Huchen is typically found in large rivers with clean, cold water, and strong currents. Sava, Savinja, Drina, Kupa, Una, Sana, Lim, Tara… are among the most popular rivers for huchen fishing, although they can also be found in smaller tributaries and streams. Rarely, trophy huchen can also be caught in river lakes, where they are thicker and stronger. It is interesting that huchen prefers the middle parts of rivers, where there are also cyprinids, their favorite food. If only salmonids live in the river, it will be almost impossible to find a huchen.

Huchen lives in deep pools, runs, and undercut banks where it may be hiding. Pay attention to water temperature, as huchen prefers cooler water and may be found in deeper pools during hot weather. Sometimes it is difficult to determine where a huchen is hidden because this large fish has a large area in which it hunts and lives, with no natural enemy to prevent it from doing so. One individual can hold a territory of several hundred meters and can be in any cover in that area.

Use a 7-10 weight fly rod with fast action, a large arbor reel with a good drag system, and a floating line for surface streamers, or a sinking line to get your fly down to the fish. Make sure your gear is powerful, as the huchen can grow very large and put up a strong fight. When nymphing, use at least 4-5 weight Euro nymphing rods and larger diameter tippets 0x-3x.

Huchen feeds on various prey mostly white cyprinid fish, but sometimes crayfish, and large insect nymphs. Giant, articulated streamers with flash materials can be effective in natural colors such as white, cream, black, brown, or olive. Crayfish patterns, worms, and big nymphs can also be effective, even used in the Euro nymphing style.

Use a slow and steady retrieve with occasional pauses to mimic the movement of injured prey. Be sure to strip in enough line quickly to set the hook when you get a bite. When you contact a huchen, set the hook more than once a quick time, to make sure the hook penetrates the hard jaw deep enough. Otherwise, the huchen could easily shake off your fly.

Huchen is often more active early in the morning or late in the evening. If you are fishing during the middle of a sunny summer day, your chances are low, but you could try to focus on deep pools or shades. If a heavy short rain falls and the river gets a little muddy, know that it’s a happy hour for huchen fishing. Don’t miss something like that and then use large streamers. In good weather and water conditions, huchen feed very actively and can strike anywhere in the river.

Huchen fishing is a challenging and rewarding experience for experienced anglers. With the right gear, technique, and timing, you can increase your chances of hooking into one of these impressive fish.

Several guides in the Balkans specialize in fly fishing for huchen. Look for an in field instructor with experience fishing for huchen and knowledge of the local waters. Also, be sure to inquire about their equipment, flies, and methods to ensure that they align with your preferences and experience level.

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If you visit the famous fly fishing region of Plav in Northern Montenegro (119km from Podgorica Airport, 196km from Tirana Airport), don’t forget to try your luck at the beautiful natural lake, besides the 4 fly fishing zones on the nearby rivers. When you get enough nice grayling, trout, and maybe even river huchen, it’s time for the Stillwater.

Plav’s Lake is home to the largest huchen in the world. Specimens over 41kg were caught on the hook, and old fishers tell stories about fish over 70kg, caught in a net many decades ago.

Besides lake trout and huchen, the Lake of Plav is populated with nice grayling, especially near the mouth of the tributary Ljucha, and outflow of the river Lim.

Of course, there are more species to catch on a fly in this lake. Pike, chub, nase, cactus roach, and even burbot. My guests sometimes enjoy that coarse fish – fly fishing, when we make a strategy-pause, waiting for the better activity of Salmonids.

Look online or ask for recommendations for an experienced fly fishing in-field instructor who specializes in Plav’s Lake fishing.

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River Lim in Plav (119km from Podgorica Airport, 196km from Tirana Airport)

River Luca in Plav

The Plav’s Lake

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