Unica (Unec)

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Unica (Unec)

Unica (Unec) Fly Fishing

Country: Slovenia

District: Notranjska region

Type: River

Location size
River: 10 km

Distance from
Ljubljana: 50 km

Useful information about fly fishing on Unica river - general info & forum board
www.flyfish-slovenia.com
Official website of the Fisheries Research Institute of Slovenia, which manages the Unica river
www.zzrs.si

River Unica is a unique river, which is well known all around the world by its fascinating beauty, amazing mayfly hatches, big graylings and brown trouts. Legend of fly-fishing Edgar Pitzenbauer said it was one of his favourite rivers.

Unica is a typical chalk stream which runs through unspoiled nature offering a great scenery and fly fishing.

Unica is very reach with food so fish grow faster then anywhere else. It is located 50km to the south from Ljubljana in the karstic region of Notranjska (central, inner Slovenia) and flows through a Planinsko polje (Planinsko field).

World famous and very unique chalk stream of gin-clear water and fascinating surroundings.

How To Get There

The fishery can be found about 50 km from Ljubljana to the south of Slovenia.

Use the main highway from Ljubljana to Koper (Slovenian coast) and exit at Unec. After exit, turn right towards Planina and follow the local road. After 5 minutes drive you reach the destination.

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Location Details

The Unica river’s journey begins on the southern edge of one of the most beautiful and best-preserved Karst plains. Actually, it forms when two rivers converge. The Pivka, which, after flowing through sub-surface mazes of the Karst, gushes from the Planinska jama cave in a short but powerful waterfall. After a burbling two-kilometre journey, the Pivka converges with a deep but tame river, the Malenščica, which has lush vegetation on its banks. From there on, the newly formed Unica winds its way several times across the entire breadth of the 6km-long Planinsko Polje.

For about a 2-3 km long section from one of the sources (this stretch of river forms by the biggest European sub-surface confluence of two rivers- Pivka and Rak and comes out to the Planinsko field as "Pivka" out of the Planinska jama cave) to the stone bridge on the main road river is narrower and more shallow, below the bridge it gets deeper and slower. It forms curves with deep pools until it dissapears from the surface in a karstic hole and comes out on the other side (near Vrhnika) as Ljubljanica, which flows towards Ljubljana.

It is a typical chalk stream, mostly easy to wade due to slowly flowing water but sometimes difficult to enter due to depth of the river right by the banks... but one can easily find a suitable places for safe wading.

Fishing is also allowed on the right tributary of the Unica river, located above the stone bridge. Tributary (actually a second main source of the Unica river) is called Malenščica and is quite deep and narrow, so fishing from banks is the best method to avoid swimming and not to scare fish.

Species

Unica holds brown trouts, graylings and in its middle to lower part nice pikes also. Majority of trouts avarage around 30 cm but larger trouts are quite common. Unica is also known for a nice population of graylings which avarage around 35cm, but fish up to 45cm are also quite common. Pikes can be caught especially in a lower part of the river.

Today, the Unica is prized as one of the best grayling waters in Europe. At mayfy time and again in June, when stonefies and caddis flies swarm the area, fly fshermen from around the world converge on Planina. This is the time when it is possible to trick a trophy grayling at daybreak. Or, alternatively, a trophy-sized brightly coloured brown trout in the evening twilight. Much depends upon nerves, as an unfortunate angler may often – burning with passion for hunting – make a wrong move, which this fish will take advantage of in the blink of an eye.

How To Fish

In early May, when water levels are usually higher, it is preferable to fish with a weighted nymphs – imitations of gammarus, caddis larvae, stoneflies larvae or any other nymph of natural colors. The most beautiful dry fly season starts with the late May, when especially in the afternoon graylings and trouts actively take insects such as mayflies from the surface. Dry flies such as the Olive Dun, BWO, Elk-hair Caddis, seria slovenica sedges, F-flies, Red tags, Witches, etc. are mostly a universal choice, usually in sizes from 20 to 14. During mayfly or caddis hatch larger mayflies or sedges on hooks sized #10 are commonly used, especially during the evening hatches.

Equipment

We recommend an AFTMA #3- #5 rod of 7' 6" - 8' 6" length for Unica river. Floating lines are usually all that are needed here. Tippet in the 3-6lb range are needed as some of these fish are large and do fight hard and will use any kind of structure to hide and tangle your line. Since the river can be difficult to wade, high waders are a must, but there are a few places, where Unica can be fished even better from banks than from the water. Be careful - due to its clarity it sometimes looks shallower than it really is...

Practical Info

The fishing season lasts from May 1st to the end of November. The beginning of the season can be influenced by higher water levels. Wading tends to be easy but sometimes, especially in the middle part of the river difficult. Due to a slower water current, wading stick is not needed. Fishing peaks in the late May to late June. The summer heat and a myriad aquatic and waterside insects available for fish to eat chases most anglers away to other locations where it is easier to fish. Fly fisherman fishing in the Unica during those times have all the space they could possibly wish for. That is the perfect time for putting one’s knowledge of fishing to the test and for gaining new valuable experience. During July and August, water level is usually lower but fish are still active, especially in the evening.

The second peak of the season is at the end of September through October, when water levels are lower and the fish start to feed intensively before the onset of winter. Big graylings can be caught then...In the Unica there are no rainbow trout, which are the usual face savers for many anglers around the globe. So even the best fly fishermen out there and local experts have to admit defeat in the face of nature from time to time. But nature richly rewards its most faithful admirers on other occasions, and so a year passes.

Accommodation can be found in the villages of Planina, Cerknica, towns Postojna, Idrija and Spodnja Idrija are not far away. Accommodation in Ljubljana is also a good choice if you want to combine fishing with some benefits of the Slovenia´s capital.

Special "dry fly only" rule is applied below the stone bridge on the main road from Unes to the village of Planina. Only dry flies can be used in that section of the river!

Canoeing is not allowed so fishermen are not bothered by canoeists.

License is required throughout the fishing area. Note: strict control is carried out. License can be bought in the bar in the Planina village or directly at the Fisheries Research Institute office in Gameljne, near Ljubljana. License can be bought for duration of 1 day, 20 days or a yearly licence. Licences for pike fishing are also available, but valid for the very lower part of the Unica river only.

Catch and release is preferable, but licence allows a bag of one fish.

Useful information about fly fishing on Unica river - general info & forum board
www.flyfish-slovenia.com/

Hotel Kendov dvorec

Hotel Kendov dvorec, a member of the prestigious Relais & Chateaux Hotel Association, has its roots in 1377 when the first landowners were already running a farm situated above the Idrijca Valley. Today, the magnificent former Kenda mansion has been beautifully renovated and revived to evoke the spirit of ancient times, and now it displays the rich tradition of its local surroundings with great pride and respect. Sheer excellence of the Kendov dvorec hotel cuisine accompanied by an exquisite selection of wines will fill you with unforgettable warmth.

Hotel Kendov dvorec is proudly rising above 800 years old village of Spodnja Idrija and is located on the right bank of the River Idrijca (and less than 30 min drive towards East to reach Unica), overlooking the beautiful ancient parish church "Marija na Skalci" dating back to 1156.

Hotel Kendov dvorec website
www.kendov-dvorec.com