Fishing in the mountains
Wild rivers and crystal clear mountain lakes
An Eldorado for experienced fishermen
Fishing in the mountains, an extraordinary experience for passionate anglers. Whether it's competitive fly fishing in the whitewater of the Möll, the river that gave our valley its name, leisurely fishing with the whole family at Gössnitzsee or Påcherteich, or romantic and deeply relaxing fishing from a boat on Lake Millstatt, Austria's most fish-rich mountain lake: fishing in our national park region offers you the joy of nature and tranquility. Plus, catches that are only possible in the crystal-clear, fresh waters of the Alps. All our lakes and rivers are of drinking water quality, which also has a very positive effect on the wild fish population.
We are happy to assist you in obtaining the necessary permits and advise you on which spots are best suited to your ambitions and fishing techniques. You can then prepare your catch immediately on the chalet's grill or freeze it to take home if you have larger quantities.
The dominant fish in our mountain waters are trout, char, and, in the 141-meter-deep, 16 km² Millstatt Lake, the extremely tasty and prized Mountain Whitefish, which we call "Renke". Whitefish is only found in the large mountain lakes of the Alps, as it requires deep, consistently cold water. Grayling also finds optimal living conditions in the whitewaters of the Möll River.
Gourmets appreciate the Renke because of their delicate and aromatic meat, which has few bones. Some gourmet chefs even prepare it raw, marinated like young herring or as Alpine sushi, and it is excellent for grilling and smoking. Whitefish is very healthy and provides mainly unsaturated fatty acids as well as vitamins A and B. With zero carbohydrates and a high protein content, it is perfect for those who like to eat low-carb.
In the lakes, you'll also find tench, pike, perch, and carp, and in Lake Millstatt, even the large catfish, known in Germany as Wels. While strict catch limits apply to salmonids in whitewater due to nature conservation, the rules are more generous in lake waters. Whitefish, pike, perch, and whiting may even be caught in unlimited quantities, subject to the applicable minimum size (in Austria: "Brittelmaß"). What they all have in common is that they are truly wild-caught; the fish have eaten only what nature has provided them with.
Fishing season in the Möll River and Gössnitzsee is from May 1st to October 31st, while in Lake Millstatt, the fishing season runs from March 1st to December 15th (as of 2025).
Lake Millstatt is not only a first-class fishing area, but also a worthwhile destination for the whole family. While you indulge your passion for fishing, your family can take a lake cruise on a pleasure boat, visit sights such as Millstatt Abbey or Sommeregg Castle with its eerily beautiful torture museum, or swim in the lake in midsummer. The boats and museums are free for you thanks to our Carinthia Card.
Fishing from a boat is also permitted on Lake Millstatt, a particularly relaxing way to fish against a magnificent mountain backdrop. You can rent suitable rowing or electric boats from numerous boat rental companies around the lake. Lake Millstatt is about an hour's drive from us.
Fly fishing, or fishing with a casting rod, is rightly considered the pinnacle of angling. Casting the lure requires a special, difficult-to-learn technique, and the angler needs experience and a keen eye to spot the prey in the water. This is especially true for fast-flowing whitewater like the Upper Möll, which never has a smooth surface. Fly fishing combines the dynamics of the hunt with the tranquility of fishing, and true experts also place great value on the aesthetics of an artful cast.
In the Möll River waters, only fly fishing is permitted; other fishing techniques would have little chance of success in this whitewater. In the lake waters, you can of course also use classic techniques such as float fishing, bottom fishing, and spin fishing. Important: In all fishing areas, the use of barbless hooks (fishing hooks without a trident point or barb) is mandatory to ensure a gentle catch-and-release approach.
A good fish brings double the joy: first, the successful catch, and second, the culinary delight on your plate. At our Almchalet Goldbergleiten, you have every option for preparing it: fried or boiled in the perfectly equipped country-style kitchen, or heartily grilled on the hut's grill.
However, if the catch is particularly large, we have a very special option: smoking it in the ancient "Selch" (as we call the smokehouse here) of our mountain lodge. Smoking is a special hobby of host Uli, and is done slowly and traditionally over open wood embers, without electric heating, just like 200 years ago. This preserves the delicate flavor of the fish, and the addition of "secret" herbs from the forest and the hut's garden creates a unique aroma. If you're planning on doing this, please let us know two or three days in advance, as preparing the old smokehouse takes some time. Well then, good fishing!
