European Trout Fishing by Aardvark McLeod

European Trout Fishing

EUROPEAN TROUT FISHING Europe and the UK are blessed with some of the best trout and grayling fishing in the world. Most destinations work wonderfully as standalone locations although the geography makes it easy to combine multiple locations or combine fishing with other elements of a holiday, choosing from countries across the continent. In this brochure, we have outlined some of the best spots in Europe and the UK to enjoy trout fishing as well as some ideas as to how you might enjoy an itinerary which combines fishing with visiting cities of art, culture and historic interest.

UK TROUT FISHING When: Year round English trout fly fishing is steeped in history, from the crystal clear chalkstreams of the south to babbling streams in the west and the big dry fly rivers of the north. Famous for brown trout and spectacular seasonal fly hatches, these rivers provide wonderful entertainment for a huge range of abilities. We have a wide variety of locations and beats available to our anglers, offering some of the finest rivers and best fly fishing available in England. Anglers looking for more than brown trout will find incredible sight fishing for grayling from June to March and pike can be targeted on the fly between November and March. Whether you are keen to fish single or multiple days, as a single rod or a group, we have something to offer you. Within easy reach of major transport links and many historic towns and cities, a holiday combining fishing with culture, food and art is very easy to organise.

SAMPLE ITINEARY - SOME OF THE UK’S FINEST TROUT FISHING Day 1 - Arrive in London, overnight in London. Day 2 - Transfer to The Grosvenor Hotel, Stockbridge, Hampshire (approx. 1.45 hours by road). Spend the afternoon exploring this pretty town. Days 3 to 4 - Two full days’ guided fishing on the River Test. Overnight at The Grosvenor Hotel. Day 5 - Transfer to The Arundell Arms in Lifton, Devon (approx. 2.30 hours by road). Settle in and relax at this beautiful sporting hotel. Days 6 to 7 - Two full days’ guided fishing on a choice of excellent trout and sea trout rivers. Overnight at the Arundell Arms. Day 8 - Transfer to London (approx. 3½ hours by road) for onward arrangements. Alternatively, we can organise visits to the cathedral cities of Bath, Salisbury and Winchester or the ancient towns of Bradford upon Avon and Lacock if you wish to extend your stay in the south west of the UK.

ICELAND TROUT FISHING When: April to mid-October Whilst it is renowned for salmon fishing, Iceland is also one of the world’s top wild brown trout destinations. There are rivers that are home to 10lb, even 20lb in some cases, dry-fly hungry brown trout, and lakes where 30lb fish are landed annually.

Regular flights from the USA, Europe and the UK provide easy access to some remarkable locations with options to fish for a long weekend to a full week. River and lodge choices are numerous, and we can advise on the best for you depending on your requirements, from quantity and size of fish to self-catering and luxury accommodation. Aside from fishing, Iceland is an adventurer’s playground with its breathtaking landscape an inspiration to artists and photographers. Countless hiking and drive tours delve into the heart of what makes this country so beautiful. There’s whale, puffin and seal watching around the coast, while following geothermal valleys inland uncovers a world of waterfalls, expansive lava fields and giant glaciers.

SAMPLE ITINERARY - BIG TROUT IN WILD ICELAND Day 1 - Arrive at Keflavik International Airport and transfer to Reykjavik domestic terminal for the onward flight to Akureyri. Overnight at the Kea Hotel, Akureyri. Day 2 - Road transfer to Raudholar Lodge in the early afternoon. After a brief orientation from the guides you will set off for the evening fishing session on Laxadal. Days 3 and 4 - Two full days’ fishing over the 12km beats at Laxadal where you will find plenty of large wild trout. Day 5 - After fishing the morning session you will depart for Akureyri and the afternoon flight to Reykjavik. Overnight at the Berg Hotel. Day 6 - Onward arrangements.

SLOVENIA TROUT FISHING When: April to mid-October / November to February The Julian Alps stretch across Slovenia from north eastern Italy to Austria and reverberate with crystal clear glacial streams tumbling down every mountainside. It’s incredibly beautiful and home to prolific trout and grayling rivers. Like Iceland, Slovenia works well for a shorter fishing trip, but also offers a more diverse range of species. Commonly encountered are rainbow trout and grayling but you will also see brown trout, brook trout and even marble trout. During the winter months you can target the huchen (Danube salmon), a close relative of the Mongolian taimen. It is a great destination for groups of anglers, individual rods and combination trips. There’s plenty for non-fishers with superb walking and cycling as well as a rich history which can be explored through museums and tour routes. We work with various hotels in Slovenia, from luxury hotels perfect for couples to shared cabins suitable for small to mid-sized groups.

