River Po

Emilia-Romagna, Italy · Freshwater · Intermediate

Italy's greatest river, wide and coloured as it crosses the Padana plain towards the Adriatic. Vast wels catfish live in the deep bends, and the Po delta holds carp and zander in numbers.

Getting there & access

  • Fish from: land-based or boat

LICENCE: Italy issues recreational freshwater licences regionally, and the type B licence is little more than a tax receipt. In Lombardy it consists solely of the receipt for the EUR 23 annual regional concession tax, valid for 12 months from payment and recognised across Italy; carry it with photo ID. Residents under 18 or over 65, and people covered by Law 104/1992 who fish only with rod and reel, are exempt. In Emilia-Romagna the type B licence is the receipt for a EUR 22.72 concession tax, also valid nationwide for a year and also shown with ID. WHICH RULES APPLY: the detail — seasons, permitted methods, protected stretches — is set regionally and published in each region's Calendario ittico. Emilia-Romagna works from Regional Law 11/2012 and Regional Regulation 1/2018; Lombardy publishes basin handbooks, and the Po main stem is Bacino 2. The Po is coordinated across Lombardia, Emilia-Romagna, Piemonte, Veneto and the Autorità di bacino del fiume Po under a joint protocol, but the rules you fish under still depend on which region and which bank you are standing on, so check the Calendario ittico for that stretch. Check current rules before fishing.

Access information source

Species

  • wels catfish
  • common carp
  • zander

Best times to fish

  • Summer nights
  • Spring pre-spawn
  • After a flood recedes

Recommended gear

Essential

  • Heavy catfish rod
  • Clonk, large softbaits or pellets
  • Braided line and heavy leader
  • Unhooking mat

Optional

  • Guided boat trip
  • Bite alarms
  • Insect repellent

Regulations and requirements

  • Freshwater fishing in Italy requires a regional licence — rules differ by region
  • Many waters also need a daily or seasonal permit from the local association
  • Wels catfish is invasive in Italy; release rules vary — check regional law

Rules change regularly — always confirm with the relevant fisheries authority before you fish.

Nearby fishing spots

More fishing spots in Italy · Browse all fishing spots · View the fishing map