Poprad in low water conditions

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 spent 1,5 or 2 hours on it, fishing with euro nymphs. But barbels didn't bite. I caught only few very small fish, probably juvenile chubs. 

The place looked good, but didn't produce any barbels. Maybe it will be more productive in September or October.  I drove to the nearest bridge, to do some prospecting for fish. I always do that, look to the water in polarised glasses from bridges or high bank,. Sometimes I see a fish or few.  It helps to plan the tactic to cover the water.

I looked down to the bridge. The river is shallow everywhere, but there is a deeper channel straight under the bridge. The water is very fast down there. I waited a minute and saw a fish. Big barbel!  He was lying on the bottom, but flashing the side from time to time.  Then I spotted another one. There was 2 or 3 fish, and they were quite big. 

Honestly, I would ignore such piece of water, if didn't see fish is there. It's too small, and it's very inconvenient to approach.  The tree on the bank excludes possibility to wade from the side.  I decided to fish it from the middle of the river, from the shallow gravel bed, right side from the hole.

Unfortunately, it was much harder then I supposed. The hole is very small. To cast into it, you need to approach quite close, and stay on your knees. The fish probably perfectly sees you, but you don't see the fish under such angle, due to sun glare.  

I did few nymph runs, without success. Only snagged in the middle of the run. Maybe fish was spooked, and moved out of that hole. 

Then I drove to another (potentially good) hole, but it was already occupied by groundbait fishermen.

I had a spare plan. If barbels not willing to cooperate, there's endless chub fishing possibilities. Poprad is rich on chubs. These cyprinid fish sometimes called poor man's trout. They do love hide between boulder, under logjams, undercut banks. In rivers where is no brown trout, they occupy all typical trout holding water. And they are very willing to response to most of fly fishing methods: dry fly, wet fly, streamer. Except maybe euro nymphing or short-range nymphing. Because chubs are very cautious fish, and easily spooked by fisherman's presence.  Not that euro nymphinh for chubs is impossible, but only if you casting from some hideout, and fish don't see you.  

I drove to one of top chub locations.  The run is very shallow. Fish is mostly hiding under the bank, near falling trees.

I walked to the middle of the river, and started casting to the opposite bank.  There was a lot of very small fish, and they are very annoying. They attach any fly immediately as it hits the water. After that, fly sinks, which gives less chance for bigger fish to bite it. 

After 30 minutes of casting exercise, and few smaller fish landed, I got real chub. 

It was 40+ cm, with big, fat head. That's a perfect chub. I've seen even bigger ones in the water, but big boys are very cautious and not easy to fool. 

I moved gradually upstream,  slowly wading in the middle of the river. There's a lot of chubs in this stretch. 

The fly I was using was a caddis imitation. Biggest was caught on red tag caddis. Many fishermen believe chubs especially do love red tag type of fly.

I reached the rapids section. Here is water more suitable for nymphing. But I left my euro nymphing gear in the car.  I attached two micronymphs and tried to use long line nymphing, or upstream nymphing method. It is somewhat similar to wet fly. Cast a bit upstream (almost perpendicular to the current), let the rig swing, and mend the line, to eliminate the drag.

I'm not good in long line nymphing, and it didn't produce any fish. 

Later, I drove to another barbel hole. I spotted few fish, spent a couple of hours casting nymphs. No luck.  I lost a lot of nymphs in this trip, actually all my favorite ones. But didn't catch any barbels.

Let's wait for Autumn, which usually offers better possibility.

Poprad is still one of the best looking Polish rivers in my opinion.

Go fish, go!