The Cinca river
The Cinca river
The kingdom of large and spooky trout !
The most varied amongst all Aragon's rivers.
Torrent or large gravel pits, low flow or dams : the Rio Cinca is so different going down that you can change fishing methods and catch different fish during the same day.
Almost always fishable
Lots of ephemera hatches
Big trout and big barbel
Easy access
This river rises in the Pyrenees in the Cirque de Pineta near France, at high altitude. It begins its course ias a fast flowing river with waterfalls, and goes down the Tres Sorores mountains, whose peaks are Marboré, Cylinder and Monte Perdido. Going down, it receives the waters of many tributaries, such as the Larri or the Cinqueta River.
The Cinca then crosses the valleys of Pineta and Bielsa. The water meanders through a deep canyon, parallel to the mountain range. In this place, thick woods, meadows and waterfalls draw the National Park of Ordesa and Mont-Perdu. It receives on this occasion the waters of the Ara River and its tributary, the Arazas.
“Les Nabatas” is one of the most important spring events in our mountains. This festival commemorates an ancient tradition, the river transport of timber from the forests of the Pyrenees down to the mouth of the Ebro. Taking advantage of the thaw, the "nabateros" used to guide their rafts built with tied timber in the shape of a platform, on the white waters.
Nowadays, on the third Sunday of May, several “nabatas” (rafts) flow donw the Cinca river, from Laspuña to Aínsa, in memory of the old “nabateros”.
In 2013, the “Nabatas” were declared Asset of Intangible Cultural Interest by the Government of Aragon.
Learn more: www.nabateros.com
The upper dams of Mediano, then of El Grado, symbolize the union of the Ara and the Cinca.
Subsequently, the Cinca receives the waters of the Ésera, its most important tributary.
Downstream, the Cinca joins the Vero at Barbastro, then the Sosa as it passes through Monzón. After joining its last tributary, the Alcanadre, the river flows into the Segre at Mequinenza.
Coto social de Lafortunada
Coto Social de Labuerda
The "cotos sociales" of Rio Cinca upstream of Ainsa
Upstream of Ainsa is the coto social of Labuerda,
very famous at the beginning of the season for its big fish.
Further upstream appaears the coto of Lafortunada, which will delight anglers that are fast water fly fishig fanatics ! Here too, there are very large trout. Between these two cotos, lies a pretty long stretch of the Cinca, up to the Lafortunada dam wall. Most of this part is classified as a catch and release area, and is regulated by dams, so water levels can be low but it's always fishable.
Rio Cinca cotos below the Mediano and Enate dams
This part of the river is a bit further away from Casa Pescavera, it's a drive of about one hour and fifteen minutes,
Coto Deportivo del Grado Enate
Coto de Bielsa
but it is worth going if the water level is good, meaning low.
These cotos are especially famous for the size of their trout, and unlike the cotos sociales upstream of Ainsa, you will not catch many native trout, as this area (coto deportivo del Grado - Enate), is regularly stocked with adult browns and rainbows.
Before joining us, please let us know the type of rivers you like to fish!
Depending on your wishes, and of course the weather and the water levels, based on our experience and knowledge of the area, we can give you the best advice.
It's the same for your tackle : the best fly fishing equipment is the one that suits you!
But to fish well in Aragon, you need above all light and even very light equipment, because the waters are often crystal clear and the fish very spooky ! A 10' line 3 fly rod will be ideal for dry fly fishing and Euro nymphing, Nymphing fanatics can use 11' line 2 or 3 nymph rods on the large rivers for better drift and fish control.