Thanks to the friendly weather we enjoyed great stay in Kals once again. To my parents who walks on mountains back home regularly, this visit must have given a new dimension with European flavour too. Meanwhile, we were pleased to be able to fish this stream, and to see those friendly faces once again.

Chilly water rustling by the feet, the dry fly landing gently on the current and, with some luck, a vivid impact may pass through the line, It is a privilege allowed for fishermen that you can feel the river, learn the land not only by the sight but with the whole senses. We still feel as if we could still walk about in that peaceful alpine retreat, looking up to see those magnificent peaks in the big blue sky.

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The rugged face of Grossglockner.
At 3,798meters above sea, it is the tallest peak in Austria.

St. George church,
casting long shadow in the setting sun.

This time we explored the upper reach of the beat, too. The top end of it remained off limits to preserve the spawning stock but the mid section nearby the hotel is open for fishing.

Here most of the catch were brook trout. This one that took a nymph in the murky current late in the afternoon had a remarkably handsome feature.

The 2nd visit - Aug. '05

Two years since last, another chance to visit this alpine resort of Kals came around. As we invited my parents from Japan, we thought it a must for them to set their eyes on Grossglockner, Austria's tallest peak once in their lives.

The weather in the mountain so changeable, visiting such place on a tight travel schedule contains a risk. And because we were super lucky on our previous visit, the memory of the magnificent autumn day kept us away. But then with visitors to show around, we just have to take a risk. Who knows, even the parents may come along with good weather?

The long drive to Kals was done mostly through the rain and the fog, but the nightmare was gone as we woke up the next morning, to find the valley of Kals brimming with plenty of sunshine. Fishing prospect aside, I took a deep breath as a tour guide this time.

Hotel Taurerwirt, at the foot of Bretterspitze, had undergone a renovation and was presenting even more warmth and sophistication.

The water temperature was shivering 7c. We could not observe any bugs hatching. But there were occasional silhouette of fish darting here and there. We tied a #14 caddis to begin with.

Sayuri's fly cast onto the faster current caught a couple of rainbows, while mine, fished in the slower slacks by the bush was picked up by more brownies.

After breakfast, we saw my parents off to the scenic wandering along the gorge, then drove down the valley to carry out the trade of ours. The morning air was crisp at 11c and we needed to wear a fleece jacket. But remembering it was sub Zero on our previous trip in September, we can't complain the warm welcome in the alpine summer.

Fireweed, the state flower of Alaska, was also found here, swinging to the breeze.

During the heat of the summer (it does reach 30c occasionally), the glacier melt water makes the river unfishable. But this time we were lucky with the cool weather, which kept the river silt-free a good part of the day. Though it did get murky in the late afternoon, you can take a rest and enjoy a little hiking to complement the day.

The familiar sight of Bretterspitze as its backdrop, Kalserbach was illuminated by the bright sunshine. Now, how are you doing my finny friends?