Guided trout fishing in the French and Spanish Basque Country
Fly Fishing the Basque Country
Hemingway fished the Rio Irati in the 1920s and wrote it into The Sun Also Rises, and the wild brown trout here have barely changed since. Fish the Nive system in France, then cross into Spain for the Irati, small clear mountain water guided one-on-one by Yvon, a Tenkara and fly specialist since 2011.
◷ Season Mar–Sep ⚲ Biarritz (BIQ) ✦ Wild brown trout
One expert guide, two mountain river systems
Choose the French Nive or Hemingway's Rio Irati
Every trip is run by Yvon, a local guide and Tenkara specialist who has fished this corner of the Pyrenees since 2011. Two anglers maximum, so the day is built around you and the rivers you want to fish.
Fly Fishing France: the Nive River System
The Grande Nive and its tributaries, the Nive des Aldudes and the Nive de Béhérobie, drain the French Pyrenees across around 400 kilometres of wild trout water. Fast, clear and technical, it is classic small-stream fishing for resident brown trout.
Fish dry fly, nymph or Tenkara depending on the day. A good fish runs 30 to 40 centimetres, and trout over 45 are caught every season. Open March to September.
Rio Irati Fly Fishing in Spanish Navarre
Cross the border to the river Hemingway wrote into The Sun Also Rises. The Irati runs out of one of Europe’s largest beech and fir forests, and the trout rise freely to the late-spring mayfly.
The Spanish season is short, so this trip runs in May and June only. Expect a full day on the water, eight to nine hours including the drive from Arnéguy, with Spanish permits and transport handled.
Why fish here
Wild trout, Authentic Basque food and Pyrenean water
The Basque Country sits where the Pyrenees meet the Atlantic, straddling the French and Spanish border. The rivers here are cold, clear and full of wild brown trout that have never seen a stocking truck.
It is also one of the easiest fishing trips in Europe to share with a non-angler. San Sebastian and its pintxos bars are half an hour away, the beaches at Biarritz and Hendaye are on the doorstep, and the hilltop villages and mountain trails fill any day off the water.
The experience
What makes a Basque Country fishing holiday different
Fish France and Spain in one trip
Base yourself near Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port and you can fish the French Nive one day and cross into Spain for the Rio Irati the next. Two rivers, two fishing cultures, a short drive apart.
Wild brown trout in unstocked water
These are self-sustaining fish in small, clear water. They are not big by numbers-fishing standards, but they are wild, wary and beautifully marked, and every one is a proper reward on light tackle.
Learn Tenkara and fly tactics from Yvon
Yvon is one of France’s first dedicated Tenkara instructors, certified by Tenkara USA and Tenkara Pyrénées. The tight, brushy tributaries here are exactly what the method was made for, and it is a fast way to catch more in small water.
When to visit
Best months for guided trout fishing in the Basque Country
The season runs March to September. Early on, in March and April, the water is cool and the fish come to the nymph, which is a good time to learn Tenkara. May and June are prime: the mayfly is up, the dry-fly fishing peaks, and it is the only window for the Rio Irati. July to September means early starts and evening rises, with the higher tributaries staying cold and the coast on hand for warm afternoons.
What's included
What your guided day includes
Whichever rivers you fish, the day is fully guided and the essentials are covered:
- A full day guided by Yvon, Tenkara and fly specialist since 2011
- French and Spanish permits for every river
- All fly and Tenkara equipment if you need it
- Daily transport to and from the water
- Instruction tailored to your ability
- No more than two anglers per trip
Testimonials
What Our Anglers Say
“Yvon is the real deal. He knows these rivers inside out, and his instruction completely changed the way I fish small streams. The Basque Country itself is a joy, and we ate better on this trip than on any holiday we have been on.”
— James R., Edinburgh
“Fishing the Rio Irati in May was incredible and I will never forget it. Yvon made the whole day effortless. Already planning to come back.”
— Andrew K., Yorkshire
Enquiry
Plan your trip around the right river window
Tell us your dates, your experience and whether you want the French Nive, the Spanish Irati or both. We will put you straight with Yvon and build the trip around you.
Two anglers maximum per trip, so dates are limited, and the Rio Irati window in May and June fills first.
Your practical guide to the Nive, Rio Irati and the coast
Trip notes and local detail
From the rivers and how the fishing works to getting there and what to pack, here is how to plan your trip.
Rivers and fishing areas
On the French side you fish the Nive system: the Grande Nive plus the smaller Nive des Aldudes and Nive de Béhérobie, roughly 400 kilometres of wild trout water in the western Pyrenees. Over the border in Spanish Navarre, the Rio Irati flows out of the Irati Forest, one of the largest beech and fir forests in Europe, and is the river Hemingway fished during the 1924 San Fermín festival.
How the guided days work
This is small, clear mountain water, so the fishing is close and technical. You fish dry fly and nymph on the Nive, and dry fly to rising trout when the mayfly is up on the Irati. Tenkara comes into its own on the tight, overgrown tributaries. Yvon guides no more than two anglers at a time and tailors the day to your ability, whether you have never held a fly rod or want to sharpen your nymphing and Tenkara.
Flights, transfers and where to stay
Fly into Biarritz Pays Basque (BIQ), around one hour forty-five from London, with direct routes from Dublin and other European cities on Ryanair, easyJet and Volotea. Bilbao is about ninety minutes away and San Sebastian about an hour, both good alternatives. Airport collection and all transfers within the Basque Country are included.
Tackle, flies and what to pack
You do not need to bring anything, as Yvon provides fly and Tenkara gear if you want it. If you prefer your own, a short 3 or 4 weight suits the small streams, with fine tippet and a box of mayfly duns, small nymphs and a few caddis. Bring a waterproof layer whatever the month, and polarised sunglasses for spotting fish. Summer fishing is warm enough to wade wet.
Seasons, permits and the Rio Irati window
The French season runs March to September and the Spanish Irati opens in May. French and Spanish permits are included in every trip, so there is nothing to arrange yourself. All fishing is strictly catch and release, with a quick photo before the fish goes back.
San Sebastian, beaches and non-angling days
Few fishing destinations are easier to share. San Sebastian and its pintxos bars, the beaches at Biarritz and Hendaye, the hilltop villages of Sare, Ainhoa and Espelette, and the Camino de Santiago all sit within easy reach. Companion-friendly accommodation and itineraries are simple to arrange.
Enquire for details
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