Every time I travel back to Serbia, my first thought is always the same: what fish am I going to target? Living in Florida now, I miss certain species—especially Pike, the predator that made me fall in love with fishing in the first place.
But after so many years in the sport, I always want something new, too. This trip’s challenge was the Nase, a cold-water fish that lives in the fast, beautiful currents of the Drina River.
I had three fishing trips planned, each completely different.
Trip 1 — The Drina River & the Nase
I’d failed twice before, so Nase fishing on the Bosnian border was my priority. The Drina looked unreal—crystal water, mountains, everything. Day one was rough: high water levels, not a single bite. We regrouped, prayed for better conditions, and day two delivered. Perfect weather, perfect water, perfect magic.
On that mountain stretch of the Drina, we finally got our first bite—and then it was on. Fish after fish, we battled beautiful 5-lb Nase until all three of us landed 3 fish each. In total: 8 common Nase and 1 grayling. An unreal experience every angler should live at least once.
Trip 2 — Pike Hunting in the Wetlands
My classic northern-Serbia pike mission. Heavy lures, still water, small boats, perfect weather—but slow bites. Four of us, two boats, only one big pike strike all day, and nobody landed it. The funny part? I was the only one who caught anything… and it was a largemouth bass—a fish I catch all the time in Florida. Not what I wanted, but still a great day with friends.
Trip 3 — Home on the Sava River
I couldn’t leave without fishing the Sava where I grew up. On that wild river, anything is possible on spinning gear. I hoped for Pike, focused on Asp and Chub—and on the third cast, I got my Pike. Perfect start.
The rest of the day was crowned by six big Asp, split between me and a friend, caught on spinners and handmade wobblers. On light tackle, these fish gave us the fight of a lifetime. Without a doubt, I couldn’t have imagined a better ending: a solid Pike and three big Asp to close out my Serbian tour.
All in all, Serbia is a unique fishing paradise—so many predators, so many ecosystems, all in such a small country. It’s every angler’s dream.
Hvala, Serbia. See you next year for new adventures.
