Fishing in South Tyrol

Thanks to the Alpine position in the south of the main Alpine ridge, South Tyrol is a border region for different climate zones. Due to the quick succession of different height levels, there is a wide range of water bodies, being varied habitats for animals and plants. In total, the fish waters in South Tyrol have a size of 2,800 hectares.

Trouts, graylings, vendaces & pikes

Waters with low water temperatures and most of the time strong currents are typical for mountain landscapes. These rivers, streams and mountain lakes are inhabited by salmonids and dominate the fish waters also in South Tyrol. The brown trout, the marbled trout, the rainbow trout and the brook trout are very frequent. The lower valley are the main regions for graylings. However, there are graylings in Lake Toblach too, for instance.

The lakes in Southern South Tyrol, the slowly running ditches of Etschtal Valley and a few lakes are typical cyprinid waters with carps, tenches and perches. In Lake Haider vendaces are the most frequent fish species. Pikes are frequent in the waters of Lake Haider, Lake Kaltern or in the lakes of Montiggl. The poplar predators can also be found in several ditches in Etschtal Valley as well as in Etsch river from Meran.

Fishing licence & day ticket

Local residents have to make a fishing examination, in order to get the fishing certification and the must have the fishing licence B. Foreign guests have the possibility to buy the fishing licence D in many tourist offices and other delivery points such as in hotels and inns against payment. The licence is then valid for 10 years.

As well, anglers and fishes must bring a valid identity card or passport that complies with the fishing licence. Basically, all those who would like to fish in South Tyrol, msut have the fishing licence as well as the day ticket, which is available for sale at the delivery points near the fish waters.

For waters that are not included in the list of public waters, there is no need to have a fishing licence. For the following fishing ponds, fishers must only buy a ticket and complied with the regulations of the owner: Thara See Lounge in Kematen (municipality of Sand in Taufers), Sportfischerei Wörndle in Karneid, fishing pond Prad and fishing pond near Sandwirt in St. Leonhard in Passeier.