Italy is a true fishing nation. Italian competitors are formidable in all techniques and our friends across the Alps are seasoned technicians. No need to go to New Zealand or Canada to fight big fish on the fly when you want to start or improve your technique.
Italy remains an affordable country where fishing is a true religion. Let's see why it is particularly suitable for fly fishing and why this technique is easy to learn in Italy.
Specific fishing routes!
In Italy there are many specific fishing routes. This certainly complicates the regulations a little, but it is really a plus to catch preserved fish. In a single valley, it is possible to find "no-kill", "lure only", "fly only" or even privatized sections accessible to a small number of fishermen.
Behind these constraints, which may seem complex, we find well managed, clean and especially fishy courses. The fly courses generally have very good populations of salmonids, some of which are very large.
The downside of these courses is that there are few wild fish... But don't panic, Italy is not to be outdone when it comes to offering seasoned fishermen opportunities for big fish preserved and native to Italian rivers.
Italy, a destination for fly fishing beginners
Fly fishing can be confusing for many anglers. This is sometimes the case on heavily fished courses, crowded or even on courses with few fish. In Italy, on specific courses, the water is often very clear and crystalline. It is therefore possible to observe many fish and to perfect one's knowledge.
This is a real plus to adjust your casts and gain in precision. Very clear waters are perfect for dry fishing (on the surface), but also for nymphing (between two waters), and allow you to follow your imitation well in the currents. Adjusting and refining your drifting can be learned quickly in Italy thanks to these ideal conditions.
The numerous fishes also allow us to better understand the behavior of salmonids towards our flies. We will quickly adjust its imitation or its presentation to try to decide to make a nice salmonid bite.
Sensations that come quickly
Finally, these overdense fish, even if they are educated and used to fishermen, will nevertheless be much less careful than wild fish. This is a real plus for beginners, because approximations or small mistakes can be quickly forgiven.
The fights with healthy and sometimes very respectable sized fish are really a lot of fun.
Here again, these big fish caught in very clear water allow you to learn very quickly how to manage the fight with a big fish on a fly, even on a fine line.
So if like me you have the opportunity to go to Italy and you want to start fly fishing, don't hesitate!