SAMPLE ITINERARY - PROLIFIC TROUT AND GRAYLING Day 1 - Arrive Ljubljana and transfer by road to Penzion Mayer guest house in Bled. Your guide will brief you on what to expect over the next few days. Dinner at a local restaurant. Days 2 to 4 - Three days’ fishing for grayling, brown and rainbow trout on the Sava River and its tributaries. Days 5 to 7 - Meet your guide and transfer by car train through beautiful mountain scenery to Most na Soci where you will spend the next few days fishing the Soca River and its tributaries for Adriatic grayling, marble, brown and rainbow trout. Overnight at Hotel Hvala. Day 8 - Transfer back to Ljubljana for onward arrangements.

ITALY TROUT FISHING When: April to mid-October Italy provides us with two stunning destinations; Val di Mastallone to the north west and Trentino to the north east of the country. Both are fascinating trout fishing locations offering truly unique experiences. Blessed with a stunning setting in the Dolomites, with watercourses stretching for 3,000 km and almost 300 lakes within its boundaries, Trentino is one of Italy’s most interesting fly fishing destinations. Anglers can fish for trout in alpine lakes, mountain streams, and valley floor rivers such as the Adige (Italy’s second longest), and Lake Garda (the country’s largest). The varied water resources have been improved by careful management over the last few years and the fishing is getting better and better. Head to the Piedmont region and you find Val di Mastallone, a beautiful area famous among fly fishermen as the birthplace of Italian fly fishing. It offers a paradise of small crystalline rivers populated by an incredible density of trout, including the famous marble trout. Both regions have a rich history and are scattered with castles, pretty villages and museums. Verona, famous for its music, and Venice with its romantic canals and architecture are within easy reach. They are wonderful places to combine fishing, art, culture, trekking, and superb local cuisine. Our bespoke packages are planned to suit each individual group, whether a team of avid anglers or those looking to combine fishing and non-fishing activities over the course of a stay in these beautiful regions of Italy. SAMPLE ITINERARY - FLY FISHING AND HISTORIC CITIES Day 1 - Arrive in Verona and collect a hire car before driving on to the Miraval Hotel in Coredo. Settle in and enjoy dinner in the hotel restaurant. Days 2 to 5 - Enjoy four full days’ fishing on the many rivers and streams around Trentino in the company of a local guide. There are good populations of brown, marble and brook trout in the various watercourses here. Overnight at the Miraval Hotel. Days 6 and 7 – Drive to Venice and spend a couple of days exploring this extraordinarily beautiful city. We can arrange a stay in a variety of hotels. Day 8 - Onward arrangements.

BOSNIA TROUT FISHING When: April to mid-October Bosnia’s Ribnik and Pliva rivers offer wonderful catch and release fishing for brown trout and grayling. These spring fed limestone waterways, known as ‘karst’ rivers, run gin clear and host superb fly life.

At just over five kilometres, the Ribnik is 20 to 30m wide and its soft gravel base makes wading easy. From ankle to waist deep with the odd deeper hole, the river gently twists and turns, splitting every now and again around islands that change the flow speed. The water is so clear you can count every stone and watch leaves on the ranunculus beds as they wave in the current. Running at a fairly constant seven degrees Celsius, the water provides the perfect living conditions for shrimp and other aquatic invertebrates. The Pliva is similar but generally deeper and wider which makes the wading harder. It flows for around 33km and the fishing is focused on the upper part of the river where there are some big brown trout and grayling. These crafty fish scrutinise every cast and fly and offer an exciting clear water challenge. Our trips here are more fishing focused and we offer several Aardvark McLeod exclusive weeks each season, with accommodation provided in simple log cabin settings.

SAMPLE ITINERARY - MAGNIFICENT GRAYLING FISHING Day 1 - Arrive in Zagreb and transfer to accommodation on the Pliva River. You will have a brief orientation from your guide and may have time to fish the evening session. Days 2 and 3 - Two full days on the Pliva fishing for brown trout and grayling. The water is crystal clear which makes catching the wily grayling quite a challenge and why fisherman all over the world covet Pliva’s grayling as significant trophies. Overnight in local Pliva accommodation. Days 4 to 7 - Transfer to the Ribnik and Sanica Rivers. The Sanica River is especially rich in wild grayling with plenty of fish exceeding 60cm. Overnight Komuna Guest House. Day 8 - Transfer to Zagreb for onward arrangements this morning.

