Fly Fishing Turkey
Where to go Fly Fishing in Turkey
Turkey is not typically a country that comes to mind in discussions of fly fishing. This is not necessarily because Turkey lacks the natural resources and productive trout streams that other countries possess, but more because it is often overlooked. Turkey has one of the highest diversities of native trout in the world. The Turkish plateau was a hotbed for especiation in the Salmo, or brown trout, family for the past few ice ages. With watershed drainages flowing into the Meditteranean Sea, Black Sea, Caspian Sea, Sea of Marmorata, and the Persian Gulf (Indian Ocean). Each of these basins are home to different trout species and subspecies that occupy a water variety of water types. Popular trout fisheries can be found around the major cities of Istanbul. Antalia, Adana, Erzurum, Kars, Van, and Malatya. In this article we will dive into each of the major watersheds and the trout species that can be found in each.​​​
Trout of Southern Turkey
​
The trout streams of Southern Turkey flow to the Mediterannean Sea. Here the native trout species are most closely related to Mediterannean lineages. Streams in the southwest can be found around the city of Antalya where they begin high in the Taurus Mountains. Further west, toward the Middle Taurus between the cities of Kayseri and Adana, visiting anglers will find several more trout streams that flow to the Mediteranean. Many of the small coastal streams also possess isolated populations of Mediteranean brown trout but the larger watersheds often hold larger populations of these trout.
​
​
Alakir River Trout Fishing
Beginning in the small tributary streams to the west of Antalya, the Alakir River is home to the Alakir Trout, Salmo kottelati, a subspecies of the brown trout. While these trout are not found throughout the drainage due to overfishing and stream degradation, the small headwater streams of the area hold fair numbers of Alakir trout in plunge pools and cascades where they can more effectively hide. In these areas, these fish are protected heavily by locals as they have become more aware of their importance and dwindling numbers. ​​​​
Zamanti River Trout Fishing
The Zamanti River is one of the most scenic trout streams in all of Turkey. The Zamanti is home to the Flathead, or Turkish, trout (Salmo platycephalus). The Turkish trout could once be found throughout the entirity of the high elevation section of the river that flows across Turkey's highland plateau. Now its range is limited to a handful of sections where locals have devoted much time and effort to protecting the remaining populations. The river is filled with dense aquatic grasses that hide the remaining trout from lurking predators. Dense hatches allow trout to feed heavily on the surface during the warmer months.
Ceyhan River Trout Fishing
In the uppermost stretches of the Ceyhan River, anglers can find the Ecemis Trout, Salmo labecula. Though much of the high elevation streams of the Ceyhan River have been degraded by poor land use and erosion. Several small streams winding through rural apricot and plum orchards provide sanctuaries for these trout that use the many undercut banks and fallen woody debris as cover.
Trout of Eastern Turkey​
​
The Tigris and Euphates Rivers hold several of the most unique trout species in the world. These two rivers known to be the original cradle of human civilization possess the only streams in the world with trout native to an Indian Ocean drainage. The much larger Euphrates River posseses several subspecies of the Euphrates Trout, Salmo euphrateus. The Goksu River, Munzur River, and main stem of the Euphrates holding the healthiest populations found in the uppermost tributaries between the nearby cities of Malatya and Erzurum. The construction of dams in the region has further segregated thes species on the Euphates as well as removing some essential habitat from their range. Several healthy stretches of tributary streams do hide these unique trout. The Uppermost sections of the Tigris river are found to the south of the city of Van. The Tigris Trout is much less common throughout its range as overharvesting continues to be a serious problem effecting the native fishes. The land through much of this region are beautiful but desolate with the highest elevation streams here only being visited seasonally by local sheep herders.
Goksu River Trout Fishing
Aesthetically, the Goksu Trout is one of the more unique trout species of Turkey. The Goksu River is one of the most westerly tributaries of the Euphrates River. Populations are relatively healthy in the rural headwaters of the river. The trout however are incredibly spooky in the gin clear waters of the Goksu. During the warm months trout are quite willing to eat along the surface with mayfly and caddis hatches being quite abundant.
