Fly Fishing Soča river, Slovenia

Country: Slovenia

District: Gorenjska/ Severna Primorska

Type: River

Location size
River: 60 km

Distance from
Ljubljana: 120 km
Vienna: 420 km
Venezia: 190 km

Great source about fly fishing in Slovenia
www.flyfish-slovenia.com

Soča river is really a true pearl of the Julian Alps and one of the most beautiful rivers in Europe. With its emerald green color and gin clear water it considered as a fly fishing paradise. It is a 140 km long river that flows through Western Slovenia and North-Eastern Italy. An Alpine river in character, its source lies in the Trenta Valley in the Julian Alps in Slovenia, at around 1,100 metres of altitude. The river runs past Slovenia's highest peak, Triglav (2,864 m) before heading south past the towns of Bovec, Kobarid, Tolmin, Kanal ob Soči, Nova Gorica (where it is crossed by the Solkan Bridge) and Gorizia, entering the Adriatic Sea close to the Italian town of Monfalcone.

The Soča Valley was the stage of major military operations including twelve battles on the Italian front in World War I between May 1915 and November 1917, in which over 300,000 Austro-Hungarian and Italian soldiers lost their lives.

Due to its emerald green water, the river is also known under the name "The Emerald Beauty". It is said to be one of the rare rivers in the world that retain such a colour throughout their length. The Soča inspired the poet Simon Gregorčič to write his best-known poem Soči (To the Soča), one of the masterpieces of Slovene poetry.

A true pearl of the Julian Alps.

How To Get There

The fishery can be found about 120 km from Ljubljana and about 190 km from Venezia. Use the towns Bovec, Kobarid, Tolmin or Most na Soci as a central points to the fishery.

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Location Details

Soča river is a typical apline river with a rocky bottom. Below it source it is about 5- 10 meters wide but it gets wider downstream from the confluence with the Lepena river. To the lake Most na Soči, in avarage Soča river maintains 10-30 meters of wideness, except in a few gorges. Its pools can be up to 10 meters deep, but most of them are up to 3-5 meters deep. Otherwise Soča river is quite shallow and fast river with shallow rapids, especially in the places where it remains wide. Its upper part is located in the Triglav National Park with some special regulations.

Snow usually starts to melt in the beginning of May and that lasts till June or early July (it depends on the amount of snow in the Alps).

Species

Soča river holds endemic marble trouts and adriatic graylings. It is also inhabited by rainbow trouts. Marble trouts reach up to a 130 cm in length and weight up to a 25kg. Graylings reach up to a 60cm in length and rainbows up to a 90 cm. Fish around 50 cm are common.

Equipment

We recommend an AFTMA 5-6 rod for regular nymphing and dry fly fishing and 9-12 rod for large streamer fishing. High waders are a must. Be careful of numerous boulders in the river bed and its powerful current, especially when the water is high. Due to its crytal clear colour, every obstacle in the river bed can be noticed before.

How To Fish

During spring months with high water levels, it is preferable to fish with a heavy nymphs of darker colors – imitations of stoneflies, with large jig streamers and tungsten head type nymphs.

The most beautiful dry fly season starts in the middle of the summer and lasts till the late autumn. Dry flies such as the F-Fly, CDC&Elk, sedges of the Seria Slovenica, Blue Duns, Witches, Needle Flies etc. are effective at this time, usually in sizes from 20 to 14, sometimes even larger.

Practical Info

The fishing season lasts from April 1st to the end of October. Period from the middle of May to the beginning of July is generally negatively influenced by high water levels and snowy water (it all depends on the amount of snow in the Alps). Wading at that time can be difficult and even dangerous, so a wading stick is recommended.

During July and August river is quite occupied with rafters and canoeists, but due to its wideness they can easily float by behind the fishermens back without any influence on the fishing. Rafting and canoeing is regulated, so it is allowedonly in the middle of the day and not in the morning or in the evening. It is not allowed in the Triglav National Park - upper part of the Soča river.

The height of the season is at the end of July through October, when water levels are lower and the fish start to feed intensively before the onset of winter.

Accommodation can be found in Trenta and in towns Bovec, Kobarid, Tolmin, Most na Soči.

Upper part of Soča is managed by the States Fisheries Institute - licence covers Soča with its two tributaries Lepena and Koritnica. Middle part is managed by the Tolmin Fishing Club - one licence covers Soča and 10 other fly fishing rivers. Lower part is managed by the Soča Fishing Club (Nova Gorica). Catch and release is applied at some parts of the river. C&R licences are cheaper than regular ones. Fly fishing shops are in Italy (Udine), Bled and Ljubljana - some tackle and flies can be bought at the accomodation providers in the region.

Great source about fly fishing in Slovenia
www.flyfish-slovenia.com
Official site of Fisheries Research Institute of Slovenia
www.zzrs.si
Angling Club of Tolmin
www.ribiska-druzina-tolmin.si