Salmo marmoratus
Season calendar
- Season
- April–September
- Water temperature
- 5–15 °C
- Spawning
- November–December
- Behaviour
- Cold water, feeds on the drift
Techniques
- Fly fishing
- light spinning
- nymphing
Rules – read this first
- It is classed as endangered in Slovenia; hybridisation has pushed pure stocks into a handful of isolated streams.
- The statutory closed season is 1 October to 31 March and the minimum size is 40 cm, so the season runs 1 April to 30 September.
- Most beats of RD Tolmin, RD Soča and the Fisheries Research Institute require barbless single hooks and catch and release.
- Do not lift the fish out of the water, handle it with wet hands, and keep photo time short.
Timing
- May to June: the water clears and this is the prime fly window.
- July to August: once the snowmelt is over, fish early morning and late evening.
- September: big fish turn aggressive before spawning, and it is the last month of the season.
Where
- Tail-outs of the deep turquoise pools and the slack pockets behind large boulders.
- Tributary mouths and the current crease where a gravel bar ends.
Technique
- Heavy nymphs (perdigon, 3-4 mm tungsten) drifted along the bottom; the larger fish hold deep.
- Flies: 8-10 cm natural-toned streamers, and large stonefly nymphs on dark days.
- Spinning: 3-7 g spinners or small minnows converted to a barbless single hook.
- In clear water a 0.14-0.18 mm fluorocarbon leader and long casts are essential; the fish sees you first.
Frequently asked
- When is the best time to catch marble trout?
- The productive window for marble trout runs April–September. November–December is the spawning period; releasing your catch during these months is strongly advised.
- What water temperature does marble trout feed in?
- Marble trout is most active between 5 and 15 °C. Outside that band its feeding rate drops off.
- How do you fish for marble trout?
- Common methods: Fly fishing, light spinning, nymphing.