A Helpful Guide to Destination Fishing Around the World
Every year I try to find new places to fish close to home. There’s a special thrill in stepping into water you’ve never fished before. It is exciting to find new places and meet new fish. Local adventures are wonderful, but what happens when we broaden our search for new waters to include international destinations?
Until a few years ago, I had never fished outside the United States. My experiences have been in Wyoming, Washington, Idaho, and Montana. There are plenty more states still on my list. Then back in 2013, my friend Karel invited me to go with him to fish in Austria. The idea was exciting and felt more than a little intimidating at first. I hadn’t traveled abroad since a family trip to Ireland, where I saw fishable water and wished for a rod every time.
At the time, I was sure that fishing the Austrian Alps would be at once-in-a-lifetime trip. I dusted off my passport, booked a flight, and brushed up on my rusty German. Karel, who lives in London, speaks fluent German, and became the best tour planner, guide and translator anyone could ever need. It was a trip to remember. I will share some photos in this article from both trips.
Well, as it turns out, it wasn’t truly “a once in a lifetime trip.” We just made that trip again at the beginning of September. You may have read my article about the first trip and how I struggled through having the airline lose my luggage and the lessons learned on that trip. This time all my luggage made it and frankly, I felt more seasoned and confident this time around. The more you do these trips the easier they get I suppose.
Confidence matters when planning a trip like this, but not the reckless kind. International fishing takes forethought. This article is about thinking through the essentials so you can make smart choices. And while the motivation to fish someplace amazing is the lure, a trip like this is also about immersing yourself in the culture and experiences beyond the river.
Getting Started: Bucket Lists and Planning
Where do you want to go? You should start your own “bucket list” of places you would like to go. Set alarms for when the flight specials happen for those places, or plan to follow the prices until they drop as low as you think they will drop. There may be specials that surprise you.
I almost exclusively fish for trout, so destinations with trout water rise to the top of my list. I must also consider that because I fish only tenkara, I need to be sure that it’s legally allowed. Austria is now a proven choice. Japan is next on my list (2026 is already in the works) and Slovenia and the Balkans have begun to intrigue me too.
Once you know where you’d like to go, research thoroughly. Don’t stop at maps or articles but reach out to people who’ve fished there before. Ask questions and learn from their experiences. Find the best dates to visit and lock your trip in.
Plan for more than fishing. Explore the food, towns, and traditions. On our first trip to Austria, we stumbled onto a strudel festival. On the same trip, we wrapped up with a few days in Munich and enjoyed the lead-up to Oktoberfest. Fishing may be the reason you travel, but the place itself is part of the adventure.
Budgeting: Setting Healthy Limits
Your trip should add adventure to your life’s experiences, not leave you stressed. Build a budget early and balance frugality with comfort. Saving money is good, but sometimes it’s worth splurging on services that simplify logistics. You can decide for yourself where you want to splurge and where you want to cut back so that you can have the best experience. Sometimes the cheaper choice can add a unique experience too.
Factor in flights, lodging, meals, guide services, licenses, permits, rental gear or baggage fees, and transportation. Add a buffer for surprises like exchange rates, any shuttles, or forgotten gear. With a clear budget, you’ll know where to spend wisely and where to cut back. This will also help you to make decisions on what you want your adventure to look like.
Lodging: Bare Bones or Built-In Support?
Lodging shapes the trip more than many realize. Do you want bare-bones cheap, or comfort and convenience?
We stayed at a hotel that cost around 200 Euros a night—far from the cheapest, but worth it. The price included a full breakfast (with enough food to pack lunch), and quality dinners every evening. The hotel also happens to have a fully stocked fly shop. The staff handled all our fishing paperwork and offered advice on where to also go for good fishing.
Other perks included a sauna on a rainy day and a fly-tying table in the lobby. Also, the hotel had its own brewery connected to it. We enjoyed a beer at the end of each day fishing. It wasn’t just lodging; it was a hub that simplified everything.
Rules, Licenses, and Regulations
Few things could ruin a trip faster than breaking fishing laws abroad. Research carefully: permits, conservation rules, catch limits, barbless hook requirements, and even boot sole restrictions.
Some licenses are available online; others must be purchased locally. In Austria, our lodge handled everything—licenses, national park passes, even some transportation—and offered advice on waters and conditions. That helped save us hours of guesswork.
Know before you go, especially when private waters or limited-access stretches are involved.
Getting Around
Transportation can be trickier than expected. For Austria, flying into Munich and renting a car made more sense than flying directly to Austria. This also required a permit to take the car across the border. Knowing these rules ahead of time can keep you from additional trouble and tickets.
