Fishing in calm waters

The three water zones concern both navigable and non-navigable waterways. Each zone (calm, mixed, and fast) has its own specific regulations.

When to fish in the calm water zone ?

Fishing is allowed from one hour before the official sunrise time until one hour after the official sunset time.

Concerned Zones and Watercourses

• Watercourses : the Meuse, the Sambre and its backwaters, the Escaut and its cuts, and the Lys.
• The following canals and their annexes, such as cuts and basins : the Albert Canal, the Hainaut canals, the former Charleroi-Brussels Canal, the Ourthe Canal (Chanxhe-Poulseur and Angleur), the Dender Canalized downstream of Ath.
  
• The following lakes : Lake Bütchenbach, Lake Eau d'Heure, Lake Eupen, Lake La Gileppe, Lake Neufchateau, Lake Nisramont, Lake Robertville, Lake Ry de Rome, Lake Suxy, Lake Warfaaz, Lake Doyards.
  
• The following ponds : Basses Forges Pond in Mellier, Bocq Pond in Scy, Happe Pond fed by the Cresses Stream in Ciney, Bologne Pond in Habay, Châtelet Pond in Habay, Fabrique Pond in Habay, Moulin Pond in Habay, Rémy Pond in Habay, Poix Pond in Poix-Saint-Hubert, Oyes Bridge Pond in Habay, Trapperie Pond in Habay, Serinchamps Pond, Ochamps Pond in Libin, Hem Lot Pond in Hermalle-sous-Argenteau.
• Other canals or parts of canals mentioned in Annex 1 of the Royal Decree of February 2, 1993, listing the navigable waterways and their dependencies transferred from the State to the Walloon Region.
  

Particularities of the calm water zones

•  Fishing with artificial lures up to 7 cm in length, equipped with a single hook and used with fly-fishing gear, is allowed from February 1st until the Friday preceding the first Saturday in June.
• Fishing for species belonging to Group 2, including carnivorous fish, is allowed from the first Saturday in June until January 31st of the following year.
  
• Fishing for species in Group 4 is allowed year-round.
  
• There is no requirement to crush or pinch the barb.
  
• It is forbidden to take brown trout longer than 50 cm.
  
• Harvesting is prohibited in the Meuse, Sambre, and Escaut rivers for any fish not caught in the main riverbed.
  
• Night fishing for common carp is allowed, except in certain lakes and ponds (see the night carp fishing brochure).
  

Last update: September 11, 2025