Adventures of fly angler in Poland

 Today Vah river section between Ivachnova and Besenova looked better.  The water was still colored, but clarity about 1 m. River level at Besenova 37 cm, temperature 16 C.  I started fishing from the pool near white bridge in Ivachnova. It is one of the biggest pools in the C&R river section, and it is a home for many big fish. In the beginning fishing was slow. No activity in 40 minutes. Then I got a strike. Fish was strong, and probably big. I think it was a rainbow trout. After short fight, the tension released. I pulled out the rig, and found that the bottom nymph was torn out. What a disaster! First fish, and it's gone.   There were no other takes in this pool. I moved to the other side of the river. There is main current, separated from slow and shallow river part.  Current seams are one of the most trout holding water. The place was just perfect for euro nymphing. I got a strike, and it was rainbow again. Not very big, probably 40-45 cm. But it ...

 This summer I planned a trip to Belgium, to fish for barbels in Ardennes region. But, most rivers in Ardennes closed for fishing until September, due to low water conditions and high temperatures. So, I spent my vacation mostly without fishing, engaging in other sports: running, hiking, orienteering. On my last week, I decided to visit Slovakia for 3 days. I started from river Vah near Ruzomberok. When I arrived in Ivachnova early in the morning, I noticed that water was dirty and colored after recent rain. Clarity about 50 cm near Besenova hotel. Level 35 cm. This river part didn't look attractive. I decided to fish lower C&R section in Ruzomberok, because the river is more shallow in this part, and water clears itself a bit after few kilometers downstream. I started to fish deep and fast riffle section below the weir.  Soon, I got some decent fish. It was a great fighter. Due to heavy current , it was hard to pull fish against it, so I ran downstream and netted it 20 m ...

In this summer, Poland has critically low water levels everywhere, thanks to dam construction, and elimination of wetlands and marshes.  Ecologists ring the alarm, because high water temperatures in summer, and silt deposits released from dams, are harmful for ecosystem and particularly for many fish species. Some small streams almost disappeared. Poprad was 112 cm and 7,89 m3/s. Usually such level is in later October. I planned that trip due to barbel fever. I planned trip to Belgium to discover rivers in Ardennes, and fish for barbels. Unfortunately, my friend from Belgium rang me and told, that fishing is forbidden till September, due to extreme temperatures and low water levels. So, I cancelled my hotel reservation and the whole trip.   But, according to local reports, there was good barbel fishing on Poprad recently. I arrived early in the morning on the river. It was foggy and cloudy. I found long and deep pool, which looks like it may have a lot of barbels.  I...