For two of our fishing days, we needed a shuttle bus to reach private water. It cost 22 Euros, cash only, and ran just twice daily in each direction. Missing the return bus meant either an expensive taxi or a long wait.
When planning, think beyond your flight. Not every road is public, not every business takes cards, and schedules don’t always match your plans. Always have a little cash on hand for these situations.
Packing: Avoiding the Trap of Over-Packing
Traveling with your own gear is wonderful, but airlines complicate things. On our first trip, my checked bag was delayed. (Interesting story here) Since then, I always carry on my rods, tackle, clothes, and other essentials I couldn’t go without. Bulky items like boots and waders can be checked and if they are lost on the flight like mine were the first trip, you can buy new ones, and the airline must reimburse you for the necessary items that weren’t delivered because they lost your luggage. This is what I did when they lost my luggage on that first trip.
Most airlines allow one carry-on and one personal item. This can be enough if you pack carefully. Beyond that, less is often more. After this last trip, we agreed that one well-stocked fly box was plenty because we were able to tie more flies as we needed them using our small travel fly-tying kit. A great evening activity. We each brought at least two more rods than we needed to as well.
Check airline rules in advance. Scissors won’t usually make it through security so check them with baggage or know you are going to buy an inexpensive set when you get to your destination. Finally, don’t forget proper electric adapters for the country you’re visiting. Outlets differ from country to country.
Health, Safety, and Insurance
It is important to check whether your health insurance covers you abroad. Often it doesn’t. Know how to handle sickness and injuries while you travel. Travel insurance is worth considering as it can protect you against problems like cancellations, lost bags, or medical needs.
Being a Responsible Traveler
Wherever you go, don’t be the “ugly tourist.” Blend in, be polite, and respect cultural expectations. Keep your voice down, follow local norms, and observe leave-no-trace principles on the water.
Support local economies whenever possible. Some of my favorite trip memories aren’t from the rivers but from sitting in cafés, sampling unfamiliar dishes, and watching daily life unfold.
Language and Cultural Practices Matter
Don’t assume English will carry you everywhere. In rural areas, even basic phrases in the local language go a long way. Learn simple essentials like “hello,” “thank you,” and “where is the bathroom?”
Translation apps can help, but you may not always have service or a charged phone. More importantly, trying to speak the language is part of immersing yourself. Locals usually appreciate the effort.
Just remember that direct translations don’t always work. Tone and slang don’t cross neatly, and what feels casual in English may come off too informal or rude elsewhere.
Learn about common visitor mistakes before you go, so you don’t repeat them. What is the common greeting, what do you say when you accidentally bump into someone, how do you order food and are gratuities included in service.
Take Photos and Journal but Be Present
As a former professional photographer, I enjoy documenting trips. I learned a long time ago that photos can’t capture everything. The smells, sounds, the people and atmosphere make real memories. Sometimes the best thing you can do is put the camera away and simply be present. Take a photo of a fish or two, take a picture of moments in your trip that you see as beautiful.
Unless photography is part of your goal for the trip, you can leave the bigger stuff at home, your phone will usually suffice. You could decide to bring a small digital camera and then not worry about being interrupted by your phone too.
I always pack at least one journal. Just to jot down my thoughts, record how my day went, what I ate, and the moments that stood out. Years later, those notes can bring back more vivid memories than some photos ever will, or can be helpful when you do put together a story of photos you want to share.
You Can Do This!
Traveling abroad to fish is part planning, part patience, and part letting go. Yes, it’s about fishing new waters—but it’s also about food, culture, and little surprises along the way. Prepare well, keep your mind open, and the experience will feel brand new all over again.
Getting Lost Are My Best Adventures
I started traveling in my early 20s while stationed in Stuttgart, Germany. Some of my best stories come from getting lost—sometimes intentionally, sometimes not.
Being “lost” isn’t really being lost—you’ll find your way eventually. It forces you to slow down, pay attention, and sometimes ask strangers for help. More than once, it landed me in a café where I sipped coffee, took a breath, and enjoyed being exactly where I was.
Unplanned detours often reveal hidden gems: small shops, tucked-away neighborhoods, places no guidebook will ever mention. They become the stories you tell for years, the moments that shape not just the trip, but your memory of it.
So, when you travel, I recommend it—get lost on purpose. It may turn out to be the best part of your adventure.
Dennis Vander Houwen is an early adopter of tenkara, he lives and fishes all over Colorado. For more information on living simply or approaching a richer life with fewer things check out his blog, Tenkara Path, where you can also support his tenkara lifestyle by purchasing one of his amazing, handmade tenkara line spool, fly keepers. Learn more about Tenkara Lifestyles here.
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