It was a rugged start for me today here in the Czech Republic. I’m a terrible sleeper but last night I got hardly a wink. It could be an attack from jetlag or just my mind spinning about our move from Victor. I have no idea but I felt like crap. The fellas, Jerry and David had a wonderful night sleep as always and off we went to Penny’s grocery store for a heap of chocolate muffins and of course, a few Magnum Whites for breakfast.
I didn’t exactly pop awake after the sweets for breakfast but they helped along with the stiff instant Nescafe I brewed myself. The guys then decided to drive to look at the lake that will be in the competition next week. The lake is an hour away so that gave me some time to doze off on the drive.
There wasn’t much to see at the lake but we looked. Next we headed to a small town to find a watch store. I never wear a watch but I do for tournaments so I can managed my fishing time carefully. Wouldn’t you know, my battery was dead. It was a neat little European town with stone streets and ancient churches. And we found a store that got my watch working. The late start to fishing was working out from a tourist point of view.
At around 10:45 we arrived at the lower Morava River to fish – just outside of Zábřeh. The competition, which starts next week, will have four venues. Three on the Morava River and the lake. As for the river there will be an upper, middle and lower section for fishing. The lower section appears difficult. The water is deep and the banks are steep. Its particularly hard to access. Toss in the canopy of trees and its hard to cast too.
David and Jerry wadered up fast and found a somewhat decent spot to fish from. I fumbled around in a daze but finally got in the river and gave it my best shot. I was still moving slow but fishing always invigorates me. I nymphed up a decent grayling and a brown trout quickly so things were good.
As I fished there was some light rain and wind. Its fall here and the river started filling up with leaves and the water became slightly off-color. Conditions were tough to begin with but they were getting worse. I went a long time before my next grayling or trout, however I picked up a few European chubs (Squalius cephalus). And good news, chubs 20 cm and up will count in the competition.
David tracked me down around 1 PM for lunch. I opted to skip out and keep fishing. I had some nuts and a piece of chocolate with me that would suffice. I see the lower Morava as being the toughest sector in next weeks World Masters Fly Fishing Competition. Extra practice seems essential so I can learn it and share info with the rest of my team when they arrive Friday.
After 7 hours of hardcore fishing the lower Morava today I ended up with 3 grayling, 7 chubs and 2 brown trout. By no means a disaster but in a three hour session, who knows. I do know I need to do better so we will practice here more later this week.
I don’t have much of a picture but one of the highlights today was when a nutria worked his way up through a pool I was fishing. At first they appear nothing more than a beaver or an oversized muskrat. But no, this critter had some personality. He wasn’t afraid. He acknowledged I was there and peacefully ate a big flower plant growing on the bank across the river from me. It was fun to watch.
For now it’s a big dinner and a pilsner. Jerry and David found a nice place to eat when they went to lunch and we are here for dinner. I finished a delicious pepper steak and now I’m fascinated to watch Jerry devour a dessert to write home about! And when we get back to our Pension I’m making sure I sleep tonight. We’ll be back practicing somewhere on the Morava tomorrow.
Good luck!
Thank you Kristen!