Spain’s got lakes. A lot of them. Some famous, some hidden, some that’ll make you wonder why no one talks about them more. I’ve fished a lot of them, made some bad choices, found some absolute goldmines. If you’re coming here looking to fish, you don’t want the fluff. You want the places that actually deliver. So here they are.
- Embalse de Orellana
Extremadura. Black bass, zander, pike. You could spend weeks here and not get bored. Some of the best fishing in Spain if you know what you’re doing.
- Embalse de Mequinenza (Sea of Aragón)
This is where you go when you want a real catfish. Some absolute monsters in here. The kind of fish that snap rods if you’re not careful. Also solid for zander.
- Embalse de Cijara
Another one in Extremadura. Less crowded than Orellana, which is nice. Black bass fishing here is next level. If you like fishing in places where you feel completely off-grid, this is the one.
- Embalse de Alcántara
Huge. You could fish here for days and still not cover half of it. Carp, zander, barbel—loads of variety, loads of space.
- Lago de Sanabria
Trout fishing in Spain isn’t as common as in other countries, but this is the place for it. Cold, clear, deep. Not easy fishing, but worth it.
- Embalse del Ebro
Big carp. Big pike. A lake that never really stops producing, no matter the season.
- Embalse de Ricobayo
Most people overlook this one. Which is exactly why it’s worth fishing. Zander and perch fishing here is ridiculous, and because it’s not fished out, they’re still aggressive.
- Embalse de Alqueva
Huge reservoir that crosses the Spain-Portugal border. Carp and black bass. Endless places to fish, and every time you go, it feels different.
- Embalse de Guadalmena
Southern Spain. Warmer water. Black bass here are active for most of the year, which is perfect if you hate waiting for fish to wake up.
- Embalse de Entrepeñas
Deep, rocky, and full of predators. Pike and zander here will make you work for it, but when you hook one, it’s worth it.
Spain’s loaded with good fishing, but not all lakes are equal. These are the ones I’d put at the top of the list—places that have given me some of my best days on the water. If you’re planning a trip, start with these.
Tight lines.
