Angeln am Bodensee

Lake Constance is not only very popular with our regional anglers, but many holidaymakers also enjoy coming back to Lake Constance time and again for fishing.

Fishing holiday at Lake Constance! Anglermarkt is your specialist shop for fishing equipment and accessories, located directly in Friedrichshafen on Lake Constance. Anglermarkt on Lake Constance, your expert contact for all anglers!

At Anglermarkt in Friedrichshafen, you will receive valuable tips regarding fishing on Lake Constance, which fishing lures

are the right ones

for Lake Constance, how to fish successfully on Lake Constance for species such as perch, eel, pike, or catfish! Boat fishing on Lake Constance.

We would also be happy to advise you on successful trolling rigs on Lake Constance. Naturally, you will also find

the fishing shop Anglermarkt

on Lake Constance offers live bait, such as maggots, fishing maggots, earthworms, dew worms, leaf worms, wax worms, and fishing caterpillars, as part of our wide-ranging fishing assortment for Lake Constance anglers and our large selection of special fishing lures for Lake Constance.

Traditionally, in many areas of Lake Constance, people have also been fishing for generations with so-called "Nuggele" and the "Hegene." A "Nuggele" is a tubular fringe lure, while the "Hegene" is a paternoster rig with multiple hooks. Of course, modern fishing techniques are also used by anglers on Lake Constance. These include all finesse rigs such as the Carolina rig, Texas rig, and flex rigs. The Cheburashka fishing rig, which originates from Russia, is also frequently used on Lake Constance.

In principle, fishing (subject to fishery regulations) is possible on Lake Constance from the shore and from a boat.

Numerous fishing methods for the fish species found in Lake Constance, such as eel, carp, pike, lake trout, char, whitefish, perch, catfish, and numerous whitefish species, are used when shore and boat fishing on Lake Constance. Requirements and relevant regulations for angling and fishing on Lake Constance are set out, among other things, by the Lake Constance Fisheries Ordinance. However, the Fisheries Act and the Fish Sanctuary Ordinance must also be observed. Fishing with live bait fish is prohibited on Lake Constance!

First of all, it should be noted that different fishing permits are required for Lake Constance depending on the country and federal state. This means that, in principle, you need a fishing permit for the respective country—Austria, Switzerland, or Germany—to fish on Lake Constance. On the German side of Lake Constance, annual and monthly fishing permits for the Baden-Württemberg and Bavarian shores must be purchased separately. Therefore, please ensure you know for which region of Lake Constance your fishing permit, angling license, or authorization is valid. In general, only annual and monthly permits for Lake Constance (excluding Bavaria) are available for the German shore. No daily permits are issued to vacationers fishing on Lake Constance (excluding Bavaria). Naturally, however, you can obtain daily permits for surrounding bodies of water from us at the Anglermarkt Baienfurt and Anglermarkt Friedrichshafen. When purchasing your annual Lake Constance fishing permit, a distinction is made between a shore permit for fishing on Lake Constance and a boat permit for fishing on Lake Constance. If you purchase a boat permit for Lake Constance for Baden-Württemberg, the shore permit is included; the area of validity is the Upper Lake (Obersee) and Überlingen Lake (Überlingersee) and the entire Baden-Württemberg shoreline.

Please note that all information is provided without guarantee! Errors excepted!

Lake Constance is one of the most popular and versatile fishing waters in Europe. With its vast surface area, varying depth zones, and impressive variety of fish, the "Swabian Sea" offers ideal conditions for almost every fishing method.

Fishing for pike, perch, whitefish, lake trout, eel, and catfish is particularly popular. While predator anglers often use modern artificial lures, soft baits, or finesse rigs, traditional Lake Constance anglers have successfully relied on the "Hegene" (nymph rig), mother-of-pearl spoons, or classic natural bait setups for decades.

It is precisely this combination of traditional Lake Constance fishing and modern angling techniques that makes fishing on Lake Constance so unique. From relaxed stationary fishing on the shore to trolling from a boat, Lake Constance offers exciting opportunities for both beginners and experienced sport anglers.

The scenery also makes fishing on Lake Constance something special. Sunrises over the water, alpine backdrops, and numerous natural shoreline areas ensure an extraordinary fishing experience. Particularly interesting are many of the harbor facilities, river mouths, and deeper dropping shoreline zones, where trophy-sized fish are regularly caught.

Lake Constance offers excellent fishing opportunities all year round. However, the locations, activity, and target fish change significantly depending on the season.

Spring

As water temperatures rise, many fish species become active again. Pike, perch, and trout in particular can be fished very successfully in the spring. Shallow water areas and harbor zones are often especially interesting now.

Summer

In summer, the early morning hours and the evening are usually the best times for fishing. Perch, eels, and catfish are particularly active now. Many anglers rely on boat fishing or targeted fishing in deeper areas during this time.

Autumn

For many Lake Constance anglers, autumn is considered the best time for predatory fish. Pike and perch are building up reserves for the winter and often react aggressively to artificial lures. Large fish are also caught regularly now.

