Montenegro is a grayling country for the fly angler: rivers in the north where grayling come first and brown trout second, mountain lakes with brown trout, char and a lake trout of its own, and huchen in the big rivers. I guide all of it, listed on Where I fish, and I am not based in one town. This guide puts the rivers, the lakes, the fish, the best time, the permits, the price of a guided day and how to book on one page, with a link to the full article on each.

Montenegro for a fly angler, in short

Where: the north of the country, around Kolašin, Mojkovac, Plav, Andrijevica, Berane, Pljevlja and Žabljak.
Rivers: the Tara, the Lim, the Ljuča and the Ćehotina. Grayling first, brown trout second, huchen in the Tara and the Lim.
Lakes: Biogradsko Lake, Plav Lake and Black Lake, 1 May to 1 October.
When: June to October are the best months on the rivers. In the fly fishing zones you can fish all year, when the water level allows.
Rules: catch and release, barbless hooks, a landing net.
With me: permits and lunch are inside the price of a guided day. I arrange them.

The rivers

All of them have easy access, and wilder water on request. Each has its own page.

The Tara. The longest river in Montenegro, rising on the Komovi at about 1,530 m and running north past Kolašin to Mojkovac before it turns into its canyon (World Bank, 2016). I guide it at Kolašin, on the stretch inside Biogradska Gora National Park, and at Mojkovac. Grayling mostly, brown trout, and huchen. It pairs with Biogradsko Lake in one day. Read fly fishing the Tara: Kolašin, the park and Mojkovac and the Tara page.

The Lim. Flows out of Plav Lake at Plav and on past Andrijevica and Berane; I guide all three sections. Grayling mainly, brown trout, and huchen. At Plav it shares a day with the Ljuča and Plav Lake. Lim page.

The Ljuča. The short river that feeds Plav Lake, made by the Vruja and the Grnčar coming down from the Prokletije (World Bank, 2016). It holds the biggest grayling of the waters I guide and is hard dry-fly water: a tactical river with big rewards. Brown trout too, and huchen, rare and hard to catch. Ljuča page.

The Ćehotina. Near Pljevlja, rising under Stožer mountain and running north-west to the Drina (World Bank, 2016). A wild euro-nymphing river, grayling mainly, with brown trout. A day of its own. Ćehotina page.

The rivers are compared, fish by fish and method by method, in grayling fishing in Montenegro: the rivers compared.

The lakes

The lakes are summer water. All of them are fished from 1 May to 1 October, and no lake is fished after 1 October.

Biogradsko Lake. In Biogradska Gora National Park, near Kolašin. From the bank, every day, 8:00 to 17:00. Brown trout and lake char, also called Arctic char. The lake and the Tara make one day. Read fishing Biogradsko Lake in Biogradska Gora National Park.

Plav Lake. A glacial lake at the foot of the Prokletije, at Plav. From a boat, every day. Blatnjača, the lake’s own trout, brown trout and huchen. Pike live in the lake too. One day at Plav can hold the lake, the Ljuča and the Lim. What is known about Blatnjača is in its own article; the lake is on the Plav Lake page.

Black Lake. At Žabljak in Durmitor National Park. From the bank, under the park’s rules. Brown trout and lake char. A day of its own. Black Lake page.

There are no boats on the two national park lakes, and I do not fly a drone in a national park.

The fish

Grayling. The main fish of all the rivers. Biggest in the Ljuča. June to October are the best months.

Brown trout. In all the rivers and all the lakes. Second to grayling on the rivers; on Biogradsko Lake and Black Lake it is one of the two fish.

Lake char, or Arctic char. Biogradsko Lake and Black Lake only. No river I guide holds char.

Blatnjača. Plav Lake’s own trout, fished from the boat. Told from a brown trout by black spots and no red ones.

Huchen, also called Danube salmon. Huchen live in the Tara and the Lim, and I guide for them, catch and release, when the water is right. Ask me about your dates. They are also present in the Ljuča, rare and hard to catch, and in Plav Lake.

Pike. Lives in Plav Lake.

Every fish goes back, on every water: the fly fishing zones are catch and release, and I fish barbless hooks and a landing net.

When to come

June to October for grayling and brown trout on the rivers. Those are the best months, and the ones I would choose for you if your dates are free.

