Fishing is one of the favourite pastimes in Russia. It is not uncommon to see people with fishing rods on the Moskva River embankment in the centre of Moscow. While in summer, people fishing populate the river banks inside and outside the cities, in the winter season fishing is enjoyed at holes in the ice.
Amateur fishing does not require any permits; people can enjoy fishing in rivers and ponds for free. However, fishing for protected or precious kinds of fish requires payment: R.1 per day of fishing. This applies to semi-professional fishermen who travel across Russia for a memorable catch.