The Visocica River The Temstica River The Jerma River The Resava River
The Temstica River, before the dam on the Visocica was created, used to be
the strongest trout river east of the Drina. Its great fish population and
beauty were reduced with the building of the dam, when the Visocica waters
were turned into a tunnel which is going to Pirot.
Once
big and mighty river became a bit more than Toplodolska River, its main
source, and few small tributaries. Even in such situation the Temstica
remained a fine trout stream and has a lot of fly fishing potentials.
Unfortunately it is attacked by poachers and its trout population is far
from optimal. However, in spite of those problems we describe this beautiful
river, which is in recent times again attacked with the new senseless
project with the aim to deflect its waters into the Zavoj Dam.
The flow
of the Temstica starts with two strong sources which appear just below
Midzor Peak. The left one is the Rakitska Reka, which is 5 km long and is
mostly populated with small trout. The right and stronger one is the
Javorska Reka which is about 10 km long and is one of the least polluted
rivers on the Balkans. Brown trout in those rivers is strong and beautiful
fish which gives a lot of pleasure to fishermen.
On
its way to Mrtvacki Most (The Dead Man’s Bridge), where it used to meet the
Visocica, the Toplodolska Reka, which bears the name of the village Topli
Do, some 7 km upstream, cuts through the mountains and makes deep gorges in
red sandstone formations. The whole river is accessible with the road which
is mostly covered with tarmac. The place where this road can be reached is
Temska village, on the road from Pirot to Knjazevac.
The Temstica has very steep flow – it is about 30 km long
with the altitude difference of about 1000 m. The flow is mostly made from
small deep pools and waterfalls. Water created many interesting shapes in
the soft sandstone. Brown trout is the main fish in this river, with the
bullhead and brook barbel as companion species. Below the Mrtvacki Most and
old junction with the Visocica, there is also chub and bleak, while in the
lower reaches below Temska there are also barbel and nase. During the past
ten years there is a population of very large brown trout coming from the
Jerma and the Temstica to the Nisava, and their presence is observed prior
to the spawning in the lower Temstica.
The whole
Temstica is very interesting for fly fishing, especially above Temska. The
main foods for trout in this river are caddis flies, but also mayflies and
stoneflies. Fly fisherman can use all types of flies, depending on the
situation on theriver. Even in the begging of the season class 5 tackle is
good enough, while during the summer and autumn class 4 or 3 may be better
choice. The Temska village is 15 m from Pirot, accessible by acceptableroad.
he road is on the way to Knjazevac, and it is turning near the Stanicenje
village on the Pirot-Nisroad.
Trout from Temstica River