My friend Dimka and I recently set off from Belgrade for a small fly-fishing adventure in Montenegro. Our destination was the Lim and Ljuča rivers near Lake Plav, one of the region’s finest fly-fishing areas. The trip proved unforgettable.
We loaded the gear into the car in the morning and headed towards Montenegro. The drive took several hours, but passed quickly as we talked about fishing and discussed tactics. By the time we arrived, autumn had clearly taken hold. It was cool but comfortable, and most importantly, the dry fly worked very well.
This was far from my first visit, while Dimka had last been here with his wife about ten years earlier. The Lim is broad and quite fast, but has excellent stretches for fly fishing. The less famous Ljuča is no less beautiful, with transparent water and superb lies. On the first day we caught several grayling of 30–35 centimetres. The fish took confidently, which immediately lifted our spirits.
From the first casts it was clear that we had chosen well. The Lim is broad and fast but offers good fly-fishing water. Its less famous sister, the Ljuča, has clear water and excellent holding places. We caught several grayling of 30–35 centimetres on the first day. They took confidently, although we also lost some good fish and missed plenty of strikes.
On the second day we explored new water farther downstream. The conditions became harder as the wind rose and the temperature fell, but the fish continued to take. Dimka had the highlight of the day when he landed a trout. It was not a giant, but it fought hard and gave him a memorable battle.
After fishing we visited a family restaurant recommended by local anglers. It was wonderfully cosy, with a wooden interior, a fireplace and the aroma of homemade food. We ordered local dishes and raised a toast to a successful day.
A frost arrived overnight and a thin white layer covered everything in the morning. Coffee tastes especially good in that cold, even more so in great company. At Café Mozart we met Oki, Dado and their friends, local river keepers and fly-fishing guides who know this water intimately. Over strong espresso and rakija we talked about fishing, tackle and memorable catches.
By evening it was colder still, and we had to admit that three days on the water had exhausted us — in the best possible way. The trip had everything: excellent fishing, beautiful landscapes, new friendships and the simple pleasure of being on the river.
On the drive home we were already planning our next visit. Perhaps we will try late autumn again or even winter. Who knows — fly fishing in the snow may bring even stronger emotions.
See prices for our all-inclusive fishing trip on the Lim and Ljuča rivers in Montenegro https://fly-fishing.rs/