Your first day of fly fishing

Who the day is for

You are in Montenegro on holiday and want one day on a mountain river. You have never fly fished, or you tried once and want someone to show you properly. You are a family where one of you fishes and a child wants to try: tell me how old your child is and what you have in mind, and I will tell you honestly whether the day suits them. I take up to four people in a day, and I guide you myself. I have competed in fly fishing for more than ten years; for a beginner that means I know what to show you first.

Two ways into the day

There are two ways to start, and we choose together when you write.

Casting first, then the dry fly. If you want to fish a dry fly, a fly that floats and a fish takes on top, we spend a few hours on the cast first, on open ground by the water, before we fish. The dry fly needs a cast that lands straight and a drift that looks natural, and both take practice.

Euro nymphing from the start. A nymph is a fly fished under the surface, where fish eat most of the time. Euro nymphing uses a long rod, a thin leader and almost no cast: you lob the flies upstream, keep the line tight and feel the take. It may be the easier way to a first fish. How I fish it on each river is in euro nymphing in Montenegro.

Which one is right depends on you: what you want from the day, how your hands take to the rod, the water on the day. There is no wrong choice, and we can switch.

What you learn

A first day is built the way most instructors build one: the cast on open ground before the water, then fishing with someone beside you. Over the day you learn to hold the rod and make a cast that lands; to see where a fish holds in a river and why; to drift a fly so it looks like food; and to land a fish in the net and let it go. Every fish is released. I fish barbless hooks and a landing net, so a fish is in your hands for a photo and back in the river in seconds.

I do not promise a fish. I promise clear mountain water, the right fly on the line and my full attention.

Where

For a first day I name the Lim at Plav, and perhaps the Tara. The rivers have easy access, and grayling and brown trout live in every one. From 1 May to 1 October a lake from the bank is possible too: Biogradsko Lake near Kolašin or Black Lake at Žabljak. Tell me where you are staying and let me choose.

What to bring, and what you can rent

Bring clothes for a day outdoors in the mountains, and your own fly gear if you have any. If you have none, you can rent it from me by request: a rod, reel and line or a euro nymph kit, and waders and boots; the prices are on gear rental. Polarized glasses and a hat are lent free with a rental. My rental gear is limited, so tick what you need when you request the day, with your height and shoe size for the waders.

What is included

Permits and lunch. If you stay in a town by the waters, I drive you on the fishing day. Pickup from further away is by arrangement. If you are staying on the coast, at Kotor, Budva, Tivat or nearby, the Tara is about two hours’ drive by my round figure; tell me where you are and I will tell you how the day works from there.

Price

On request. Tell me what you have in mind, who is coming and for how long, and I will tell you the price. Permits and lunch are in it. If you stay in a town by the waters, I drive you on the fishing day. Pickup from further away is by arrangement. A half day is possible on request. No deposit, and cancelling costs nothing. I reply myself, within one day.

Questions

I have never fished at all. Is that a problem?

No. The day is made for that. I rig the rod, show you the cast and stand beside you.

Dry fly or euro nymphing: which should I pick?

If you want to see a fish take a fly on top, say dry fly and we practise the cast first. If you want the best chance of a first fish, euro nymphing may be it. Tell me which you lean to, and we decide together.

Can my child come?

Yes, a child can come and try. Tell me how old your child is and what you have in mind, and I will tell you honestly whether the day suits them.

Do I need my own gear or a licence?

A licence, no: I arrange every permit and it is in the price. Gear: bring yours if you have it; if not, ask to rent it when you request the day.

Will I catch a fish?

I do not promise one. I promise the right water, the right fly and my full attention for the day.

Sources

• Aleksandar Gasevic, October 2026: a first day for beginners and people on holiday; a child can come and try; a few hours of casting first for the dry fly, or euro nymphing as perhaps the easier way to a first fish; the Lim for a first day; the coast about two hours from the Tara.
• How a beginner’s session is commonly built, casting on open ground before the water: the Missouri Department of Conservation’s fly fishing class and Outdoor Canada, teaching fly fishing to a novice. What such a session covers, the cast, rigging, reading the water: Angler’s Covey, Fly Fishing 101.