Winter

The lake can also offer exciting days of fishing in winter. Whitefish anglers and experienced predator anglers in particular use the quiet season for targeted still fishing or vertical jigging in deeper areas.

Lake Constance is home to an exceptionally high level of biodiversity and is considered one of the most interesting fishing waters in Central Europe.

Pike

The pike is one of the most popular target fish on Lake Constance. Reed edges, harbors, and deeper sloping shore zones are considered particularly promising spots.

Perch

Perch are found throughout Lake Constance and can be excellently caught using small soft plastic lures, spinners, or finesse techniques.

Whitefish

The whitefish is the traditional Lake Constance fish par excellence. Many anglers successfully fish for them from boats using the well-known "Hegene" rig.

Brown Trout

Brown trout are among the most fascinating fish in Lake Constance. Trolling anglers, in particular, regularly have the chance to make impressive catches.

Wels Catfish & Eel

In the summer months, wels catfish and eels are also increasingly being targeted – especially in warmer shore areas and harbor zones.

Fishing on Lake Constance has a centuries-old tradition and continues to shape the region to this day. In particular, whitefish fishing is considered an integral part of Lake Constance culture. Many angling methods that are still successfully used today originated in traditional commercial fishing.

At the same time, modern angling on Lake Constance has evolved significantly. In addition to classic methods, many anglers now rely on modern artificial lures, fish finders, and specialized fishing techniques. Targeted fishing for pike, perch, and zander using soft plastic lures or finesse rigs is becoming increasingly important.

The combination of traditional Lake Constance fishing and modern predatory fish angling makes the lake one of the most exciting fishing waters in Europe.

Lake Constance is among the largest and deepest lakes in Central Europe, offering a tremendous variety of fishing opportunities as a result. Various depth zones, expansive open-water areas, reed belts, harbors, and river mouths create ideal habitats for numerous fish species.

Of particular interest are:

• deep open-water areas for whitefish and lake trout
• structure-rich shore zones for pike and perch
• harbor facilities and estuary areas
• varied conditions for shore and boat anglers

Thanks to its excellent water quality and large fish population, Lake Constance has been one of the most popular fishing grounds in the German-speaking world for decades.

The whitefish is one of the best-known and most popular fish in Lake Constance. In recent years, however, stocks in the Upper Lake have declined significantly. Reasons for this include changes in the ecosystem, a reduced food supply, and the rapid spread of the three-spined stickleback.

Extensive conservation measures and catch restrictions are currently in place to protect the stocks. Experts, however, are observing initial positive developments in the recovery of the whitefish population in Lake Constance.

This is precisely why sustainable and responsible management of the body of water is becoming increasingly important – for both commercial and recreational anglers.

Anyone wishing to fish on Lake Constance should inform themselves about the respective regulations in advance. As the lake spans Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, different provisions sometimes apply.

Key points include:

• valid fishing licenses
• closed seasons and minimum sizes
• permitted fishing methods
• boat and shore regulations

It is especially recommended for holidaymakers to obtain current information before their day of fishing. At the Anglermarkt Friedrichshafen, we are happy to advise you personally on suitable fishing methods, successful bait, and the current conditions on Lake Constance.

Whether you are a beginner, a holidaymaker, or an experienced predator angler – Lake Constance offers almost unlimited possibilities for unforgettable days of fishing.

As already mentioned, fishing on Lake Constance is done using the "Hegene" (paternoster rig) to catch various Lake Constance fish species such as whitefish, perch, and char. The typical Lake Constance Hegene usually consists of 5 side droppers (nymphs). However, in some sections of Lake Constance, only 3 droppers are permitted. Our range in our retail store and online shop includes an almost spectacular selection of Hegenen for char, perch, and whitefish (renke).

Many Lake Constance anglers tie their own Hegenen according to their own preferences regarding line strength and the color variants of the nymphs. Depending on the rod length, Hegenen between 1.80 and 2.40 m in length are used. Pear weights between 15 and 30 grams are used as sinkers, depending on the fishing depth or the swell and current.   

Fishing for whitefish from the shores of Lake Constance rarely brings the hoped-for success, as whitefish are predominantly found in open water as schooling fish!

If you like to fish for perch with a spinning rod, you also have good chances from the shore! As already mentioned, river mouths and boat harbors are the preferred spots to choose. However, fishing is not always permitted there. You are welcome to visit our branch in Friedrichshafen to get information about fishing spots on Lake Constance.

As usual, you can also fish for perch on Lake Constance using well-known artificial lures such as wobblers, spinners, spoons, and soft plastics. Fishing with a float and a dew worm or leaf worm is also often successful.

The Carolina Rig, also known as the C-Rig, is very successful for perch fishing on Lake Constance. This specific fishing method is favored by local perch anglers. In recent years, we have introduced many angling tourists to this method and have received much praise.

With the C-Rig, the weight (bullet) and hook are separated by a leader, usually made of fluorocarbon, and are not visually connected. This allows for a nearly "weightless" bait presentation!

