We recently travelled to Bosnia for an exciting fly-fishing adventure on the Ribnik and Sana rivers. These rivers are rightly considered among Europe’s richest fishing waters. They hold grayling, rainbow trout and brown trout, and the local conditions are ideal for fly fishing.
The drive from Belgrade took about seven hours. It does not sound very far, but the winding mountain roads make the journey feel longer. The scenery, however, is spectacular. Bosnia reminded me of Thailand: lush greenery everywhere and rivers twisting through distinctive landscapes.
My friend Dimka joined me on this trip. He loves nature and insects and is also an experienced fly angler who knows his flies and caddis. His Instagram is a gallery of excellent nature, fish and fly-fishing photography. Take a look at his profile here.
We stayed in a wooden cabin that looked like something from a fairy tale, with natural timber and the scent of resin and pine all around. The hot water did not quite cooperate — perhaps the boiler was taking a holiday. As tradition demanded, we went three days without a proper shower. I swam once on the first day to recover from the drive; after that, we dried the waders and went straight back to the water.
The fish were not especially active on this trip. Although countless flies and caddis were moving over the water, the fish remained strangely passive. The weather was not on our side, and over three days we caught about 15 fish per angler. Still, we managed rainbow trout, brown trout and a few grayling.
Even so, the trip left us with great memories. The local food deserves a story of its own: hearty dishes, plenty of meat and, of course, the signature kuvana rakija. In the evenings we met anglers from other countries — Slovenians, French visitors and even a Romanian. Everyone had their own stories, jokes and fishing secrets.
If you want to spend a truly memorable few days, immerse yourself in nature and switch off from city life, join me on the next trip. I will explain everything, show you the best water and help you make the most of it. Prices here are genuinely lower than in many better-known destinations. Come along — you will not regret it!