The Vitunjcica River: The Magical Home of Giant Croatian Rainbows

River Vitunjcica`s best days were some seven years ago when giant 80-90cm trout were caught on a daily basis. It has all gone south after that amazing period and the river became somewhat forgotten by the fly fishing community. At that point I wasn`t really into fly fishing, but luckily the river rebounded in a big way for us to enjoy some amazing flyfishing this spring.

By DALIEN VIGNJEVIC

The key component is heavy shoreline brush, so dense and extensive that fish can retreat during low water periods. It also makes them really hard to land. Spring is the best time to fish Vitunjcica, because the fish will feed out in the open, especially when the water is high and turbid.

My buddy Sanjin Despot, who lives close by, was the first to fish this spring, so he gave me „the call“. They caught up to fifteen nice 40-55 cm fish per day with some of them pushing 70 cm! Most of them on dryflies. The thought of landing a 60+ cm fish on a fly made me super excited, I just couldn`t wait for it.

What makes Vitunjcica so special is that a lot of basic hunting skills come into play if you want to be successful. Stalking, waiting and moving slowly are paramount. Usually the best thing to do in close quarters is to wait for the fish to get used to your presence and start feeding. If you have a feeding fish in a clear casting range, half of your work is done.

Trout are different than most other predators, because they tend to perceive you as a part of their natural enviroment if you hold still for some time. The worst thing to do is go down the bank and try to visually see where the fish are at. Usually you will see them as they are running away from you and that is too late of course! Patience is the key!

Dry fly big gun

There are two presentations that work for these big fish. One is a large caddisfly (tular) nymph and the other is a large dryfly during the warmest period of the day. Though large nymphs are common throughout the year, at the start of the season there is a strong hatch of stoneflies making dryflies one of the most important part of the trout`s menu.

When you get in position to make a cast at an actively feeding fish, the excitement is hard to describe because the odds are in favour of the fish eating your fly. With any other predatory fish you have to make cast and present your fly as fast as you can, and there’s always the risk of rejection. But with actively feeding Vitunjica-trout you have all the time in the world to set up and make your presentation.

The longer you wait, the more comfortable this fish will be with your presence. It is one of the most exciting things in fly fishing.

Dry flies are also good for ‘power fishing’ stretches of river with no surface activity, because you can let the fly drift and search for active fish. Feeding fish will quickly notice something on the surface and most like they will not let such an easy meal pass by.

Sometimes, however, you have to go down and precisely present your nymph. You are presenting basically the same thing, only in a different stage of the hatch.

First trip

Our first trip was in the beginning of March and right away we caught some beautiful fish on nymphs in the upper river section that is more suitable for nymphs due to faster water. As we went slowly to the lower end that has less current, the timing for the dryfly became right. Looking through a narrow hole through the brush, I saw a strange swirl on the other side of the river. I stopped and waited until I saw another sign of activity. This time I was sure it was a big fish feeding, but the problem was the very tight space between the bushes. I managed to get my head through and somehow lob a big dryfly out. The cast was bad and it landed in the middle of the river some 3 meters away from the swirl, but that didn`t stop the big rainbow to get it like a shark. I just saw a huge wave rising as it approached the fly. PLOOOP... I got it!

It jumped two times and I could see it was a big one, I went into the water and managed to land the fish that was well over 60 cm. What a feeling to catch such a big fish on a dryfly!

My buddy caught several smaller fish and an additional big one on a nymph. His big fish just poked its head outside the brush and the nymph immidiatelly went into its mouth with a super precise presentation.

Big fish on a turn

We had an amazing day and were ready to go home, when I stopped at a river turn that has produced huge fish in the past. I waded and settled a bit before I made my first cast with a nymph.

The line stopped and I had a little fish on which came off as it broke the surface. I made another presentation without any hope of another fish in that hole, but again the line stopped and I got into a really big one.

I had 0,18 mm tippet on, which I knew was on the light side, and as it turned out the fish broke me off after ten seconds of violent fighting.

Well, it was a great day regardless.

Seven days later I got my nymph back

After a week, Sanjin and I went back to the Vitunjcica River. This time we had a cold snap and there was not much insect activity. The water was still, very clear and not much was going on. Sanjin had a few smaller fish and that was it all the way until the early afternoon when I got to the river turn where I lost the big one seven days earlier.

I tied a stronger 0,22 mm tippet on and was ready for the big fight.

First pass with a large nymph and I had the big fish on. As it broke the surface shaking it`s head, I knew it was the same fish, but the real suprise came as I landed the fish after some five minutes of intense fighting.

I found my nymph, that had broken off seven days ago, in the corner of the mouth! How about that!

The Vitunjicica River lies just beneath the mystical Klek mountain: A mountain that inspired stories of wonder, strange creatures and magic for most famous child novelist in Croatia, Ivana Brlić Mazuranic. It proved to be magical for us anglers as well.