- Ecology: Good
- Chemical: Unknown
WFD classification · ES018MSPFES144MAR000820
Rules at a glance
- Sorteo lottery
Water temperature for Atlantic Salmon
Warm — slow21°C est.ideal 10–14°C
0°14°28°
How to fish it · for Atlantic Salmon
When
Spring run from third Saturday of April. Peak May into June. Take the rising water on the second day after rain, then the dropping water through the next forty-eight hours.
Where
Heads, tails, and the long glides within your assigned coto. When low and clear, the Sella is a sight river — a salmon you can see is a fish you can plan a cast for.
Method
Spring spate: 1 to 1.5 inch tube, sinking line, Spey-cast deep across the head. Low summer: half-inch tube, floating line, riffling hitch through smooth pool tails. Single barbless from 16 June. Cupo one per day, one per season as kill.
Kit
13 ft #8 double-hander in the spate; 10 ft #8 single when it drops. Floating line plus a fast-sink tip. 12 to 15 lb fluoro tippet.
Why this works
Water at 21.1°C. This is the line where catch-and-release kills atlantic salmon. Do not fish for them today.
Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey
Hatch predictions
Top prey shown — see all 2 with Pro.
Start free trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Evidence
Survey-backed · regionalHigh confidence
Backed by regional invertebrate surveys; no sampling on this exact reach yet.
Salmon run timing
2025 season
24 salmon declared to 15 July · 18.5% of regional total · trend: moderate
Through the year
0–3 scale · August highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Salmon runRun
1
2
2
1
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
1
March BrownHatch
2
3
2
GrannomHatch
2
2
Large StoneflyHatch
2
3
2
Yellow SallyHatch
2
3
2
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
Ranked for today
Atlantic Salmon fly box
Beats · 12
Golondrosu · 0.9 kmSorteo
First sorteo coto downstream of Cangas de Onís. Long limestone glides, classic taking water once the river drops into shape.
Beat detail
Sorteo (lottery) permit required
Upstream: Campo de fútbol de Cangas de Onís
Downstream: Finca Lagaron, 50 m aguas abajo riega los azules
Brezu · 0.6 kmSorteo
Sorteo coto immediately above the Capitán pool — short stretch, fish hold against the right bank in low water.
Beat detail
Sorteo (lottery) permit required
Upstream: Finca Lagaron
Downstream: Cabecera del pozo del Capitán
El Capitán · 0.7 kmSorteo
One of the most famous Sella sorteo pools. Holds taking salmon once the spate drops.
Beat detail
Sorteo (lottery) permit required
Upstream: Cabecera del pozo del Capitán
Downstream: Puente del parador
Parcial del 2 de abril al 1 de mayo (sáb, dom)
El Aliso · 2.6 kmFree Tue/Wed/Sat
Free-day coto (Tue/Wed/Sat). Mid-river stretch with productive seams along the deeper bank.
Beat detail
Free on Tue/Wed/Sat, sorteo on other days
Upstream: Puente las Rozas
Downstream: Cabecera del pozo Rozaones
Rozaones · 0.5 kmFree Tue/Wed/Sat
Free-day coto. Pairs with El Aliso to cover a long pool-riffle sequence between Cangas and Arriondas.
Beat detail
Free on Tue/Wed/Sat, sorteo on other days
Upstream: Cabecera del pozo Rozaones
Downstream: Antigua pasarela de Santianes
El Barco de Arriondas · 1.5 kmFree Tue/Wed/Sat
Free-day coto in the heart of Arriondas. Public access from the town bridges; busy on free days.
Beat detail
Free on Tue/Wed/Sat, sorteo on other days
Upstream: Puente de Arriondas
Downstream: 150 m aguas arriba de la desembocadura arroyo de Bode
Ricao · 0.3 kmC&R
Sorteo C&R coto. All fish returned regardless of regime year. Long limestone glide, careful approach country.
Beat detail
Sorteo permit, all fish returned
Upstream: 150 m aguas abajo arroyo de Bode
Downstream: Cabecera del Pozín de Leo
Pocín De Leo · 1.0 kmFree Tue/Wed/Sat
Free-day coto downstream of Arriondas. Deep pool below the road bridge — bank fishing for the head, wading the tail in low water only.
Beat detail
Free on Tue/Wed/Sat, sorteo on other days
Upstream: Cabecera del Pozín de Leo
Downstream: 200 m aguas arriba de la antigua pasarela de Los Llaos
Los Llaos · 0.5 kmSorteo
Refugio (closed reserve) — fishing prohibited. Listed for orientation only; the next fishable coto is upstream.
Beat detail
Sorteo (lottery) permit required
Upstream: 200 m aguas arriba de la antigua pasarela de Los Llaos
Downstream: 100 m aguas abajo del refugio de pescadores de los Llaos
Los Espigones · 1.2 kmFree Tue/Wed/Sat
Free-day coto. Long mid-lower stretch with productive tail-outs as the river broadens toward the estuary.
