The Ismaning Reservoir is an artificial lake fed by the Middle-Isar-Canal, build 1929. It's mainly used for electrical power production and as flood control basin. The whole lake is completely surrounded by concrete banks. Only a few shallow southern banks areas are grown with reed, trees and bushes. The lake - almost aligned in east-west direction - is seperated by a dam in a western and an eastern basin. A huge lock in the northern part of the dam controls the flow rate between the two basins.

The Ismaning Reservoir is about 7.3 km long, 1.1 km wide. The average depth is about 2m (7ft). Due to a strong river Isar inflow, the lake renews its whole water within two or three days only. Therefore, the lake is not everywhere a still water, more a river in most areas. Diversified swims can be found all around the lake. The southern banks are all quite shallow, it becomes deeper the more you reach the northern banks. A lot of weed grows in summer. Many swims which worked fine in april are nearly unfishable at june. Note that the southern bank of the western basin is closed for access in any kind. One of the biggest european biological reserve for water birds is located there.

Eel, pike, perch, common carp, mirror carp, bream, tench, barbel, chub, trout, sneep, whitefish, grayling, catfish (rare), burbot (rare) and danube salmon (very rare). Apart from that, many small fish-species like bleak, roach, rudd, bullhead, gudgeon, minnow, stickleback, stone loach and many more. As far as I know, zander are very rare, but should exist.

The fish population is naturally (no stocking!) and can vary from year to year. Especially bream grows to monsters in this lake. Best time for big bream is September and October. Good sized barbel, carp, tench and chub also exist in the lake. Best time for carp is April to June and September to end of October. Pike normally is omnipresent. Most of them are quite small. Average weight is about 8lb. A pike over 15lb is quite rare, but pike to 30lb has been caught. Shads, Spoons, Plugs and Deadbaits work fine. Note that using livebaits is banned in Germany at all. Unfortunately, catch and release is also illegal in Germany, but it's practised anyway.

As mentioned earlier, it's not easy to get a grip on this water. The lake is huge, has steep concrete banks and is not easy accessible at most areas.
To give You a better start, I'll describe a few of my favourite swims.

The inlet is located at the most westerly part of the lake. The swim starts just after the inlet power plant. You won't miss it, if You follow the small path to the left at the fence besides the powerplant.
The swim is like a weir pool. The current depends on the level of the river Isar. In spring, when the snow is melting in the alps, the river has its high level. The best time to fish the inlet swim is Mai to September. If the autumn rains arive, the level of the river goes up again. Following species can be found here: trout, grayling, chub, barbel, sneep, eel, barbout, pike and even carp. There is also a (small) chance for danube salmon in winter. It's a charming swim surrounded by trees. Many birds and other wildlife can be noticed there. But caution, it's very snaggy!

As noted above, a dam devides the lake in the western and eastern basin. At the northern end of the dam, a lock controls the amount of water passing through. This is the most popular swim of the lake, because its easy to access, not far from the parking areas and, of course, because there are really a lot of nice spots.
Almost every kind of fish can be caught there. In early spring, the east side of the southern dam is a good spot for tench. In April and later, the west side of the dam is always good for carp. After the closing season for pike in mid April, pike are caught all around the weir. The bays east and west of the parking area are always good for a good pike or an odd eel. Perch starting to go well in July to October, just cast under or behind the lock-gates or under the bridge.
But, as nice this area with its many swims might be, at some days, especially at the weekend, there are a lot of anglers and pedestrians around.

The southern bank of the east basin offers also very interesting venues. In spring and early summer, many species are soaking up the sun at the warmed up water there. Pike, as they are spawning very early in the year, can be found quite numerous in March to Mai there. Tench comes in April and grateful takes small worms or maggots. Carp will be there just before spawning and can be caught on most common carp baits. In some years, weed can be a problem. In other years low water level prevents us getting a bait dropped well there. Apart from that, the south bank is hardly fished, and if you're not afraid to take a half mile walk or so to reach a remote swim, you can experience a pleasant surprise.

The outlet of the lake is located at the north-east bank of the east basin. A special feature there, except of the weir itself, is a submerged wall. It starts at the outlet lock-gates in a distance of about 35m (38.5 yd) of the northern bank. It continues parallel to the bank until the next ramp 300m (330 yd) to the west. Between wall and bank, there is a gully of appr. 3.5 m (11 ft) depth. Behind the wall the water is shallower, maybe 2m (6.5 ft) or so.
The drop off at the wall holds occasionally pike, the channel between holds bream, sometimes carp and even barbel are jumping around. Particularly the ramp allows you an easy acces to the water. A parking area is also available near by, providing short ranges to go.

Fishing is permitted from 1 hour before sunrise to 1.5 hour after sunset. Only fishing for eel, catfish and burbot is allowed to 24:00 CET. During the summer-time to 01:00 o'clock CET. The use of boats in any kind is prohibited.
The use of ONE rod is allowed only. No multiple hook-systems, except on deadbaits or at artificial pike lures, are allowed.
Only course or sea fish for deadbait are allowed. Livebaits are strongly prohibited.

Limits (per day): 2 fish of pike, carp, tench, trout, catfish are allowed to be caught per day. The minimum size of pike is 60 cm (23 inches). For all other species the fishing regulations for bavaria applies. A dayticket is about 10,- EUR. Full season tickets are also available.
I strongly recommend following equipment:
- unhooking mat
- good sized net
- measure tape
- forceps
- 10m long rope

If you have any further questions, please feel free to email me.

• Angelsport Schwabing - Apianstr.8 / Ecke Herzogstraße 80796 München
      Tel. 089/3005076
• AKM Angelgeräte Robert Rasp, Herrmann-Lingg-Str.11 80336 München
      Tel.: 089/532480, Fax: 089/5328860
• Angler Zentrum Laim - Landsbergerstr. 199, 80687 München
      Tel.: 089/5705400, Fax.: 089/5707464
• Fisherman's Partner Angler-Fachmarkt, Gruber Str. 9, 85599 Parsdorf
      Tel.: 089/99153827, Fax: 089/99153839