River Carp and Trout fishing holidays in the Czech Republic

If you book a holiday having read this article you will get a £15 tackle voucher to spend at www.polefloats.com, all you need to do is quote reference TALKANGLING when booking and once you have paid for your holiday email simon@talkangling.co.uk for your voucher code. 1 voucher per angler per trip.

Unlike the UK, where fishing waters are predominately private or club waters, the Prague and Czech Republic coarse and game anglers are free to fish the majority of the country's many rivers and lakes under one national ticket. The angler has freedom to extensively roam, and a well co-ordinated, national, intensive fish-breeding programme ensures that there are plenty of fish.

The Spring and Autumn produce the best game fish, and coarse fishing, depending upon species, is particularly productive in the summer. However, you will catch throughout the year - with the exception of mid-winter, which is often very cold!

Carp fishing details -

Throughout the peak catching months of May to September, we are offering a great opportunity for you to catch by fishing czech rivers and lakes the famous, fighting, Prague and Czech Republic river Carp. These are not boilie-bloated fish that will roll over as you draw them to the bank, but up to a metre plus of super fit, coordinated muscle. With this in mind, you should maintain a certain level of physical conditioning if you plan of catching any of these fish. Fishing after all is not like poker where strength and stamina do not play a key role.

When it comes to fishing, coarse or game, the Czech Republic is the hidden jewel of Europe. Long warm summers, with a diverse range of unpolluted waters, and a generous national stocking policy offer the perfect combination for the opportunity for specimen fish.

Situated in the heart of Europe and bordered by mountains, the Czech Republic generally enjoys temperatures between 20 and 30C through April to October and fishing is amazing to say the least, warm water gives the fish ferocious appetites and plenty of weight gain.

The large majority of fishing waters are controlled by one czech fishing national club, which allows the angler access to an almost unlimited range of rivers and lakes. Most venues allow you to drive straight to the bank, and are situated in unspoilt countryside offering stunning views.

Example of species: Common carp to 64 lb, grass carp to 40 lb, catfish to 204 lbs, roach to 5lb, bream to 13 lb, chub to 8 lb, tench to 8 lb.

Our packages are highly flexible, and, within reason, may be adapted to fit your expectations. Below is one possible itinerary:

Seven days fishing in the Czech Republic, Half board accommodation at a Pension or Hotel in the South of Prague - offering easy access to both the fishing grounds and Prague centre.

Total freedom to roam the numerous carp waters.

Fishing permits and licences, along with detailed maps, and our appraisal of the best waters to fish for your selected period.

Expert Guides, as required.

Example: 7 nights: Bed, breakfast & evening meal; 4 free beers, or a litre of wine per person per day; 7 day (2 rod) rod licence and permit.
Guide for 1 day; maps; ground bait.
Four Anglers: per angler: 39.90 GBP per day (279.30 for the week).

Includes: Seven days fishing in the Czech Republic, Half board accommodation in a comfortable guesthouse managed by an experienced British angler, situated in a picturesque village only 25 minutes from Prague and within the Golden Triangle of Czech course fishing. Provides easy and quick access to both the fishing grounds and Prague centre. Fishing permits and licences, along with detailed maps, offering total freedom to explore the numerous local waters, and an appraisal of the best venues to fish for your selected period. Some suitable fishing tackle may be hired. Ground bait is supplied free.

Prague is only a 90-minute flight from London, and well serviced by low cost airlines. If you want to drive, it's about 12 hours from Dover, all motorways.

Trout fishing details -

To book you must click here to email - Ian Jessiman but make sure you put TALK ANGLING in the subject to get your £15 tackle voucher.

An unbeatable opportunity for the ultimate Czech fishing experience:

Less then a two hours drive fom Prague, West Bohemia is rich with unspoilt fly fishing rivers, offering a wide range of venues for wet and dry techniques, and your opportunity to develop the famous 'Czech Nymph' method. Your Guide will advise you on the best waters, and the best methods and, if required, provide professional tuition at no extra charge.

Example Prices 2008
7 nights: Bed & breakfast; 7 day fishing licence; map; Guide for 1 day
Minimum 3 Anglers: per angler: 29.90 GBP per night (you will not find a better offer!)

