Gradac River

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Gradac River

Gradac River | Fly Fishing Serbia | CzechNymph.com

Country: Serbia

District: Balkan

Type: River

Location size
River: 11 km

Distance from
Belgrade: 110 km

Lodge and services
www.rokafly.rs/

The Gradac canyon is only 11 km long, varying in width from 5 to 20m with an average depth of 1m. There are no major tributaries, but many springs feeding it: Zelenac, Selenium, Vizantinac, Studenac, Popovo.

The chemical and biological composition of water is extremely clean and you can drink so.

The average water temperature is 13 Celsius. The Gradac gorge is carved through karst terrain, with a depth of approximately 150-300m and, total drop of 187 m. Above, the mountains reach an altitude of 500 m, and the nearby Povlen has an altitude of 1347 m. The outstanding features of Gradac gorge are protected because of its great beauty and because of the specific flora and fauna in the region.

There are more than 800 species of plants, about 100 species of birds. The entire stretch is ideal for flyfishing and is Catch and Release for the whole length.

The tradition of fly fishing on the River Gradac dates back more than a century.

How To Get There

The starting point is the Belgrade airport. Follow road number 19 (88.5km) and the river can be reached by 1 hour and 50 minutes.

At the information area for the Valjevo Lelic Monastery and Monastery Celije, there is a large parking lot in front of the monastery.

Your vehicle is safe here, and the river Gradac is only a 10-minute walk away.

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Location Details

Gradac is one of the most pure and natural Serbian rivers. It is karst salmonid water, where one will find brown trout and grayling.

In the lower reaches there are also other fish species such as brook barbel, chub, and whitefish. It is extremely rich in aquatic insect larvae: Trichoptera, Plechoptera, Epheroptera, Diptera, Odonata, Coleoptera.

Species

The largest trophy brown trout grow up to 70 cm, though they are usually from 20 to 45 cm.

Large specimens hide in the great depths and under rocks, and can mainly be caught on streamers and nymphs.

Grayling reaches 40 cm, with the average size caught around 25 cm, living in deep. habitats and rushing rapids. In addition to salmonids other fish species (brook barbel, chub, whitefish) are present.

How To Fish

For the spring we suggest Wooly Bugger streamers, sizes 8, 6, 4, 2 and Epoxy Zonker streamers. Also recommended are bead head nymphs (rabbit ear, pheasant tail) in sizes 10, 12, 14.
For dry flies - dark Elk caddis size 12, March brown, Olive dun (Pecinara) sizes 14, 12 are all good.

At the beginning of June for grayling and trout imitations of may fly (the Ephemera Danica) size 10, 12 are excellent.

For June and July, nymphs and floating flies like a big stone fly, size 8 - 10, are recommended. Elk Caddis are good throughout the summer season in sizes 12, 14, 16.

For the fall period imitations of small elk caddis, size 16, 14, and imitation Baeatidae sized 16, 18, 20 are good.

For the whole season we recommend as a universal dry fly Pecinar (Rocco fly creation) sizes 20, 18,16, 14.

You can buy flies on the river in the guest house "Tetrebovac".

Equipment

For equipment we recommend a lightweight fly rod, fast to medium fast of length 2,20 to 2,40 m. AFTMA 3-4 with floating fly line DT or WF 3-4.

For leaders use tapered monofilament or braided lengths of 2 to 2,40 with a thickness of 0,10 mm to 0,16 mm.

We recommend long waders or long boots.

Accommodation

Tetrebovac guest house is located in the upper part of the Gradac canyon (2km from the source). We offer fishing on the entire 14 km course of the Gradac, and offer complete service for transportation, lodging and food.

Every year we organize two competitions: Cup Milojko Marijanovic (Klubsko competition) and the second is the international competition "Open Gradac" in early May.