- TIBER RIVER
- SIEVE RIVER
- VOLTURNO RIVER
- SANGRO RIVER
- BIFERNO RIVER
- CAVALIERE RIVER
- NERA RIVER
- LAPLAND WATERS
Tiber River
In the Tiber river (Fiume Tevere) there is a 9km long catch and release tailwater area exclusively dedicated to fly fishing, which runs in the province of Arezzo. This stretch of river is the southernmost spot in Europe where graylings reproduce naturally. Typical of this fishing path are spots with constant temperature and water levels (6 ° for 3 m3 / s). Fly hatches which allow dry fly fishing even at high external temperatures are abundant and consistent, and the opportunity to catch large fish even in the central hours of mid summer days is possible the fishing season lasts from 1 May to 31 December.
Sieve River
The Sieve river (Fiume Sieve) has a catch and release fishing tackle of 9km flowing just 40 minutes from the city center of Florence. The river exits from Bilancino Lake at a constant flow and temperature: these two elements, besides ensuring excellent fishing activity even in the summer and in the warmer hours, offer the trouts the best growth and reproduction conditions. In fact, the Sieve river hosts a very high density of brown trouts and a huge population of truly competitive 60cm long specimens, which is now unique in Europe. This makes the Sieve river the ideal place to encounter interesting fishing spots by combining the sporting day with family activities, and the admiration of the beauty that Tuscany offers. The fishing season opens at the end of March and closes at the end of November. From March to mid-July on the Sieve river it’s an ideal time for “fishing by sight" (sight fishing): to see a brown trout specimen of over 60cm length biting on your own fly is an indescribable thrill. From mid-July to the season’s end, the water flow rises and all techniques are possible and effective.
Volturno River
Volturno river (Fiume Volturno) is one of the best rivers in Italy for fly fishing: crystal clear waters, vigorous fish with beautiful livery and, from mid-June to late July, Olgoneuriella Rhenana hatches: at dusk you will be immersed in a surreal white cloud. The massive presence of insects stimulates the trout with an incredible food frenzy. It happens often during our days on the river, that we are casting in the middle of a Rhenana hatch, which makes the river literally “boil" around you. It’s a truly an experience not to be missed. Volturno is a large river where small streams and both shallow and deep blades alternate. Fly fishing is a technical challenge, especially nymph fishing, since the trout will not tolerate the slightest dredging. The ideal fishing technique for the Volturno river is dry fly fishing. In some sections of the river the presence of grayling can also be seen.
Sangro River
The Sangro river (Fiume Sangro) is a very important river for fly fishing in Italy. It is one of the dry fly fishing cribs of the peninsula, so much so that in Castel di Sangro, a town that takes its name from the river, the Fly Fishing Museum has been opened to the public. On the river Sangro there is a no kill trail that has become famous for spectacular trout records. Fly fishing on Sangro river is extremely exciting : the nymph should be animated, the sedge should skating on the water and all fishing techniques can be used.
Biferno River
The Biferno river (Fiume Biferno) flows entirely in the Molise region and it represents another ideal fly fishing experience in Italy. The ideal fishing techniques on the Biferno are dry and nymph fly fishing. In the first kilometers after the spring, it reveals itself as a chalk stream with crystal clear waters and thick grasslands, where the numerous brown trouts living in this river find shelter. To fish on the Biferno river it’s best to use maximum 9 feet fishing poles.
Cavaliere River
The Cavaliere river (Fiume Cavaliere) is a small stream of Molise that at first sight could leave the most experienced fisherman with indifference. In order to unravel its secrets, it is necessary to alarm the fish population to see an incredible amount of extremely large and powerful trouts start to move. It is a river for fighters, where you fish with strong manners: poles should be powerful and final reeds not smaller then 0.20 should be used.
Nera River
The river Nera (Fiume Nera) flows between the two regions of Marche and Umbria, near Perugia, a city of artistic and historical importance. These waters offer two different points of interest for fly fishing. The first point is one of the favorite stretches of river for dry fly and technical cast lovers, and it represents the oldest specific area of the central Italy. The second fishing route on the Nera river is also interesting for fly fishing, as it allows you to battle big fish; strong trouts that encourages you to use tips of bigger diameters.
Lapland Waters
Lapland waters are infinite; its rivers and streams of all sizes constitutes one of Northern Europe’s most important water networks, creating a typical web design on the map. The low slope of the ground allows the waterways to expand freely, while the abundantly snowy winters guarantee significant and stable water levels in the summer season. The fishing season begins in late June and lasts until the last days of August, depending on weather conditions. In forest rivers fishing begins in the last week of June. The take on naturally amber shades, due to the presence of tannins released by the decomposition of the rich vegetation surrounding the streams. The bottom appears so dark, though the transparency of the water remains absolutely acceptable. It is at the beginning of July that we can find massive May flies that stimulate the food frenzy of greylings, trout and whitefish. In this season, the presence of extremely vigorous and powerful pikes is massive, resulting in abundant catching.
