A few flies that work in Aragon :
In order to successfully fish our Aragonese trout streams near Casa Pescavera, there are a few must-have flies to carry in your fly box : duns with yellow, gray or green bodies in sizes 14, 16 and 18, hare's ears in sizes 16 and 18, and in larger hook sizes, imitations of Ecdyonurus, March Brown, May flies and mannas (depending on the month), allround flies such as red Pheasant Tail parachutes, (especially on the rio Ara), deer parachute sedges, winged ants.... It should be noted that emerging flies such as hare's ears or klinkhammers in 16 and 18 generally work well in Aragon, because they float low, and are caught when fish rise to emergers. On certain wet and gray days, when the flies are not always able to quickly escape the water surface and drift sometimes over fairly long distances, parachute type dries with CDC wings, floating low, will appeal to feeding trout.
For dry and nymph "tandem" fishing, a large transport fly, such as very visible parachute sedge in size 12 or 14 will be perfect, tied with a deer wing that is not too dark.
For Euro nymphing, allround beaded nymphs that will work on our rivers are Hare's Ears and Pheasant Tails, as well as many types of Spanish perdigones, including Gasolina, as well as models with copper, black/fluo orange and brown bodies. Consider carrying with you a large choice of bead weights and colours, and even a few Javi : we have fast flowing rivers with pools and currents, where it is important to regularly change the weight of the nymphs and the leader length to be successful.
Nymphing at sight remains delicate, the fish being most of the time difficult to see, except in special, low water conditions.
Wet fly enthusiasts will be in for a treat, as this fishing method is pleasant and effective in the currents of the Ara and other rivers of Aragon, with 2 or 3 wet flies, using, among others, the famous Palaretta .
Knowing the local rivers and their insects, I am here to advise you in your choices depending on the period chosen for your stay, and I have a collection of flies adapted to local conditions, fitted by a professional French tyer, and available for sale on site at Casa Pescavera.
IMPORTANT: BARBLESS HOOKS MANDATORY ON ALL RIVERS
What kind of fly fishing gear is right for Aragon?
The fly fishing gear to carry for a successful fly fishing trip to Casa Pescavera remains quite classic:
- For dry fly fishing, 9' line 5 rods will do the job, however 3 or 4 line 10' models will give better results, taking into account the size of the rivers and the speed of the flow: they provide better drift and fish control, as our zebra trout are powerful and hard fighters, tending to rely on the strength of the current. Some versatile 10' line 3 models will allow you to fish with a dry fly or swith to Euro nymphing during the same day, and this can be quite convenient on our waters, as sometimes fish do not rise. These rods, combined with natural silk DT lines are ideal in my opinion, as they provide more delicate landings and strikes than synthetic WF lines. This will often make the difference in Aragon, especially in low waters. (see my blog article on natural silk lines).
- For Euro nymphing, the use of longer fly rods, (10'6 or 11'), will be an asset for accurate drift control, in the Ara and Cinca rivers in particular.
- As for the fly reel, it depends on everyone's tastes and habits: manual or semi-automatic reels will do the trick all the same.
-For the rest, we will never fish very far away from the car, but for those who like to walk a little further...here is what to plan:
A good pair of waders, wading shoes, possibly studded,
(WARNING: felt soles prohibited), a vest or a chest pack depending on your tastes. Carrying a breathable rain jacket in your vest, or a sweatshirt to adapt to the ever changing weather conditions of Aragon during the same day can be a plus on some days, as well as sun cream, good quality polarized glasses and suitable headgear: the sun often hits hard on our waters!
We advise you to carrry a water bag or a thermal water bottle whilst fishing, and hydrate yourself regularly during the day. In the evening, there will be aperitifs and wines at the lodge!
A good-sized landing net with rubber mesh will complete this equipment.
CASA PESCAVERA TIP :
Don't forget your wading stick which will often come in handy. The Aragonese rivers are not organically polluted, so they slide little, but the current can be strong, and their bed can be full of numerous stones and rocks. And the water is so clear, especially on the Rio Ara, that sometimes it can be difficult to assess the depth!
