Tetiv is the main river of the Zhytomyr region and the favorite river of Zhytomyr anglers. From Chudniv to Zhytomyr and further through Korostyshiv and Radomyshl, it alternates between calm reaches before dams, granite canyons, and rocky riffles, so on a single river, you can catch zander in the city reservoir, perch under the rocks, and chub in the current. Below are the sections of the Tetiv where people fish most often and what bites there.
What fish can be found in the Tetiv
According to ichthyologists' research, pike, perch, roach, rudd, bream, tench, chub, ide, and crucian carp can be found in the Tetiv today. Within the boundaries of Zhytomyr, fisheries protection has also recorded zander, and guidebooks mention catfish and vimba bream. In the reservoirs, carp, silver carp, white bream, and crayfish are added to this list. The Tetiv is a granite river: many sections have a rocky bottom, rapids, and depth drops where predators linger.
Chudniv
In Chudniv, the river is dammed by a small hydroelectric power station, and above it, the Tetiv spreads out into a wide reach with high banks. Here, anglers catch pike along the reeds and water lilies, perch near the rocky bank, and carp and bream with a feeder on the deeper sections of the reach. Below the dam in the current, it is interesting to fish for chub and perch. For details, see the article The Tetiv in Chudniv: where to catch pike and carp near the dam. Near the dam, there is a wintering pit — from it 1000 meters upstream towards the rocky bank.
Tryhiria and the Denyshiv Reservoir
Between Denyshi and Tryhiria, the Tetiv forms the largest reservoir above Zhytomyr. It is surrounded by granite cliffs and mixed forest, and the main catch is perch and pike: perch linger near rocky ledges and sunken trees, while pike stay near the reeds in the bays. Bream and large roach are fished here with a feeder on long casts. For details, see the article The Denyshiv Reservoir: where to catch perch and pike. Downstream toward Zhytomyr, the river flows through a granite canyon — read about this stretch in the article The Tetiv from Denyshi to Zhytomyr.
Zhytomyr
In Zhytomyr, the Tetiv spreads out into the Zhytomyr Reservoir — a large reach right in the city where you can get by public transport to fish for zander, pike, and bream. Near the Hydropark, fishing is done from a boat along the reeds; on the Korbutivka bank, it is done from the shore; and zander is sought in the deeper sections near the dam, under the rocks of Head of Czacki and the Four Brothers. For information on all city water bodies, see the article Where to fish in Zhytomyr.
From Zhytomyr to Korostyshiv
This stretch, about 43 kilometers long, is considered by kayakers to be the most extreme on the entire Tetiv: riffle rapids, granite outcrops, and pine forests. Chub and ide linger on the riffles and rifts with a rocky bottom — they are caught with a spinning rod or a float rod in the current. Pike and weed-loving perch are sought in holes under the stones and near thickets, while on the quiet reaches before the dams, anglers catch bream, roach, and rudd. For details, see the article The Tetiv from Zhytomyr to Korostyshiv.
In Korostyshiv, people fish right in the town and at nearby quarries — an overview of all water bodies is in the article Where to fish in Korostyshiv.
Radomyshl and the lower Teteriv
In Radomyshl, the Teteriv becomes wider and calmer, and the Myka flows into the town, where the Papirnyanskyi Pond is located near the castle. Further down, the Teteriv flows through the Kyiv region, crosses the Warsaw Highway, and flows into the Kyiv Reservoir.
How and what to catch
- Zander — with jig rigs in deeper areas of reservoirs, especially near the dam in Zhytomyr.
- Pike and perch — with spinning rods near rocks, rocky ledges, and reeds: silicone lures, wobblers, spinners. Near the Hydropark, where there is plenty of weed and snags, surface lures and offset rigs are recommended.
- Chub and ide — on riffles and below dams, by drifting with the current using small wobblers, bread, or corn.
- Bream, roach, and carp — with feeder and bottom rods with groundbait in the reaches in front of dams.
The best time for predatory fish is September and October; for peaceful fish, summer mornings after the spawning ban. In winter, people step out onto the ice on the Zhytomyr and Denyshi reservoirs, but near dams, the ice is always thinner due to the water movement. More can be found in the article Winter fishing in Polissia.
Wintering pits on the Teteriv
In the Zhytomyr region, starting from November, areas near the dam in Chudniv, below the dam of the Denyshi Reservoir near Tryhiria, on the Zhytomyr Reservoir (the left bank from the sports base to the rescue station and the right bank from the island to the mouth of the Huiva), in Radomyshl, and in Korostyshiv near the bridge on Kyivska Street are closed. General fishing regulations apply, and starting November 1, fishing in wintering pits is prohibited — list and map of pits.
How to get there
Buses run to Zhytomyr, Chudniv, Korostyshiv, and Radomyshl, and trains run from Kyiv to Zhytomyr. Korostyshiv and Zhytomyr lie along the M-06 highway, and Tryhiria is about 20 km from Zhytomyr. Reaching areas between towns is most convenient by car or during a river trip.
Fishing on the Teteriv from Radomyshl to Zhytomyr
Nearby
Overview of the region — Fishing in the Zhytomyr region. Other rivers — Sluch, Irsha, and Uzh in the Polissian north of the region.
Frequently asked questions
Where to catch pike on the Teteriv?
In the reaches near Chudniv and Tryhiria, on the Zhytomyr Reservoir near the Hydropark, and in pits among rocks between Zhytomyr and Korostyshiv.
Is there zander in the Teteriv?
Yes, they are most often caught on the Zhytomyr Reservoir near the dam, and less frequently on the Denyshi Reservoir.
Can you fish on the Teteriv for free?
Yes, the river and municipal reservoirs are public water bodies, except for wintering pits starting November 1.
