Fishing

INTRODUCTION

In these few lines concerning fishing in the Lake of Bolsena, I wish to inform the reader that I have had the pleasure of going regularly to the lovely coastal village of Capodimonte since the beginning of the 60’s. In the last forty years I have been able to follow the slow changes of this area and I can assert that at the moment the mass tourism, limited only to the summer months, has not negatively influenced nature, which is predominantely nearly virgin. The natural beauty of the lake, the autumn sunsets, the incomparable dawns and the view of the numerous birds that, in this area, find a good place to rest during their annual migration often embrace us and even our b passion for fishing becomes of secondary importance. All said and done, we try to describe the environment, water and the different kinds of fishing to have a comprehensive idea of what the Lake of Bolsena can currently offer.

THE ENVIRONMENT

Already widely described, the largest volcanic lake in Europe has an elliptic shape, a surface of 114,5 square kilometres and a perimeter of 43 km, a maximum depth of about 150 metres and an average depth of 70 metres. It is surrounded by bamboo trees, beaches and cliffs, while the two islands have mostly steep and often overhanging shores. The green of the forests covers the hills standing above it, while the plains to the north and the north east are covered with vineyards and allotments.

The aquatic vegetation of the coastal area is composed of alga, grass and bamboo. The bathymetry, as shown on the map published by the Administration of the Province of Viterbo, has a sea bed of varying morphology and depth. I advise those interested in fishing from a boat to see it for themselves. I wish to inform such fishermen that the two splendid islands of “Bisentina and Martana” on the Lake of Bolsena are private and thus disembarkment is forbidden, as is fishing in the waters within 400 metres of these islands indicated by the floating bouys. The islands are monitored by guards and Police boats are strategically located in order to assure that these rules are respected.

THE WATERS

Up to the 50’s the water was drinkable and integrated into the water system. However, now we can see a slow deterioration even if it is still extremely clean and definitely above the average in comparison to other lake waters in Italy. The main polluting factors contributing to the current state are due to a growing human presence, agricultural fertlizers and the improper use of motor boats. The fact that the recycling of the lake’s water is a very slow process, further adds to the problem. In order to invert this tendency, an enormous “collector” has been in operation for some years. This device encircles a large part of the lake, collecting sewege waters from the surrounding towns in one single purifying system. Every measure which acts as a way of maintaining a clean environment will always have our unconditional approval.

FISH and TYPES OF FISHING

The following types of fish are currently present in the lake of Bolsena: Eel, Crucian Carp, Carp, Chub, White Fish, Lattarino, Luce , Real Perchis, Black Bass, Sunfish , Cat Fish, Rudd, Tench and some others of little interest to fishermen.

EEL (Anguilla anguilla)

The eel of the Lake of Bolsena, already known by the Romans and the Popes for its good quality, reached the height of its notoriety in the Middle Ages and even Dante Alighieri mentioned it in his “Divine Comedy” (poem XXIV of Purgatory). Now it is of importance only in professional fishing. It is caught mainly from September to December with a system which, one believes, is the main cause of the growing decrease of every fish species in the lake. Fishermen use a special conic fish trap called “Artavellone” which has a circular entrance of about 3 metres and nets suitable for collecting fish inside itself. This is placed without limit of continuity, in the above mentioned period, in every low water of the lake. The eel is caught during the year by means of fishing nets formed by a long nylon thread, with a length which varies from some hundred of metres to more than 3 km, to which a great amount of hooks are attached. They are put into the water and periodically controlled to catch fish and change the hooks. In the lake fishing is forbidden during the night when the eel is active. For this reason nobody tries to catch it, only happening accidentaly, above all at twilight.

CRUCIAN CARP (Carassius carassius)

It has been introduced to the lake, without intent, in the 70’s and has quickly reproduced. It is an infesting fish for professional fishing and not very interesting for the average angler.

