Today I went to scout the Gradac River in Serbia after recent storms had left it slightly coloured. The water did not look promising, and at first I thought the fish would not cooperate. I was wrong.
I started with dry flies, which can often save a day in conditions like these. It worked: within the first fifteen minutes below Degurić Dam I landed three fish. They took confidently, although none was especially large, so I moved upstream to see what the water looked like there.
With client trips scheduled for the weekend, I tested two rods: one rigged with nymphs and the other with dry flies. I began with small nymphs, but the fish were fussy and the results were limited. After several empty drifts, it was clearly time to change tactics.
Then I thought, “What if I try something larger?” I tied on bigger nymphs with a more visible profile, and that became the discovery of the day. The fish began reacting actively, especially in the coloured water. It is remarkable how a simple change can produce an unexpected result.
I caught around ten fish of different sizes over the course of the day. Despite the light rain, I was in a great mood. The air felt fresh after the storm and the river seemed newly alive. Tired and satisfied after fishing, I stopped at Skok po Skok to sit on the veranda, dry off, enjoy a cold beer and replay the successful casts in my head — one of fishing’s simplest and most unforgettable pleasures.
Now I am preparing for the weekend and wondering what else the Gradac may offer. If the conditions stay the same, large nymphs will be my main advantage. If not, I will adapt and keep searching. Fishing the Gradac is never the same twice, and that is part of its magic.
Shall we fish the Gradac this summer? >>>