Lake Bled

When I was leaving this magical lake last year, I already knew it wouldn’t be my last time there. The first trip wasn’t very successful in terms of catches, but the atmosphere of the lake completely absorbed me.

The booking date was getting closer, and I was getting more and more nervous about whether it would work out again. Especially if I could get a similar date as last year the end of October. The big day came, and everything went exactly as it should. Once again, I was heading to Bled at the end of October this time with my whole family.

Since we were going as a family, we arrived two days earlier to enjoy some time together and take a walk around the lake. I had been waiting for this day for more than half a year since buying the permit. I had been planning to propose for quite some time, but could never find the right moment. When we agreed in January that we’d all go to Bled together, it immediately came to mind the shores of Bled would be the perfect place. I’m pretty confident with self-timer photos, so all that was left was to find the right spot and hide the proposal within a family photo session. “YES.” The first milestone of the trip completed. Now all that remained was to catch my dream carp. After our walk around the lake, I started preparing for the next morning. I set up the trolley, sorted my gear for the first day, and in the evening I prepared my rigs with my family and a bottle of Prosecco

4:00 AM the alarm goes off, and I’m up instantly. Within what feels like 15 minutes, I’m already pushing a fully loaded trolley toward the lake. I have my spot picked. The nerves are real. It’s about a 5-minute walk, but I swear I got there in two. I pass the first spots all empty. Perfect. More spots still empty. I start thinking it’s impossible. My chosen swim is one of the last ones it must be taken. It isn’t.

I sit on a bench and open a “victory” Pilsner. There’s still plenty of time, before fishing starts almost two hours. I enjoy the morning calm, watching the water, slowly setting everything up. I already had some spots in mind, so I clip up to my distances. Each rod goes to a different depth something to work from. The moment has come. Lines are in. On one rod classic “krill.” On the other, I chose “Mikki” for this trip. I love using tiger nuts, and this bait contains a high amount of tiger nut meal with a peanut extract. I used small balanced baits that I had soaked in liquid for a month beforehand to make them as attractive as possible. Now everything is in place. The sun starts to rise, and a light mist hangs over the water. The view of the iconic church with snow-covered mountains in the background, something you never get tired of. One of the most beautiful views, I’ve ever experienced while fishing. I soak it all in, nervously waiting for the first beep. It comes shortly after lunch and I land my first Bled carp! “That was quick,” I think. I change the rig and cast back to the same spot. Then the rain comes. Proper autumn weather. It doesn’t stop for the rest of the day. Unfortunately, nothing else happens.

The second day the plan is simple. The rod that produced stays the same. The second one too, at least until the afternoon. I add a small pop-up. Nothing happens. After lunch, I try my favorite tiger nut soaked in Mikki liquid with a small pop-up piece. Not long after a take. Another small one. But still, it’s contact. The weather is perfect, rain alternating with sunshine. As evening approaches, I wait in anticipation. Just before 9 PM, the receiver wakes me up. I jump up, grab the rod. My knees are shaking. But after a short fight, I realize it’s not the one I came for. A smaller mirror carp. Quick photo. Back it goes. Two hours left but nothing more happens.

Third day. Same spot again, but this time one rod will be actively moved around. There’s a big shallow area on my left. I start with the edge, then try the top. Nothing. So I enjoy the day with my girls, who come to visit me. Even get a warm meal thank you. Evening comes. I double-check everything. Nothing. A completely blank day. I start thinking about moving, but I have no clear pattern. Every fish came from a different place, different bait, different time.

Fourth day. I decide to stay. I met some Hungarian anglers who kept moving and still had no fish. One rod goes back to the productive spot. The other somewhere new. Morning comes. This is the time I love walking the bank with my camera. I’ve taken that church-in-the-mist photo at least a hundred times and still take it every morning. You can never have enough of these shots. Right at the moment I’m standing waist-deep in water filming, I hear a beep. Adrenaline hits again. By the time I get out, the fish is still there. I grab the rod and again a smaller carp. The rest of the day nothing. I try everything pop-ups, tiger nuts, wafters, paste. Still can’t crack it.

Last day. I finally move about 400 meters. Here I can reach deeper water. One rod goes under the first drop. The second about 30 meters further. Simple rigs. I mostly use a D-rig with a stiff fluorocarbon hooklink. The only thing I change is the hook curve shank for bigger baits, long shank for tiger nuts or pop-ups. Baits are clear: wafters, half pop-up, paste. One rod krill + pepper/caviar. The other Mikki. Nothing. So I enjoy my last day with a group of Czech anglers nearby. Sun is shining, good vibes all around. In the evening, my girls arrive and we have dinner by the lake. Local pizza. The final evening is here. The rods stay in place. I trust them. Time is flying. Luckily, the clock changed I have one extra hour. Then suddenly. One rod starts moving. Slow, steady, continuous run. I lift the rod and instantly know this is no small fish. Time disappears. When I first see it, my heart rate spikes. Carefully slowly I bring it closer. Watch the submerged tree. YES! It’s in the net. I stand there, smiling like an idiot, staring in disbelief. THIS IS IT. One of the beautiful Bled mirror carp I came for.

Now no rush. I prepare everything, take a few photos, a short video. And let it swim back home. I sit there, soaking in the final moments, overwhelmed with happiness. Five days of struggle and then this, one hour before the end. Unreal. Grateful.

Next morning quick breakfast, packing up. Wet gear makes it harder, but better than packing a dry net and mat. Everything fits eventually, and we head home with a stop at the Vintgar Gorge just a few kilometers away. Thank you.

P.S. It worked again this year and we’re heading back for the third time this autumn.

Déřa and his “Carp Life”