Exploring Slovenia with the baby

By: Veera Viitanen

In early June, when the summer sun was just rising, we drove to the airport with our ten month old son sleeping in the car. There was excitement in the air as we were heading to our first fishing trip abroad as a family. By noon that day we would be in Slovenia, which had stolen our hearts a year before. We had no idea if we could fish or not during our trip and even though we were waiting so hard for the rising fish, at the same time we were getting ready for a normal family vacation. Because as you know every day with the growing little human is a new mystery and his rhytms are your schedules.

The flight went better than we could even hoped and the baby was in a good mood also during the way over the mountains by car from the airport to the accommodation. The place we stayed in Slovenia was a nice little farm with child- friendly atmosphere. Our target river was flowing opposite of the yard and there was also a smaller one running through both the forest and the village nearby. We had a really good vibes about this trip together.

The weather was really hot and bright the first day in our destination. Water was crystal clear and its level was quite low, which meant difficult fishing for us. It hadn’t been raining for a while in Slovenia, so the fish were really picky and passive. We had chosen the fishing area by the experiences we have had before. The river and the spots we fished, were familiar for us so we didn’t have to waste expensive time with the baby by searching the right area to fish. We could make short and a bit longer visits to the different spots for checking if we could find some rising fish. The baby was thrilled about everything new around him and loved to play with the rocks and sand. He enjoyed his time on the backpack so much that we were able to spend the whole day on the riverside.

On this holiday we had Deuter Kid comfort 3 carrying device that was a really good option for the trip like this. It is ergonomic for both the carrier and the baby. There is also an integrated rain- and the sun cover. It also has protection against the risk of falling and enough space in the pockets for all the stuff needed on a daytrip. What we usually needed on the river during the day, was diapers of course, food stuff, changing clothes, first aid supplies, milk and water bottles, toys, tissues and some breathable gauze that we could put over during the naptime.

The next day Antti went to fishing with our friend while I was taking it easy and resting with the baby at the farm. Boys were catching fish and we were enjoying our time on the pool and watching animals. Fishing days are long even for the adults so somedays off are definitely necessary with the kid. But we didn’t know that the weather was radically changing and we would have to stay away from the river for a couple more days. The storm stole us a few fishing days at the end. Because of the hard rain the water level rose high really quickly and the river was far too milky for fishing. Normally, without the baby, we would have changed the river and driven as far as it would be needed but with the kid that wasn’t an option.

On the first rainy day, we spent our time driving around the mountains and went to meet an old friend of ours. He told us about a smaller river nearby of our accommodation. When the large rivers were out of the count we still could have some chance with the smaller ones. So even though the weather was still bad on the next day, we headed to the small river. It wasn’t good either on that day but it was a bit better at least, so we gave it a try. The weather was also getting better slowly and we all three were really happy to be outside in the nature again. Baby didn’t mind about the weather or how milky the river was, and that is exactly what you are looking for your fishing companion, isn’t? ;) –Every weather, everywhere, everytime.

Finally after few days, when the water level was almost ok we were happy to get the opportunity to fishing one more day before our trip in Slovenia would be over. We had the sun shining again and in the afternoon, also the water came to a perfect level. The rain did good things for the rivers and fishing because the last evening turned out to be magical.

It seems that when the best evening hatch is just beginning, you must help the baby to get sleep so we took turns of fishing on our last evening. It was my turn to fish first. I had heard the stories about the big marbles which came to the rivers when the water level is high and on that evening those stories came true. When I waded to one of my favorite fishing spots and was just making my first cast I saw a big shadow moving in the deep and then disappear. I felt a cold shiver on my skin. What was that? Maybe just an illusion? I started to fish and noticed quite soon how active the fish were on that moment. I had many bites and caught a couple of small fish. When I hooked a tiny little baby marble, I suddenly noticed that something was following it below. When it came closer I realized that it was a large marble trout. I don’t even have to lie when I say that it was a monster size, really a huge fish. I was terrified while waiting for what would happen next. Maybe it saw me or noticed that its target already hooked, because it stopped and swam back to the darkness. I was relieved as I netted the small marble but there was more drama coming. A rainbow trout I hooked a little more down the river was attacked by the large marble again. The bow literally swam to my net to save himself from the monster. I felt that there was no point to fish any longer with small nymphs and dries and we needed the big streamers. So I went back to the farm and told Antti to take his streamers with him to the river. Just before the sun went down, he actually had a good size marble that took his fly but he lost the fight at the end. His mind was too distracted after that loss to fish anymore so it was Game over for us.

Although we were traveling as a family, it was a good option to have turns on the fishing as it offered more opportunities to fish at the right time in the right place. We felt sad because the evening was our last one there, but we were really satisfied for the trip as a family. We didn’t except anything but we got everything. Not the biggest fish or seven days fishing, only three of those actually, but all of our happiness came from the laughing little explorer on our backpack.

Fly fishing and traveling with the baby can be challenging sometimes but it gives a lot. Since we became a parents and decided to take our son to fish with us, we have had a different attitude and a whole new point in the experience. You are not chasing the big fish but the adventure. It doesn’t matter how many fish you catch but the reaction your baby has in every new thing he sees and learns. Fly fishing with a baby or kid doesn’t have any right style and no one can really tell you how it’s going to work, because babies are humans and the humans are all different. What is the best and actually most challenging thing, is that they are growing and learning new skills so fast that every trip is different and unique. Every trip had to be planned in a new way, thinking about the situation that you have on that moment. But every journey is teaching us more. The whole point in fly fishing with the baby is to share the adventure and experience together. Be a family, the best team ever! Offer those moments to your kid that make you happy. Be the one who teaches, who inspires and who makes it possible. Who creates the memories and shares the feelings. Let nature be the playground.

Even though we all have our ways and habits, I still want to share some of the tips and lessons we have learned while fishing during the baby- year.

• The right attitude : It is not a fishing trip, it is family adventure
• Carrier device : Invest in quality, comfort and safety
• Food bags : We often pack foods to bags (like a smoothiebags) which don’t need much space, don’t break easily and are not heavy like a glass and they are easy to eat or drink in the nature
• Disposable bottles/bags : Doesn’t need to be dishwashed and they are hygienic
• Travel high chair : Makes feeding easier in the hotel room and restaurants (there were no baby seats in the restaurants in mountain villages of Slovenia) , can be packet in the small place and it’s washable
• Shell jacket : It is always a good weather for fly fishing when you have a right clothes
• Right destination : Choose the destination which is not too difficult to hike or wade, and make sure the way back to car is short enough if the baby is losing his patience
• Mosquito net: Definitely needed in Finland! and helps with other bugs also if the baby is sleeping on the ground with carrier device
• Medicines : Panadol or Pamol can help with the ears during the flight, Precosa for the stomach problems like diarrhea
• Sunglasses : Use sunglasses on you and also on the baby, if it’s just possible. In our case, they are on the ground immediately, so we are just extra careful with the casting or taking turns by carrying and fishing as the baby is without the sunglasses most of the time. Hat and sun cover of the backpack keep him away from the sunlight

And the lesson number one:

Don’t look for the fish rising, you are going to miss them anyway when changing diapers or running after kid. Just give a try for every fish you see, with every fly you find from your box!

And then two:

Don’t waste your time sneaking to the fish, one scream from your backpack will ruin the only chance you have. Just make a quick cast where ever you can and hope for the best.

Baby year was easy for us to fish together but I think we have more challenging times ahead as we have a toddler now. But we are open minded and excited for exploring together no matter what. Maybe soon it is time to teach our son to cast himself? Or what about the bellyboat? Well, it will be another story then…