It is caught near ports, above all early in the morning and in the evening, bringing joy to beginners.

CARP (Cyprinus carpio)

Early in the 60’s rod fishing was practically absent in the lake of Bolsena. The number of hotels were also insufficient and the few campsites were not organized but free. For this reason tourism was mostly represented by sundays trippers. In such conditions the fisherman, who came occasionally from the north, found a true paradise here. The insufficient equipment for those locals keen on this sport, were mostly donated from other fishermen. In this period, Raniero, who had learned the art of fishing from some Florentines, was the only carpangler in Capodimonte. He was known and he had the good fortune to feel the true emotions of fishing large fish. The carp is still largely present and in every size in the lake but the current pressure in fishing has made it less important. While once catches were frequent except on rare occasions, these are now limited to one or two catches per day if lucky. The best places for carp fishing are the ports of Bolsena, Marta and Capodimonte but the fixed moorings severely hinder this kind of fishing. The places on the promontory of Capodimonte are very good but very few and difficult to reach. For those interested in carpfishing, that, as fishermen know, is a technique aimed at catching large examples subsequentely followed by immediate release, the real problems are the following:

- Spring: presence of professional Lattarino fishing nets under the coast;

- Summer: presence of nets for the fishing of Real Perchis and noise caused by bathers. – Autumn: presence of the “Artavelloni” for the eel fishing in low waters from the beginning of September to the end of December.

- Winter: presence of pioneers with different fortunes regardless of the cold and the north wind.

- Last but not least, the prohibition of night fishing.

CHUB (Leuciscus cephalus)

This fish, locally called Calvone and once present everywhere, is now concentrated mainly near the inlet of the river of Marta, from which the only emissary of the lake originates. This river, rich in fish, above all chubs, barbels and eels has banks covered in vegetation, making fishing very difficult. Regional law of Lazio protects this type of fish allowing a daily catch of 10 of more than 20 cm.

WHITE FISH (Coregonus lavaretus)

In 1897, coming from Como, there was the first introduction to the lake of Bolsena. Were settled, it is now wide spread thanks also to the periodic repopulations. For the characteristics of its culinary use, this fish is very required and the community of the local fishermen draws a remarkable economic benefit through its fishing. For its food habits it is caught almost exclusively by means of appropriate nets, while the catches from the lake side, using fishing rods, are definetely not deliberate. One should remember that in some Italian lakes, for example in the lake of Santa Croce (Belluno), a method of fishing from a boat, using artificial hooks similar to the larva of Chironomide, has been carried out for some years. It would be interesting to try this technique on the lake of Bolsena as it seems to give good results. On the second Sunday of August, the annual “Festival of the White fish” is held in Capodimonte with the tasting of this fish roasted over wood fires.

LATTARINO (Atherina mochon)

Neverthless it has no sporting value, the small Lattarino, excellent to be fried, has importance for fishermen, who catch it by means of long nets set under the lake side, mainly in spring.In Marta on Sunday after May 14th (date of the traditional “Barabbata”) the annual festival of Lattarino is held.

LUCE (Exos lucius)

This fish, which is the main attractionfor boat anglers, is still largely present in Bolsena depending on the periodic repopulations. In the past the catch of more than 10 kg luces were frequent, but recently it has been a decrease even if the interest for this kind of fish is lower.. The most spread and effective fishing method is “Traina a Tirlindana” by using a motor boat. Unfortunately the recent debatable and iniquitous regulation limits this system to anglers with an age over 65 . (See Regional Law Of Lazio n° 87 December 7th 1990 and n°16 May 2nd 1995 Art.14 Paragraph 13). The amateurs living in this area have proposed several times to abolish this rule (also by gathering signatures) but till now without success. We hope the good sense prevails and this phase of stall is over so that the luce fishing would be possible.

