Mention the Czech Republic and what comes to mind?
For many it is the picturesque views of the city, the
Cathedral of Our Lady of Tyn, Prague Castle, the
Astronomical Clock and of course Charles Bridge.
What a lot of people don't realize is that outside
of the city of Prague awaits a largely undiscovered
country with its rolling hills, green pastures,
smaller towns and villages and an abundance of
history dating back many, many centuries.
Another unknown quality of the Czech Republic is
its nature and wildlife. Imagine driving through
the countryside from one town or village to the next
and seeing birds of prey circling over head, wild
deer grazing in herds in the open fields, as well
as standing on the edge of a bubbling river, coursing
its way through the land, with fish rising all around.
Yes, fishing in the Czech Republic for many is truly
an unknown quantity.
Forget the old images you have in your head about a
dirty, polluted, ex-communist state, and replace these
images with waterways cascading down from the mountains
that encircle the country, feeding the lower larger
rivers filled with trout that rise cautiously to the
passing food floating down on the waters surface.
Think about grayling hungrily sucking everything that
looks like food and spitting out that that isn't,
overhanging trees and steep hillsides rising from
the opposite bank of the river with deep pools and
troughs carved out by the fast flowing water. And
here you have a perfect and idyllic view of what
fishing is like in the Czech Republic.
Fishing in the Czech Republic is basically split into
six regions (although some, including the locals will
obviously dispute this statement). In the centre is
Central Bohemia, filled with its large rivers, reservoirs,
lakes and smaller streams. Central Bohemia for this reason
is predominantly a coarse fishing area. There are some
smaller rivers with good trout but on the whole, the region
is for the coarse specialists, boasting some large carp
and catfish as well as other species such as zander and
pike, Central Bohemia is an excellent place to fish.
Encircling Central Bohemia are the four regions of North,
East, South and West Bohemia. Each with its own merits
and each offering very, very good fly fishing for trout
and grayling…as well as coarse fishing. As I have said
before the rivers cascade down off the surrounding
mountains, either through deep, rock filled canyons
or along gentler meandering valleys. Which ever,
each river has its own character, which will enthrall
even the most experienced of fishermen.
The final region is Moravia, in the far east of the
country. An unknown quantity for many visitors.
Due to its lack of accessibility Moravia is for
most undiscovered country. There are no real
airports feeding the area so to get there a hire
car or transport of your own is a must. Moravia
is filled with mountains and game rivers that
provide some very good fishing indeed.
So, appetites wetted, and fishing kit stood waiting
in the corner. Take a look at what the Czech Republic
has to offer.
Fishing holidays and fishing tours in the Czech
Republic are very, very cheap. Typically a fully
guided fishing tour of the whole country including
accommodation will cost you less than 1000GBP
(approx $1,600 US), and regional holidays costing
around 500GBP ($750 US). For this reason, the
affordability, along with the peaceful environment
and unspoiled country, more and more people are
choosing to visit the Czech Republic for their
next fishing trip.
Will you be one of them?
Coming soon: The opening days of the fishing season in the Czech Republic.
~ Tim Baldwin
About Tim:
Born in London, England, age 34, 1.5 kids 2nd due in 6 weeks).
Been fishing since the age of 6 or 7. First day fishing
was at a location called Fishers Green in Essex. Dad
didn't catch anything, I kept catching Barbel. From there
was hooked. Progressed into Fly Fishing as I found Coarse
a bit on the boring side. I am hyperactive so I don't
like sitting around waiting. I am the more Pro-Active type.
Moved to the Czech Republic in 2001 and started a
British Travel Company (Prague Tours (UK) Ltd) of
which Czech Coarse & Fly Fishing is a subsidiary,
designed my first web sites which have now evolved
into what they are today. See
www.praguetoursuk.com.
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