The majority of these carp are the common carp, but the mirror carp are swimming in Brava too, and although the commons outdo them in the numbers game, the mirrors more than make up for them in the looks department - the mirror carp are out of this world!

Sierra Brava itself is a spectacle of a lake; an extremely large expanse of open water extends from the dam wall that then disappears around corners into large bays and down a narrow section to the main spawning area several kilometres away. Varying greatly in depth, and with a hard and sometimes savage lakebed, it provides many challenges to the keen anglers that flock to Sierra Brava every year.

The landscape can look so different at certain times of the year; from green and lush in the winter months when the water levels are high, to barren and brown in the warmer period, when the water levels have receded. Beauty however is in the eye of the beholder, and after personally seeing each version, I have to say – I love them both! The Spanish oak trees that line the perimeter, and parts of the lake bed, give Sierra Brava its own unique look. These ghostly trees sticking out of the water in certain sections of the lake provide a sanctuary for the carp, and it is no surprise that lots of the carp are caught from these wooden features.

Fishing locked up, or tight to snags brings a new level of excitement to carp fishing, especially if you have not experienced it before, and when combined with the battle from these creatures, many of whom have not been hooked before, you are in for the fight of your life. Sierra Brava is not the place for pussy cats!

The margins and open water however should certainly not be overlooked at Sierra Brava. My second Sierra Brava carp in fact was caught just a rod length from the edge of the bank. Boy did it run! Fortunately I slowed it down before it reached a submerged tree some fifty yards away, and after some heart stopping moments a 30lb common lay beat in my net.

Being a public lake you do encounter some of the obstacles associated with any public lake. For example the lake can get busy at weekends with pleasure anglers. Boats however, are fortunately not allowed at Sierra Brava, so you can lie back and relax in the sun, knowing a yacht or catamaran won’t suddenly take out all your rods.

Animals like to roam freely on Spanish soil and at Sierra Brava it’s no different. Bulls are often seen wandering along the margin, grazing sheep are frequently heard, and farm dogs bark on into the night. When you gaze at the stars at night, and the animals accompany you with their chorus, there is no better place to be - Sierra Brava really does have it all for carp anglers! All that’s left to say is come and join me!

Some interesting facts about the lake

Sierra Brava is a relatively young lake in the Extremadura region. Like many of the manmade lakes around the world, such as the Orient or St.Croix in France, it was formed by building a large dam in the deepest or lowest area of land, usually a few kilometres away from the main river that enters the lake. This dam construction causes the river and its tributaries, flowing into or through the body of the lake, to essentially flood the surrounding ground up to the dam level, which can be controlled. The dam is able to quickly lower the height of the water by allowing water to drain out, similarly as large falls of rainwater washing into the lake from the ground and rivers can raise the water levels.

Most lakes such as Sierra Brava have a complex canal system too. These canal systems can bring water into the lake in the same way they can take it out. If the lake is extremely high for example, the canal system can quickly reduce the water level. The canal usually directs this excess volume of water into a large river which in turn may feed another large lake several kilometres away through another canal system.

As another example: The great lakes that are south-east of Paris were actually formed in case the capital city of France flooded. This flood water which would inevitably come from the river Seine would be quickly directed into several canals which would be fed into the great lakes such as Amance, Temple, Orient. This is why the level of these lakes are lowered every winter to a specific level, just in case there is a flood, and they are then able to take, this potentially, vast, volume of flood water.
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My best advice would be to come and see Sierra Brava for yourself!!