Beat detail
Free on Tue/Wed/Sat, sorteo on other days
Upstream: 100 m aguas abajo del refugio de pescadores de los Llaos
Downstream: Pasarela de Fuentes
El Arco · 1.1 kmSorteo
Sorteo coto in the lower Sella. Bigger water, slower glides, late-season holding fish.
Beat detail
Sorteo (lottery) permit required
Upstream: Pasarela de Fuentes
Downstream: Cola del pozo La Curvona
Toraño · 1.3 kmFree Tue/Wed/Sat
Free-day coto in the lower Sella, paired with El Arco. Tidal influence noticeable on spring tides.
Beat detail
Free on Tue/Wed/Sat, sorteo on other days
Upstream: 50 m aguas arriba del arroyo de La Granda
Downstream: 200 m aguas abajo puente Toraño
Beat map
Illustration · Studio Daisy
Permits & access
Day permit · price varies by zone
Sorteo
Allocated by annual lottery — visiting anglers should target free-day cotos (Tue/Wed/Sat) or club permits.
- Sorteo (lottery) beat allocation via Federación Asturiana de Pesca
- Licencia de pesca + permiso de coto required
- For 2026, salmon cupo is 1 fish per day and 1 per season, of which only 1 may be killed
- Check river-specific coto rules, vedados, and tackle restrictions before fishing.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Water here around 21°C. Nothing cooler within range — carry a thermometer.
Gallery · 11
Mr Trout 
Sella at Arriondas 
The beautiful upper Sella 
Sella at Arriondas 
Río Sella at Cangas de Onís 
River Sella, Asturias 
Río Sella 
Río Sella at Arriondas 
Río Sella at Arriondas Terrain map
Water quality (WFD)
The full read · show the working · for Atlantic Salmon · confidence 90%
How the river scores — hydrology factors
Water heightMedium Ideal0.0
Recent riseNone0.0
Falling after liftNot Applicable0.0
Water temperatureCool To Moderate0.0
Time in seasonOpening Period0.0
ClarityClearing0.0
Hydrology base0.0
Legal gate: Unknown Check Local Rules
Can you trust it?
Water temperatureair-to-water estimateestimated
Level / flowon-river gaugeobserved
Directions
Seasons & zones
- Salmon Third Saturday of April → 15 July
2026 season: opens 18 April. Bag limit reduced to 1 fish per angler per year (was 2 per season). 60 minutes less daily fishing time. Cupo: 1 salmon per day, 1 per season (kill limit). Check river-specific coto rules, vedados, and tackle restrictions before fishing. Sella-Piloña basin quota for 2026: 52 salmon total (max 21 in zona libre).
- Trout Third Sunday of March → 15 August
6 zones — different rules apply
- Coto salmonero
Lower salmon cotos: main Sella beats below refuges (El Capitán, Brezo, Sierra, Remolina, Los Llaos, El Arco, etc.)
- Salmon: Third Saturday of April → 15 July · 1 per day, 2 per year (only 1 killable)
- Sea trout: follows Trout
- Coto salmonero
Upper salmon cotos: beats above refuges (Mecedura de Ponga, La Vara, La Cruz, Tempranas, Golondrosu)
- Salmon: Third Saturday of April → 15 June · 1 per day, 2 per year (only 1 killable)
- Sea trout: follows Trout
- Trout: Third Sunday of May → 15 August
- Coto parcial
Mixed-access cotos with lottery + free days (Dámaso, Corigos, El Bollu, La Barca, Puente Romano, El Aliso, etc.)
- Salmon: Third Saturday of April → 15 July · 0 (catch and release since 2019)
- Sea trout: follows Trout
- Trout: Third Sunday of May → 15 August
- Zona libre
Lower river below Ribadesella to estuary — free access stretches
- Sea trout: follows Trout
- Trout: Third Sunday of March → 15 August
- Zona libre sin muerte
No-kill free stretches (Arrudo, Estayos, Ricao — 3 sin muerte cotos)
- Sea trout: follows Trout
- Trout: Third Sunday of March → 15 October
- Desembocadura
Tidal estuary at Ribadesella
- Sea trout: follows Trout
- Trout: Third Sunday of March → 15 August
- Lubina: Second Sunday of April → 30 June
- Mugil: Second Sunday of April → 30 September
Sea trout: Variable seasonal (2026) — The Sella is Asturias's most celebrated reo (sea trout) river — a fast, clean spate system where reo run from June into September on rising water. Catch-and-release applies on designated cotos. Night fishing is restricted in Asturias: regional regulations set clock-time windows from the monthly_schedule, closing before civil twilight in some months. Reo are present and genuinely targeted but timing and water are everything.
