Exploring the Rendena Valley in October 2019 with my new friend, journalist Dave Zoby

In addition to being an award winning writer and well-known hunting and fishing journalist, Dave Zoby is also Professor of English at Casper College in Casper, Wyoming. This past summer I invited Dave to join me on a trip to experience the Alto Sarca river and the culture and history that steeps in it's cool waters. As my guest, Dave was treated to as many of the special fishing beats, cafes, ristorantes, and enotecas as we could squeeze into a 5-day blitz.

Typically, my clients write a little something to help others learn of the experience they enjoyed, and I publish it here. But, in this case, Dave wrote his own Blog posts, and I'll link to them below.

Thanks Dave, I look forward to fishing with you again soon. Salute!

Back from the Italian Alps - by Dave Zoby (10/21/2019)

and

Fly Fishing Italy - by Dave Zoby (11/05/2019)

August in Val Di Breguzzo with Donna and Connor

In February of this year Donna emailed me explaining that she was planning a family vacation in Italy for August and she wanted to learn about fly fishing opportunities in the area around Lake Garda where they would be staying for the first leg of their holiday. The main tributary of Lake Garda is the Sarca river,so I contacted Paolo Ferrazza at Sarca Fly Fishing and began to put together some booking and logistics.

I had several enjoyable conversations with Donna over the next few months while I helped her to sort out details like regarding renting a car in a small village on the lake, where Cristina at Santorum Car Rental was very accomodating.

Upon arriving, Paolo got them set up with all the gear they would need, and took them to a remote valley to fish Arno creek. He provided a very special lunch for Donna and Connor where the view looks as nice as the food and beer. I was very happy to hear this from Donna at the conclusion of her trip:

We had an amazing time !! ... Paulo was amazing and the perfect guide from the moment we met up w/him ! Thx again for all your leg work & assistance with so many of the details !!

Late May 2019 in the Dolomites with Tony

I met Tony last year at a retirement party for his mentor, friend and colleague at a funky little bar on Cherokee Steet in Saint Louis, MO. In the past, he had lived in Italy, and when he caught wind of my love for fishing the mountain streams of the Dolomites, we found we had some things to talk about.

A few months later Tony contacted me with some questions and I was happy to help get him connected to my friends and partners at Sarca Fly Fishing on the waters of the Alto Sarca in Trentino-Adige, where Stefano and Diego provided first-class instruction of proper European style Nymphing technique, and made it possible for him to catch his first of several Marble Trout!

A few days later, he joined Matteo de Falco of the Italian Fishing Guides the Upper Piave river near Belluno. Here again, Tony was able to enjoy the beauty of an Alpine stream, and was able to catch several hybrid trout (marmo x fario), a nice brown, and a big rainbow.

I asked Tony to contribute to this blog post, and this is what he had to say:

Wow! Erik – I can’t thank you enough for your help in planning my fly-fishing adventure in the Dolomite mountains of Northern Italy. Although I happened to catch a rainy spell, it couldn’t put a damper on the beauty of the locations or the quality of the fishing. I’m still seeing those marble trout in my dreams! I really appreciated your help in arranging spectacular guides who were fantastic mentors in the techniques of the Euro-nymphing style, and your willingness to answer all my questions ahead of my trip. I hope I get the chance to return with you one of these days and enjoy some world-class fishing and some streamside lunches on the Alto Sarca and Piave. Tight lines, mate!