Freestone · Granite · South Bohemia / Šumava

Otava

Otava venue image
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One of the major trout and grayling rivers in Šumava / South-West Bohemia, with about 30 km of fishable salmonid sections.

Species

A side-water session, not the main event

Low and clear — careful approach country. Long leader, small flies, slower casts.

75% confidence in this read
Water temperature for brown trout
Cool — slow
7°C est.ideal 1016°C
0°14°28°
Why this score · for brown trout
  • Temperature4228% weight
  • Flow6022% weight
  • Clarity9518% weight
  • Feeding Time5013% weight
  • Pressure807% weight
  • Prey Activity2612% weight
Conditions
Level
Dry recently
No gauge reading
Water temp
6.5°C
Estimated
Clarity
Clear
Air temp
6°C
Wind
W 12 km/h
Gentle breeze
Pressure
1014 hPa
Rain · 48h
0.0 mm
No meaningful rain
Rain · ahead
0.0 mm
No meaningful rain · next 48h

Live readings — water temperature is an estimate where the gauge does not record it.

How to fish it · for brown trout
When
Nymphing can work through most of the day.
Where
Cover mixed depths.
Method
Start with tight-line nymphs and adjust if fish rise or drift higher.
Kit
9 ft #4 rod, floating line, 12 ft tapered leader to 4–5 lb fluoro tippet.
Why this works
Fair conditions. Clarity is favourable (95), Prey activity is weakest (26).
Through the year
0–3 scale · May highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
1
Grayling seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
1
GrannomHatch
2
2
Evening SedgeHatch
2
3
3
3
2
Large Dark OliveHatch
1
2
2
1
Iron BlueHatch
1
2
2
1

Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.

Gallery · 1
  1. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • State licence + local permit
  • Multiple quality sections with fly-only rule
  • Brown trout protected Sep 1–Apr 15
  • Grayling protected Dec 1–Jun 15.
Directions
About this water

One of the major trout and grayling rivers in Šumava / South-West Bohemia, with about 30 km of fishable salmonid sections. The last salmonid stretches are predominantly grayling with some brown trout, while upper sections hold more trout. Mixed pools and riffles with character varying stretch to stretch. Methods range from dry and wet fly to nymphs and streamers. CzechNymph describes it as the most significant western Šumava fly river.

  • Granite
Seasons & zones
  • Trout16 April → 31 August
  • Grayling16 June → 30 November
Other water nearby · 5
Booking & contacts