Adventures of fly angler in Poland

Hi my friends! A week ago I received from Germany new micro skagit line OPST Smooth. It looks like ultimate streamer line for trout in small to medium rivers. We have limited possibilities of trout fishing now, because trout season is closed from 1st of September, and fishing with streamers is prohibited in most of the trout waters. But, there are few exceptions. Vah river in Slovakia (Jambor weir C&R section), which is open till the end of December. And, "no-kill" part of Skawa river in Wadowice, 45 km from Kraków. Skawa SK-3 is one of rare places, where one can fish for trout with streamers during season closure. C&R section goes from the mouth of tributary Ponikiewka (downstream from power station dam), to the bridge in the town Wadowice. It's stocked with rainbows, accompanied by brown trouts and graylings. Water level was 104 cm, flow 5,2 m3/s. This trip was suggested by fellow fisherman, Ziemek. We arranged a meet, and I arrived to the spot. Unfort...

This year I visited river Łupawa in Pomorze, northern region of Poland, close to Baltic sea. It's not that different from similar rivers in the area, but it got some international recognition after European fly fishing championship in 2016. It was my second visit. First was not very successful from fishing standpoint, but I beloved in this area. It's kind of magic place, and I was happy just to be there. Łupawa is rather small stream, surrounded by forests and marshlands. Forest rivers like this usually challenging for fly fishing. Overhanging branches, fallen trees, abundant logjams, difficult wading.  Fortunately, Łupawa on C&R section is quite easy for wading. Riverbed covered by sand, gravel or cobblestones. Depth in many places is shallow, around knee level, which allows to cross river or navigate around obstacles with ease. Popular fly fishing stretch starts from the bridge in Osiedle rybackie (Fishermen's village), a small settlement near fish farm. Below th...

7-8 July there was fly fishing festival, organized by Polish fly fishing magazine "Sztuka łowenia na sztuczną muchę" (The art of fly fishing). Program of the festival for 7.08 included: -Introduction by Mirek Pieślak, chief editor of Sztuka Łowenia magazine. -Demonstration of fishing equipment and other goods from sponsors (Loop, Scierra, Traper, Orvis, Winston, Simms, Royal Wulff, Patagonia), by fly shops salar.pl , harius.pl , flyhouse.pl . Sorry, if I forgot to mention someone else. -Basic mechanics of fly casting, demo and detailed explanation by Igor Glinda, owner of www.tartaknadbobrem.com fly fishing center -Casting clinic , provided by certified instructor Marek Puczyński and Igor Glinda -Dry fly techniques and tactics, by fly fishing guide Mirek Wnuk -Spey casting with double handed rod, by Piotr Talma (certified THCI) -Single hand and switch rod casting demo with Skagit lines, by Robert Karlewski, organizer of "I Love DH" festivals -Fly tying m...

Last couple of days I spent on my home river. On Friday 22.06, I went fishing in the evening.  Water level was very low, 221 cm, flow 3,5 - 3,7 m3/s. It's not very good for fishing, when flow is low, cobblestone bottom got covered with unpleasant slimy algae. That stuff constantly clings to flies, and it requires to clean hooks on every second cast. Disgusting!   River was a bit crowded. There was 2 other fishermen in the pool. But they were more talking than fishing, so I got an advantage and occupied the best spot in the head of the pool, where's faster current.  Faster current means less algae, and less necessity to clean the flies.  I set up scud imitation as anchor fly, and pink head micronymph on the dropper. Big rainbow took fly fiercely, short fight, and fish gone.  I didn't mention, which nymph it took.  More attempts, and second fish took the fly. Also decent rainbow. Fish ran upstream, then downstream. I released reel to let it go....