With 262 smaller or larger rivers and more than 100 lakes, Bosnia and Herzegovina is for sure a country of rivers. You will be amazed by beautiful crystal-clear water of Sana, Sanica, Una, Ribnik, Krušnica, just to name a few, offering both refreshment and fishing adventures.
Sana River
Photo Credit: Vanja Hadžiavdić
A fishing waters are classified as an open fishery and a special fishing areas so called revir. Revirs are controlled and looked after, fly only, most restricting the method to single fly on fly gear. Daily license costs vary from 10 to 50 Euro per day depending on the location and season.
So let’s take a look on our list of five rivers where you should try you luck fishing a big wild trout, grayling or huchen (Danube salmon) among the others.
Una River
Una’s name (meaning the one) originates from Romans who consider Una to be the most beautiful river of the Roman Empire. This amazing, 212 kilometers long river, springs below the slopes of the mountains of Plješevica and Stražbenice.
Una River
Due to its location in the north-western part of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Una could be easily reached by car or airplane from Banja Luka, Zagreb or even Tuzla airports.
Together with rivers Unac and Krka, Una is a part of Una National Park. And 28 different species of fish, some of those reaching weight of more than 30 kilograms, make their home in its crystal – clear waters. All the fish are wild and fishing on the Una river banks is a real paradise for each fly fisherman.
The best fly fishing revirs:
- The Martin Brod revir, 7,5 kilometers long
- The Kulen Vakuf revir, 1,5 kilometer long
Fish species to be found:
- Danube salmon
- Brown and rainbow trout
- Grayling
- Pike
- Catfish
- Whitefish of various kind
Season:
- Stream trout /Salmo trutta: 01.03. – 30.09
- Grayling / Thymallus thymallus: 01.05. – 30.09.
Sana
Sana is another river situated in the north-western part of Bosnia and Herzegovina and it is the right tributary of the Una River.
Sana River
The name of the river was derived from the Latin word “Aqua Sanus”, which means “healthy water”. Sana springs from three strong karst springs, in the karst plateau near the village Donja Pecka and Jasenovi Potoci.
A mountain river, more than 140 km long, thanks to a high oxygen percentage and temperature of about 7-10 degrees has abundant underwater world and high bio productivity.
The best fly fishing revirs:
- The Zmajevac revir, 3 kilometers long
- The Ribnik revir, 10 kilometer long
Fish species to be found:
- Trout,
- Grayling
- Chub,
- Dace
- Danube salmon
Sanica
Sanica (literally Little Sana) is a medium size mountain river, 22 kilometers long with chalk stream that springs at the base of the Grmeč mountain.
Sanica River
Sanica revir is well-known fly fishing place located just 12 km from the city of Ključ, in a village also named Sanica. The fish is almost exclusively wild one although some browns are reared from a local brood stock.
This is a place where many fly fishing competitions were organized.
The best fly fishing revir:
- The Sanica revir, 3 kilometers long
Fish species to be found:
- Brown trout,
- Grayling
- Danube salmon
- Pike
Pliva
Pliva springs in the base of mountain Smiljevac. It is 33 km long and goes into Vrbas River by beautiful 22 meters high waterfall in town of Jajce. At the village of Jezero Pliva river has created three natural lakes, Veliko Plivsko Lake, Malo Plivsko Lake and Okruglo Lake, with countless low cascades and travertine barriers slowing the river and deepening it.
Pliva River
Pliva is one of the most beautiful rivers in Europe, offering fishermen a real challenge when it comes to catching one of its trophy grayling. Pliva is wide and powerful river, where fly fishing is done with rather long leaders, often over 5m long.
Tributary of the Pliva is the Janj, that flows into the Pliva from the right. Janj also provides great fishing experience.
Of all Bosnian rivers Pliva has the biggest population of grayling over 50 cm and here they even grow up to 60 cm. Once you try fishing on Pliva, it will become a part of your best fly fishing dreams.
The best fly fishing revirs:
- The Pliva revir at Šipovo, 8 kilometers long
- The Janj revirs, 5 kilometers long
Fish species to be found:
- Brown trout
- Grayling
Neretva
The Neretva river got its name from Celts who call it Nera Etwa which means the Flowing Divinity.
Neretva River
Photo Credit: Steven PB
The river springs below the mountains of Zelengora and flows through Bosnia and Herzegovina in a length of 225 kilometers. Neretva starts its journey to the Adriatic see as a mountain river and is considered one of the coldest in the world.
Due to its distinct emerald green colour, is considered to be one of the most beautiful rivers in Europe.
In the last 30 kilometres of its flow, just before entering the Adriatic Sea, the valley spreads into the biggest alluvial delta in the Adriatic. The upper part, formed by the tributaries Krupa and Skrka, is a wetland called Hutovo Blato. The delta of the Neretva and Hutovo Blato form one of the three key migratory stops for birds in the Adriatic Flyway. At least 115 bird species regularly nest in the area, but the total number of bird species using the area amounts to more than 300.
The best fly fishing revirs:
- The Glavatičevo revir, 4 kilometers long
Fish species to be found:
- Softmouth trout (Salmo obtusirostris)
- Zubatak (Salmo Dentex)
- Marble trout/ Marmorata (Salmo marmoratus) Interesting Fact: This trout is also known as Glavatitsata and the village of Glavatičevo is named after it.
- Brown trout (Salmo trutta)
- Grayling
Tight lines people or as the Bosnians would say: Bistro (meaning clear water)!
You maybe interested to check another fishing blog post about fish species or photos in our gallery!
English 
German