On the first weekend of October, I traveled to Prague for the Orvis Cup — a fly-fishing competition that’s been growing steadily in popularity. This was the sixth edition of the tournament, and while most competitors were Czech, more and more international anglers seem to join every year. The format is simple: individual ranking, fishing from boats on the Vltava River, which cuts right through the heart of the city and is stocked with brown trout, rainbows, and grayling.
This was my second time attending, and once again the organizers impressed me. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming, the event ran smoothly, and there was a genuine sense of sportsmanship among everyone involved.
Fishing was productive in the upper and lower sectors, but the middle sector turned out to be the real mystery. Only a handful of anglers managed to figure out where the fish were holding and what patterns they would take. That stretch of water ended up deciding the whole competition.
Eighty-six people took part this year, and the fish that came to hand were generally in the 30 to 50-plus centimeter range. Along with the stocked trout, a few locals — carp, perch, and chub — also made an appearance. The river ran low, and the weather felt more like late summer than early October.
The overall victory went to Karel Peyerl, who put on a dominant performance with three first-place sector finishes. Prizes were awarded to the top three anglers, and a lively raffle sent several excellent Orvis and Reddington rods to lucky new owners. The top three female competitors were also recognized — and anyone who underestimates them does so at their own risk. While some of us are busy looking around to see who’s catching fish, they might already be landing their second.
All in all, it was another memorable edition of the Orvis Cup. My thanks go to the organizers — and warm greetings to everyone who took part.
