Alcácovas, Evora

Portugal, a European country where you can sight fish for carp in shallow water…

This is flats fishing but without the need to leave Europe! Flyfishing for carp is a new frontier and now available to anyone, in one of the best places in the world. There you can walk along shore lines or wade through artificial lake’s waters and watch a carp feeding in water few inches deep, sometimes with part of the body out of the water; and then make the perfect cast, presenting the fly with precision in its trajectory, see the carp swimming towards the fly and see it being swallowed with no mercy. What follows is part of your imagination! And furthermore, there are good quantities of barbel which will also eagerly take your fly.

Please note that numbers must be limited to two anglers, or maximum three, since José (the owner) is the sole guide for this operation. The farm house however has 2 (max 3) rooms available.

The Fishing

Anglers who have already fished for tropical species such as bonefish, will be surprised by the similarities, not only in how wild carp react to flies, but also with their feeding places and the stalking technique involved. In shallow water, carp turn into demons able to push you to the limit not only because of their strength but also for their predatory instincts, or their reaction when the fly sinks just right in the front of its nose.

Artificial lakes are quite large, with many spots still under exploration and other unexplored.

We usually fish eight lakes offering the best conditions to practice this kind of fishing throughout the season. One of them, the Alqueva, is the largest artificial lake in Europe, and has approximately 1,200 km of shores lines. The others are smaller but still offer excellent fishing possibilities.

This fishing is awesome. It is a very active fishing where the angler has to follow the edge of the bank, either in or out of the water depending on the location, with extreme attention and in stealth mode. It is necessary to stay focused, because at any time a cloud of mud might appear, a tailing fish, or the back of a fish sticking out of water. Usually you will spot them in small groups searching for food in shallow waters.

The larger specimen may be alone while searching for food among rocks and submerged vegetation. It is common to see carp between 4kg and 10kg, but the most common size runs between 2kg and 4kg.

The most exciting part in all this is the large amount of wild carp that an angler will cast to, in a fishing day. With the extensive experience gained during the last twelve years, and the techniques and flies developed, you will have the opportunity to cast your fly to this fantastic fish and live moments of pure emotion.

And then on top of this, there are also the hard fighting barbel, albeit in lesser numbers.

Accommodation

Accommodation is provided in a delightful farming Lodge, with many productive species on the doorstep. This establishment, even without the fishing, offers a wonderful, restful holiday on its own.

A delicious, farm-cooked breakfast is served on the veranda every morning. A packed lunch is provided to eat in the shade by the lakeside. And evening meals are usually taken at local restaurant in a nearby village, where the food is typical from the region, wonderfully cooked and delightfully served.

Other Activities

Carpet Tour (Arraiolos)
Wineries Tour (Esporao; Ervideira; Portugal Ramos; Quinta do Carmo)
Megalithic Tours
Walking Tours in Evora City

Seasons

There are two ideal seasons for fishing this species. The first is between June and July, two excellent months with warm and long days, in which carp can be found in large quantities along the shores at any time of the day. The other season is between September and October, when days are still warm but not as much as during summer, and when also there may be some periods of instability characteristic of the autumn. As days get cooler, water cools down and the small carp decrease in activity, so they will be present in less numbers. Large carp on the other hand will be very active because of the need to consume large amount of food to prepare for the winter.

Programme

There is no fixed programme. Guests may fish as many or as few days as they wish (as long as they are consecutive), which make this destination ideal for a long weekend’s trip.

Portugal is easy to reach, and when you arrive, it is very easy to get to “carp land” since your final destination is only a 160km drive. José, the owner, will meet you at the airport and drive you direct to the farm house Lodge. The following day(s) he will then drive you to the most suitable lakes, and guide you professionally for the time that you want to spend fishing.

2019 Rates

The prices for 2020 based on 1 or 2 anglers in single or double room:

1 fisherman/1 guide/Single Room
7 nights/6 days fishing – 2200€
6 nights/5 days fishing – 1880€
5 nights/4 days fishing – 1640€
4 nights/3 days fishing – 1420€

2 fisherman group/1 guide/Single Room
7 nights/6 days fishing – 1650€
6 nights/5 days fishing – 1420€
5 nights/4 days fishing – 1200€
4 nights/3 days fishing – 950€

2 fisherman group/1 guide/Double Room
7 nights/6 days fishing – 1480€
6 nights/5 days fishing – 1300€
5 nights/4 days fishing – 1095€
4 nights/3 days fishing – 880€

The price includes:

All the transfers; Fishing Guide; Fishing licenses; All meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner); Water bottles to drink during the day

The price does not include:

Alcoholic drinks; Fishing equipment; Gratuities; Other expenditure