Book early to avoid disappointment

Venues for fishing

Trout	Grayling
Otava River	Otava River
Strela River	Strela River
Unlava River	Mze River
Uterksy Stream	Radbuza River
	Svatava River

The Prague and Czech Republic fly fishing season begins on April 16th and, depending upon the weather, here is a list of the best times to fish:

April: If not too cold, the season often has a superb start. Mainly Trout, Rainbow and Brown, with a few Grayling
May: An excellent month for Trout
June: An excellent month for Trout
July: An excellent month for Trout, but the second half can tail off, if it gets too hot.
August: Often too hot
September: Mid September, when the temperature begins to drop, is the start of peak Grayling season.
October: An excellent month for Grayling
November: An excellent month for Grayling, but the second half can tail off, if it gets too cold.
The season finishes on the 30th November

Czech Republic fishing adventures - a true story

Czech Fishing Adventures: The local lake
 
We had enjoyed a long hot summer, and as my alarm clock welcomed me into a new August morning I knew that today would be no exception.  I quickly dressed, attended to those vital functions, loaded myself with tackle and headed for the nearby lake. It held a good head of fish; primarily carp to 30lb+, and some catfish to about 180lb.  Bream, roach, pike, and tench were abundant, along with a mix of other rarer species.
 
Fifteen minutes later I arrived at my favourite swim and prepared myself for some action.  Within minutes, two 3.5lb 4 metre rods sat in the tripod with accompanying method feeders 80 metres away, close to the centre of the lake.  Finally, I unfolded my chair and sat back in anticipation.
 
The lake, situated on the outskirts of Prague, had once been part of the domestic water distribution system.  However, for the last 20 years its sole function was to provide sport and leisure activities for the local residents.  Boats were banned, and a small nudist beach was just viewable by binoculars, if you picked the right swim!
 
Like most Czech lakes, a small pub that also served coffee and snacks was a short walk away.  However, it was not yet 6am, so a beer would have to wait until the sun came up.
 
As I settled into my chair I had a look around.  The only company I had was woodpecker up a nearby tree, pecking away for its breakfast, and a pair of red squirrels playing a game of tag as they launched themselves from branch to branch.  The light morning mist was rapidly diminishing, and I could now see a dozen, or so, anglers on the other side of the lake.
 
Over the next hour I recast a couple of times, and had been joined by three other anglers.  I recognised them as regulars, and was greeted by a cheery ‘Dobry rano’ (good morning!).
 
These guys fished for the pot and did not like to go home empty handed!  And in common with 80+% of Czech anglers, they used 3 metre+ telescopic rods, with a casting weight of about 80-120 grammes (continentals don’t tend to use the Test Curve measurement).
 
The following hour improved as I caught a 5lb bream, and 2 small carp.  My comrades were yet to connect, but in all fairness I was able to cast into the deeper water, a good 30 metres past where they were fishing.
 
After the second carp I recast and was resetting my swinger, when I heard a shuffling noise behind me.  As I turned I saw an old man who would never see 80 again, dressed in what looked like a well-used demob suit, with accompany battered trilby, and carrying a small shopping bag.  He slowly shambled past me, muttering ‘Dobry rano’, and stopped at the water’s edge about 4 metres to my right.
 
To my amazement, he produced what looked like a small handful of green fibreglass canes; each about 8 inches long, and slowly pushed them together to form a 4 foot fishing rod!  The roughest reel I have ever seen then appeared; it had a diameter of about 3 inches, looked as if it was made from a recycled baked bean can, and held, at best, about 20 metres of line.
 
With trembling hands it took him 10 minutes to mount the reel and thread the tattered line through the rusty rings.  He then produced a battered tin, which contained some old, large, rusty hooks and spent another 10 minutes trying to tie one of these to the end of his line. He would still be there today, had not one of my comrades gone to his aid.
 
The old man graciously thanked his helper, and then placed his rod carefully on the ground.  Next, with his back bent further than normal, he began to search his peg.  Had he lost a hook?  No, he was looking for a suitable stone to tie to his line as a sinker.  After achieving this, with the help of what looked like an old roll of sticky plaster, he then went to a nearby bush and broke off a small branch to use as a rod rest. Kitted up and ready, he produced a small bread roll from his pocket, pinched a generous flake onto his hook, and prepared to cast.
 
I use the term ‘to cast’ lightly.  Age and infirmity preventing an overhead action, so he held the rod sideways at waist height, and with an action that resembled a geriatric’s cricket stroke, whipped the rod forward.  Hook, line and sinker entered the water with a resounding splash, about 6 feet from the bank.  With a smile of self-satisfaction, the old boy carefully placed his empty shopping bag at his feet and sat on it.
 
The morning improved, and by the time I finished at lunch time I had returned to the water: 8 carp to 22lb, 3 bream to 6lb, and a scale perfect roach of 2lb 5 oz.  My three comrades had managed 5 carp between them, so they didn’t return home empty handed.
 
The old man?  He never had a bite, of course!

To book you must click here to email - Ian Jessiman but make sure you put TALK ANGLING in the subject to get your £15 tackle voucher.