SPAIN TROUT FISHING When: March to November The varied landscapes of the Spanish Pyrenees offer several different fly fishing options, from high mountain lakes with spectacular views, hidden gorges teeming with zebra trout and brown trout, to stunning mid-size mountain streams home to larger trout and the Iberian barbel. These spectacular fishing venues are situated within the Ordesa National Park, certified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The most notable target species are the wild zebra trout, endemic to the Mediterranean region, a beautiful and well-preserved treasure. Anglers can fish for brown trout, brook trout, rainbow trout and barbel. Fishing is mostly with dry flies but nymph and streamer fishing is good in the spring and autumn. With a range of accommodation options and a plethora of activities in the region this is a perfect sunny getaway for fishers and non-fishers alike. SAMPLE ITINERARY - FISHING IN THE SPANISH PYRENEES Day 1 – Depart Barcelona on the fast train to Lleida. On arrival you will be met and transferred to the Palacio del Obispo in Graus. You will meet your guide for a brief orientation and discuss the next few days’ fishing over a drink. Overnight the Palacio del Obispo.

Days 2 to 5 - Spend the next few days fishing the high mountain lakes, streams and rivers of the Ordesa National Park where you will find zebra and brown trout, and Iberian barbel. Overnight at the Palacio del Obispo. Day 6 - After a full days’ fishing you will return to Lleida where you spend the night. Day 7 - This morning you take the fast train back to Barcelona. If you would like to spend a day or two exploring this fascinating city we would be delighted to assist with accommodation and activities.

SWEDEN TROUT FISHING When: July and August Europe has very few wilderness areas quite like those of northern Scandinavia which, for much of the year remain inaccessible to all but a hardy few. This changes in the summer as ice-bound rivers turn to fish-filled waters. For a range of species, but especially grayling, trout and pike, northern Sweden has some of the world’s finest fishing. The River Kaitum in Swedish Lapland has developed a reputation as an outstanding grayling fishery and has begun to attract anglers worldwide. Besides trophy size grayling, the waters hold char, brown trout and northern pike. The range of species and ability to sight fish in the right conditions is unique to this river system. Boats are used to access and explore the river and on a single day anglers can choose to target pike, grayling and trout.

SAMPLE ITINERARY - STUNNING FISH IN STUNNING SURROUNDINGS Day 1 - Arrive in Stockholm and transfer to your hotel for the night. If you arrive early enough you can spend an hour or two exploring this great city. Days 2 to 6 - Transfer to the airport this morning for the onward flight to Kiruna where you will be met and flown by helicopter to Tjuonajokk Lodge. Spend the next few days fishing the Kaitum River—one of Sweden’s last untouched rivers and a magical spot for grayling, pike and trout. You will fish a new area each day in the company of experienced guides. Day 7 - You will take the helicopter flight back to Kiruna and connecting flight to Stockholm for your onward arrangements.

CROATIA TROUT FISHING When: April to mid-October The fly fishing in Croatia may not be as celebrated as that of its neighbours in Slovenia and Bosnia, but it offers some phenomenal fishing with crystal clear and insect rich rivers including some very similar to the UK chalkstreams. Our programme offers access to excellent English-speaking guides whose intimate knowledge will put you on the fish, including chances to catch the incredibly rare softmouth trout endemic to the region. Most of our trips focus on the Gacka River and the Kupa / Kupica Rivers, with itineraries based from two separate centres. The Gacka River is slow flowing, with consistent water temperatures, luscious weed growth and rising fish. The brown trout flourish and are believed to grow quicker here than almost anywhere else in the world, some reaching 17lb. The river gently twists its way through low farmland and is fished almost exclusively from the bank with anglers focusing on the impressive fly hatches and opportunities to fish dry flies. The Kupa River (or Kolpa) forms a natural border between Croatia and Slovenia. It also benefits from the limestone bedrock, but its terrain makes it much more akin to a classic freestone river with anglers enjoying mile upon mile of runs and pools. Wading is essential and can be challenging where the river flows over a rocky riverbed as it carves through forested hillsides. It’s a great spot to target native grayling, smaller brown trout and excellent for huchen (Danube salmon) fishing during the winter season. The three kilometre long Kupica River, the Kupa’s first main tributary, is full of grayling. It’s dry fly only and the fishing can be breathtaking. The accommodation is simple, yet comfortable and the food is typical of the region but of excellent quality. SAMPLE ITINERARY - CLASSIC FLY FISHING ON UNSPOILED STREAMS AND RIVERS Day 1 - You will be met on arrival into Zagreb and transferred to the Kupa Guesthouse. You meet your guide at the guesthouse where you will spend the next few nights. Days 2 and 3 - You will have two days’ guided fishing on the Kupa River and its tributaries where you can target brown trout and grayling. Days 4 to 7 - You head to the Gacka River where you will enjoy a further three days’ fishing. Overnight at Mirni Kutak Hotel. Day 8 - After breakfast this morning you return to Zagreb for your onward arrangements.

In Association with Castaway Flyfishing