Two clients from Siberia, Mikhail and Roman, recently contacted me. They were experienced anglers, but until then they had spent their lives fishing with spinning gear in the north. They wanted to try something new, so they chose fly fishing in Serbia.
We headed to the Gradac River near Valjevo, one of Serbia’s most beautiful rivers, with crystal-clear water and wild trout. The morning began in local style: we stopped at a kafana, bought fishing licences, drank a glass of rakija and followed it with strong coffee to make sure the day started properly.
At the river near the monastery, we changed into waders and set up the rods. Mikhail and Roman quickly understood the basics — technique, casting and fly presentation. The fish were cautious and not very active that day, but Roman worked confidently with Euro nymphing and had several takes. Mikhail struggled at first, but just before lunch he landed the trout he had been waiting for, about 30 centimetres long. His excitement made it feel like a trophy grayling.
We had lunch on the riverbank: mackerel cooked over charcoal, potato salad with nettles and a few light snacks. Everything was natural, simple and delicious.
After lunch we continued fishing and the day passed far too quickly. Mikhail and Roman were delighted by the fishing, the river and the atmosphere of the whole trip. We hope it was only the first of many adventures together.
