Briggsy Moves On To Pastures New... The Balkans Challenge

Over the years I’ve fished in many countries, but I’ve only recently started to fish the big Balkan lakes.

- Steve Briggs

Slovenia was certainly one country that I’d overlooked for too long. Mention Slovenia and most people immediately think of Lake Bled, which is one special place for sure, but there are many more big and beautiful waters that are perhaps less well known and it was these places that drew my attention.

Thanks to the knowledge of my German mate, Meik Pyka, we found ourselves heading for Lake Vogrscek, a big, long reservoir surrounded by mountains and full of wild, hungry carp! Like many of the European man-made reservoirs it is dammed at one end with the old river bed running through the centre, but full of old tree stumps where the trees were cut down just above ground level before the valley was flooded. Over time the lake bed tends to erode, exposing the roots to form quite formidable snags. Strong gear is needed for that style of fishing; big sharp hooks, good shock leaders and a good boat to help get above the fish quickly when one is hooked.

We only had a few days to spare at this lake, but I knew that action would come our way. Several fish showed, mainly along the far margin, and after baiting with around four or five kilos of Scopex Squid and Key Cray freebies, it wasn’t long before we got amongst them. I soon had my first Slovenian carp of around mid-twenties and Meik was catching regularly up to my right. Over the next few days we caught consistently. The tree stumps were always a problem, but we landed virtually everything we hooked. Most were modest in size, but I did get one beauty just short of 40lb while Meik landed another of about 45lb.