Indian Summer in Slovakia Pt.3. Quest for graylings
On the third day, I had tough choice - what river and part to choose. Vah at Besenova was still high, at 85-87 cm. Not good option. I was about to go to Bela again, but different part. Or upper section of Vah, where I never fished before.
I drove to Esox fishing shop again. Now it was normally open from 9:00. We had a nice talk with store owner again. Very sympathetic man. I decided to buy license to Vah section #21 . It's a river between Liptovski Hradok (junction with Bela river) and up to Hotel Janosik in the city Liptovski Mikulas. Quite long section, 11 km.
The upper section of the Vah #21 starts in Liptovski Hradok. This part, colloquially named "Borova Sihot stretch", is the most wild and senic. River is unaltered by dams and channelisation there. Water is very fast, with many rapids and plunge pools. Level at Liptovski Mikulas 111 cm, temperature 13 C.
Unfortunately, from fishing prospective, it's not as good as it looks. I fished from Bela mouth to the Borova Sihot campground, about 1 km. These pools under rapids are so inviting, but I didn't get a single strike in it. What a pity.
Disappointed, I returned to my car. I drove to the second location, which Esox man pointed me on the map. It is near the foot bridge in Podturen. I found a killer hole under the motorway bridge D1. It has excellent characteristics of trout and grayling holding water. But there was nothing. It looks, like river is fishless in that stretch.
I was about to leave it and go back to Kraków, but decided to try one more place. I drove to the Rybniki ("fish ponds") location, another few kilometers downstream.
After some walk, I found nice looking part of the river, with long and wide waist-deep run. Super-clear water, gravel and cobblestones on the bottom, should be perfect. Nothing :-(. Is somebody gave me an evil eye, or what?
I was about to convince myself to drive home again, but walked a bit further upstream, and found this place.
A deep groove near the bank, created by current. It lies side by side with super-fast knee-deep riffle. Looks like perfect holding water, isn't it?
I started to fish it upstream from bottom to the top of the run. Shortly , I got a strike. Unfortunately, fish fell off the hook shortly. After few seconds another strike. Yes, I have scored grayling!
The place had overhanging tree branches covering the top of the run. My favourite type of run, similar to what I had yesterday on Bela.
Wow, another grayling. Bigger one. That's a perfect location!
I had about 15 graylings in 1 hour. A lot of fish in rather small spot. Probably true, that 20% of water has 80% of fish population in the river.
Interesting, that I had no grayling takes in another locations nearby, only on this dedicated spot.
I got satisfaction, and decided to end my fishing. On the way home I drove to the restaurant Koliba Besenevka in Besenova. It has good assortment of traditional Slovak cuisine and popular local dishes.
This one is baked pork ribs. Looks and tastes good. But those marinated peppers should be banned as weapon. I chewed one, and my mouth was on fire for 20 minutes. I wasn't able to breathe. Luckily, i had bottle of water at hand, and finished half of it to get rid of burning sensation.
After dinner, the weather changed and heavy rain started. I finished my fishing vacation and drove home.
That was a perfect trip! Three different rivers, different type of fishing experience .
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