REAL PERCHIS (Perca fluviatilis)

The real perchis fishing is one of the main attractions for Italian and foreign tourists who every year go to the Lake of Bolsena. To learn this method of fishing is quite simple and amusing for everyone, women and children included. At the same time, as it is carried out from a boat far from the lake side, experience, spirit of observation, echosounder or simply a good guide and a lot of prudence are necessary. The lake has a changeable mood; it doesn’t accept familiarity and often betrays those who have or believe to have experience: at the first signs of ripples of the waves you have to come back immediately to the lake side. The fishing system is “a bolentino” with two or three hooks and a 10-15 gr. final plumb. You have to use a berthed boat on grassy, uneven and stoned soundings with a depth of 8-14 metres. The best period is from June to October, when the weather is good and the lake calm.One must to consider, anyway, that the perchis is a shoal fish, so that a day which would seem less prolific could suddenly become the best one.

BLACK BASS (Micropterus salmoides)

It has been introduced to the Lake of Bolsena in the middle of 80’s, with intent or accidentally, the Black Bass or “boccalone”, as it is called locally, is a problem or a delight of fishing. This voracious plunderer is unpopular with fishermen, as it is not adapt to be caught with nets, while it has been and it is still very sought-after by anglers for its combativeness. A Roman, nicknamed for its ability “cucchiaino”, made his first catches from a boat near the port of Capodimonte, using an artificial bait. You can meet him during the summer while he is fishing with unchanged passion. You can follow a less sporting, even if very amusing and efficacious fishing system, using a float and a real or artificial earth-worm. The use of shrimps, either from a boat and from a quay, is very amusing too, but it is not very spread owing to the difficulty in finding this kind of bait. At the moment the Black Bass is still present but it has rarefied; we have very prolific seasons and others less happy. In addition to the port of Capodimonte, that of Bolsena is very good and for boat fishing excellent is the eastern side with canes and grass alga soundings.

SUN FISH (Eupomotis gibbosus)

This is a very beautiful, even if unuseful and harmful fish, which has been introduced to the lake, one said by accident, during a repopulation in the 70’s. It is known above all for the damages caused to the balance of the fish patrimony of the lake.

CAT FISH (Ameiurus nebulosus)

Another infesting fish, introduced by some fishermen unaware of the damage they are causing to the lake. Moreover we have to consider that, while in northern Italy this kind of fish finds culinary estimators, so much so that like the eel, and it is proposed grilled in some restaurants, in this area even cats abhor it. The sporting interest is null as this fish, like the eel, is active during the night when fishing is forbidden.

RUDD (Cyprinus erythrotalmus)

Called by mistake “dace” from the local fishermen, this fish is very tasty but very prickly. In the past it was roasted over wood fires or, like now, used as ingredient for the “Sbroscia” ( a tasty fresh water fish soup, the specialty of the area). The rudd doesn’t interest anglers also because, with the decrease of alga, its catch is more difficult and more and more limited to some areas and periods of the year.

TENCH (Tinca tinca)

This wonderful fish, very plentiful in the lake, is caught everywhere during the summer. The average size is of some hectograms, often over 1 kg. and seldom over 2 kg. The favourite baits are the polenta after chum, the worm with the fishing system “leggering” or the maize above all in July. The best places to fish are: the comfortable port of Capodimonte and Bolsena, towards east among the canes near Montefiascone lake front, towards south east in locality “La Carrozza”, towards south west at the limit between the towns of Capodimonte and Gradoli and in the north among the alga near the outlet of the small ditch called “La Scopia”.

USEFUL INFORMATION

In the ports

Caution: It is forbidden to fish within the areas of mooring and movement of the ports.

Carp-Fishing

You are reminded that from May 15 to June 30 it is forbidden to fish for carp or tench.

Provincial rules>>>

Montefiascone carp fishing area>>>

Gradoli-Grotte di Castro carp fishing area>>>

Batymetric map>>>

Gradoli carp fishing management:

Comune di Gradoli

Tel. +39 0761456082