In Zhytomyr, there are places to fish without leaving the city: the Zhytomyr Reservoir on the Teteriv with pikeperch and pike, the deep Bohunskyi Quarry with perch, the Shvyrydivskyi Pond on the Kroshenka where biting is best in winter, and the Sylikatnyi Quarry on the outskirts. A half-hour drive away are the Blue Lakes near Kmytiv and the Denyshivskyi Reservoir. Most of these bodies of water are free, and the urban ones can be reached by public transport.
Zhytomyr Reservoir
Zhytomyr Reservoir is the city's largest body of water, a reach of the Teteriv between the Hydropark, Korbutivka, and the granite cliffs of Chackyi's Head and Four Brothers. Fishing here is free, and the reservoir is suitable for both spinning and feeder fishing.
- Hydropark. The bank is overgrown with reeds and bushes, so people fish mainly from a boat. Along the bank, the depth is about a meter, and toward the middle, the bottom drops off sharply—local fishermen say to 7–12 meters. Pike and perch are caught here along the weed beds, and pikeperch on the drop-offs. There are many snags, so surface lures and offset rigs are recommended.
- Korbutivka. The opposite bank is more accessible from the shore: Prussian carp, perch, roach, and pike are caught here. The banks are slippery when it rains.
- Near the dam. The deepest part of the reservoir, where people go for pikeperch, particularly in winter. Part of the water area here consists of wintering pits, so fishing is not allowed everywhere starting in November.
Quarries in the City
Bohunskyi Quarry on the northern outskirts, in Bohunia, is small but deep, about 20 meters, with transparent spring water. Along the stone ledges, the depth starts right at the bank: spinning enthusiasts catch perch and pike here, while float fishers catch roach. People swim near the sandy beach in summer, so it is best to fish at dawn or in the evening.
Sylikatnyi Quarry on the southeastern outskirts, near Sloboda-Selets, is a flooded sand quarry popular among spinning anglers. Perch and pike are caught here, mostly weighing 0.9–1.5 kilograms, best in September and October and at dawn. Catches are inconsistent: there are days with no bites at all.
Sokolovskyi Quarry near Kroshnia impresses with its crystal-clear water and high rocky banks. Fish are also caught here—pike, perch, rudd, and white bream—but you can only approach the water with a rod in a few gentle areas, and in summer they are occupied by vacationers.
Shvyrydivskyi Pond
Shvyrydivskyi Pond, or simply Shvyrida, lies on the Kroshenka stream in the northern part of the city, beneath a pine forest. The main fish are roach, perch, pike, and Prussian carp, with occasional carp, tench, and silver carp. Winter is the most stable time for fishing here: roach are caught from the ice on a mormyshka with bloodworms, and perch on balancers and spoons. In summer, roach and Prussian carp are caught with a float near the reeds, and carp with a feeder in deeper areas.
Near Zhytomyr
- Blue Lakes near Kmytiv — flooded quarries in a pine forest 28 km along the M-06 highway, with the largest lake reaching 43 meters. Fishing is free: pike and perch can be caught with spinning gear along drop-offs, while crucian carp and common carp are fished with floats and feeders in clearings among the reeds.
- Denyshi Reservoir near Tryhiria, 20 km from the city, offers perch and pike among granite rocks, and bream and roach on feeders.
- The Teteriv in Chudniv — a wide pool above the dam with pike, perch, and common carp.
- Paid ponds — Hadzynskyi Pond on the highway towards Kyiv (common carp, grass carp, and in winter, perch and zander) and the pond in Vertokryivka south of the city (common carp, crucian carp, grass carp). Conditions are set by the tenants, so please check before your trip.
In Winter
In winter, residents of Zhytomyr venture onto the ice of Shvyrydivskyi Pond, the Zhytomyr Reservoir, and the quarries. Near the reservoir dam, the ice is always thinner due to water currents. General fishing regulations apply, and starting November 1, fishing in wintering pits is prohibited — in the city, these are sections of the Zhytomyr Reservoir near the sports base and rescue station on the left bank, and from the island to the mouth of the Huiva on the right bank; see the list and map of pits. Read more about ice and tackle in the article Winter Fishing in Polissia.
How to Get There
The Hydropark is 4–5 km from the center and accessible by trolleybus and buses; the Bohunskyi Quarry is a 10–15 minute drive or bus ride toward Bohunia. The Silicate Quarry and Blue Lakes are more convenient to visit by car. Route numbers change, so please check them before your trip. For more sights in the city, see the article Zhytomyr — What to See in the City and Nearby.
Zhytomyr fishermen share their catch secrets
Nearby
The entire river from Chudniv to Radomyshl is covered in the article Fishing on the Teteriv, and the region's water bodies are featured in the article Fishing in Zhytomyr Oblast.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can you fish for free in Zhytomyr?
At the Zhytomyr Reservoir, Bohunskyi and Silicate Quarries, and Shvyrydivskyi Pond; outside the city, at the Blue Lakes near Kmytiv and Denyshi Reservoir.
Where to catch zander in Zhytomyr?
At the Zhytomyr Reservoir — in the deeper areas near the dam and along the depth drop-offs opposite the Hydropark, using jigging from the shore or a boat.
Where to go for winter fishing in Zhytomyr?
To Shvyrydivskyi Pond for roach and perch, or to the Zhytomyr Reservoir outside the wintering pits.
