Prohibitions

Fishing Prohibited Areas

Fishing is prohibited at all times in the following areas, and no signage or pictogram is required :

• in locks
• in fish passes, artificial bypass rivers, fish migration barriers, and downstream fish escape outlets, as well as within 50 meters of these structures, across the full width of the watercourse
• on or within 50 meters downstream of dams and spillways in calm water zones  
  
• from bridges and walkways crossing navigable waterways
  
• from Monsin Island, except along the Esplanade Albert I bank
  
• in oxbow lakes (noues), except for those on the Sambre and Hemlot rivers, where fishing remains permitted
  
•  in the following lakes: Lake Gileppe, Lake Eupen, and Ry de Rome
  
• Fishing is also prohibited within 50 meters of the boundaries of a fishing competition that meets the conditions set by the Government. This ban applies during the competition and for two hours prior to its start     
  
• in the Semois, from the first Saturday of March to the Friday preceding the first Saturday of June, by entering the riverbed
  

In the following parts of watercourses :

• a) in fast-flowing water zones, where the rivers pass through forested areas under the forestry regime, except for certain designated sections
• b) In the Meuse, downstream from the Lixhe dam, on the right bank, up to the border with the Flanders Region, on the left bank, up to the junction of Rue de Halle and Quai du Barrage
  
• c) in the Amblève, within 50 meters downstream of the Coo waterfall
  
• d) in the Ourthe, between the Nisramont dam and bridge ;In the section downstream of the Grosses Battes dam in Angleur up to the Grosses Battes bridge in Angleur
  
• e) In the Semois River, from the Vanne des Bains to the Pont de France in Bouillon, and within fifty meters downstream from the Aiguilles dam in Bouillon, as well as across the entire width of the Semois from twenty meters upstream of the oxbow lakes of the Ilions to the bridge on road N832 in Cugnon
  
• f) in the Neufchâteau stream, downstream from the Klepper mill and in the upstream part of the Neufchâteau lake, including the spawning ground
  

Prohibited Practices

It is forbidden to :

• Fish under the ice
  
• Fish by hand or use any digging technique under roots or other hiding places commonly used by fish or crayfish
  

Prohibited Groundbaits and Baits

The following groundbaits and baits are prohibited :

• blood, bone marrow, brains, or animal offal (offal is permitted only for crayfish fishing using net)
  
• fish eggs, whether fresh or preserved, whether used alone or mixed into bait or groundbait
  
• live bait fishing is allowed only with the following species: common bleak, spirlin bleak, crucian carp, chub, roach, gudgeon, rudd, and minnow (except for any color variants of these species, where they exist)
  

When pike fishing is closed in a watercourse, part of a watercourse, or a body of water, anglers are not allowed to use : 

• Fish as bait — whether alive or dead, whole or in pieces, moving or not — regardless of the species
  
• Artificial lures*
  

Last update: September 10, 2025