Connection with nature is an important process in the life of an average person, especially in the life of an average Slovenian. Indeed, this country is a hidden gem of European nature. However, people are different, so we usually obtain this connection in different ways. Some of us like forest hiking, mountain climbing, or relaxing in the water. Others like more unique activities such as extreme sports or fishing.
Fishing in Slovenia is worth a try. Not only because of the beautiful landscapes you will enjoy during the fishing process, but because of the variety. Here you will find fast alpine rivers, classic chalk streams, calm lakes, and everything is located so close. The best places where you can fish are the Soča River, Sava River, Lake Bled, and Slovene Riviera.
On the other side, there is one more reason why fishing in Slovenia is so popular. A large number of mountains that feed those rivers make them high in oxygen and low in nutrients. Thus, it influences fish in such a way that fish always stays active and, therefore, hungry.
Types of Fishing Allowed in Slovenia
In fact, all types of freshwater sport fishing are allowed in Slovenia. They include fly fishing, spinning, float fishing, trolling, and others. However, in any case, you should check what type of fishing is allowed on particular spots, rivers, or lakes. For example, in the Soča River, fly fishing is the only type permitted there.
Indeed, fly fishing has a long history in Slovenia, dating back more than 100 years. The most significant feature of this fishing type is using only artificial flies. Usually, they are in shapes and forms of natural invertebrates, baitfish, or other food organisms.
There are basic general fly fishing rules you should remember in Slovenia. First of all, you can use barbless hooks only in order not to damage fish. Secondly, one person can use only one fly at a time, for more you can be considered as a person who is doing it not for sport, but for profit. Fishers don’t allow the use of droppers, only regular flies. Streamers are allowed only to 5cm of their total length. Remember that usually tenkara fly fishing style is allowed. Belly boats and fishing from the drifting boats of bridges are not allowed. Keep in mind that for disobeying any of these rules, you can be fined for a decent sum of money!
What is Possible to Catch Here?
Marble Trout is the fish every Slovenian fished would like to catch. There are several reasons why. First of all, the fish has plenty of fight, thereby, it is a good challenge to grab it. Secondly, the fish has an impressive look with reflective covering. Thirdly, it is definitively rare, it lives in several rivers around the northern Adriatic coast, so you should be lucky to catch it.
Huchen, also known as Danube Salmon, is Slovenia’s specialty as well. They are also rare, live only in tributaries of the Danube, and can grow like a real monster. Imagine a salmon of over 2 meters. This is Huchen.
Brown Trout is famous among fly fishers. Moreover, it is the fish these fishing techniques were invented for! They are relatively smaller than two previous species, but you have more chances to catch such one here.
Grayling is a beautiful fish. Its spin fin is really big and usually is colored in some interesting color patterns. Moreover, in Slovenia, you will find a special kind of it, the Adriatic Grayling. Take some friends with you, because they may want a photo of this beauty.
And more:
Rainbow Trout and Brook Trout are not native to Slovenia. On the other side, they had a great population here, as we mentioned, because of Alpine water.
Carp fishing is also popular in the country. This fish is perfect for a more relaxed way of fishing because it lives in lakes. Two main spots for this are Lake Bled and Šmartinsko Lake. The second one is specially arranged to facilitate carp fishing. The Slovenian record is 34-kg monster carp. However, not for long, because fishers found several more such ones swimming here as well.
Sea fishing is also popular in Slovenia. For this, you have to go to the Adriatic shore, of course. Here you can find Tuna, Dentex, Mahi-mahi, Sea Bass, and even different species of sharks. The record on the sea was 200 kg of Tuna caught here. A great plus for not professional fishers is that sea fishing doesn’t require any permit!
Best Places for Fishing
Soča River
This is the most beautiful river in Slovenia that turns emerald green in its color. On the other hand, for fishers, this is the perfect place to find Marble Trout, Grayling, Rainbow Trout.
Its color is very rare for such a long river to have this unique color throughout its length. In general, it is 138-kilometer (86 mi) long, whereas 96 kilometers (60 mi) flows in western Slovenia and 43 kilometers (27 mi) through northeastern Italy, where it is named Isonzo in the Italian language.
The river starts at the height of 876 meters and crosses such Slovenian cities and villages as Bovec, Kobarid, Tolmin, Kanal ob Soči, Nova Gorica, and after that, falls into the Adriatic Sea. It is well-known for the variety of unique fish species.
Sava River
Among fishers, it is famous as the best place for Grayling fishing, along with a solid Rainbow and Brown Trout bite. Moreover, here you have a possibility to catch the infamous Huchen
The Sava is the tributary of the Danube, the second biggest river in Europe. On the other hand, the Sava River is big as well, because it flows through Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina as a natural border, and Serbia at the end, where it feeds the Danube in its capital, Belgrade.
The river is 990 kilometers (615 mi) long. Moreover, 2/3 of it is suitable for big vessels. Its basin is estimated as 97,713.2 km2, with 8,176,000 of the population living on it, connecting three capital cities: Ljubljana, Zagreb, and Belgrade.
Lake Bled
As we already mentioned, this is the best place for Carp fishing. It is outstanding here. The sizes and quantities of Carp fish are really large. Also, you can easily catch here Pike, Zander, Rainbow Trout, as well as some other species.
One of the most well-known tourist destinations. It is located in northwestern Slovenia, near the town with the same name, Bled. It is only 35 km from Ljubljana International Airport and 55 km (34 mi) from the capital city itself.
The lake is quite big. The surface area is 1.45 km2. The lake has mixed origin, glacial and tectonic. It is 2,120 m long and 1,380 m wide, with a maximum depth of 29.5 m. There is a tiny island situated in the middle of the lake. It is the most picturesque place in Slovenia, furthermore surrounded by mountains and forests.
Adriatic Sea
Most of the people go to the Slovenian Adriatic shore for relaxing and resort, however, dedicated fishers go for Leerfish, Seabass, False Albacore, Mahi Mahi, and so much more species of fish you can find here!
Slovenian Adriatic shore is called Slovene Riviera. It is located on the Gulf of Trieste, by the Adriatic Sea. The coastline is part of the Istrian peninsula and is only 46.6 km long. On the other side, all the possible things to do are located targeting in one location. Therefore, it becomes the perfect place for tourism.
Slovene Riviera is located in Slovene Istria, the most southwestern part of the country, and in the historical region of the Slovene Littoral. Also, it belongs to the Coastal–Karst Statistical Region, which has a unique feature of mixing marine and mountain landscapes, fauna and flora, culture, weather, and so on.
Pack Your Equipment and Don’t Forget to Buy License
Luckily enough, fly fishing is allowed everywhere. However, before starting planning the fishing trip, it’s always better to check if you need the license. Usually, big rivers are under the control of the Fisheries Research Institute of Slovenia. Thus, their license you can easily buy on the official site. Smaller spots are sometimes managed by private fishing clubs. However, most of them also sell the license online.
In general, if you travel, try to take the smallest fishing rod or spinning with you. It is always important to know the rules of fishing equipment transportation during plane travels.
In the end, I would like to sum up that Slovenia is a good location for fishing. It has a variety of different types of fishing spots, as well as natural variety. Hence, you have a lot to choose from, depending on your professional level, tastes, or accommodation place preferences.
On the other side, try to enjoy the beauty of Slovenian nature in the meantime of fishing and visit as many interesting places as you can. It is definitely worth it as much as the fishing here is worth to be tried at least once in your life as a fisherman.
