Having fished here three times already, we've gradually gained understanding of this river.

Big flies for rapids and small flies for slack of water and in pools. Dry flies in black and dark brown generally work best, though tiny flies at times work miracle for wary trout. You'd also bring some terrestrial patterns to improve your odds when no mayflies are around.
Even if you've spooked a fish, there still is a good chance that she takes your goldhead nymph, if presented nicely.

Originating in the top of Europe, she passes gently through the valley of Krimmler. It then travels through meadows, becomes an waterfall, and flows all the way up to the city of Salzburdg. The great river Donau, running through Hungary, Croatia, Romania on its journey to the Black See, has one of its farthest origin in this valley. There's a drop of romance in Krimmlerache, a jewel of rivers.

- Next

With a happy stomach, Sayuri was in a good mood. Having drunk a big glass of beer, I was rather uncertain of my steps. Anyway we decided to fish from Muhleck upstream, while waiting for the taxi home.

Many fish were holding in the shallow. Despite the sunshine, they were quite active to dry flies. Could there be better way of spending such a beautiful afternoon?

Walking the river whole day makes your stomach really growl. We somehow hadn't think about it and ended up emptying all our provision at the breakfast.

Noon. Having only empty stomach to carry, we thought we were dreaming when we picked up a smell of food by the river.

In fact, there are three small lodges on this highlands, and non-guests are welcome to have meals and drinks. I cannot tell how gorgeous the simple food served at 'Soelln Alm' lodge was.

Brook and brown cannot swim as well as rainbow. Often they misses the fly if it's travelling too fast.

In such situations it's worthwhile to forget the golden rule of natural drift, and give it a nice good drag. You swing the fly to the slower part of the current and hold it there. The chaser will often take the fly right there.

The river was not shallow enough to wade easily across. Sayuri and I parted on each bank and fished up the stream. We both used #3 rod with 8.3 feet. The river is quite wide at places, but fish are holding right by the banks. In deep slack pools, we found smaller dry flies, say #16 were most effective. On the other hand in faster runs you must use flies of giant size to induce fish to rise. The river alternates pools and runs, requiring frequent fly changes. But, you know that's part of the fun!

Under the blue sky and bright sunshine, brown and brook trout of 10-12 inches were quite eager to entertain us. It was dry fly fishing at its best!

There I noticed Sayuri casting to a riffling pocket water over and over. Some holding fish?

Unlike rainbow trout, brown and brook often take fly after times of refusal. But Sayuri has been pretty stubborn on this one. Just as I was going to suggest to move on, Sayuri's rod sprang up, with a vigorous splash at the end of the taut line! Fish on! And this must be a big fish!!

By the time I managed to wade across, she had landed a handsome brook safely ashore. At 38cm, it was a trophy size for this river. The fish refused Sayuri's flies, until she noticed big ants crawling on the bank. She changed to ant pattern, and finally the fish took it. Thus flyfishing is fun. Well done!

The water was emerald green. We could see many fish darting on its sandy bottom. Nothing disturbed the gentle flow but the occasional splash of rising fish and only thing echoed in the ears was the rustling of the passing breeze. A heavenly place.

The banks were covered with little flowers.

This time we made an arrangement so we could stay a night in the little cottage on the highland. The tiny cottage for 2 pax max was in fact equipped with bed, stove and even a table. Good enough, and not having to worry about the evening taxi down is a great advantage.

In the guestbook were notes left by the many fly fishermen who visited the cottage since '84. With delight, we left ours there too.