Fly fishing seasons opening – beyond COVID-19

The COVID-19 situation has since mid-March put the lockdown on most activities in Slovenia, taking a toll on our daily rhythms. The confinement was put on a local communities’ levels, in this line of thought also fishing was considerably restricted.

The fly fisherman community was let in position to use the free-time at their hand, to settle the tasks, which didn't received attention over the winter – from refilling the fly boxes, managing terminal tackle, repair of waders, to fly casting practice. Guess, I forgotten some, since then.

Mid May, after two months of lock-down period, the fisherman hearts have raised their rhythms and finally, we hit the waters eagerly. What could be expected, but still wasn’t digested, was the state of tranquility, the low pressure has put our resident fish into. It was and certainly will serve as a good lesson of how much the fishing activity affects our fisheries. Notwithstanding the fact, that we opened the season in mid-May - at the first peak of the season - the fish activity and eagerness to harass the flies was nothing I have seen in last two decades of fly fishing. At least the first two weeks after the restrictions were lifted. That been said, already after second weekend, when most hard working individuals, are trying to put everyday worries down by the waters, the catch and release practices have already put the fish in state of constant alert on most waters. Also, my catch rate was staggering. Just as an afterthought!

Coming now to the seasons opening, the first day has seen us at Idrijca River – moto of the day was dry fly only, as the fishing gods were smiling all day. The weather was fine, plus fish activity was beyond believable. The rise started at app. 11 am and lasted till the evening. It all jump started with the Baetis hatch and prolonged with multiple hatches, from the smaller brown caddis to large Ephemeras and everything around.

We had to constrict our self and put the focus on larger specimen only. Goof presentation and the flawless drift - the takes came so easy. The numbers of native fish marble and hybrid trout was beyond dream. Only, thing that was nagging us at the end of the day, was not catching a single marble trout over 24 inches. Who could argue about it…