Still-water autumn – trout fishing
After Hanák Open I visited Květoňov lake a few times and it was not easy, but I caught every day fish over 50 cm, best methods were booby fishing with yellow booby, pulling of my favourite yellow lure on fast glass line but also fine fishing at surface both with dries and nymphs, my favourite nymph was black with blue thorax and jungle cock cheeks. One day worked well grey CDC emerger sunk just under the surface. I was fishing also during the day when the elimination for the Czech team was held there, I had an appointment at a fish-pass which we are building at Malše river, so why don´t cross swords with top anglers. They were fishing from boats, top rod was 8 fish, I got 9 from bank 
I attended also autumnal competition in Polička, traditional Czech competition lake, with cappuccino water, good stock of rainbows and surrounded by forest which complicate casting. This date competition hosted 98 competitors.
I was fifth in spring, so I was full of ambitions. I prepared leaders on Friday evening and I woke up at 4 o’clock, journey took 2,5 hours and at 6:30 I reached the parking place at the lake. It was total darkness, foggy and 1°C, so I moved to lodge to draw and for a drink, I bought rum. When I was leaving, in the doors I met Jiří and he invited me for another rum…good start of the day. At about 7:15 the fog rose a little and it was enough light to see leaders, so I built rods, prepared flies and it was time to run to the first peg. Competition was composed by three rounds of 80 minutes with one rotation after 40 minutes. I started as usually with slow glass line with team of three lures, orange blob, black tadpole and yellow tadpole. I had contact one the very first cast but the fish did not take seriously, but in the second cast I got stuck in the first rainbow. Before first rotation I got four fish which looked hopefully, during rotation I met Igor who had already 8. I moved to the water-gate, which is always good spot. First cast, take, strike, three jumps towards me and fish was free… second cast, take, strike, jump, another fish gone. I decided change line to hover with lure with tungsten bead in the point and to roly poly retrieve, after next fish took, I speeded up the puling to get the fish no time to jump. I got another three fish and one couple. In the second round I moved to the upper part of the lake to the forest. I remembered, that it has been always possible to catch a fish close bank there. First cast, roly-poly, hang at the bank, strong take, and first fish was in the net. Second cast, bang in the distance, and another fish was in scoring card. My neighbours started to hate me. The cold north-east wind was making nice riffles, but nothing more happened till the rotation except, for the second half I mowed to spot, where it was possible to cast and I utilised my 40+line and got another two fish on long casts. Under pressure of 98 falling lines fish were keeping save distance from bank, but not enough save for 40 + line After two rounds I was third and Igor was leading. It was clear, that in the last round was essential not to blank as in the second round half of people had no fish.
After good schnitzel for lunch I was hurrying to the peg, I have to make two new leaders. I started in relatively good spot, on my left hand was forest just up to the bank and there was marked buffer zone, behind me was window between trees which enabled me to cast. After five minutes I made good cast with hover line, and after first pull I felt soft touch, I continued puling in the same speed, felt another few “calls” and about 10 metres from bank I speeded up and stopped, and fish took seriously the black lure with fluo-green bead, gold fish, actually “potato” fish, as finally I was fourth. Nice competition, prices for almost everybody, good system of evaluation (fish were only counted, no fish was measured).
But this result definitely lifted me to the Top 40 in the Czech fly-fishing ranking and I qualified to the Czech lake championship 2015 which will be held in Květoňov lake.
First weekend in November we attended with Michal traditional marathon for couples in Jestřabice lake, but we were fishing not well, we had the same number of takes like winners, but we utilised only 30% of them and it was the difference. Key was to use the proper line – floating or hover – and roly poly retrieve. But it was good experience. Before the competition I was practising in Skalička lake, I got 8 fish on dries and light nymphs under surface.
On the way to Jestřabice I visited company AGAMA, traditional Czech producer of neoprene suits and other equipment for scuba divers, rescues and army forces, and they had started programme for fly – fishermen. I met owner of company, an enthusiastic lady Mrs. Věra Hevrová, who manages the company with her two pretty daughters … I bought special neoprene suit for windsurfing and 6,5 mm neoprene waders for winter fishing. They offer service to all gear in 7 days and to all fishing gears they offer 4 years warranty for seams. More over, they can make for you your own waders combining any size of neoprene with any size of neoprene socks or boots. If you are interested, check website www.agama-diving.cz.
