Fly Fishing for Asp

Asp, also known as European perch, are a popular game fish found in many rivers, lakes, and other bodies of water throughout Europe and parts of Asia. They are known for their aggressive strikes and acrobatic fights, making them a challenging and exciting species to target on the fly.

Where can you fly fish for asp

The primary place to fly fish for Asp are big rivers. This is their habitat and they have been successfully spreading throughout big rivers in Europe and Asia. But you can also find them in lakes.

Some of the best places to fly fish for asp is in the rivers and lakes of Sweden, Finland, and Norway. Or try some of the big rivers in Western Europe. These places are home to some of the largest populations of asp in Europe, and the clear, cold waters provide the perfect habitat. Examples are the Waal and the Maas in the Netherlands.

In Sweden, popular fly fishing destinations include Lake Vättern and the River Mörrum, while in Finland, Lake Saimaa and the River Kymijoki are known for their abundant asp populations. In Norway, the River Gaula and the lakes of the Jotunheimen region are prime spots for fly fishing for asp.

What flies work best

The primary fly to use for Asp are small streamers. When it's early in the season they  tend to go for really small baitfish. Just a few centimeters (1 or 2 inches) is enough. Later in the season they go after bigger fish, although streamers of around 5 cm (2 - 2.5 inches) are big enough. Anything bigger will likely just scare them away, so don't use your pike streamers.

How to fly fish for asp

When it comes to technique, fly fishing for asp is similar to other types of freshwater fly fishing. An AFTMA 6 to AFTMA 8 rod with a floating line (when they're close to the surface) or sinking line (primarily for fishing on lakes) are what you need.

Asp are often found in and around structure. Try to find places where you see two different speeds of current coming together, shoreline, rocks, etc. Once the fly is in the water, a slow, steady retrieve with occasional pauses can be effective at triggering a strike.

Note that Asp can be very selective. Somethings you can see them hunting but they just ignore your fly. In that case, the best thing to do is to vary: change your fly size, your fly color, and your stripping pattern and speed. Sometimes just a subtle change can make all the difference.

Lastly: early morning and late evening are definitely the best times, especially during hot summer days.