San River

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San River

Destinations

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Destinations

San River

Country: Poland

District: Bieszczady

Type: River

Location size
River: 45 km

Distance from
Rzeszow: 100 km
Krakow: 230 km

Website of the regional fishing association, in Polish only
www.pzw.org.pl/pzwkrosno/
The most abundant information in English (also French and Dutch) & a professional fishing guide service on the San
www.san.fish.pl
The most abundant information in English (also French and Dutch) & a professional fishing guide service on the San
www.blog.fish.pl

In one of the last wild place in Europe, in the beautiful mountains of Bieszczady, the river San cuts its way through fields and forest.

Located in south eastern corner between Ukraine and Slovakia San gathers the waters from unspoilt and almost unhabited region creating one of the most famous european tail waters below the dams in Solina and Myczkowce. Flowing through charming towns of Lesko and Sanok, it slows down around Dynow finally finding its way to the Wisla river after 444 kilometers.

A river made by God for fly anglers.

How To Get There

Lesko is the place to look for - impossible to miss the river, wide for 120 meters in town. Easy access upstream and downstream of Lesko by roads 84, 893 or local road towards Zaluz.

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Location Details

The upper San above the lakes, although beeing utterly beautifull is almost impossible to fish, running mostly through national parks and nature reserves. So we will concentrate on the river below the dams.

From the powerplant in Zwierzyn (between the powerplant and the dam in Myczkowce there is a protection zone of few kilometers - no fishing at all !!!) till the confluence with Oslawa river the San is almost uniform - large from 60 to 120 meters, wadable throughout, except for few deeper places, easily spotted. Gravel covers most of its bottom with some slippery rocks in between. Except for the Laczki - Lesko bit there isn't much civilisation to look at when fishing. Very easy access on that part - bridge of Lesko being one of the most visited places because of easy access. Solinka, Hoczewka and Oslawa are the only reasonable size tributaries, that might be of an interest to fly anglers.

Species

General rule - the more upstream you go, the more grayling there is, reaching 50-50 with brown trout in the upper section. In lower parts of the river towards Sanok some chub appear between omnipresent trout - the grayling are getting more demanding, choosing deeper runs. Huchen holes are a 100% habitat of our land-locked salmon spread evenly on the length of a river.

How To Fish

San is a dry fly river without any doubt.

From June till late October it is how most anglers would fish. Hatches usually start about 11 lasting till 3-4 pm then in June and July there is often an evening hatch of sedges.

Most used dry flies - CDC or deer hair sedge size 14-18, various duns size 14-20. Use of small flies requires the use of long and thin tippets going down to 0.08mm. Of course nymphs work as well: little gold bead pheasant tail, shrimps (scuds) and beaded quill nymphs are the most popular. Unless the water is high use of heavy nymphs is pointless in most cases. Early season however is a good time to try some heavier and bigger nymphs as well as streamers - mainly leeches and zonkers.

Equipment

Fly rods
#4 - #6 will do in most cases. If you want to focus on the Danube Salmon (Huchen, Taimen) - 7-9 weight is recommended.

Fly reels
To suit your rod and handle fly line and at least 50 meters of backing (In case you hit a Taimen or huge trout - it happens!).

Fly Lines
We use floating lines 80% of the time. Dull in colour if possible. Sink Tip lines are needed for early season, and other periods with high water and stronger flows.

Leader
The later in the season we are - the longer it gets. My personal experience is 4' - 5' single piece 0.30 mm leader for streamers in spring, 9' tapered till July, 12' - 15' tapered in autumn.

Tippet
In early and mid season - 0.30 mm for streamers and 0.16 mm for dry and nymph fishing down to 0.08 mm for late autumn graylings on dry.

Fishing vest
With clippers, forceps, knotless landing net (obligatory).

Flies
All flies must be tied on barbless hooks (or crushed barb). You risk being banned from the fishing if wardens find you fishing with barbed hooks!!

Waders
Chest waders, neoprene (misadvised for the summer fishing) or Gore-Tex, bootfoot or stockingfoot with wadding shoes, not necessarily felted (but preferable).

Others
Good quality polarized sun or prescription glasses, woollen socks, wide brimmed hat or baseball cap, windproof pullover/fleece and a good quality rain jacket - a dull colour is best.

Practical Info

There is plenty of accommodation as the region is attended by tourists all year long, mainly because of the mountains.

Few little tackle shops, most known and dedicated to fly anglers is in Sanok - Top Fly.

San is an easy river for beginners cause with the abundance of fish it almost guarantees a catch. Easy wading on most places make it even accessible to those who are not familiar with wading.

San has been selected for World and European championships 3 times already - in 1985, 2005 and 2010.

There is no obligation to hire a guide, however it will be difficult to get onto the no-kill sector without one.

All flies must be tied on barbless hooks, maximum of two flies. Landing net compulsory on the no-kill. Those fishing below the no-kill must fill in their daily or season ticket before entering the river! Wardens are watching you all the time, and they don't discuss!

Trout season - from 1st February till 31st August , grayling - 1st of June till 31 December.

No kill sector - absolute catch and realease, open sector - no more than 3 fish per day or 9 per month. Fish taken must be registered on the ticket, which should be returned. Minimum sizes: trout 31cm, graylig 36.

Licences are required and strictly checked. The best place to buy them is TopFly shop in Sanok (www.topfly.com.pl) Note that tickets for the no-kill sector are available only at the wardens, and usually require a booking of few months before your trip. Local guides have some tickets for their guests, so it is easier to book through them. Only two types of tickets are available: one day and 40 days (any 40 days in the year).

Complete info about fishing in 3 languages
www.san.fish.pl
Tourism
www.krainawilka.pl
River reports in English
www.blog.fish.pl