And there I was, on the road again… heading to Târgu Mureș, where Marian, a well-known fisherman in Romania, was waiting for me and eager to show me his favorite fishing sites. On the way to him, I shortly met another friend, an enthusiastic Geographer, Zoltán, who owns Slow Tours Transylvania and got the amadou sheets we need for manufacturing our next “collection” of Revolution-Amadou – by the way, do you know our amadou fly drying patch? Here are some reviews for you ;) – and was happy to see, it had been a good harvest of horseshoe fungus.

Again, it was a blessing just to be able to enjoy the road again, traversing beautiful sceneries until I reached my destination for that evening, the city of the oldest hospital in Transylvania, built on the banks of the second largest river in Romania, the river Mureș. Marian, being also a keen cook, had prepared together with his dear wife a delicious dinner, after which I would have rather gone directly fishing and burn some calories! ;) But instead, we’ve invited another passionate spin- and fly fisher, Peter, to join and burn calories while drinking some wine! :D :D That’s what friends are also for, ain’t it?! ;)

Despite the lack of sleep, early in the morning we set off and drove 80 km up the river’s course until we reached the Defile of Mureș Natural Park. If I’d had more time, I would have definitely made a stop in Sângeorgiu de Mureș, to take a salt bath and add some more value to my “summer escape”… But since it was my last “free” day, I decided to follow Marian and discover new beautiful fly fishing sites. Besides, he had promised to teach me how small streams should be approached…

In Sălard, we made a short stop and delighted my sight with the wild landscape the homonymous creek has formed here. Of course, Marian had to cast a few times and greet some young and greedy brownies. “That went fast!”, I thought… just like they had known each other and wanted to meet again :D Astonished by Marian’s agility in handling his rod – by the way, he was nymphing! – I continued my thought and was happy to soon learn more from him :)

The road led us further through the old volcanic landscape, where the river Mureș has cut its way through pyroclastic deposits (lava blocks, pumice, ash) and separated the two mountains Călimani and Gurghiu.

The river’s course is widely meandered here and thanks to its well preserved natural structure, it offers plenty of great fishing spots for the ones fishing for trout, grayling, chub and nase. In the past it was the perfect river for huchen as well.

We finally got to Lunca Bradului, at the confluence of Ilva and Mureș, and followed the tributary’s course upstream. It is a rather narrow valley, where you can get the sensation of being on a secret stream of your own. Shortly after passing the few mountain lodges near the confluence, the wilderness conquered the landscape and the fresh, humid air of the mixed woods invited us out of the car.

If you get to fish here, best time would be at the beginning of the trout season, in Mai, despite the risk of still dealing with some snow-melt. Being a small trout stream, fish are here very shy and can sense your presence when you least expect it… And of course, as you continue and fish further upstream, the probability of catching a big trout on such a stream gets lower – and that’s something every true and well informed fisherman or woman also has to know. But since you’re there, on that „secret stream of your own”, it definitely is a lot of fun nourishing your chasing instinct and enjoying so much more the satisfying moment when you’ve just tricked a beautifully colored wild trout!

Eager to try out my French nymphing again, I prepared same gear I used the previous morning, on Târnava Mare, with the regret I didn’t have a smaller rod with me. I had a 5wt Winston BIIx of 8,6 ft (being almost my all-round rod on the rivers I’ve fished in Romania), with a Tibor Spring Creek CL reel, on which, when dry fly fishing, I usually use a 5wt Wulff TT fly line, a 9ft 4x&5x Varivas leader and a tippet from Stroft 5x and 6x… This time I prepared again my fluorescent monofilament line of 0.20 mm, with the transparent 1,5 m long monofilament leader of 0.18 mm.

Marian had a 4wt rod and used a green monofilament line of 0.14 mm with a fluorocarbon leader of 10 or 12. The nymphs Marian decided that we all use, were small ones, again, pheasant tail with orange collar. He insisted to go for nymphing, being in his opinion the most effective way of fishing a small stream, while being able to “dig” for fish in every single hiding place.

I’ve tried other nymphs as well and in the end also tried some dry fly fishing with midges, but they weren’t that luring for our little “battle partners” on Ilva. Anyway, what was more important, is that I got to see a special way of nymphing and, why not, fishing in general: Marian was literally on a “chase”! He was searching for deeper pools and other hiding spots after boulders or bigger rocks, and almost like “rapidly” foraged for potential brownies. It didn’t take him 15 minutes until he already got 100 m further from where I was fishing! The explanation that I asked for in the end was that no one should cast more than three times on the same spot. Even if the fish is there, you have to look for them further in other spots. Of course you always approach fish from behind – so you fish upstream, that assuring you more chances not to get spotted, but always keep moving and don’t think you’ll have a catch the fourth time you cast… Well.. I thought “that’s a sporty way of fishing”, but since he tried more pools, he also caught more fish than I did! :D so at least, the logic functions: the more pools you fish, the bigger the probability to catch fish :D

It was a great lesson I also have to teach my fly fishing guests, cause Romania has loads of gorgeous small streams, having so many mountains and streams to explore!

However, as far as I’ve later observed, Marian fished the same way on every river, small or big… and he got results! How cool is that?! So read carefully the water and search for their hiding places. Then learn how to cast a nymph, follow the natural flowing speed of the water, try a few times the same place – and then move further. Let the “casting show” behind and just literally “go with the flow” ;)

At the end of such a splendid day, we headed fulfilled to a restaurant on the left river bank and then had some more fun back home, listening to some music, remembering old times, getting a fresh hair cut from Peter and then going back to my family with a big smile on my face!

Thank you, all you lovable people for this great summer escape!

Yours,

Smara