Italy is a fantastic destination for those looking for culture, history, great food & fine, and we should also add wonderful trout fishing to the list. The north of the country is fringed by the impressive Alps mountain range. Stretching almost from coast to coast, the snow capped peaks create a border between Italy and the rest of Europe. It is these peaks that capture and filter the regional precipitation that gives us thousands of miles of beautiful streams and rivers to explore with a fly rod in hand.
We focus on two distinct fishing areas in northern Italy that offer some of the best trout and grayling fishing that can be found anywhere in Europe. With Val di Mastallone in the west flowing from the Pennine Alps and Trentino in the East flowing from the astonishing Dolomite Alps. These locations are perfect for single-destination trips or can be combined for longer itineraries touring Italy and even combining with the likes of Slovenia for the ultimate central European tour.
Val di Mastallone, Piedmont
Located in the Italian Piedmont region, at the foot of the Alps and Monte Rosa. It’s a beautiful area, famous among fly fishermen as a paradise of small crystalline rivers populated by an incredible density of trout, including the famous marble trout. Anglers can test their skills on a wonderful variety of rivers and lakes while non-fishers will find plenty to enjoy. There are miles of beautiful rivers to explore on a variety of private stretches, including the Mastallone, the main Sesia, Carcoforo and many other smaller tributaries. Each section is utterly unique and provides everything from tumbling mountain streams with dry fly hungry brown trout, to larger sections of river with good dry fly pools, nymphing sections and places to tempt large marble trout from the shadows with nymphs and streamers. Knowledgeable guides will tailor each day to suit anglers and the conditions at hand.
During a stay at Val di Mastallone, anglers are based at the wonderfully located Piano delle Fate cabins and restaurant, overlooking one of the best stretches. Accommodation is in four well-appointed cabins each featuring two double bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms and central living room. Meals are served in the main restaurant area, with a focus on excellent local produce and regional dishes, washed down with the extensive drink selection behind the bar and rounded off with a shot of Italian espresso.
Trentino
Trentino is known all around the world for the Dolomites and thanks to the Alps it can count on a great number of watercourses stretching for 3,000 km and nearly 300 lakes. This makes Trentino one of the most interesting destinations in Italy for fly fishing enthusiasts. The varied water resources of this region have also been improved by careful management over the last few years. Just one hour away from the main airports of northern Italy, there are a lot of fishing opportunities in various environments: from the alpine lakes of the Dolomites to mountain streams, from valley floor rivers such as Adige (the second longest river in Italy) to lakes such as the Garda Lake (the biggest lake in Italy).
Trentino is rich in history, with its castles, museums, and traditions, and it is near art cities such as Verona, the capital of music with its famous Arena, and Venice with its romantic canals. All this makes Trentino a must see stop-over which combines fishing and art, culture, trekking and good cuisine, surrounded by the natural amphitheatre of the Dolomites.
Our Italian fly fishing packages are flexible in terms of length of stay and number of fishing days. The trips can be tailored to individual anglers, fishing-focused groups, and mixed groups of anglers and non-fishers.
For more information about fly fishing in Italy please contact Alex Jardine. Alternatively you can call our office on +44(0)1980 847389.