Season 2022, late opening

 This is my first proper fishing trip in 2022. It's a bit late, because March and April usually are good fishing months. But, we had snow in the beginning of April. 

From few options, I chose Skawa river, because it's just 40 min of driving from my home. Dunajec is usually better in Spring, but I was too lazy to get up early and drive 1,5 hours each way. 

When I arrived, Skawa was low and clear. 112 cm and 7,12 m3/s in the morning

The water was so low, that everything was visible in the water. Except fish. 

I started with euro nymphing setup in the deep run , which has few large boulders in it. Usually it is a good place for dry fly, when fish is rising around these boulders.

But despite of mayfly hats, fish were not rising, or doing so very rarely. 

After few runs, I got a fish on nymph. My first brown trout in this year. So, the trout season officially opened.

It's a very beautiful fish. And it's already in well-fed shape, not like trout kelts in February, which look exhausted after spawning.

After couple of hours without any contact with fish, I moved upstream to so-called "under the rock" site.  It's also popular place for family beaching.

Here is deep hole under the steep bank, covered with forest. One of my favorite places. When I discovered Skawa first time, I caught few fish on dry fly just under that rock.  But it is mostly place suitable for nymphing. 

I was sceptical. 2 or 3 hours passed, and I had only 1 fish bite. That's something unusual. 

Surprisingly, I got second fish in this hole. Also brown trout. Same size, about 40 cm. It's getting better!

I moved to the rapids. Covered water above and below the rapids. No luck.

I moved further upstream. There's small grass island in the middle of the river. The far side behind the island is deep and slow. The fish should be there.

I made couple of runs. Nothing.  I spotted below the island, nice riffle with choppy water. There should be trout in it.  

Here I got nothing too. In the meantime, the other fisherman took the run near the "island", where I was minutes ago. And he was playing a fish. I came close to see. It was a big, 50 cm brown trout.  This fish could be mine, if I didn't leave this place earlier. But, OK, river is long, I will find another place.

I drove to the weir site in Jaroszowice. There is a deep hole under the weir, looks promising. But, I had nothing there too.

I returned to Jaroszowice bridge with intention to fish with dry fly. Fish were rising very sporadically, like once in 30 min.  I spent 1,5 hours casting dry fly. No result. 

I started at 10:00 and finished fishing at 17:00.  Only 2 fish in 7 hours. Not great result, but I was excited because I caught my first trout in this year.  Later, at home, I checked river metering station and found that tonight level dropped from 125 to 111 cm, and flow from 12 m3/s to 7 m3/s. It can explain, why fish didn't bite. Not only for me, other fishermen reported that too. River fluctuations by dam affect fish feeding patterns in negative way. 

But, despite of modest results, I'm happy. It was great time spent on the river.