The picture below is of Dave Noll... He's one of the friends I've made over the years through tenkara fishing. We've run into each other a handful of times at some of the various tenkara events I've been to, shared a meal or two, and have been known to converse via social media. He's a good guy and avid angler & traveler, but the interesting thing about the photo below is that it is not one taken in the American West.
Back in January, I published a brief post about fly fishing in Spain. The photos and content were provided by the guys at Pyrenees Fly Fishing, and to be totally honest, it was sort of an infomercial for them. That said, the content was interesting, the photos were great, and it was a pretty popular post at the time in terms of website traffic.
One of those visitors was Dave, who made what seemed like an innocent comment:
I mean people do that all the time. You write a post about something, and if they're your friends, they'll usually comment positively, if only out of courtesy.
Well, guess what... Dave recently got back from Spain where he actually did spend two days fishing with Alejandro, a guide from Pyrenees Fly Fishing! Not only that, but he also used a tenkara rod as well, so that's a double dip of rad.
Dave shared some photos of his adventure via email and is allowing me to share them here. I hope you enjoy!
Roman bridge
Lamb ribs for lunch
Zebra trout
Alejandro in front of Mount Escarra
Dave & Alejandro
Man, it doesn't get much better than that!
So to close this post, I guess I'll do it much in the same fashion I did the first. If you're like Dave and are now interested in checking out the fishing opportunities in Spain with Pyrenees Fly Fishing, feel free to send Ricardo Madeira at pyreneesflyfishing@gmail.com a note. Tell him Troutrageous Mike (& Tenkara Dave Noll) sent you...
(I need to start asking these guys for a referral fee... ha!)
I was fortunate to visit Europe in the summer of 2017 for the very first time. One of my favorite stops was Spain, and while I was wandering the streets of Barcelona and later the mountains of Montserrat, as an angler, I couldn't help but wonder what the fishing opporutnities were like. Earlier this month, Ricardo and Adrián from Pyrenees Fly Fishing reached out to me about posting some information about fly fishing in Spain. Answering my question from last summer, I'm more than happy to present what they provided below: Spain, A Fly Fishing Pardise
Fly fishing trips to Spain are becoming popular. The beauty of the Spanish Pyrenees together with its climate, gastronomy, culture, and excellent fishing make this a dream destination for both angler and non-anglers alike.
We are many fishermen who would like to be able to spend our vacations with our family, friends, and of course with the enjoyment of fly fishing. If that is your wish, Spain is the perfect destination!
We have all heard of Spain as a destination of sun, beach, gastronomy, culture, with excellent communications, medical services, and security... but have you heard of its rivers, trout, and mountains?
Northern Spain, Pyrenees
The Pyrenees is a mountain range of more than 400 km in length and with peaks of more than 3000 meters that divides Spain from France. On the sunny side of the Pyrenees (Spanish side), there are many possibilities for fly fishing: brave high mountain streams, almost virgin lakes near the top of the mountains, valley rivers with large trout and barbel.
Zebra Trout, Brook Trout, Barbel and Much More!
One of the most coveted fish by foreign fishermen who visit its waters are the mysterious Zebra trout, a variety of brown trout that lives in the rivers of the Mediterranean basin and that are characterized by their two black stripes and great aggressiveness.
Equally, the fisherman will be able to enjoy the fishing of brook trout in little known mountain lakes and in some headwaters of certain streams, fishing for big rainbow trout in some low channels, and of the spectacular fishing of the barbel Graellsii with a dry fly closer to the great lakes of the valley bottom.
Equipment and Flies for Fishing The friendly climate of Spain and the warmth of its waters are a decisive factor that condition salmonids to surface feeding. For all these reasons, dry fly fishing is the most effective technique. We also recommend using 9-foot, 5-weight rods for fishing with floating lines and long tippets.
How to Organize a Trip in the Company of Non-Anglers?
Pyrenees Fly Fishing is a company located in the Pyrenees, near the city of Zaragoza and offers guided fishing trips from two operation centers with multiple activities for non-angling companions.
The angler can enjoy fishing days in the hands of local guides who will take you to exclusive places of great beauty and exceptional fishing thanks to their permits to circulate through restricted access trails. The companions can enjoy days designed to measure by team guides in which they can enjoy cultural visits, hiking, wine tourism, and National Parks.
For more information, you can write to Ricardo Madeira at pyreneesflyfishing@gmail.com
