Opening Day of Trout Season on the Gradac River

The opening of trout season is always a special moment for fly fishermen. After months of winter, the first casts of the new season bring back the rhythm of the river and the excitement of the first fish.

This year the trout season officially opened on March 1st, which fell on a Sunday. Because of the crowds usually present on opening day, my friend and I decided to do things a bit differently.

We arrived at the river in the evening and planned to start fishing early the next morning. I even took a day off from work on Monday so we could properly open the season.

Our destination was the Gradac River, one of the most famous trout rivers in Serbia.

River Conditions

The river greeted us with excellent conditions for early spring fishing.

The water was crystal clear and the level was comfortable — not too high and not too low. These conditions allowed for controlled drifts and good visibility in the water.

Even though it was Monday morning, there were still around ten anglers on a relatively small section of the river. The Gradac is popular, and opening week always attracts many fishermen.

Fishing the Konjačka Section

We decided to fish near the Konjačka area, a well-known stretch with classic Gradac structure: gravel bottom, moderate current and plenty of holding water for trout.

The fish were active, although most of them were on the smaller side.

By the end of the day:

I caught around 40 trout

one of them measured about 35 cm

My friend landed around 15 trout, and he also caught one fish around 35 cm.

Even though the fish were mostly small, the number of takes made the fishing very enjoyable.

Early Spring Trout Behavior

In early March, trout in the Gradac usually stay close to the bottom after winter. Natural drifts and small nymphs often produce the best results.

Clear water also means fish are cautious, so careful wading and precise casting are important.

Most of our fish were caught on small nymph patterns drifting close to the riverbed.

A Good Start to the Season

Opening day is not always about catching big fish. It is about returning to the river after winter and feeling that connection again.

Clear water, active trout and a full day on the Gradac made this a perfect start to the new fly fishing season.