Related guides
Booking & contacts
Clubs & associations
Río Sella
Water temperature for Atlantic Salmon
Warm — slow21°C est.ideal 10–14°C
0°14°28°
How to fish it · for Atlantic Salmon
When
Spring run from third Saturday of April. Peak May into June. Take the rising water on the second day after rain, then the dropping water through the next forty-eight hours.
Where
Heads, tails, and the long glides within your assigned coto. When low and clear, the Sella is a sight river — a salmon you can see is a fish you can plan a cast for.
Method
Spring spate: 1 to 1.5 inch tube, sinking line, Spey-cast deep across the head. Low summer: half-inch tube, floating line, riffling hitch through smooth pool tails. Single barbless from 16 June. Cupo one per day, one per season as kill.
Kit
13 ft #8 double-hander in the spate; 10 ft #8 single when it drops. Floating line plus a fast-sink tip. 12 to 15 lb fluoro tippet.
Why this works
Water at 21.1°C. This is the line where catch-and-release kills atlantic salmon. Do not fish for them today.
Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey
Hatch predictions
Top prey shown — see all 2 with Pro.
Start free trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Evidence
Survey-backed · regionalHigh confidence
Backed by regional invertebrate surveys; no sampling on this exact reach yet.
Salmon run timing
2025 season
24 salmon declared to 15 July · 18.5% of regional total · trend: moderate
Through the year
0–3 scale · August highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Salmon runRun
1
2
2
1
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
1
March BrownHatch
2
3
2
GrannomHatch
2
2
Large StoneflyHatch
2
3
2
Yellow SallyHatch
2
3
2
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
Ranked for today
Atlantic Salmon fly box
Beats · 12
Golondrosu · 0.9 kmSorteo
First sorteo coto downstream of Cangas de Onís. Long limestone glides, classic taking water once the river drops into shape.
Beat detail
Sorteo (lottery) permit required
Upstream: Campo de fútbol de Cangas de Onís
Downstream: Finca Lagaron, 50 m aguas abajo riega los azules
Brezu · 0.6 kmSorteo
Sorteo coto immediately above the Capitán pool — short stretch, fish hold against the right bank in low water.
Beat detail
Sorteo (lottery) permit required
Upstream: Finca Lagaron
Downstream: Cabecera del pozo del Capitán
El Capitán · 0.7 kmSorteo
One of the most famous Sella sorteo pools. Holds taking salmon once the spate drops.
Beat detail
Sorteo (lottery) permit required
Upstream: Cabecera del pozo del Capitán
Downstream: Puente del parador
Parcial del 2 de abril al 1 de mayo (sáb, dom)
El Aliso · 2.6 kmFree Tue/Wed/Sat
Free-day coto (Tue/Wed/Sat). Mid-river stretch with productive seams along the deeper bank.
Beat detail
Free on Tue/Wed/Sat, sorteo on other days
Upstream: Puente las Rozas
Downstream: Cabecera del pozo Rozaones
Rozaones · 0.5 kmFree Tue/Wed/Sat
Free-day coto. Pairs with El Aliso to cover a long pool-riffle sequence between Cangas and Arriondas.
Beat detail
Free on Tue/Wed/Sat, sorteo on other days
Upstream: Cabecera del pozo Rozaones
Downstream: Antigua pasarela de Santianes
El Barco de Arriondas · 1.5 kmFree Tue/Wed/Sat
Free-day coto in the heart of Arriondas. Public access from the town bridges; busy on free days.
Beat detail
Free on Tue/Wed/Sat, sorteo on other days
Upstream: Puente de Arriondas
Downstream: 150 m aguas arriba de la desembocadura arroyo de Bode
Ricao · 0.3 kmC&R
Sorteo C&R coto. All fish returned regardless of regime year. Long limestone glide, careful approach country.
Beat detail
Sorteo permit, all fish returned
Upstream: 150 m aguas abajo arroyo de Bode
Downstream: Cabecera del Pozín de Leo
Pocín De Leo · 1.0 kmFree Tue/Wed/Sat
Free-day coto downstream of Arriondas. Deep pool below the road bridge — bank fishing for the head, wading the tail in low water only.
Beat detail
Free on Tue/Wed/Sat, sorteo on other days
Upstream: Cabecera del Pozín de Leo
Downstream: 200 m aguas arriba de la antigua pasarela de Los Llaos
Los Llaos · 0.5 kmSorteo
Refugio (closed reserve) — fishing prohibited. Listed for orientation only; the next fishable coto is upstream.
Beat detail
Sorteo (lottery) permit required
Upstream: 200 m aguas arriba de la antigua pasarela de Los Llaos
Downstream: 100 m aguas abajo del refugio de pescadores de los Llaos
Los Espigones · 1.2 kmFree Tue/Wed/Sat
Free-day coto. Long mid-lower stretch with productive tail-outs as the river broadens toward the estuary.
