From the Scottish highlands to Tuscany, Europe has some of the world’s most exciting and beautiful fly-fishing destinations. We look at seven of the most popular fishing spots in Europe, including Austria’s River Traun and Hintersee Lake, Germany.
1. Langa River, Iceland
The Langa River has been fashionable with European fly fishers since the 1800s, and for very good reason. As is typical in the country of fire and ice—glaciers and volcanoes—the river’s upper reaches flow over waterfalls and through lava fields to feed exquisite miniature-sized pools full of salmon. The River Langa’s final reaches are incredibly dramatic, the waterway plunging into the sea after the legendary Crocodile Pool.
Renowned as one of the most productive salmon rivers in the world, the Langa boasts almost 100 named pools spread over 22 miles. The river is an idyllic location for fly-fishers, who find themselves surrounded with spectacular scenery whether they are wading in the glacial waters or casting their rods from the riverbank.
2. River Traun, Austria
This picturesque alpine river ranks among Europe’s top flyfishing destinations. Sourced in the Northern Alps, the river dissects the city of Traun, meandering some 95 miles to the city of Linz, where it feeds into the legendary Danube. The River Traun is home to brown trout, grayling, brook trout and rainbow trout. The most common species is rainbow trout, with some specimens measuring more than 20 inches. Gmundner Traum, a 9-mile-long section of the river, is particularly productive during fishing season, which runs from the start of April until the end of November.
3. Thurso River, Scotland
Located in Caithness in the northern Scottish Highlands, the Thurso River is as beautiful as it is prolific. Widely regarded as one of the best Atlantic salmon rivers in the country, the Thurso River starts above Loch More. It flows for more than 25 miles before emptying into the Atlantic at Thurso Bay.
The Thurso River enjoys an enviably long and productive season, and it is particularly popular with anglers through the spring and early summer. Despite being a prime flyfishing spot, the river never becomes too crowded, with a limit set on numbers to ensure that all anglers have a chance to fish the river in peace. Over the last few years, record catches have been made on the Thurso River and in Scotland generally.
4. Hintersee Lake, Germany
Situated near the Berchtesgaden National Park in the German Alps, Hintersee Lake covers approximately 50 acres. It features shallow areas that alternate with deep pools, providing some of the finest flyfishing in all of Europe. Home to grayling, lake trout, lake char, rainbow trout, bullhead, rud, minnow, and roach, Hintersee can be fished from sunrise until sunset from May 1 – September 30. The lake maintains plentiful stocks of brown trout and brook trout; it provides the species with optimal living and reproduction conditions.
5. River Kupa, Croatia
The River Kupa’s upper stream is one of Croatia’s most prized fishing destinations, boasting ample stocks of trout, hunchen, and grayling. Rising from a spring in Risnjak National Park, right in the heart of Gorski Kotar, the River Kupa forms a natural border between the two republics of Croatia and Slovenia.
With its wildflower meadows, magnificent mountains, and bubbling streams and springs, Risnjak National Park is a beautiful place to while away the day in the enchanting Croatian countryside. Grayling and trout are commonly caught at the water spring section of the River Kupa. The area also supports more than 500 different distinct types of butterflies.
6. River Tiber, Italy
Starting in the Apennine Mountains and leading all the way to Rome on a stunning journey through central Italy, the River Tiber crosses Tuscany, running on through the Italian capital, before emptying into the ocean some 250 miles from where it started. The River Tiber is best known for its vast brown trout population, boasting specimens up to 3.2 feet long weighing more than 22 pounds. In addition to trout, the river is a favorite haunt of grayling lovers, since the species is not found in many rivers in numbers this robust.
7. Torne River, Sweden
A classic salmon fishing river that delivers impressive results throughout its short but intense season, the Torne River opens for fishing from the second full week of June, closing on the last day of August. Boasting an average weight for fly-caught salmon of 13 to 17 pounds with 22-pound specimens occasionally landed, the Torne River’s largest fish was landed by local angler Kristian Stridsman in 2015. The monster fish weighed almost 44 pounds. Anglers can fish for a variety of different species on the Torne River and its nearby lakes, including Baltic salmon, grayling, perch, pike, and many others.