Warta Cup 2024

I was in fly fishing competition on river Warta (Poland). It's annual event near city Częstochowa, sponsored by local fly shops and businesses. Warta is one of the longest Polish rivers but in the upper section it's typical overgrown small stream. It's tough for fly fishing, very few places with good access to water and space for overhead cast. Organizers made it even more difficult, and banned wading, so you can fish only from the bank. Exceptions are for crossing river to the other side or dealing with snags.

Weather was cloudy with chance of rain. River was at low level, 71 cm and flow 2,2 m3/s.

I arrived to my beat early and waited for the start time. Registration of catches electronic - you need to send photo of the fish to the organizers by phone. Photo shows the fish against the measurement tape. Only fish caught in the timeframe 9.15-13.15 is counted, if the length is more than 30 cm.

I got nothing except small perch (doesn't qualify). The winner got 48 cm brown trout. I've seen the fight and landing. It was great in such skinny water.

My mistake was that i took only one rod which is short and rigged for euro nymphing only. The guys used rods with fly line. It gave advantage because of "no wading" rule. The fish is quite spooky in such environment (the stream is no more than waist deep), so most fish were caught near the far bank from opposite side.

Despite my frustration, interesting experience.