Stillwater · Mixed · Extremadura / Badajoz

Embalse de La Serena

The dam face of La Serena reservoir with the broad reservoir behind it, Badajoz, Extremadura.
Marginal · Carp
Foam beetle · 10–12
Slow going — pick your moments
Good wave on — drift country. Slow going — pick your moments and do not force it.
28% confidence
low-confidence read — verify locally
What moved it
  • WindNW 19 km/hGentle breeze
Today's fly
Foam beetle
Foam beetle10–12
Fish it tight to the bank on warm, breezy days.
Conditions on the water
Live gauge
Wind
Gentle breeze
NW 19 km/h
N
NW
from the north-west
Wave40 cm chop
Water temp—
Air temp38°C
CloudBroken
Pressure1011 hPa
Rain · recent0.0 mm

Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.

Reservoir levelas of 10 Aug
┄ 34% 10-yr norm
▬ Steady
86% full
High & steady
▲+52 ptsvs seasonal norm
▲+23 ptsvs last year
▼-1 ptsthis week
Reservoir near full — settled fish across plenty of holding water.
How to fish it · for Carp
When
Carp are highly active in warm water, feeding confidently on the surface and in the shallows. This is the golden window for fly fishing — visible fish, aggressive feeding, surface takes. Dawn and dusk are magic.
Where
Peak season for carp on the fly. Early mornings and evenings are best — carp cruise the margins, surface-feed, and tail in shallows. This is pure sight-fishing: walk, spot, stalk, cast. Keep low, tread softly, wear drab clothing. 5-6wt rod, 15ft fluorocarbon leader for sub-surface; floating line for surface. Have both a bread fly and a nymph rigged and ready.
The plan
Plan A

Peak season for carp on the fly. Early mornings and evenings are best — carp cruise the margins, surface-feed, and tail in shallows. This is pure sight-fishing: walk, spot, stalk, cast. Keep low, tread softly, wear drab clothing. 5-6wt rod, 15ft fluorocarbon leader for sub-surface; floating line for surface. Have both a bread fly and a nymph rigged and ready.

Plan B

Fish early and late, try deeper during the heat of the day with a fast-sinking line.

Watch for

Evening tends to be the best period in summer — stay late if you can for a sedge or spinner fall.

Either bank or boat

Good ripple suits both bank and boat. Bank: work inflows, dam walls, and points. Boat: broadside drift covering wind lanes.

Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface

Hatch predictions

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Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey

Hatch predictions

Top prey shown — see all 2 with Pro.

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Through the year
0–3 scale · August highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Black MidgeHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Reservoir BuzzerHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
2
Lake OliveHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
2
Silverhorns & LonghornsHatch
1
2
2
2
1

Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.

Ranked for today
Carp fly box
HV
Hi-viz beetle
10–12 · Terrestrial
Fish it tight to the bank on warm, breezy days.
WA
Winged ant
10–12 · Terrestrial
Fish it tight to the bank on warm, breezy days.
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • Extremadura fishing licence required
  • Check current regulations for reservoir-specific rules.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Condition match
64%
Cloud100%
Wind65%
Temp25%

A reasonable day here, though temperature isn't quite in the sweet spot.

Other water nearby · 3
Embalse de Orellana
19 km
Barbel · Carp · Pike
Gredos foothills / Villanueva de la Serena area
50 km
Barbel · Carp
Embalse de Cíjara
51 km
Barbel · Carp
Gallery · 6
  1. The dam face of La Serena reservoir with the broad reservoir behind it, Badajoz, Extremadura.
    La Serena dam and reservoir
  2. Wide panoramic view across the open water of La Serena reservoir with dehesa shoreline.
    Embalse de La Serena
  3. Aerial photograph across La Serena reservoir, the broad open water and surrounding low hills.
    La Serena from the air
  4. La Serena reservoir seen from the Sierra de Lares ridge, wide open water and dehesa landscape.
    La Serena from the Sierra de Lares
  5. Aerial photograph of the joined expanse of La Serena and Orellana reservoirs, Badajoz.
    La Serena and Orellana from the air
  6. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
Why this score
  • Cloud cover (mixed) suits the fishery well.
  • High temperatures may push fish deeper and reduce surface activity.
  • Reservoir near full — settled fish across plenty of holding water.
Related guides
Big Stillwater Playbookreservoir tacticsReservoir Entomologymatching the hatchThermal Layers & Troutreading depth and temperature
Booking & contacts