European Native Trout Challenge
Cast a line, make a change

Ribiška družina Tolmin.

The angling club of Tolmin started in 1947 and has been managing the waters of the Tolmin district ever since. The club has about 400 members and is very motivated to conserve the indigenous species of their water. Restoring the pure marble trout populations is one of the projects they played a major role in. And currently the Adriatic grayling population is under a lot of pressure and the club is trying to repopulate their stocks. One of the reasons this club can do this is that they have their own fish farms where they breed marble trout, Adriatic grayling and rainbow trout.

Regulations.

  • 1. The waters of the Tolmin angling club are fly-fishing only. (including tenkara rods up to 13 foot).
  • 2. Only a single fly with a single barbless hook can be used.
  • 3. Fishing must be done with a leader with a minimal thickness of 0.10mm.
  • 4. On the Koritnica (baška) and the Kneža fishing is only allowed with a dry fly.
  • 5. When fishing on a catch and release permit a new Zeeland style indicator is allowed.
  • 6. Fishing from a boat is allowed on the reservoir.
  • 7. The season starts 23-03-2024 and ends 03-11-2024 with a few exceptions
  • 7.1 The season ends on 20-10-2024 on the Trebuščica.
  • 7.2 The season for the Soča lake starts 01-03-2024 and ends 30-11-2024.
  • 7.3 Due to spawning, fishing is not allowed from the confluence of the Soča and Tolminka down to Vodivček bay (under the hatchery) from 1 March to 22 March and from 4 November to 30 November.
  • 8. It is allowed to let a child of up to 15 years old fish under your permit, but under your supervision and responsibility.

Waters managed by RD Tolmin.

RD Tolmin manages 10 rivers in the Tolmin district with a total length of about 135km. The Soča, Učja, Tolminka, Nadiže, Bela, Idrijca, Bača, Kneža, Koritnica (baška) and Trebuščica. This map shows the fishing borders and some access point for the waters of the club.

The Soča.

The Soča is the main river of the Soča basin, it starts its flow in the mountains above Trenta and drains into the Adriatic Sea. The headwaters are protected as breeding grounds. The river is managed by RD Tolmin from the bridge in Čezsoča to the confluence with the Vogršček stream, just below the Doblar dam. After its gentle flow through the Bovec basin it turns into rapids and deep pools carving down stream of Srpenica, its flow calms again after Kobarid, where it gently flows true white gravel beds toward Tolmin. After its confluence with the Tolminka it widens out into the artificial lake formed behind the Doblar dam. in the stretch managed by RD Tolmin you can find good stocks of marble trout, and a small grayling population. Also some brown trout and hybrids can be found. Rainbow trout are also stocked for fishing and they are probably the easiest species to catch in the system. The terrain varies from very easy to difficult. For fishing the most difficult part is probably spotting the fish the Soča is quite big so casting is no problem most of the time. Guiding for the Soča is really up to wat you want there are enough place that are easy to reach and where you can catch nice fish without a guide but if you want to fish more secluded places it can be hard to find a how to get there and also to catch wild fish than a guide can make a big change in you fishing day. Other parts of the Soca are managed by the ZZRS and the RD Soca.

The Učja.

The Učja is a short river that starts in Italy, and flow 6,1km through Slovenia before meeting the Soča. In the Učja stocking fish does not happen, so al the fish are wild and therefor a lot harder to catch. Combine this with a canyon with only a few entrance and exit points and difficult terrain, we do not recommend entering without a good condition and a guide. In the last part below the town of Žaga you can encounter some grayling but, in the rest, only marble trout and some remaining brown trout and hybrids are found.

The Tolminka.

The source of the Tolminka lays deep in the Triglav National Park and it has carved its way to the Soča. It can be fished for its full 10.2km except for the Tolmin gorge. The part above the gorge is wild and difficult to enter and exit and there are no stocked fish, but below the Tolmin gorge terrain is easier and some stocking happens. If you want to explore the upper Tolminka a guide is recommended since the wild fish are hard to catch and the terrain is difficult to navigate, for the lower part you can manage on your own if you have a bit of experience.

The Nadiže.

Like the Učja the Nadiže has its source in Italy, after a 11.9km bend through Slovenia it returns there. Above Sedlo it flows through a narrow valley full of rapids and deep pools, but then it opens up into a wider valley. Stocking does not happen this means the fish are all wild and can be difficult to catch. For the upper part it is recommended to get a guide since access can be hard to find and fishing can be difficult.

The Bela.

The Bela is a small (4.7km) branch of the Nadiže. That was almost fully regulated in the 1930 with canals and dams. Nowadays its a bit freer flowing and the first km of head water is protected breeding ground for marble trout. Stocking does not happen this means the fish are all wild and can be difficult to catch. The banks are overgrown and fishing can be difficult a guide can greatly help finding the right pools with fish here.

The Idrijca.

The Idrijca is the largest branch of the Soča within the Tolmin district. It can be fished the full 16.2km from Stopnik to Bača pri Modreju where it enters the Soča lake. Oppose to the other rivers it has a green colour and the bottom is a bit darker. it flows true wooded banks and has deep pools and swift rapids. After Trebuša it widens and slows down, gravel banks appear but the pools remain deep and long. Rainbow trout, marble trout and grayling are being stocked in the Idrijca making the fishing a bit easier but fish are very hard to spot. For experienced fisherman it is a nice challenge for beginners getting a guide or starting in another river is recommended. The other part of the Idrijca is managed by RD Idrija.

The Bača.

The Bača is a tributary of the Idrijca and like the Idrijca the water is a bit green and the bottom is a bit darker. The lower Bača receives stocking of marble trout, grayling and rainbow trout. But above the dam in Klavže all the fish are wild. The terrain and the fishing in the lower Bača is easy to fish and walk but fish are sometimes difficult to find. For experienced fisherman it is a nice challenge for beginners getting a guide or starting in another river is recommended.

The Kneža.

The Kneža is branch of the Bača. Its flow is swift and goes through a narrow valley. And al fish are wild. Also, fishing is only allowed with a single barbless dry fly so it can be challenging.

The Koritnica (baška).

The Koritnica is a small branch (4.7km) of the Bača. Its banks are densely wooded and its flow is swift. And al fish are wild. Also, fishing is only allowed with a single barbless dry fly so it can be challenging.

The Trebuščica.

The Trebuščica is a branch of the Idrijca with a length of 14km. The upper 5.7km are protected breeding ground for marble trout the remaining water is open for fishing. The season for the Trebuščica ends earlier then the rest of the district. It winds true a narrow valley with few access points and al fish are wild. This makes that getting a guide for the river is no unnecessary luxury.

License.

All waters of RD Tolmin are fishable under one license. The license for the waters of RD Tolmin can be bought on their own website.
A one-day license for catch and release fishing is €67
A three-day license for catch and release fishing is €181
A five-day license for catch and release fishing is €268