A meet with The Queen

After night spent at "U Mirka i Dorotki", I headed to the Huchen pool with renewed vigor. It was cold and wet, +4 C and rain. 

I arrived to the pool before sunrise, and started fishing. This time, I rigged my rod with Rio Outbound Short Sink3. If fish is not willing to rise after the fly, let's try to deliver fly closer to the bottom. 

I saw fish splashed in the middle of the pool. I thoroughly fished it from top to the bottom and back. At one point, I snagged my streamer on the bottom in the middle of the pool.  I decided to tear it off and lose. Pulled my fly line with two hands, using a lot of force. Surprisingly, the leader didnt break off, but there's something dragged with my streamer. Looks like big piece of grass. I pulled my fly line with two hands. There was 30cm piece of grass attached to the hook. Suddenly, big fish chased the whole thing (streamer with patch of grass), tried to bite it, but missed and returned to the hole. It was a Hucho hucho. The River Queen!  Just 3 meters in front of me. Unbelievable, I was very close to catch that magnificient fish.   I was stunned and shocked, so stayed on the same place for 2 minutes without move.  

That's a Huchen fishing. It's like winning a lottery.  The chances are small, but they are increased when you are in right time and place.  I think, these fish mostly hunting for prey in dusk and dawn, so biggest chance to catch one is to use very first light hour, or shortly before sunset. 

I returned to hotel, and had a breakfast. Then I continued fishing for 2 hours. 

There were no other contacts with fish. I drove long way home, through the Polish countryside.

That was my first close contact with mighty Hucho.  But it was unforgettable.