Fly Fishing Gmundner Traun, Austria

Country: Austria

District:

Type: River

Location size
River: 14 km

Distance from
Salzburg: 80 km
Munich: 216 km
Vienna: 234 km
Prague: 317 km

Freunden der Gmundner Traun
www.freundedergmundnertraun.at

The river Traun is a typical prealpine Austrian river, origination in the Styrian Salzkammergut region and joining the River Danube after a flow of 95 miles (153 km) trought the foothills of the Alps and the Upper Austrian plain.

The most famous stretch if the river is the beat named "Gmundner Traun". The fishing includes about nine miles (14 km) of highly diverse and well-structured river, home to trout and grayling, with huge pike lurking under the banks in smooth and glassy glides.

The Gmundner Traun is a 14 km natural, diversified river and a fly fishermen’s paradise.

Geography

Gmundner Traun begins below Theresienthal power station, about a mile downstream of Gmunden and the stretch is about nine miles long. The lower section is marked by a wild and beautiful waterfall, the Traunfall near the small village Viecht.

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Location Details

Particularly attractive and challenging, aside from the mere width of the mighty river, is the fascinating and rapidly changing structure of the river bed, creating long, deep pools and flows, fast ripple sections and shingle banks alternating with wooded or rocky shores. Impounded areas upstream of serveral weirs form excellent habitat for trophy fish.

The steep wooded sides of the river valley provide shade and sufficient shelter by overhanding trees and form excellent lies for big fish, that are gorging themselves on mayflies and dropping terrestrials. Most parts of the Gmundner Traun can be waded with chest waders, the size of the river, however calls for some precaution. Especially in the case of high water level during the snowmelt or periods of heavy rainfall wearing of an inflatable life jacket is recommended for those not intimately acquainted with alpine rivers.

Species

At present the water holds a good to very good population of rainbow trout and you can still catch some big specimens of brownies and lake trouts. Grayling fishing - especially in the autumn months - may still provide an unforgettable experience and some specimens beyond the 20 in (50 cm) mark are caught every year, though not, of course, as an everyday occurence.

Pike over 3 ft (100 cm) are quite often hooked and landed with fly fishing gear in nooks and quite water areas. The water holds good population of barbles as well.

Tactics

Gmundner Traun can be fished with most of the known river fly fishing techniques. During the high water streamer fishing with sinking line is very productive. During the low water dry fly fishing is the most practiced technique. You can stalk fish with nymph in deep pools or pocket water.

In order to enable the absolute specialists to fish otherwise inaccessible lies and holding places, the use of belly boats is permitted in the Danzermuehle impoundment (from Bruckmuehl downstream) as well as in the area between Geschroeff and Siebenbrunn power stations.

Flies

In spring the most important fly is without doubt the Olive Dun (Beatis rhodani). In April, at the beginning of the season, artificials resembling this fly are used most often.

Emerger and dun patterns are usually tied on hooks size 12 or 14, in autumn sizes 14 to 18 are considered more appropriate. Spinner immitations are less important during spring, but in autumn Red Spinner may be numerous and may offer superior fishing in the late afternoon.

In May and June hatches of Olive Upright are prolific. Olive Upright emerges exclusively under water and therefore wet flies represent the correct imitation. For wet flies hooks sizes of 10-14 are mostly used. From May onwards the so called False (or Late) March Brown is common for some weeks and palmered style dun patterns or Klinkhamer flies on hooks size 10-12 are often considered particularly good imitations.

From middle of June to late summer, caddis fly imitations are usually superior over most other patterns. Additionally occurs the Blue Winged Olive (BWO) in huge numbers, arguably the most important fly for the summer months among Ephemerids, which offers excellent fishing in the dun and spinner stage as well. In some years the genuine Mayfly (Ephemera danica) hatches in considerable numbers, and the fisherman is well advised to have an appropriate pattern in the fly box.

For streamer fishing we would like to highlight Zonkers especially in light brown colours. Nymphing can be productive with goldhead nymphs (tungsten bead preffered) in natural colours and for stalking we recommend Klima's drop leaded nymphs (Olive Dun imitations).

Practical Info

All necessary information and links can be found at the site of Freunde der Gmundner Traun.

Local fly fishing club responsible for river management
www.freundedergmundnertraun.at
Fishing licence, accommodation and good local food
www.wirtambach.at
Fishing licence and accommodation
www.waldesruh.at
Local travel info
www.traunsee.at