The Art of Fly-Fishing on River Soča
Fishing is an activity that is much more than just baiting hooks and landing a fish. Spending time in nature can give you a lot.
Fishing is an activity that is much more than just baiting hooks and landing a fish. Spending time in nature can give you a lot.
From breathtaking views, fresh air, calming sounds, to meeting other enthusiasts and creating lifelong friendships.
And when you do all that with someone you care about, it gets a million times better. This is what I want to share with you today.
Here is a short story about my fishing trip that inspired me to share some fly-fishing tips!
Where I Went and Why?
Some of you may know, and those who don’t, it is time to find out!
Slovenia is a small country, but it has very big areas of pristine nature. Tall alpine mountains and crystal-clear water that runs down into the valleys.
My partner and I love to speed free days outdoors and she organized the best possible birthday for me I could imagine.
She took me to river Soča, in Bovec, where a guide met us and took us on an adventure! Although I know this river, this experience was completely different than anything before!
Our guide was local, and he is a fly-fishing expert. We went to the best locations that many “weekend-anglers” don’t know about.
His car was full of gear including hand made flies he took especially for today. When you see hand made flies, you know that you are with the right people!
Why Was it so Good?
First of all, I was extremely happy that my partner knows exactly what I love, and she did a lot of research in secret to organize all this.
Secondly, our guide was an amazing person!
He is fun, full of knowledge, loves and respects nature and was willing to share it all with us! And as a bonus, he prepared us the best lunch made of local home-made products!
What fascinates me about fly fishing is that you are more involved in everything around you than in any other type of fishing.
You are standing in the water, you have to know local insects and their life cycles to choose the best flies, and the equipment is so simple yet so sophisticated that you have to pay attention at every move you make.
If you have never tried it, trust me, it is worth it!
We changed a few locations, and never stayed at the same one for too long. You must leave something for the others too! But also, the guide knew every single meter of this river and new exactly where to be at what time.
We landed some beautiful rainbow trout in various places around the area and let them all go.
Personally, I really support catch and release approach. But of course, sometimes I like to treat myself with a nice, tasty, and fresh lunch. As this time, we had lunch with us, there was no need to keep any fish.
In the evening, we finished it all with a nice dinner in a local restaurant.
To have a fishing experience as good as I did, you have to start somewhere, so remember the tips from next chapter!
My Fishing Tips for Your Future Fly-Fishing Trips
Experienced anglers, even if they don’t have experience with fly fishing, will find their way. I would like to encourage beginners, no matter their age or experience level, to try this incredible activity.
So, if you don’t know where to start, follow some of my tips that I have learned from experience:
1. Hire a guide.
Investing in equipment and starting from zero is hard. If you just want to try it out, or you don’t know local waters well, find a trusted guide who will teach you the basics, take you to the water, and even give you all necessary equipment for the day.
2. Match the hatch!
Fly fishing is based on imitating existing insects eaten by fish, mostly trout. It is important to present insects that are present in nature at that time. This varies a lot through the year and varies in different areas. Spend some time studying it!
3. Don’t stay in the same place for too long.
While you are wading through the water, especially if you are new to this, excited, and a bit clumsy, it is easy to scare the fish. Or maybe there are no fish in the area interested in your flies.
Don’t get discouraged and move to a different place a bit further away. The same goes if you were very successful in landing a lot of fish. Don’t empty the area, respect the nature!
4. Casting is key.
In other fishing techniques, weight of the lure is pulling out the line. In fly fishing, lines are weighted, and the lure is weightless! That is a change that is hard to get used to.
My advice here is to either ask someone experienced to help you figure it out, or to study some of the guides and video online before you step into the water. Out of all fly-casting techniques, forward cast is the one to start with.
5. Practice hooking and retrieving a fish!
Even if you mastered casting and fly presentation, you still have to learn how to set a hook and retrieve a fish. There are no standard reels and fancy systems.
To set a hook, you will have to pull your rod fast in a downstream direction. While doing it, your arms have to be parallel with surface of the water. This is very different from an instinctive reaction that many anglers have, and that is pulling their rod towards the sky.
Line will be pulled by your hand and that’s a lot of work while standing in the stream!
There are many more things to look after, but those who are just starting their fly fishing journey should focus on the basics.
Remember, fishing is not just about landing a fish. Day on the water can be enjoyable even if you don’t land a fish!
Final words
Fly fishing is a form of art! It is the purest and the most incredible technique that will bring you to closer understanding of fish and nature around.
It is even better if you can share this joy with someone you care about. I can assure you that all the hassle of learning it is worth your time and effort.
I can’t wait to go on another fly fishing adventure and share new stories will the world!