Little Drau (Austria)

The Little Drau side stream has a character which is between a karst and mountain stream. Although remote, a path leads along the stream, which only fly fishermen may use. The largest advantage of the Kleine Drau is the fact, that the water level stays always the same, even after the heaviest rainfalls or thunderstorms. So the Kleine Drau remains in top condition for fishing, while all other rivers in the region may be high and dirty. The stream is very diverse and two water storage areas add to the variety. The food supply for the fish has a tremendous variety to: from the May fly to massive numbers gammarus. Due to its clarity fly fishing the Kleine Drau is a real challenge. The reward may be tremendously beautiful fish, there are some trophy sized grayling, brook and rainbow trout. The “fish of the year 2007” was a 55 cm long grayling from the Kleine Drau!


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Vellach (Austria)

At the foot of the 2.142 m high Mt. Obir you will find the beautiful Vellach river running through a breathtaking landscape. The insects like ephemera, caddis- and stone flies are plenty. Therefore the numbers of big brook-, rainbow trout and grayling are very high as well. Especially in the morning- and evening hours the avid fly fisherman can experience fantastic dry fly-fishing. Also nymphs produce tremendous success on the Vellach river. Fishing this way may lead to “very big” surprises: Since the fish from the Drau river into the Vellach has opened, there are not only a lot more graylings in the river - the population of huchen (“Danube salmon”) improved dramatically too. When fishing with nymphs, or when the water level is higher, with streamers, there´s a good chance that such a "Danube salmon" may hit the fly. You won´t forget that fight for the rest of your life! When the water level is low wading boots are perfect. But generally light breathable waders are more comfortable, especially in the summertime. There are path along the banks of the river for easy access in most parts of the fishing district. In spring 2006 a certified hatchery opened exclusively for the stocking program in the Vellach river and Kleine Drau side stream.

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Gmundner Traun (Austria)

The Gmundner Traun, the part of the Traun that is running out of the Traun Lake is known as the craddle of Austrian fly fishing.  People from all over the world travelled to Gmunden to learn from Hans Gebetsroither and to fish the mighty but usually always gin clear Gmundner Traun. After the building of the power station in Gmunden (the needle weir was replaced by a dam) the fish from the Traun lake were not able to run in and out the river any more and what was once one of the best trout and grayling rivers in the world is nowadays only a shadow of what it was like before.

The large wild brown trout (salmo trutta labrax lacustris) that entered the river to spawn before the dam was built cannot be caught there any moe. Today the river is dependent on fish stocking as also the reproduction of the grayling seems to be not working any more. Nevertheless the Freunde der Gmundner Traun, an international fly fishing club, who are the present tenants of the river do their best to make good fly fishing possible. The Gmundner Traun holds trout, grayling, some huge pike and different cyprinid species. It is still a river which attracts a lot of fishermen from different countries and I always enjoy to fish it when I am in Upper Austria.

The grayling is the “queen of the stream” and the fish shows this in its gorgeous looking and elegant behaviour (really comes out if you have ever seen a large grayling jump when hooked). The presentation has to be very accurate and your fly has to be well served upstream. I found out that a good serving of the fly is much more important than the selection of the “match the hatch fly“, but size does matter. If you see a grayling that is nipping flies from the surface you have a high chance to hook the fish. If the grayling refuse to take your fly, try a smaller one.
Daily License: Euro 80

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