Brown Trout
The Brown Trout (Salmo trutta) is a European species of salmonid fish that has been widely introduced into suitable environments globally. It includes purely freshwater populations, referred to as the riverine ecotype (fario trout), lacustrine ecotype (lake trout) , and anadromous forms known as the sea trout. The latter migrates to the oceans for much of its life and returns to fresh water only to spawn. It is a typical fish of torrential waterways, fresh and well oxygenated. The brown trout is a medium-sized fish, growing to 20 kg (44 lb) or more and a length of about 100 cm (39 inch) in some localities, although in many smaller rivers, a mature weight of 1.0 kg (2.2 lb) or less is common.
Brown trout can live 20 years, but as with the Atlantic salmon, a high proportion of males die after spawning. Brown trout are active both by day and by night and are opportunistic feeders. While in fresh water, their diets frequently include invertebrates from the streambed, other fish, frogs, mice, birds, and insects flying near the water’s surface. The high dietary reliance upon in-sect larvae, pupae, nymphs, and adults allows trout to be a favoured target for fly fishing. Sea trout are fished for especially at night using wet flies. Freshwater brown trout range in colour from largely silver with relatively few spots and a white belly, to the more well-known brassy brown cast fading to creamy white on the fish’s belly, with medium-sized spots surrounded by lighter halos. The more silver forms can be mistaken for rainbow trout. The continental European strain features a lighter golden cast with some red spotting and fewer dark spots. Brown trout rarely form hybrids with other species; if they do, they are almost invariably infertile. One such example is the tiger trout, a hybrid with the brook trout.
GRAYLING
The grayling (Thymallus thymallus) is characterized by a perfect hydrodynamic shape, a tapered body, olive back, silver sides with yellow and orange parts, sometimes spotted with black dots, with a wide dorsal fin with iridescent nuances. The grayling’s mouth is small, just like its teeth. It measures about 30 cm and weighs 200-300 gr. It rarely exceeds 50 cm and a 1kg weight. Clear, well-oxygenated rivers and streams, not too rapid, and with a stony or gravel bed, represent the favorite habitat of the grayling. It feeds on insects and small aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates. The grayling naturally populates watercourses from central-northern Europe to southern Italy; it was introduced also in the region of the Tagus River, Spain, and Scotland.
Rainbow Trout
The Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) is a trout and species of salmonid native to cold-water tributaries of the Pacific Ocean in Asia and North America. Resident freshwater rainbow trout adults average between 1 and 5 lb (0.5 and 2.3 kg) in riverine environments, while lake-dwelling and anadromous forms may reach 20 lb (9 kg). Coloration varies widely between regions and subspecies. Adult freshwater forms are generally blue-green or olive green with heavy black spotting over the length of the body. Adult fish have a broad reddish stripe along the lateral line, from gills to the tail, which is most pronounced in breeding males. The caudal fin is squarish and only mildly forked. The maximum recorded lifespan for a rainbow trout is 11 years. Freshwater resident rainbow trout usually inhabit and spawn in small to moderately large, well oxy-genated, shallow rivers with gravel bottoms. They are native to the alluvial or freestone streams that are typical tributaries of the Pacific basin, but introduced rainbow trout have established wild, self-sustaining populations in other river types. Lake resident rainbow trout are usually found in moderate-ly deep, cool lakes with adequate shallows and vegetation to support production of sufficient food sources. Rainbow trout are predators with a varied diet and will eat nearly anything they can capture. They are not as piscivorous or aggressive as brown trout or chars. Rainbow trout, including juvenile steelhead in fresh water, routinely feed on larval, pupal and adult forms of aquatic insects (typically caddisflies, stoneflies, mayflies and aquatic diptera). They also eat fish eggs and adult forms of terrestrial insects (typically ants, beetles, grasshoppers and crickets) that fall into the water. Other prey include small fish up to one-third of their length, crayfish, shrimp, and other crustaceans.
Brown trout can live 20 years, but as with the Atlantic salmon, a high proportion of males die after spawning. Brown trout are active both by day and by night and are opportunistic feeders. While in fresh water, their diets frequently include invertebrates from the streambed, other fish, frogs, mice, birds, and insects flying near the water’s surface. The high dietary reliance upon in-sect larvae, pupae, nymphs, and adults allows trout to be a favoured target for fly fishing. Sea trout are fished for especially at night using wet flies. Freshwater brown trout range in colour from largely silver with relatively few spots and a white belly, to the more well-known brassy brown cast fading to creamy white on the fish’s belly, with medium-sized spots surrounded by lighter halos. The more silver forms can be mistaken for rainbow trout. The continental European strain features a lighter golden cast with some red spotting and fewer dark spots. Brown trout rarely form hybrids with other species; if they do, they are almost invariably infertile. One such example is the tiger trout, a hybrid with the brook trout.
