For some anglers, fishing is a passion from the very beginning. For others, it becomes something they return to after discovering other interests along the way. For Jenda, it was a bit of both. His fishing journey began during childhood, when he spent time by the water with his father and grandfather. Today, he is particularly passionate about fly fishing, travelling in search of beautiful rivers and above all, trout.
Jenda is 33 years old and works as the CEO of a construction company. Outside of work, he enjoys an active lifestyle, from kickboxing and gym training to hiking and spending time in nature. He returned to fishing as an adult, initially looking for a way to relax and escape the stress of his job. However, he soon discovered that traditional fishing was a little too static for him. After trying fly fishing, partly inspired by his father’s stories about it, he immediately fell in love with the challenge and the unique experience it offers.
It all started with his father and grandfather
Jenda’s first fishing memories go back to his childhood, when he would fish together with his father and grandfather. Back then, his fishing was very different from what he does today.
“I started fishing at a young age with my father and grandfather, mostly with a waggler for carp and smaller white fish.” he recalls. As he grew older, his interests changed and he began targeting predators, using spinning rods and dead bait. Like many anglers, however, there came a period when other things in life took his attention away from fishing. Eventually, Jenda found his way back to the water - but this time, he discovered a completely different side of angling.
“I found a way back to fishing because I fell in love with fly fishing.”
That passion has since taken him to some beautiful destinations and introduced him to a huge variety of fish.
The magic of fly fishing
Although Jenda mainly fishes in the Czech Republic, his travels have taken him to Austria, Canada, Slovenia, Switzerland, Italy and Bosnia. Each destination has offered something different, but trout are the fish that keep drawing him back to the river.
For Jenda, one of the great attractions of fly fishing is its versatility. With the right fly and technique, it is possible to catch an incredible variety of species - not only trout and other traditional fly-fishing targets, but also white fish, barbel and predators such as perch and pike. Still, trout remain his main passion. Among his most memorable catches is a 62 cm brown trout from his local river, which currently stands as his longest brown trout.
A return trip in search of trophy grayling
One of Jenda’s most recent adventures took him to a destination he had first visited in spring. The combination of beautiful nature and the opportunity to encounter trophy-sized fish immediately made an impression on him. So, when the end of summer approached, he decided to return, this time with a specific goal in mind: catching a trophy grayling. The trip delivered exactly what he had hoped for.
Jenda caught numerous beautiful grayling as well as several nice trout. But despite the impressive fish he landed, one particular moment stood above the rest.
While standing close to the water, he suddenly witnessed something extraordinary. A huge brown trout, estimated at around 70 cm, launched itself roughly half a metre out of the water to take a fly only about three metres away from him.
“It was breathtaking.” Jenda says.
There was just one small problem - the enormous trout was not interested in his fly!
Sometimes, fishing gives you a moment that is almost impossible to forget, even when you don’t end up catching the fish.
A memorable encounter in Canada
Jenda has also travelled much further in pursuit of fish. During a trip to Canada, he was hoping to catch salmon. Although he didn’t manage to land one, the trip still gave him an unforgettable fishing memory. While standing in the river, one of the salmon actually hit his leg.
And that wasn’t the only spectacular wildlife encounter. Jenda also saw sea lions hunting salmon in the river - a sight that made the trip memorable despite not catching the fish he had originally travelled for.
It is a perfect reminder that sometimes the most memorable fishing experiences aren’t necessarily the ones that end with a fish in your hands.
Where would Jenda go next?
Having already explored several European destinations and experienced fishing in Canada, Jenda still has plenty of places on his bucket list.
If he could choose his dream destination, there would be two clear answers:
Patagonia or New Zealand.
Both destinations offer extraordinary landscapes, wild rivers and the possibility of encountering incredible trout - making them a natural fit for an angler who has become so passionate about fly fishing.
The secret to memorable fish
So, what does Jenda think is the key to catching a beautiful and memorable fish?
For him, there is no single secret technique. Beginner’s luck can certainly happen, but most successful fishing comes from persistence, experimentation and learning to understand the particular water you are fishing. Every river and every lake is different. Fish behave differently depending on the location, season and conditions. What works perfectly in one place might be completely ineffective somewhere else.
The right bait, lure or fly is important, but so is the presentation - and, perhaps most importantly, knowing where the fish actually are.
As Jenda puts it:
“Even the best presentation of the best fly means nothing if there is no fish.”
It is a simple thought, but one that perfectly captures his approach to fishing. Success often comes from trying, failing, adapting and eventually discovering what works on that particular water.
And perhaps that is what makes fly fishing so fascinating for Jenda. Every river presents a new puzzle, every fish behaves differently, and there is always something new to learn.
For now, trout remain his main target, but with Patagonia and New Zealand still waiting on the horizon, it seems that there are plenty more adventures and hopefully plenty more memorable fish - ahead.
