Trout Fishing in Gilgit-Baltistan: Permits and Spots

Trout fishing in Gilgit-Baltistan is legal and popular, but it needs a licence from the region's Fisheries Department, and it is restricted to an open season roughly from April to September, closed the rest of the year for breeding. Rivers and lakes across Ghizer, Hunza, Gilgit and Skardu hold brown and rainbow trout, both introduced species that have thrived in the region's cold, clear water for decades, though numbers have fallen sharply in recent years.

This guide covers the licence process, the best-known waters, the season, and what to bring, along with why fishing here comes with more responsibility than it used to.

Getting a licence

Trout fishing in Gilgit-Baltistan requires a licence issued by the region's Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Department, and carrying it while you fish is a legal requirement, not a formality. Licences are issued locally, district by district, so the office and exact process differ depending on where you plan to fish; a seasonal licence in Gilgit district has been priced at around PKR 5,000 (2026), and fees can differ elsewhere and change from year to year. Ask at the district fisheries office, or through your hotel or guide, well before you plan to fish, since this is not something arranged at the riverbank.

The department has been issuing far more licences than it used to, several thousand a year now compared with a fraction of that a decade ago, as fishing tourism has grown. That growth is part of why the season and licence rules matter more than ever; treat them as non-negotiable rather than a formality to skip.

When you can fish

The open season runs roughly from April to September, and fishing is banned from October to March while the trout breed. Exact opening and closing dates can shift slightly by district and by year, so confirm the current dates when you get your licence rather than relying on a fixed calendar. Fishing outside the season, or without a licence, is enforced, and it undermines a fish population that is already under pressure.

Where to fish

Ghizer district has the best-known trout water in the region. The Ghizer river and its channels, along with Phander Lake, at around 2,800 metres, are regularly cited among the best fly-fishing waters in Pakistan, holding both brown and rainbow trout. Further into Ghizer, Handrap Lake, near the Shandur Pass, and the Shandur valley's own lakes add more options for anglers willing to travel further.

Naltar, reached by jeep road from Gilgit, holds trout in its turquoise river and lake system, and sees far fewer anglers than Ghizer, which suits people who want quiet water over easy access. Our guide to Naltar Valley covers the drive and what else is there.

Around Skardu, the Kachura lakes, Upper and Lower, are well stocked with trout and easy to combine with a day of sightseeing, since they sit only twenty minutes or so from town. The Shigar and Skardu-area rivers also hold fish.

The Hunza and Gilgit rivers run through the most visited part of the region and carry both trout species, though as larger, faster rivers they suit anglers with more experience than the smaller streams and lakes do.

What to bring

Specialist fishing tackle is not widely available to buy in Gilgit-Baltistan, so bring what you need rather than expecting to find it locally.

• A light spinning outfit or a fly rod, depending on your preference; both are used successfully on these waters.
• A selection of flies or lures suited to cold, clear mountain streams, since local shops are not a reliable source.
• Polarised sunglasses, which make a real difference in reading clear water for fish.
• Warm, quick-drying layers, since most of these rivers and lakes sit at altitude and stay cold even in summer.
• Your licence and ID, kept on you while you fish, since checks do happen.

A local guide, arranged through a hotel in Gilgit, Karimabad, Skardu or Ghizer, is worth having on a first trip. They know the current state of a river, where fish are holding, and the licence process for that particular district.

Fish smaller than they used to be, and why it matters

Trout numbers in Gilgit-Baltistan have fallen by around half over the past two decades, and where fish weighing more than two kilograms were once common, most catches now run 500 to 600 grams. The causes cited by conservationists and officials include climate change affecting river flow and temperature, habitat degradation, illegal methods such as dynamite, nets and electric shocks, and hydropower schemes without fish passages, on top of growing legal fishing pressure as more roads open up more water to more anglers.

None of this means fishing here is off-limits; the licence and season system exists precisely to manage it. It does mean fishing responsibly matters more than it once did: stick to legal tackle, respect the season and any catch limits your licence sets out, and consider returning fish you don't intend to eat, particularly smaller ones.

Is a fishing trip worth planning around?

If fishing is your main interest, yes, with Ghizer and Phander Lake as the strongest base for a dedicated trip, and enough else nearby, from Shandur to the Naltar valley, to fill several days. If fishing is one activity among several, a morning at the Kachura lakes near Skardu or an afternoon on the Naltar river fits easily into a wider Hunza or Skardu itinerary; see our plan for a Gilgit-Baltistan trip for how to build the time in.

Frequently asked questions