The rivers do not shut outside them: in the fly fishing zones you can fish all year, when the water level allows, and if the river is okay, I guide. The Tara and the Lim run highest in April and May with snowmelt, lowest in August and September, and rise again in November and December (World Bank, 2016), so a day in spring or late in the year depends on the week’s water. The lakes are 1 May to 1 October.

The year by season, with the gauge figures and the temperatures, is in the best time to fly fish in Montenegro; the river gauges by month are in the river levels article.

Permits and rules

You need a permit on every water. On the rivers and on Plav Lake it comes from the local angling club for that water; on Biogradsko Lake, Black Lake and the park stretch of the Tara it comes from the national park, with park entry on top. The parks publish their fees: 20 EUR a day for the fishing permit, plus 4 EUR entry in Biogradska Gora and 5 EUR in Durmitor, as read in October 2026.

With me, none of it is yours to do. I buy every permit, and permits are inside the price. The fly fishing zones are fly only, catch and release, and I fish barbless hooks and a landing net everywhere. Weighted nymphs are fished as usual. All of it is set out in fishing permits in Montenegro for visiting anglers.

What a guided day includes and costs

A guided day is 190 EUR for one angler and 250 EUR for two. That is the final price: no tax is added. Inside it:

the permits for the day, including the national park permit where the day needs it;
lunch;
transport on the fishing day, when you are staying in a town by the waters: I collect you there and drive you to the water and back.

Pickup from further away, the coast, Podgorica or an airport, is by arrangement with me and is not part of the price.

I take up to four anglers, and the price per angler is lower with more people: ask me for the group price. A half day is possible on request. The day itself is described on single-day guiding.

Several days. On a trip of three days or more, a guided day is 170 EUR for one angler and 230 EUR for two. Lodging and meals other than lunch are yours; you stay where you like, and the base moves with you. See multi-day trips.

Learning. I take anglers new to fly fishing, and I teach euro nymphing on a guided day if you want it.

Competition training. 240 EUR a day for one angler, 320 for two: approach, rigging and simulated sessions, for anglers and teams, whether or not you have competed. See competition training.

Rental, on request, for anglers fishing with me. Rod, reel and line, or the euro nymph kit, 25 EUR a day; waders and boots 25 EUR; the full set 40 EUR. Polarized glasses and a hat come free with a rental. Modern competition rods and reels at an additional charge; breakage is paid by the guest. See gear rental.

Photos and drone footage. I take photos on the day. An edited photo set and a drone clip are 60 EUR a day for your group, edited and sent afterwards. I do not fly a drone in a national park.

All prices are on the Trips page.

Getting there and where to base yourself

I am not based in one town: I guide across the north and meet you where you are staying when you are in a town by the waters; from further away we arrange the pickup.

So the question is not where I am but which water you want:

Kolašin puts you on the Tara, with Biogradsko Lake on the same day.
Plav puts you on the Lim, the Ljuča and Plav Lake, which share a day.
Pljevlja is the Ćehotina; Žabljak is Black Lake. Each is a day of its own, and the base can move for it.

For a first visit of one day I name the Lim and the Ljuča, and perhaps the Tara. How a trip fits together is on Plan your trip.

How to book

Send a request with your dates, how many anglers, and the water you want, or let me choose.
I reply myself, within one day, and we agree the days.
Your dates are confirmed. No deposit is asked for now, and if you cancel, you pay nothing.

I speak English. You can also write on WhatsApp; the number is on the home page.

Questions

Is Montenegro good for fly fishing?

Yes, for grayling above all. Rivers where grayling are the main fish, brown trout beside them, char in two mountain lakes, a lake trout of its own in a third, and huchen in the big rivers.

Where do you fly fish in Montenegro?

In the north: the Tara at Kolašin and Mojkovac, the Lim at Plav, Andrijevica and Berane, the Ljuča at Plav, the Ćehotina near Pljevlja, and Biogradsko Lake, Plav Lake and Black Lake.

What does a fly fishing guide cost in Montenegro?

With me, 190 EUR a day for one angler and 250 EUR for two, with permits and lunch inside. More anglers, lower price per angler: ask me. Whether you need a licence, and who issues it, is answered in fishing permits in Montenegro.

Can I fish for trout in Montenegro?

Yes. Brown trout live in all the rivers and all the lakes, beside the grayling on the rivers and the char on the park lakes.

Tell me your dates and what you want from the trip, and I will tell you which water I would choose. Request your dates.

Fly fishing in Montenegro: the complete guide