Legislation on the Sesia River
As with any trip, the first thing to do when arriving in a foreign country is to find out about the legislation in force, the areas and methods of fishing allowed, and the license if there is one.
For the entire Sesia Valley, there are two permits, the "kill" and the "no kill". One gives the right to catch fish if desired and to fish with treble hooks, the other is reserved for sport fishermen practicing "catch and release" and using single hooks.
It is quite naturally that we turned to the latter, taking it directly online on the Hooking App which cost us 20 euros each day. We have the possibility to access the main river and the different tributaries of which some areas are reserved for fly fishing, others for tenkara and others in which all techniques are allowed.
In the main river, there are also integral reserve zones, and specific zones for certain techniques. It is essential to find out about these areas before you start fishing.
Here we are in the rules, ready to fish for a full week during which we will mainly do evening and morning shots on the main river, and some sessions on the tributaries during the day.
First shot of the evening and first fish
Arrived in the afternoon, we first went to our accommodation to drop off our stuff, and to prepare the evening session with the hope to quickly see the marbled scales of a fish! Once the equipment was ready and the course was chosen, we left for the Sesia with our Italian friend Fabio, who joined us for the occasion. We decide to make two groups of two so as not to get in the way. Ghjuvà and Fabio go up the river and Stella and I go down.
After a good two hours without a single touch, the sun starts to fade on the horizon and we all know that this is the right time for the marmoratas to come out to hunt.
A phone call disturbs my concentration, I look and see that it is Ghjuvà who calls me, no doubt, they had to make one! I pick up the phone and a shout forces me to move the phone away from my ear. Ghjuvà announces me with an immense joy that he finally made his first marmorata trout.
He will explain to me afterwards that he insisted for a long time in a very small and deep hole in which he made his lure pass many times before taking a huge hit! Fabio then came running to ensure the catch with a landing net. The lack of light and the fact that the fish had gone down the hole below did not allow Ghjuvà to see if it was a marmorata or a fario at first. He asked several times "tell me it's marbled! Tell me that it is marbled!" before exploding of joy by seeing the magnificent dress of this fish so much hoped.
A first shot of the evening that could not start better with already a nice fish and a first marmorata trout for Ghjuvà!
Second day, same time, same place, same fisherman!
The next day, despite all the hopes we had, the morning shot gave us nothing. In the evening, we decided to repeat the course of the day before, hoping to catch another fish. We continued to fish only the three of us, Fabio having returned to work.
By arriving on the hole in which he had made his first marmorata the day before, Ghjuvà shows me and explains me again the action of fishing. I throw to him while laughing "go ahead, I let you fish as much as you do one again" without really believing it... And I decide to go fishing a little higher. I didn't even have the time to cast that I heard him shout to announce that he had a fish. I hurried to join him and to exhaust this magnificent fish with incredible colors!
This second marmorata trout signs then the second fish of the stay, for the same fisherman, exactly at the same place, with the same skeleton as the day before and almost at the same time. Another moment and anecdote that will remain engraved for life.
Never two without three
Here we are at the dawn of the third day of fishing, we decide to go on a course higher on the river, in which are bigger and deeper basins! We arrive as always at daybreak to put all the chances on our side! After only a few throws, while it seemed to him to see a hunt in the half-light, Ghjuvà launches his skeleton in a broad current which led to a pit. Arrived at halfway, he takes a huge touch and the surface explodes instantly! The rod bends, this time it's a beautiful fish!
After a hard fight in the current, he finally manages to land the fish in the net that I lift not without difficulty. The colors are superb, the proportions also, and what to say about this head of carnivorous so characteristic! A fish surely hybrid fario/marmorata, but an incredible fish for this third day of fishing in Italy.
As the two previous ones, this trout will be subjected to a very short photo session before quietly returning to its environment, to continue to grow. Three days of madness for Ghjuvà, a joy that we share with him, hoping to touch a fish too!
