Looking for expert local fly fishing guide

Mr E is the forum expert on Fly fishing in this area. Hopefully he will chime in soon.

Mr. E is laughing. I think I have mentioned it a half dozen times in the last 15 years on the forum and it follows me. I do it, but I am far from an expert.

I've never been fly fishing in Slovenia. I do the fishing as part of a larger trip usually and while I have attempted to work Slovenia into a trip, so far the idea hasn't lit my fire to the point I have gone. But I do know the man you need to talk to:

Velibor Ivanovic
[email protected]
+49 172 99 509 73 (WhatsApp, Phone, Text)
www.angelreisen-balkan.com

He is an outstanding gentleman and has been directing me to the right places for a lot of years. Wait till late in the year and I bet Velibor is putting together a group to go after Danube Salmon (Huchen), think North American Steelhead in size and temperament. I should have done it when I was a bit younger.

If you are free in August you can join me on the Uzh River east of Uzhhorod. I will bring a rod, but it’s more of a scouting trip for future fishing.

The first week of September I will be on a river in Montenegro for a few days. There is enough to choose from so we wait and see how the weather and water is, then pick one.

October, look for me in Bosnia & Herzegovina doing the same. Bosnia & Herzegovina is probably among the most enjoyable places I have been fishing and I try and make it back every year. But that one isn’t booked for this year yet so no telling.

Other good locations that I have been blessed enough to try are Albania, Bulgaria, Scotland, Slovakia and England.

The Polish Tatras are supposed to be very good. Maybe next year with a stop in Slovakia either coming or going.

I talked too much in the event someone in the future is looking for fly fishing information.

Definitely did not talk too much all very helpful information thank you so much! I am scouting an area I can hike and my friend can fish and Montenegro is high on my list as well! Lookin for May of 2027 or Sept/Oct 2027 but really best time is doable for next year!!

You can’t fish anywhere in Europe without a lot of knowledge or a guide. I’ve been to places in Slovakia where half the day was spent hiking to the game wardens house to buy the permit. Never would have found it without a guide. BiH and Montenegro works the same sort of way.

Your buddy will do best with a 4wt rod. I use a 5wt which isn’t nearly as well suited, but when I bought it Orvis didn’t sell a 6-piece 4wt rod. I think they do now. 4wt or 5wt, the 6-piece is the way to go because it fits in a carryon bag.

So, the packing is:

• rod, net, reel, four 5x leaders, one 5x tippet spool and one 6x tippet spool, an assortment of flies collected over the years, but the guide will bring what I end up using because they are specific to the season, water, location, weather, etc.
• forceps and cutter, flotant gel and powder
• hip waders and felt bottom wading boots (yea, I know, but I’m not ready to change yet).
• Quick dry shirt and trousers, skivvies, and heavy wool, knee length Ducks Unlimited socks.
• I usually borrow the net from the guide (cause its hard to pack a good one)
• Polarized Sunglasses and a cap.

All this fits in a backpack that is legal under seat personal item on most airlines.

Not knowing Slovenia I can’t guarantee it, but the rest of the Balkans, with the exception of Croatia, are so new to tourism that the secrets aren’t in print and the infrastructure isn’t as well developed. Both issues can be overcome with a good trip planner that knows the region. Again, I don’t know about Slovenia, but Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Albania are in a whole different cost category than Croatia and most of the rest of Europe.

Having never been to Slovenia I can’t comment with any authority. Every time I looked at going and started planning a trip, I got bored with the Idea. Just different people are amused by different things. Nothing wrong with Slovenia.

I’m not normal because, other than Dubrovnik (aka Tourist Central), I don’t light up for Croatia either. Still, for some inexplicable reason, I have been to Croatia 4 or 5 times. The last time was a year ago. But alas, no decent fly fishing in Croatia.

The next country down the coast is Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). For fishing this is hard to beat. There is this little 30 room hotel almost in the center of the country which is every bit as good as a 4 star. https://youtu.be/QNpUWXV3RkI?si=fMjWuaoVFm-XTP-v Most of the foreigners there are fly fishermen. The locals come to the restaurant and bar. I love this place, It sits on the edge of a river full of trout. Then within a 30-minute drive there are several excellent rivers. You can pick quantity or quality. This is hands down my favorite place to fish. Besides the fishing the general tourism is pretty good too. https://youtu.be/90NR6fdLJnA?si=jEat90ddJn74O4gZ Heavy on nature, light on foreign tourists, buried deep in unique culture and wonderous cities and towns like Sarajevo, Mostar, Travnik and Jajce. For me it’s a bit harder to reach. I have to fly to Dubrovnik and drive north or change planes in Belgrade making it a 3 or 4 hour trip to Sarajevo, then another 3-hour drive to the center of the country. But it’s stunning and I never get tired of a night in Sarajevo.

Then we have Montenegro. https://youtu.be/ebZwyWG3JgA?si=jglZfqq90RixCfZf You can fish in the mountains, maybe in the deepest canyon in all of Europe, in the morning and be playing on the beach that afternoon. Good gwad it’s a beautiful country and the tourists haven’t found much of it yet. The fishing is just a tiny bit second to BiH but only because you must work a bit harder and it hasn’t got my favorite hotel. Like I said, first week in September is my second trip to Montenegro this year. I am blessed because Wizzair flies to Montenegro for under $100 and in about 1:15.

Finally, you said you wanted to hike. One of the last great hikes in Europe is in Albania. It runs from Theth to Valbona in the Albanian Alps which are on the border of Montenegro. https://youtu.be/AwGWxT8ajdM?si=AwuRiSX6LVGOD3SJ I haven’t done the 17km trek but I have been up the river on the ferry and walked some of the river canyon that this hike will take you too and at the risk of using the term “stunning” too often I can’t think of a better word. https://youtu.be/Gmroxw_7t9c?si=2U0oRwiMVDPYLIs2 Again, small hotels on the bank of the river Valbona and fresh trout for dinner. You just can’t beat this with a stick. Norther Albania I can reach from Montenegro and southern Albania by way of direct flights to Tirana on Wizzair.

I knew Mr. E was the right man for this thread!!

Carol, to be honest, its an art and I am not that good at it. Over the years I have used it as an excuse to go to places I ordinarily would have skipped. As a result I have seen the most marvelous places.
https://youtu.be/hxMSwFg1cn0?si=doRST7UobIk0HlRY
https://youtu.be/m3NCcoPxzUw?si=Wh_t2v-jEf0DYj_0

When?

For Slovenia, do talk to Velibor because you have to work around the spring rains and the mountain thaws. Both can mess with the river quality. He can talk to you about BiH and Montenegro as well, but I have guys I use for guides in both and they are probably who he will send you to. Albania is the wild west of fly fishing, no infrastructure, no guides, not licenses, no ... and to be honest, ive done better. But to just be there made it perfect.

Oh, and there is some trout in N. Macedonia and Lake Ohrid and the Ukrainian Carpathians (watch for my trip report in about 2 weeks).

I knew this was the best place to look for help! Will definitely utilize a guide once narrow down the areas! Love that it is not well known and exactly the information I am looking for. Hopefully our path may cross at some point! Your knowledge and excitement have me ready to begin packing!