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Fishing in Germany

Browse 22,823 public fishing venues across all 16 German federal states — 18,127 lakes & reservoirs, 2,219 rivers and 2,477 canals with Fischereischein licence guidance and Angelkarte booking links.

Browse by Bundesland

Notable Fishing Lakes

Fishing Licence & Permits

State Licence
Fischereischein required in all states
Water Permit
Angelkarte / Tageskarte per venue
Visitor Options
Day tickets available at most lakes
Night Fishing
Varies — check venue rules

All anglers in Germany must hold a valid Fischereischein (fishing licence) issued by the relevant Bundesland authority. Licences are granted after passing a written and practical exam — the equivalent of a UK Environment Agency rod licence but requiring demonstrable knowledge of fish species, ecology and regulations.

In addition to the state licence, you need an Angelkarte (permit) for each individual water. These are typically issued by fishing clubs (Angelverein), private landowners or local fishery authorities. Day tickets (Tageskarten) are widely available at lakes in Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg and Brandenburg, making them the most accessible states for visiting anglers.

Species vary dramatically by region: Bavaria and Brandenburg offer outstanding carp, pike and perch fishing on large still waters; Mecklenburg-Vorpommern's Baltic coastline lakes hold predator species including zander and asp; while the rivers of Rhineland-Palatinate and the Saarland are renowned for barbel and chub.

Explore Fishing in Other Countries