Fishing by the rules
Boat fishing
General Principles
Fishing from a boat can be carried out using various types of watercraft, whether motorized (with a combustion or electric engine) or not, such as rowboats, float tubes, kayaks, canoes, inflatable boats, Zodiacs, pedal boats, etc. It is subject to two separate sets of regulations : those governing the practice of fishing, and those related to navigation rules.
River Fishing
What fishing license is required to fish from a boat ?
Anglers wishing to fish from a boat must hold a Type B, C, or T permit issued by the Walloon Region.
In addition, an L permit has been introduced into the regulations. This L permit specifically authorizes boat fishing on Lake Plate Taille.
What are the permitted fishing periods and techniques when fishing from a boat ?
The fishing periods and techniques are the same whether fishing from a boat, by wading into the riverbed, or from the shore.
Trolling — defined as fishing from a boat using the boat’s motor to move the bait over a long distance — is permitted. However, trolling is prohibited on Lake Plate Taille.
Prohibited zones apply both to fishing from a boat and from the shoreline. Some no-fishing areas are specific to boat fishing. Anglers fishing from a boat must also comply with prohibitions indicated by pictograms.
Regulations Regarding Navigation
Watercourse in Wallonia are divided into two categories: navigable waterways and non-navigable waterways (also referred to as non-hydraulic waterways), which include all other watercourses in Wallonia not listed as navigable.
Boat fishing is mainly practiced on navigable waterways, the list of which can be found here.
It is also permitted on non-navigable waterways.
Navigation regulations differ depending on whether the waterway is classified as navigable or non-navigable.
Navigable Waterways
There are two types of navigable waterways: classified watercourses and classified lakes. Six lakes are officially classified as navigable waterways and are accessible with only the Walloon Region fishing license: the Eau d’Heure Lakes (Falemprise, Plate Taille, Feronval, Eau d'Heure, and Ry Jaune) and Lake Nisramont.
The use of a boat is subject to the General Regulations for navigable Waterways. Each site has its own specific regulations, which you can consult here.
In general, unless explicitly prohibited, boat fishing is allowed on navigable waterways, subject to certain exceptions and/or specific conditions (local regulations may apply to each waterway — see the Ministerial Decree of 05/06/2019).
Anglers must comply with general navigation rules and must not obstruct navigation. According to the general regulations for fishing boats, recreational craft may not be stationed in navigable channels. After use, boats must be moored securely (and within 50 meters of dams) and must not obstruct navigation in any way.
Boat Registration
All information regarding the registration of a fishing vessel can be found on the website mobilit.belgium.be
Boating License
You can find all the information about boating licenses on the website ecolenautique.be
Last update: September 11, 2025
