The Stunning region of Extremadura offers some of the best fishing in Europe

The Extremadura province is one of Spain’s most untouched gems. More than 50 million people visit Spain each year, yet you can also travel for days in this region and hear nothing but Spanish. Overall it is mainly flat but the northern area includes lush green valleys and is dotted with some old-fashioned villages which makes it a true area of Spain as opposed to the tourist section. National Parks are home to spectacular bird-life. Spain's 5th longest river, the Guadiana, runs for over 500 miles from East to West throughout Extremadura. Much of the surrounding land is flat but there are wooded sierras rising in its north, south and western sections and the north has some beautiful green valleys. Even though high Summer is extremely hot the winters can be very cold with the winds that blow from the north.(However remember that the larger carp prefer the winter conditions).

The river itself is widely used in Spain’s hydro-electric business & as such it is dammed in many places forming lakes & reservoirs of varying sizes, the largest of which is the de Orellana reservoir. With over a 100kms of banks the reservoir includes several islands and is surrounded by forests ,it contains NO stocked fish as they all came from the Guadiana .
The Extremadura province is perhaps the best location in Spain for huge wild fish. there is an enormous and varied choice of Carp, River Carp, Catfish, Barbel, Pike, Zander, Black Bass, Trout and more in reservoirs large and small and also the rivers with their slow deep glides, fast stretches and weirpools. Orellana is also home to large comizo barbel which have been caught in excess of 35lb. The reservoir offers lots of very promising features in the form of deep bays, points & islands - some of which are only visible when the water level is low. Some of the largest carp in Europe, with fish of nearly 60lbs being caught in recent years. These fish are completely wild and, given the huge size of the lake, many have never seen a bait before. The reservoir has a huge head of crayfish and these form the diet of a lot of the larger fish.

Fact file

Capital: Mérida is the administrative capital of Extremadura
Provinces: Badajoz, Cáceres
Location: The “Comunidad Autónoma de Extremadura” (Autonomous Community of Extremadura) is in south-west Spain and borders Portugal to the west, Castilla and León to the north and Andalucia to the south.
Area: 41.602 km2 an area larger than Holland, Belgium or Denmark.
Population: 1.073.904 (2003) The population density per sq. km is only 27 people compared to the national average of 75 people and the European average of 170.
Climate: Mediterranean with some Atlantic influence. Very hot summers and mild winters.
Landscape: Mountain ranges; Sierra de Gredos to the north, Montes de Toledo in the centre and the Sierra Morena to the south. Highest point 2.400m lowest 130m. Crossed from east to west by the Tagus and north to south by the Guadiano, both rivers have been important hydraulic resources since Roman times.
Economy: Principal activities are in agriculture employing 30% of the active population. Olives, vines, cereals, fruit and vegetables, pigs, sheep and cattle, forestry and tourism are amongst Extremadura’s main exports.
Tourism: Extremadura has 7 Paradors de Turismo, 28 campsites, 7 hotels with spas and several hundred rural houses and inns. The main cities of Badajoz, Cáceres, Mérida and Plasencia offer a range of excellent hotels from 3 to 5 stars.

TRIPS FOR CARP AND BARBEL RUN ALL YEAR ROUND.

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