Early Spring Barbel

About a month ago, during a fly fishing session for hucho in some home water, we (Liviu, Silviu and myself) decided to rejoin at the beginning of March. At that time we did not have an exact date and location. After we checked out our working schedules, we realized that it was only the first weekend in March that would fit for all of us. After some search on the internet, Silviu found a river somewhere between Regensburg and Zurich with a mixed population of cyprinids and salmonids.

We started our trip Friday afternoon, after work. Outside it was cold and started to snow while we hit the road. After arriving (late) in the evening, we went to savor the specific culinary specialties of the area, then spent the late night hours with some chit chat till the sandman joined us.

Next morning was sunny. We took our fishing licenses and left to check out the water. The river was much larger than I imagined and more beautiful than in the pictures found on the internet. Although the first sunrays warmth the earth the whole morning, the air temperature was somewhere at 5 ° C and would not exceed 7 ° C during the day. The water temperature was somewhere at 3-4 ° C and the banks were covered with snow and ice. Silviu and I decided to fish with nymphs, Liviu started with a streamer.

In a rush of the river, Liviu saw some big fish. Climbed on the edge of a slope, myself and Silviu were looking for those big specimens. I saw some golden fish flanks shining in the sunlight. They were barbels. I usually catch these fishes with the artificial fly late spring/early summer or in autumn. I caught my largest barbel specimen a few years ago on a sunny April day, on some other water, one day with much more sun and higher temperatures.  After we inspected the surface of the water a bit, we started fishing. Some brown caddis started to hatch. Not long after, I saw Silviu's rod bent. At first, he thought he had a snag, but after a few moments, the snag started to move slowly upstream. The first fish of the game, a beautiful 57 cm barbel with a weight around 4 lbs. Not long after, Silviu manages to fool another fish. While Silviu was occupied with his second barbel, I felt a short and fine jerk in the line, rose the rod and started my drill in parallel with Silviu. This time 58 and 62 cm. Several beautiful fish followed. Liviu joined us and after some time he hooked a big fish. There was a fierce fight. The fish managed to get into the current and won the round. Around four o'clock we decided to end this gorgeous fishing game.

Conclusions: 

1. Doesn't matter what kind of weather conditions you are dealing with, go out on water and fish. You'll catch only if your fly is in the water.

2. Fish confident your nymphs. Go big even early in the spring. We fished Czech nymphs on big hooks no. 8.

3. Bring your fly fast to the bottom where the fish is. You can do this by using heavy nymph patterns (2x or more BH, heavy lead wire body), using lead shots or tungsten paste but take care, there are rivers where it is forbidden to do this. 

4. When you're doing Czech nymphing in spring, the take can be pretty gingerly. For a better feeling, we are using as a leader a long piece of mono (8-10m) connected to a fluorocarbon tippet (approx. 50 cm) by a Pitzinger ring (small metal ring).  

5. Fishing during the first spring weeks can be pretty hard. Don't underestimate the cold water and get some extra under before you step into the wet. Some hot tea can be also a good idea.  

V.A.R. & S.S.