Crystal clear water is still quite high and fast in May-June usually with temperatures of 24/26°C.  You can fish from the misty 6.00 am to almost dark at 9.00pm.   The time of the year provides the sportsman with an opportunity to fish dry fly from mid morning to dusk.  Early morning forays produce the large ‘Brownies’ whereas the lazy ‘lady of the stream’ becomes active around 10.00am. The ratio of Grayling to Trout taken changes considerably from the autumn, there are more trout in the spring.

 The grayling ‘play’ with food all day, and by the late morning there are prolonged periods of activity.  There is generally a quiet period (ideal time for luncheon, Siesta etc).  This lasts up to perhaps 4.00pm or later. Early evening right up to dusk can be amazing.  Periods of feeding frenzy vary corresponding to hatches, and sometimes only a matter of a few minutes can produce considerable numbers.  Whilst this is mainly applicable to grayling you can never be sure until you start playing the fish. The guides offer smaller hook sizes until you are challenged with threading 24’s (after 3 strong breakfast coffees, almost impossible)

The summer heat over the next 10 weeks will cause changes lowering the water so that only the pools will hold fish.  Only accuracy in casting and presentation along with stealth in approach will yield results. This is the time for the expert.
 

September 2008

The group consisted of 5 novices and 2 experts from Scotland. It had been a dry summer and the water levels were down making fishing difficult, particularly in the park. The two experienced guys did OK but the novices were showing signs of frustration. The Kupica proved much better and everybody caught their expected quota. 

Memorable highlights were:

• The visually impaired guest (on a repeat visit) caught 5 grayling in 1 hour. 
• The Scottish gents had considerable dry fly success (something that is not available back home Oct.1st) 
• One guest had a Danube Salmon (Hauchen or Mladica) of some 7lb on for 20 minutes before it broke the 1,9lb tippet.

May/June 2008

Nine UK guests fished our venue, their first early season foray.  Conditions were ideal, cool nights warms days.  The guests were split into 2 groups, alternating the venues.
Th source of the Kupa in the Risnjak Park was highly productive for both groups. The Kupica fished to perfection. The joy and success of dry fly-fishing was experienced by all. 

Memorable Experiences:

• Stuart catching 7 grayling between 20.45 and 21.15, repeating ‘just one more cast’ 
• Darryl on his first fishing visit to Gorski Kotar had some good fish and also a good swim. 

September 2007

The summer had been exceptionally hot and the guides were concerned about our party of 9 guests. Fishing was to be restricted to known pools in all five favoured locations and perhaps only the main river.
How wrong can one be!  As the guests arrived in Ljubljana, so did 100 mm of rain. By morning we had a ‘grey soup’ torrent, the river Kupa was up 1 meter and rising, unfishable. The Kupica whilst relatively clear was 60 cm up and rising, also unfishable.  The guides elected to go up river some 40 km, the source of the Kupa in the Park Risnjak. This also proved unfishable. We purchased 2-day tickets for our two experienced fishermen and considering the silly conditions they produced 5 grayling between them caught in the back eddy waters of bends. The day was spent eating and drinking (we even ate PUH a local rodent delicacy)
Back at the hotel we placed measuring markers in the Kupica to monitor the changes. To our horror the water was up 50 mm by the morning.

We abandoned the locality and drove some 70 miles to the river Gacka on the Bosnian border.  This was the most celebrated Yugoslav fishing venue of yesteryear.  It boasted an international hotel, Gourmet quality food even a Heliport, that only wealthy foreigners could afford.
The break-up of Yugoslavia and subsequent wars took their toll on Gacka. The hotel was stripped and blown up. The fish were taken with nets and explosives. This total devastation remained for 5 years. Eventually somebody remembered that this was a class-fishing venue and attempted to revive it quickly and cheaply by stocking it with Rainbows.
Well we had fun, the rainbows were big, the water was clear and slow moving and everybody caught fish. We even had a few grayling. The day was somehow saved.

By the 3rd day the waters had receded, it was business as usual 80% grayling 20% trout.  Even the least experienced had multiple fish.  And a visually impaired gent (registered blind) caught 7 fish. The two experts concentrated on going only for the dominant fish and in a final stand off decided to call it a draw.  Monday, morning produced the best fishing with the waters back to normal.  We travelled home that evening wishing we could have another day.
 

September 2006

• In September four sportsmen had a tally of 130+ fish, of which 80% were Grayling.  Best grayling 41cm
• We did not start any morning fishing before 10.00am , not a serious way to go for trout!
• Experience level varied from expert to novice
• Everyone in the group is returning this year -- a good recommendation!