Marble Trout
The Marble trout (Salmo marmoratus) is a species of freshwater fish in the family Salmonidae. It is characterized by a distinctive marbled color pattern and high growth capacity. The marble trout is found in only handful drainages and rivers of the Adriatic basin in Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro. The marble trout has a long, cylindrical body, slightly compressed laterally, with a large head (22–25% of the body length). The most obvious characteristic of the marble trout is its marble pattern. The in-tensity of colour varies considerably upon the surroundings. Its average size is 30–70 cm. The marble trout feed mainly on smaller fish and benthic invertebrates. Its natural habitat is rivers with a summer temperature of 15 °C (59 °F). It suffers numerous threats to its existence throughout its range, these include hybridisation with foreign trout species stocked for angling and water extraction and pollution.
Atlantic Salmon
The Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) is a species of ray-finned fish in the family Salmonidae which is considered by fishermen as a true myth among finned animals. It is found in the northern Atlantic Ocean basin (Gulf of Gascogne, Barents Sea, Iceland, Arctic Circle and Greenland Coast), in the Baltic Sea, in the freshwater waters of the Swedish and Finnish Lapland. Atlantic salmon are the largest species in their genus, Salmo. After two years at sea, the fish average 71 to 76 cm (28 to 30 inch) in length and 3.6 to 5.4 kg (7.9 to 11.9 lb) in weight. But specimens that spend four or more winters feeding at sea can be much larger. The colouration of young Atlantic salmon does not resemble the adult stage. While they live in fresh water, they have blue and red spots. At maturity, they take on a silver-blue sheen. The easiest way of identifying them as an adult is by the black spots predominantly above the lateral line, though the caudal fin is usually unspotted. When they reproduce, males take on a slight green or red colouration. The salmon has a fusiform body, and well-developed teeth. All fins, except the adipose fin, are bordered with black. The natural breeding grounds of Atlantic salmon are rivers in Europe and the northeastern coast of North America. In Europe, Atlantic salmon are still found as far south as Spain, and as far north as Russia. Because of sport-fishing, some of the species’ southern populations in northern Spain are growing smaller. The species distribution is easily influenced by changes in freshwater habitat and climate. Atlantic salmon are a cold-water fish species and are particularly sensitive to changes in water temperature. Wild salmon disappeared from many rivers during the twentieth century due to overfishing and habitat change.
Pike
The Pike or Northern Pike (Esox Lucius) is a species of carnivorous fish of the genus Esox (the pikes). They are typical of brackish and fresh waters of the Northern Hemisphere. It is one of the most aggressive freshwater fishes. It has a very slim body, elongated and compressed laterally. It has green-brownish colours on its back with numerous streaks on its sides and a white-silver one on its belly. It has a large head, flattened muzzle, wide mouth, and a dense tooth conformation. It has a twin tail and pectoral fins positioned at the bottom of the body. Pike can grow to a relatively large size: the average length is about 40–55 cm (16–22 inch), with maximum recorded lengths of up to 150 cm (59 inch) and published weights of 28.4 kg Northern pike are most often olive green, shading from yellow to white along the belly. The flank is marked with short, light bar-like spots and a few to many dark spots on the fins. Northern Pike typi-cally live to 10-15 years, but sometimes up to 25 years. In Italy, the newly identified species Esox cisalpinus (“southern pike") was long thought to be a color variation of the northern pike, but was in 2011 announced to be a species of its own. Pike are found in sluggish streams and shallow, weedy places in lakes and reservoirs, as well as in cold, clear, rocky waters. They are typical ambush predators; they lie in wait for prey, holding perfect-ly still for long periods, and then exhibit remarkable acceleration as they strike. The Pike is a very skilled predator that feeds on fish, frogs, crustaceans, birds and small mammals. It does not despise to feed on dead prey or on weak or sick animals, thus contributing to the maintenance of the balance of the ecosystem.
Arctic Char
The Arctic Char (Salvelinus alpinus) is a cold-water fish in the family Salmonidae, native to alpine lakes and arctic and subarctic coastal waters , found in the waters of the North Atlantic Ocean, Scotland, Scandinavia and the Great Lakes Lake in the Alps. It spawns in fresh water and populations can be lacustrine, riverine or anadromous, where they return from the ocean to their fresh water birth rivers to spawn. The Arctic char is closely related to both salmon and lake trout, and has many characteristics of both. The fish is highly variable in colour, depending on the time of year and the environmental conditions. Individual fish can weigh up to 20 lb (9.1 kg). Generally found species are between 2 and 5 lb (0.91 and 2.27 kg). It has an olive green back with clear spots, and fins with a white rim on the front. In the males, during the reproductive period, the lower fins and the belly become red. The char is carnivore and feeds on fish (predominantly minnows), insects, crustaceans, larvae and invertebrates.