Fly fishing the Tara: Kolašin, the national park stretch and Mojkovac

The Tara is a grayling river first, with brown trout, and I guide it on three stretches: at Kolašin, inside Biogradska Gora National Park, and at Mojkovac. It is the river I would show a visiting angler first if they are staying near Kolašin, and in one day it pairs with Biogradsko Lake. This guide covers the three stretches, the fish, how the river is fished, the permits and how we get there. The facts in short are on the Tara page.

The Tara in short

• Where: northern Montenegro. The river rises on the Komovi at about 1,530 m and runs north past Kolašin to Mojkovac, then turns north-west into its canyon (World Bank, 2016).
• Fish: grayling mostly, and brown trout. Huchen live in the river too.
• How: wading. Easy access on every stretch; wilder water on request.
• When: in the fly fishing zones all year, when the water level allows. Best months June to October.
• Permit: the club’s permit at Kolašin and Mojkovac, the park’s permit inside the national park. I arrange all of them.

The full course of the river, from the Komovi to the Drina, with every figure and its source, is in From the Komovi to the canyon. This article is about the fishing.

Three stretches: Kolašin, the national park, Mojkovac

Kolašin is the upstream town and Mojkovac the downstream one. Between them the river keeps its course north, the valley opens four times, and three gorges join the open parts (World Bank, 2016). The three stretches I guide sit along that run.

Kolašin. The upstream stretch, at the town. A Kolašin day starts in town.

The national park stretch. Between the two towns the Tara runs beside Biogradska Gora National Park, and one stretch of the river is inside it. This stretch is fished on the park’s permit rather than the club’s. It is also the stretch that puts the river and Biogradsko Lake within one day.

Mojkovac. The downstream stretch, at Mojkovac. Below the town the river turns north-west and enters its canyon, which I do not guide; the stretches I fish are upstream of it.

If you want to know which of the three suits your day, ask me. It depends on the water on the day, and on whether you want the lake as well.

The fish

Grayling come first on the Tara. It is the main fish of the river. Brown trout come second, and you can meet them on the same stretch and the same day. How the Tara’s grayling compare with the other rivers’ is in grayling fishing in Montenegro: the rivers compared.

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.

A 2024 state monitoring report describes the upper river as a small mountain limestone river of medium altitude, with fairly fast water, pools and riffles, a bed of large rocks and stones with sand in the pools, and willows on the banks (Mrdak and others, 2024). That is a fair picture of the water you will wade: broken water between pools.

Every fish goes back. The fly fishing zones are catch and release, I fish barbless hooks, and the net comes with me.

How it is fished

Wading. The Tara is a river you walk and wade, reading one run at a time. Competition fishing taught me to read a run in minutes, and that is what you get on the bank: where to stand, which seam to cover first, and when to move on.

Bring your own fly gear; tell me what you have and I will tell you what to add. Which method fishes on the day is decided by the water, and I tell you on the bank. If you want to learn euro nymphing, tell me when you book and we do it on your day; weighted nymphs are fished as usual here.

Access is easy on every stretch. If you want a wilder piece of water, say so and I will find it.

When to come

In the fly fishing zones you can fish the Tara all year, when the water level allows. The best months are June to October, for grayling and brown trout.

The river runs highest in April and May, with snowmelt and spring rain, and lowest in August and September, with a second rise in November and December (World Bank, 2016). By June it is back near its yearly mean; July to September are the low-water months. The gauge figures by month are in the river levels article, and the year by season is in the best time to fly fish in Montenegro.

A day on the Tara with Biogradsko Lake

Biogradsko Lake lies inside Biogradska Gora National Park, near Kolašin, and it is fished from the bank for brown trout and lake char from 1 May to 1 October, 8:00 to 17:00. The park stretch of the Tara is next to it. So between 1 May and 1 October one day can hold the river and the lake: grayling and trout on the Tara, trout and char on the lake.

The lake has its own guide, fishing Biogradsko Lake in Biogradska Gora National Park. Outside 1 May to 1 October the day is the river alone, and it is a full day.

Permits

You arrange nothing. Three permits can come into a Tara day, and I buy whichever ones the day needs:

• the local club’s permit for the Tara at Kolašin;
• the local club’s permit for the Tara at Mojkovac;
• the national park’s daily sport fishing permit for the stretch inside Biogradska Gora National Park. On the park’s price list, read in October 2026, it is 20 EUR per person per day, with park entry at 4 EUR.

Every permit is inside the price of your day. How permits work in Montenegro is in its own article.

Getting there

If you stay in Kolašin or Mojkovac you are on the river: I collect you there and drive you to the water and back, and that is in the price. If you are staying further away, on the coast or in Podgorica, or arriving at an airport, the pickup is by arrangement: tell me when you write.

A guided day starts at 190 EUR with permits and lunch inside. If you stay in a town by the waters, I drive you on the fishing day. Pickup from further away is by arrangement. See Trips. The other rivers and lakes are in fly fishing in Montenegro: the complete guide.

Questions

Is the Tara good for grayling?

Yes. Grayling are the main fish of the Tara at Kolašin and Mojkovac, with brown trout beside them.

Do I need a national park permit to fish the Tara?

Only for the stretch inside Biogradska Gora National Park. The Tara at Kolašin and at Mojkovac is fished on the local club’s permit. Either way, I arrange it.

Can I fish the Tara canyon with you?

No. I guide the Tara at Kolašin, in the national park and at Mojkovac, which are upstream of the canyon.

Can a beginner fish the Tara?

Yes. The access is easy, I take anglers new to fly fishing, and a rod, waders and boots can be rented on request.

Tell me your dates and whether you want the lake in the day, and I will put it together. Request a day on the Tara.