Fishing is not always easy… and it wasn’t so in the last few weeks. Since brown trout (my favorite) is closed in winter, I targeted other species such as pike and hucho, in waters that I had not previously fished.
Both species take some confidence to fish for, as you can stand in a spot casting big streamers and although you know the fish is there, it will not show up… until you decide to have one last cast…! And finally, after long hours, IT’S ON! Hopefully…
But if water is high, murky, and you are not familiar with this spot, then confidence will be tested! Especially if rain is pouring or you are in the middle of a snowstorm! And it was like that all the last few times I went fishing.
I met new people, among them Wolfgang, a friendly Bavarian fellow (it happens!), who invited me on his boat. On that day I caught a small pike at least, but considering that we fished quite some hours and it is supposedly a good pike water, the one bite was rather a bit disappointing (although I should be thankful I know!).
All the rest of my fishing excursions I fought with rapidly changing weather, short periods of sun, followed by blizzards, hailstorms, torrential rain… frozen rings, blind sunglasses… high water, slippery banks and hardly any sight of a fish. An occasional small chub or a tiny pike was happily welcomed, as even my beloved graylings did not cooperate… in the murky water the ignored even the bright-colored nymphs. If there where any graylings at all? This stretch of the Danube I had not fished before, so was I casting for nothing?
My conclusion? I got to know several new water, spent many hours fishing, had every kind of weather (often within minutes)… as an optimist, I should say it was a “highly diversified” experience… and I am hoping for better days to come!