Beat detail
Free on Tue/Wed/Sat, sorteo on other days
Upstream: 100 m aguas abajo del refugio de pescadores de los Llaos
Downstream: Pasarela de Fuentes
El Arco · 1.1 kmSorteo
Sorteo coto in the lower Sella. Bigger water, slower glides, late-season holding fish.
Beat detail
Sorteo (lottery) permit required
Upstream: Pasarela de Fuentes
Downstream: Cola del pozo La Curvona
Toraño · 1.3 kmFree Tue/Wed/Sat
Free-day coto in the lower Sella, paired with El Arco. Tidal influence noticeable on spring tides.
Beat detail
Free on Tue/Wed/Sat, sorteo on other days
Upstream: 50 m aguas arriba del arroyo de La Granda
Downstream: 200 m aguas abajo puente Toraño
Beat map
Illustration · Studio Daisy
Permits & access
Day permit · price varies by zone
Sorteo
Allocated by annual lottery — visiting anglers should target free-day cotos (Tue/Wed/Sat) or club permits.
- Sorteo (lottery) beat allocation via Federación Asturiana de Pesca
- Licencia de pesca + permiso de coto required
- For 2026, salmon cupo is 1 fish per day and 1 per season, of which only 1 may be killed
- Check river-specific coto rules, vedados, and tackle restrictions before fishing.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Water here around 21°C. Nothing cooler within range — carry a thermometer.
Gallery · 11
Mr Trout Sella at Arriondas The beautiful upper Sella Sella at Arriondas Río Sella at Cangas de Onís River Sella, Asturias Río Sella Río Sella at Arriondas Río Sella at Arriondas Terrain map
Water quality (WFD)
- Ecology: Good
- Chemical: Unknown
WFD classification · ES018MSPFES144MAR000820
The full read · show the working · for Atlantic Salmon · confidence 90%
How the river scores — hydrology factors
Water heightMedium Ideal0.0
Recent riseNone0.0
Falling after liftNot Applicable0.0
Water temperatureCool To Moderate0.0
Time in seasonOpening Period0.0
ClarityClearing0.0
Hydrology base0.0
Legal gate: Unknown Check Local Rules
Can you trust it?
Water temperatureair-to-water estimateestimated
Level / flowon-river gaugeobserved
Directions
Seasons & zones
- Salmon Third Saturday of April → 15 July
2026 season: opens 18 April. Bag limit reduced to 1 fish per angler per year (was 2 per season). 60 minutes less daily fishing time. Cupo: 1 salmon per day, 1 per season (kill limit). Check river-specific coto rules, vedados, and tackle restrictions before fishing. Sella-Piloña basin quota for 2026: 52 salmon total (max 21 in zona libre).
- Trout Third Sunday of March → 15 August
6 zones — different rules apply
- Coto salmonero
Lower salmon cotos: main Sella beats below refuges (El Capitán, Brezo, Sierra, Remolina, Los Llaos, El Arco, etc.)
- Salmon: Third Saturday of April → 15 July · 1 per day, 2 per year (only 1 killable)
- Sea trout: follows Trout
- Coto salmonero
Upper salmon cotos: beats above refuges (Mecedura de Ponga, La Vara, La Cruz, Tempranas, Golondrosu)
- Salmon: Third Saturday of April → 15 June · 1 per day, 2 per year (only 1 killable)
- Sea trout: follows Trout
- Trout: Third Sunday of May → 15 August
- Coto parcial
Mixed-access cotos with lottery + free days (Dámaso, Corigos, El Bollu, La Barca, Puente Romano, El Aliso, etc.)
- Salmon: Third Saturday of April → 15 July · 0 (catch and release since 2019)
- Sea trout: follows Trout
- Trout: Third Sunday of May → 15 August
- Zona libre
Lower river below Ribadesella to estuary — free access stretches
- Sea trout: follows Trout
- Trout: Third Sunday of March → 15 August
- Zona libre sin muerte
No-kill free stretches (Arrudo, Estayos, Ricao — 3 sin muerte cotos)
- Sea trout: follows Trout
- Trout: Third Sunday of March → 15 October
- Desembocadura
Tidal estuary at Ribadesella
- Sea trout: follows Trout
- Trout: Third Sunday of March → 15 August
- Lubina: Second Sunday of April → 30 June
- Mugil: Second Sunday of April → 30 September
Sea trout: Variable seasonal (2026) — The Sella is Asturias's most celebrated reo (sea trout) river — a fast, clean spate system where reo run from June into September on rising water. Catch-and-release applies on designated cotos. Night fishing is restricted in Asturias: regional regulations set clock-time windows from the monthly_schedule, closing before civil twilight in some months. Reo are present and genuinely targeted but timing and water are everything.
Related guides
Booking & contacts
Clubs & associations