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Fishing at Leopoldkanaal Canal

East Flanders/West Flanders · Flanders · Belgium
East Flanders/West Flanders, Flanders, Belgium Canal 🌙 Night fishing Boats allowed 71mi from Calais

About Fishing at Leopoldkanaal

Situated in East Flanders/West Flanders province, Flanders, Leopoldkanaal is a public canal accessible to anglers with a valid Belgian fishing permit. Leopoldkanaal holds Carp, Bream, Roach, Tench, Pike, Perch and is a popular carp fishing destination.

For carp anglers, night fishing at Leopoldkanaal is authorised: Night fishing permitted with groot visverlof. Canal running from Ghent area east to Zelzate. Part of INBO survey alongside Kanaal Gent-Terneuzen and Damse Vaart. Well-known carp and bream venue.. Regarding boats: Boats permitted on navigable waterways. Float tubes allowed. Stay clear of commercial navigation..

Leopoldkanaal is 71 miles from Calais — closer than many French venues and easily reached via the Channel Tunnel.

Province
East Flanders/West Flanders
Region
Flanders
Country
Belgium
Water Type
Canal
Night Fishing
Yes
Boats
Allowed
Bivouac
Not permitted
From Calais
71 miles

Fishing Rules at Leopoldkanaal

Night fishing is permitted at Leopoldkanaal. Night fishing permitted with groot visverlof. Canal running from Ghent area east to Zelzate. Part of INBO survey alongside Kanaal Gent-Terneuzen and Damse Vaart. Well-known carp and bream venue.

Boats: Boats permitted on navigable waterways. Float tubes allowed. Stay clear of commercial navigation.

Permits required: Vlaams visverlof (groot visverlof, ~€14.50/year from Natuur en Bos) required for all Flemish public waterways. Buy online at natuurenbos.vlaanderen.be or at the post office. Valid 1 Jan–31 Dec. Klein visverlof (~€6/year) for daytime only, 1 rod, no lures. Some waters require additional local fishing club membership card.

Fishing Licence — Flanders

Fishing in Flanders requires a VISpas (Flemish fishing permit, groot visverlof), available from Sportvisserij Vlaanderen. Night fishing permissions are built into site-specific rules — no separate night permit is required in Flanders.

Local authority: Agentschap Natuur en Bos (ANB) · www.visverlof.be

Fish Species at Leopoldkanaal

Leopoldkanaal holds carp, bream, roach, tench, pike, perch. Carp fishing is the primary draw for visiting UK anglers.

Leopoldkanaal — Photography

Leopoldkanaal, East Flanders/West Flanders, Belgium

Image via Wikipedia · Used under Creative Commons licence

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Fishing Season at Leopoldkanaal

All year for most species on public waterways. Ecologically valuable waters: NO fishing 16 April–31 May (spawning). From 1 March–15 April in ecologically valuable waters: no bait fish or lures >2cm. Pike: closed 1 March–last Saturday April. Zander/Perch: closed 1 April–last Saturday April. Mandatory no-kill: Eel/Paling (full ban — immediate release). Waterlopen Zwalm and IJse: full mandatory no-kill all year, no bait fish.

Frequently Asked Questions

More Fishing in East Flanders/West Flanders, Flanders

East Flanders/West Flanders is home to a number of public fishing venues accessible with a valid Belgian fishing permit. Use PiscaMaps to find all venues in East Flanders/West Flanders and across Flanders.

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