The combination of the bullet weight and the glass bead creates a clicking sound that attracts predators toward the hook or bait. The C-Rig is a very good long-range casting and search system.  

Many soft plastics, especially softer and therefore usually more effective models, which are normally attached at the eye of an offset hook (finesse rigs, Carolina rig, Texas rig),

often tear relatively quickly at the hook eye even from small "tugs" or gentle bites. Sometimes this happens during rigging, especially with slender

lures! A not-so-cheap endeavor; furthermore, this tearing often leads to missed strikes during cautious bites!

The solution:

Screw the Lure Keeper into the front of the bait using a twisting motion, then thread the eye of the Lure Keeper over the hook point to the eye of the offset hook.

Next, secure the hook in your soft bait in the usual way. Lure Keeper spiral attachments are suitable for almost all hooks with eyes and increase the lifespan

of your baits. Even mounting them on twister heads or jig heads is possible and quickly done.

Common hook sizes are 4 and 6 with a leader length between 70 and 140 cm. We recommend fluorocarbon for the leader material, as this material is known to be

almost invisible to the fish. The rod length depends on the external conditions; for casting weight, we use plug-in rods with a casting weight between 5 and 18 grams.

Very much on-trend, not just for us here at Lake Constance, are jig spinners, also known as spinning jigs, tail spinners, spinnerbait tails, and spin jigs. Due to their usually small and fast-sinking

body, spinning jigs are ideally suited for long casts and deeper areas of water, such as harbor entrances or river mouths.

The market now offers numerous sizes, colors, and weights.

During periods when Lake Constance perch are interested in neither natural bait nor soft plastic lures, the jig spinner is the secret favorite for many anglers on Lake Constance. The rotating tail blade

attracts fish relentlessly and, combined with its swimming action and coloring, exerts an enormous stimulus.

The spinning jig is retrieved by reeling, as is generally standard for spinners; spin stops and varying sinking depths are recommended. Jig spinners are available in weights between 3 and 20

grams! The most common is the 7-gram version, preferably in a UV-active finish - tight lines!

Mother-of-pearl spoons and mother-of-pearl blades are the absolute classics for trolling on Lake Constance!

Mother-of-pearl spoons are hard to describe in words and have a long tradition as trolling lures on Lake Constance. Each piece is unique, crafted from genuine mother-of-pearl in painstaking manual work. The coloring of every individual mother-of-pearl spoon corresponds to the natural coloring of the shell.

Milled from a seashell, individually selected and tested. The oily and multicolored shimmer gives these fishing spoons the reputation of being a 'license to kill'!

Mother-of-pearl enthusiasts practically dream of the ballerina-like movements of these spoons. Mother-of-pearl as a lure, a natural material that comes from the water, forces many predators to bite in a lifelike way.

Target fish for mother-of-pearl spoons here on Lake Constance are Arctic char, lake trout, rainbow trout, zander, and pike. As casting spoons in shorter lengths, mother-of-pearl lures are also successful for trout, brook trout, and chub.

Mother-of-pearl spoons—and who made them? The Swiss!      

Even though sport fishing on Lake Constance has changed significantly over the last few decades, rod fishing on Lake Constance is still very exciting and often rewarded with great catches. In particular, fishing for pike and perch on Lake Constance has been on the rise in recent years. Our customers and anglers continue to report larger pike catches, but perch are also being caught in large numbers using modern fishing methods such as fishing with Keitech lures and the Carolina Rig or Texas Rig.

Fishing on Lake Constance for pike, whitefish, or perch is very popular and, due to the vast water surface, possible almost everywhere.

However, boat fishing also has a long tradition among sport anglers on Lake Constance. When fishing with side planers, downriggers, or simply with a rod from a boat, pike over 1 meter are not a rarity. Even if boat fishing on Lake Constance is not always straightforward, as there are very few opportunities to launch fishing boats into Lake Constance. Unfortunately, it is also not possible to leave your fishing boat in the water on Lake Constance for a season or longer. The waiting lists for a boat mooring for a fishing boat on Lake Constance are endless.

Assembly of feeder boom or anti-tangle boom:

Thread the anti-tangle boom onto the main line with the longer tube side facing the leader. Attach the desired weight, preferably a coated pear lead, thread a rubber bead onto the main line after the anti-tangle boom to protect the knot, tie on a snap swivel using a clinch knot, and attach the leader with a size 2 to 4 worm hook.

You can detect an eel bite at the rod tip or via the baitrunner reel. For a horizontal rod rest, we recommend using appropriate bank sticks or even three- or four-legged rod pods. Good spots for eels are estuary areas, for example, the Schussen and Argen inlets in the Upper Lake Constance. When fishing with dew worms or dead baitfish, catches of catfish have increased enormously in recent years. Occasionally, burbot are also caught.

Liquid attractants increase your chances of success many times over. We generally recommend using attractant sprays with appropriate emulsifiers rather than oils. This ensures that the attractant disperses

optimally, even in colder water temperatures - Tight lines!