Munzur River Trout Fishing
The Munzur River is popular with Turkish tourists. It's cold, clean waters attract locals from all over the country. The Munzur Trout, Salmo munzuricus, calls the upper portion of the river home. The river runs deep and fast through the small town and steep canyons along the river. These conditions leave plenty of areas for trout to elude anglers and likely the reason why the Munzur holds the highest abundance of trout compared to the other tributaries of the Euphrates River.
Tigris River Trout Fishing
The Tigris River runs through the most rural region of Turkey. An area torn by wars and skirmishes for decades has hid one of the rarest trout species on the planet. The Tigris trout, Salmo tigridis, is only found in a handful of sections of the river and in lower numbers. Overfishing and habitat degredation are the two major problems affecting these fish. Though sparse in population, the Tigris Trout can be found in both the larger sections of river around the small town of Catak, as well as the tiny streams that wind through the highest elevations of the upper plateau where the river originates. .
Caspian Trout of Turkey​
​
The Northeastern corber of Turkey has two important watersheds home to the trout species of the Caspian drainages. The first and more southerly is the Aras River which begins around the City of Kars and forms the part of the Turkish and Armenian border in its lower stretches. Further to the north, are smaller streams that are home to pure strain Caspian Trout, Salmo trutta caspius. This region is dry, rolling grasslands with fertile, heavily vegetated streams that wind through sandstone bedrock. These trout waters appear to be lush oasis in the otherwise barren landscape.
Aras River Trout Fishing
The upper tributaries of the Aras River more closely resemble a garden than your typical trout stream. The lush green vegetation that lines the open crevasses cut through the underlying sandstone bedrock provides excellent shelter for the locally abundant Aras Trout, Salmo trutta araxensis. While mayflies and caddis are are around in fair numbers in these small streams, scuds can are extremely abundant around the submerged vegetation and woody debris.
Caspian Trout Fishing
Wide, shallow trout streams meander through the rolling green hills of northeastern Turkey. These low gradient streams are sparsely populated with trout for most of the year. Many of these fish move in and out of larger bodies of water throughout the year to find more favorable conditions. Small mayflies, scuds, and caddis arre the most abundant food sources in these streams.
Trout Northern of Turkey​
​
The northern drainages of Turkey lead to the Black Sea. Several lineages of trout can be found in the smaller rivers in the region. Steep canyons hide these streams and limit the angling pressure on many of them. Unfortunately many dams have segmented the larger rivers, limiting the more productive stretches of river. High altitude lakes also hide populations of native and stocked trout from Istanbul to Erzurum.
Rize and Coruh River Trout Fishing
North of Erzurum, two larger rivers, the Rize and Coruh, are home to two unique trout species. In some tributaries of the Coruh, both species can be found occupying the same waters. Though their appearance is very similar for most of the year, the Coruh Trout (Salmo coruhensis) and Rize Trout (Salmo rizeensis) fall spawning coloration can be extravagant. This is particularly true with the males. Caddis and mayflies hatch regularly throughout the warmer months bringing these fish to the surface. The smaller tributaries of these rivers along with a few tailwaters provide plenty of sanctuary for these fish to hide in the many plunges and cascades.
Abant Trout Fishing
The Abant Trout is native to Abant Lake, a small body of water just southeast of Istanbul. Fishing in this lake can be difficult due to its size and heavier fishing pressure. Luckily, Abant trout have been introduce to a handful of smaller bodies of water across Northern Turnkey. These lakes are filled with caddis and mayflies, leaving an abundant food resource for the fish. Frogs and tadpoles offter an incredibly abundant food resources in many of these ponds throughout the warmer months. In the summer many of these trout opt to feed during lowlight hours and at night. Much like their other brown trout cousins, the Abant trout (Salmo abanticus) is not fond of high and bright skies. Small freshwater shrimp can also provide a valuable protein source in deeper waters for much of the year that also allow these fish to grow to larger sizes.
