Fish · Lakes, rivers & ponds
Coregonus wartmanni (Blaufelchen)
● Stock collapsed · fishing ban 2024–2026
The flagship of Lake Constance: a slender, silvery fish that was already being sold as far as Bolzano in 1437. When the stock collapsed, Germany, Austria and Switzerland jointly agreed to stop fishing it. Now the first signs of recovery are showing.
| Habitat | The open, deep water of Lake Constance |
| Length | Usually 30–40 cm |
| Active | In schools; follows the plankton through the water layers |
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Ecological profile
| Identification | Slender, salmon-like fish, silvery white on the flanks and greenish on the back, with a small adipose fin |
| Diet | Zooplankton, such as water fleas and copepods |
| Family | Whitefish, related to salmon and trout |
Where can you find them?
Difficulty: ●●●●● Rare chance
The Blaufelchen lives in open, deep water and rarely comes near the shore. You almost never see one in the wild.
| Lake Constance | Mainly the Obersee, the large, deep part of the lake |
| Tip | Visit one of the fishing harbours around the lake, such as Langenargen or Wasserburg, and talk to the professional fishermen |
Did you know professional fishermen landed a record catch of more than 1,200 tonnes of Felchen in 1978? In the year before the ban it was only 21 tonnes.
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Behaviour & seasons
Felchen move in schools through the open water, following the plankton. They spawn in December; fishermen then catch some of the spawning fish to collect eggs for the hatcheries. After hatching, the young fish are released back into the lake at 80 to 100 metres depth. Felchen only become sexually mature after three to five years.
| December | Spawning season; fishermen collect eggs for the hatcheries |
| Spring | Larvae and young fish grow up on the plankton bloom |
| Summer – autumn | In schools in the open, deep water |
When is the best time to see them?
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| winter | spring | summer · deep water | autumn | spawning | |||||||
■ Good chance ■ Fair chance ■ Difficult
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From wild to plate
Felchen has fine, white, lean flesh with a delicate flavour, and for centuries it was the ‘bread fish’ of Lake Constance’s professional fishermen. When the stock collapsed, the countries around the lake agreed a fishing ban for the Obersee from January 2024 to the end of December 2026.
The causes are complex. Those named include the invasive three-spined stickleback, which for a time made up to 90 percent of the fish in open water and competed with the Felchen for food, the quagga mussel, fewer nutrients in the water and climate change. Fishermen also point to the cormorant; its role is still debated.
Cautious recovery: in 2024 about 80 percent of the sticklebacks disappeared, for reasons still unknown. Since then the Felchen have been growing well again and there are more older, larger fish. That is why limited Felchen fishing will be allowed again from May to August 2027, with a maximum of three per day for anglers. Researchers will only know whether the recovery is lasting around 2028.
These are general seasonal and preparation guidelines, not official fishing rules or a food safety guarantee. Check local regulations and reliable sources.
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Recipe & tradition
Felchen fillet ‘Müllerin Art’
| Fish | Felchen fillets with skin |
| Method | Dust lightly in flour and fry skin-side down in butter until golden |
| Finish | Brown butter with lemon juice, parsley and capers if you like |
| Serve with | Parsley potatoes and a fresh salad |
The Felchen has belonged to Lake Constance for centuries: as early as 1437 it was sold as an export fish as far as Bolzano. For restaurants around the lake, the Blaufelchen was the culinary flagship, and the ban was a major upheaval for fishermen and chefs. During the ban, Felchen on the menu often comes from other lakes, so check where it comes from.
These are general seasonal and preparation guidelines, not official fishing rules or a food safety guarantee. Check local regulations and reliable sources.
Frequently asked questions
Questions about the Lake Constance whitefish
Why is Felchen fishing not allowed?
The stock had collapsed. That is why a fishing ban applies in the Obersee of Lake Constance from January 2024 to the end of December 2026.
When can Felchen be fished again?
From May to August 2027 limited fishing will be allowed again, with a maximum of three Felchen per day for anglers. Always check the current rules.
Why did the Felchen decline so badly?
Through a combination of factors: the invasive stickleback, the quagga mussel, fewer nutrients and climate change. The cormorant is also mentioned.
Are the Felchen doing better now?
There are good signs: since the stickleback declined sharply, the Felchen have been growing well again. Researchers will only know whether the recovery is lasting around 2028.
Habitat · Germany
