot of riverside vegetation on the same shore, offering a lot of shade and cover “outside” the water on the same shore.

We also found areas of reeds and some holm oak skeletons that were submerged after the construction of the reservoir. We also found weeds in certain areas, mainly in the creeks.

Main fish species

Although the density of predators is not excessively high, we can find good specimens of pike and especially black bass.

• Black Bass. The density of black bass is not particularly high, as the reservoir is very boxed in and there are not too many kilometres of shore… However, some specimens reach large sizes, with the largest specimens even reaching 3 kg.

  

• Barbel. There is a good population of both common and iberian barbels and occasionally they can be fished with lures.
• Pike. Like the black bass, there are not very high densities, but there is a notable population of medium-sized pike, with occasional large specimens being caught.
• Carp. The carp reach interesting sizes, although it is not an enclave to capture record specimens, we can capture specimens above 10 kg with some frequency.

Baitfish in Valdeobispo lake

It is one of the few reservoirs where the nase survives with interesting populations, despite the pressure of predators, the arrival of the bleak from Gabriel y Galán and the scarcity of spawning grounds are a series of threats.

There is also a lot of sunfish, crawfish and small barbels.

Access and navigation

Navigation is limited in much of lake during the first half of the year by the breeding of sensitive birds. In this reservoir the shore is very difficult to navigate due to the enclosure and the great density of the vegetation (bushes, oaks and other riverside trees) so except in very specific points, the float tube or the pontoon will be our best option.

Like the rest of the reservoirs in the Tajo basin, it is necessary to apply for a navigation permit.

Characteristics of Zújar lake

At the time of its construction, Zújar lake had a capacity of 700 hm3 , but after the construction of La Serena (La Serena lake was built in the middle of the Zújar reservoir section) its capacity was reduced to 309 hm3 and 1449 hectares. Do you want to know its level in real time? Click here.

Its main use is irrigation, supplying water to more than 4500 agricultural hectares, although it is also used for the supply and production of electricity. It is a reservoir of rather clear waters, with frequent changes in level due to water releases of La Serena, depending on the needs of the moment. These changes are not usually too drastic and the level usually varies between 220 and 280 hm3.

Bottom composition and structures

Like La Serena, the reservoir is located in an area of plains with few trees, but here the River Zújar is a little more boxed in and the slopes are steeper. In a large part of the reservoir we find bare rock (mainly slate and sandstone) at the bottom, although we also find some areas of beaches.

There are several islands, at different depths and some small cuts near the dam, but it is not a reservoir where rock structures abound, as the banks are not too steep.Also we can find some remains of human constructions, not too many but for that reason they are usually good spots for predators. There is also an emerged bridge and two submerged ones, in whose surroundings there is usually fishing.

Vegetation and cover

We hardly find trees, bushes and other submerged wooden covers, however underwater vegetation does abound, providing excellent cover for fish. Here we can find seaweeds of several tens of meters, not excessively thick and very nice to fish.

The banks are surrounded by eucalyptus in many areas, but the waters rarely reach their level.

Main fish species

It does not have the reputation of Orellana or La Serena, and probably not their densities of quality fish, but it can give us some surprise if we devote the necessary time.

• Black Bass. There is a good population of black bass, although there are not many, and with a rather small average size. However, an interesting number of specimens exceed 2 kg in weight, some even exceed 3kg.
• Pike. The density of pike is not exaggerated either, but they also reach good sizes, and it is possible to catch pike above one metre in length.
• Channel catfish. As in La Serena, it abounds in these waters, reaching very good sizes.
• Barbel. There is quite a lot of barbel, probably less than in La Serena but it is “easier” to capture large specimens since there is less density of small ones.
• Carp. Abundant in the reservoir, although less than in La Serena because it has far fewer kilometres of shore to feed on.

Baitfish in Zújar lake

There’s a lot of bleak in the reservoir, providing extraordinary food for all the predators. We also find banks of small cyprinids (carp, crucian carp, barbel…), mainly in summer and of course crawfish and sunfish.

Catfish are really abundant in all sizes and can be considered both prey and predator.

Sometimes there are a lot of predators real far from the shore because of they are feeding on schools of small fish.

Access and navigation

Navigation is permitted except near the walls, the Zújar reservoir itself and La Serena reservoir.

The banks are not as easily passable as those of La Serena, although we can walk along most of them without problems. The accesses are more limited and we will have to walk several km if we want to access certain areas.