🎣 Fishing Spot: Tevere River (Tiber) – Tail Water Tevere, Tuscany, Italy

🏞️ About the Tevere River

The Tevere River (Fiume Tevere), known as the Tiber in English, is Italy's third-longest river — flowing over 400km from the Apennine Mountains through Tuscany, Umbria, and eventually Rome before reaching the Mediterranean. This historic waterway offers dramatically different fishing opportunities depending on location: world-class trout fishing in the cold tailwater section near Sansepolcro, and trophy wels catfish and coarse species in the warmer middle and lower reaches.

The Upper Tevere: Tail Water Tevere (TWT)
Below the Montedoglio Dam near the medieval town of Sansepolcro lies an 8km stretch of pristine catch-and-release waters that represent one of Europe's most successful river restoration projects. Since 2000, the Mosca Club Altotevere has transformed what was once a dry riverbed into a thriving fly fishing destination with stable flows, crystal-clear water, and prolific insect hatches. The Tail Water Tevere holds the distinction of being Europe's southernmost river where grayling reproduce naturally.

The Middle & Lower Tevere: Big Game Coarse Fishing
Downstream from the trout waters, the Tevere transforms into a completely different river — wider, warmer, slower, and home to massive wels catfish (siluro) reaching 150+ pounds, along with carp, barbel, asp, zander, and chub. This section offers year-round predator fishing just 30 minutes north of Rome's city center.

🌟 Why the Tevere System Is Special

Upper Tailwater (Sansepolcro):

• Premier Tailwater Fishery — Bottom-draw releases maintain constant 6°C temperatures year-round
• Nonstop Dry Fly Action — Multiple hatches throughout the day, April to December
• European Grayling Paradise — Southernmost natural grayling reproduction in Europe
• Trophy Brown Trout — Fish up to 60-70cm (6+ pounds) with incredible coloration
• Technical Challenge — Gin-clear water demands 12-18ft leaders and 7X tippets

Middle/Lower River (Rome Area):

• Trophy Wels Catfish — Monster invasive catfish exceeding 150 pounds (68kg)
• Urban Accessibility — Fish within 30 minutes of Rome's historic center
• Year-Round Fishing — Warm water maintains predator activity in all seasons
• Diverse Coarse Species — Carp, asp, zander, barbel, chub, and European eel
• Live Bait & Spinning — Heavy tackle adventure fishing for true giants

🐟 Fish Species of the Tevere System

UPPER TAILWATER (Sansepolcro Area - Trout Waters):

MIDDLE & LOWER RIVER (Umbria/Rome - Coarse Waters):

🌤️ Seasonal Fishing Overview

UPPER TAILWATER (Trout Section):

🌱 Spring (April – May)

• Season opens early April (check current regulations)
• Water temperatures remain cool and stable regardless of air temperature
• Early BWO hatches and various mayfly species trigger consistent surface activity
• Fish less selective after winter closure

☀️ Summer (June – August)

• Prime dry fly season with continuous hatches throughout daylight hours
• Water remains cool (6°C) when other Italian rivers are too warm
• BWO hatches begin in June and continue through summer
• Crystal-clear water demands extreme stealth
• Best fishing: early morning and late evening

🍂 Fall (September – November)

• Trophy season — largest browns and grayling feed aggressively
• BWO hatches continue strong through November
• Excellent sight-fishing opportunities
• Mixed hatches of small olives, midges, and terrestrials

❄️ Winter (December – March)

• Season closed for spawning protection
• Reopens April

MIDDLE/LOWER RIVER (Catfish & Coarse Section):

🌸 Spring/Summer (April – October)

• Prime catfish season — most active in warmer water
• Peak feeding as water temperatures rise
• Carp spawn May-June; excellent fishing before/after
• Asp and zander highly active on topwater and spinners

🍂 Fall (September – November)

• Catfish feed heavily before winter
• Excellent carp fishing as they bulk up
• Cooler water increases daytime activity

❄️ Winter (November – March)

• Catfish and carp still catchable but slower
• Zander fishing picks up in cold water
• Chub and barbel remain active
• Night fishing for catfish can be productive

🪶 Fishing Techniques on the Tevere

UPPER TAILWATER (Fly Fishing Only):

MIDDLE/LOWER RIVER (Multiple Methods):

⚖️ Regulations & Permits

UPPER TAILWATER (Trout Section):

TWT Permit Purchase Locations:

• Piccini Impianti gas station in Sansepolcro (CLOSED Sundays)
• Podere Violino agriturismo
• Solo Mosca fly shop in San Piero

⚠️ Critical Regulations (Trout Section):

• Fly fishing only — no spinning or bait fishing
• Catch and release mandatory — barbless hooks required
• Wading only — no boats

MIDDLE/LOWER RIVER (Coarse Section):

⚠️ IMPORTANT - Wels Catfish Regulations:

• Invasive species — Italian law requires wels catfish to be removed and NOT released
• However, disposal is problematic and leaving dead fish on banks is illegal
• Not recommended for consumption due to pollution in lower river
• Check current local regulations — enforcement varies
• Most guides practice catch-and-release despite regulations

Charter Booking (Rome Area):

• Available through FishingBooker and local services
• "Fishing in Rome" offers half-day and full-day catfish charters
• Charters depart from northern Rome suburbs (30 min from city center)

🧭 Summary

The Tevere River System offers two completely different world-class fishing experiences:

UPPER TAILWATER (Sansepolcro): The pinnacle of Italian tailwater fly fishing — where exceptional river restoration has created technical dry fly waters rivaling England's finest chalk streams. This is fishing for the purist: long leaders, tiny flies, gin-clear water, and highly educated trout and grayling rising continuously to prolific hatches. Combined with Renaissance art, medieval Tuscan villages, and exceptional cuisine, this is European fly fishing at its most refined.

MIDDLE/LOWER RIVER (Umbria/Rome): Big game freshwater predator fishing in the historic river that flows through the Eternal City. Battle monster wels catfish exceeding 150 pounds, target surface-feeding asp with topwater lures, or enjoy traditional European coarse fishing for carp and barbel. This is accessible urban fishing with a gladiatorial twist — heavy tackle, live bait, and fish that will test your strength under ancient Roman bridges.

Whether you seek the delicate art of matching Italian mayfly hatches or the raw power of wrestling a giant catfish from Caesar's river, the Tevere delivers.

📍 Quick Reference

UPPER TAILWATER (TROUT)
Location: Sansepolcro, Arezzo Province, Tuscany
Season: April/May – November/December
Species: Brown Trout, European Grayling
Methods: Dry Fly, Emergers, Sight Fishing (fly only)
Regulations: Catch & Release, Fly-only, Barbless
Features: Tailwater, Constant 6°C, All-day hatches, Southernmost grayling

MIDDLE/LOWER RIVER (COARSE)
Location: Umbria region and Rome area
Season: Year-round
Species: Wels Catfish (to 150+ lbs), Carp, Asp, Zander, Barbel
Methods: Live Bait, Spinning, Feeder Fishing, Float Fishing
Regulations: Invasive catfish should not be released (complex enforcement)
Features: Trophy catfish, Urban accessibility, Ancient bridges, Year-round action