Waterway and Fishing Routes by Spot on Geomdan Canal

Geomdancheon between Oryu-dong, Incheon, and Hagun-ri, Gimpo

The Geomdan Waterway is a channel created along the boundary between Yangchon-eup, Gimpo, and Geomdan-dong, Incheon Metropolitan City, and is also known as Geomdancheon. The tourism information address is 1460 Oryu-dong, Geomdan-gu, Incheon Metropolitan City, while fishing-point information lists 768 Hagun-ri, Yangchon-myeon, Gimpo-si, Gyeonggi-do as the address in front of the shop.

This waterway lies on the boundary between Seo-gu, Incheon, and Yangchon-myeon, Gimpo-si, Gyeonggi-do. A February 2011 article introduced it as a reclaimed-water channel covering approximately 200,000 pyeong and flowing into the West Sea. Materials dated February 11, 2015, record that the water surface extends for about 3 km, crossing Gimpo and Incheon from east to west, with several tributaries forming a complex network.

Open at all times, but not a tourist attraction with a ticket booth

As of the update on June 30, 2026, the Geomdan Waterway is listed as open at all times, open year-round, and free of charge. Shore fishing and private-boat fishing are introduced as free activities, so visitors do not buy an admission ticket at an entrance as they would at a typical walking attraction.

However, fishing platforms and rental boats are separate facilities. The management office is described as having four uncovered fishing platforms and 10 rental boats. Rates in older materials were 20,000 won per person for a fishing platform and 12,000 won per day for a boat. Other fishing information lists the rental fee for a rowing boat as 15,000 won, so the latest rates differ; when using paid facilities, it is safest to contact the management office.

Reservations are listed as unavailable, and the Geomdan Waterway inquiry phone number is 031-564-1152. The official URL is http://fishingall.kr/main. Facility information that may be updated, including operating hours, closing days, and whether use is free, can be confirmed by phone at the time of your visit.

Driving route starting from Geomdan Sageori

Visitors arriving by car can travel approximately 7 km from Geomdan Sageori toward Ganghwa. Before Yanggok Sageori, when you reach the intersection with Taegajang Motel, turn left toward Daebyeok-ri and continue for about 5 km.

Turn left where a high-voltage transmission tower is visible straight ahead and a Samdo Fishing Spot sign appears on the left. After passing the KBS transmitter station, continue for about 1 km, pass Samdo Fishing Spot, and turn right at the three-way intersection. This leads to approximately 1.5 km of unpaved road connecting to the midstream and downstream B and C sections.

Because destinations at the Geomdan Waterway are not concentrated at one narrow entrance, a practical approach is to enter either 768 Hagun-ri, Yangchon-myeon, Gimpo-si, Gyeonggi-do, the address in front of the shop, or the address of the desired fishing point into your navigation system. The upper-reach A point is listed as 1300 Oryu-dong, Seo-gu, Incheon; the shore-side B point as 761-18 Hagun-ri, Yangchon-myeon, Gimpo-si, Gyeonggi-do; and the D point near the shop as 1459 Oryu-dong, Seo-gu, Incheon.

The D point in front of the shop is convenient, but crowded on weekends

The D point in front of the shop is described as the closest point to reach after parking, making it easy to claim a spot, but it is consequently one of the busier sections. Parking is available and listed as free. Nearby facilities include a combined shop and fishing-supply facility, as well as a rest area.

Visitor reviews record that the parking lot in front of the shop fills up on weekends. A review dated January 9, 2014, says that there was no parking space even upon arrival at 8 a.m., and that the lot was packed at 6:30 a.m., showing that particularly early arrival was necessary during the winter ice-fishing season.

Vehicles and people traveling to and from the upper reaches can create noise in front of the shop. On the other hand, reviews say it is a good place to take a short break while eating cup noodles in the shop's rest area. If quiet, undeveloped-bank fishing is your goal, consider a point other than the area in front of the shop.

The A, B, and C sections differ in water depth and access

The upstream A section is described as having abundant aquatic vegetation and relatively shallow water. Vehicles cannot enter this section, so visitors must walk in, but older materials record it as a spot with good catches where large crucian carp are often caught. If moving through the upstream area is difficult, traveling by boat is also suggested.

The midstream B section is relatively easy to access by car and is described as the deepest area of the entire waterway. One midstream-to-downstream point was recorded as having a depth of 1.5–2 m even when the water level was low, so equipment and spot selection may differ from those for the shallow upper reaches.

The downstream C section is near a sluice gate and, like the upper reaches, has abundant aquatic vegetation. The road-embankment point address is 768 Hagun-ri, Yangchon-myeon, Gimpo-si, Gyeonggi-do. The E point around the sluice gate is listed as 1458 Oryu-dong, Seo-gu, Incheon, and the G point inside the sluice gate channel as 1456-1 Oryu-dong, Seo-gu, Incheon.

For crucian carp, watch the tides from mid-March

The main fish species introduced for the Geomdan Waterway are crucian carp, carp, snakehead, eel, bass, dark sleeper, and catfish. Records state that downstream catches mainly consisted of crucian carp measuring eight to nine chi, while the manager is quoted as saying that crucian carp measuring 32–35 cm are also frequently caught.

By season, records indicate that large crucian carp were frequently caught from mid-March to mid-April. Crucian carp spawning continues until late April, and in May smaller fish appear, changing the catch into one based on numbers. During the water-drainage period in mid-to-late May, crucian carp are said to move into deep channels, so spot selection changes.

Local explanations say bites improve with the rising tide as water begins to come in. Records state that high and low tides come in and go out four times a day, at intervals of approximately 6 hours and 12 minutes. Spring gluten bait, especially strawberry-scented gluten, is recommended as effective. Freshwater shrimp can also be used until late autumn, but shrimp cannot be collected here, so they must be prepared in advance.

Ice-fishing reviews and winter conditions in the field

The Geomdan Waterway has long been introduced as a winter ice-fishing spot, and an old article records that the ice formed early and the first ice was fished on December 19. This is a record from a particular year, not an indication that ice forms on the same date every year; when going onto the ice, on-site safety controls take priority.

A review dated January 9, 2014, records that sunrise was at 7:47 a.m. and that there was no parking space even at 8 a.m. Since it also says the parking lot was crowded at 6:30 a.m., anyone targeting the area in front of the shop on a winter weekend should expect parking competition and possible waiting.

A manager explained that the cloudy water is caused not by polluted-water inflow but by decaying aquatic vegetation. No confirmed information is available regarding photography restrictions, English-language information, audio guides, or cash-only payment. The site is introduced as a natural, undeveloped area where visitors set up parasols and simple chairs, so museum-style amenities should not be expected.

Limitations that pedestrians and foreign visitors should know in advance

No verified information is available on subway station names, exit numbers, bus route numbers, or bus intervals for the Geomdan Waterway. Therefore, rather than planning to reach it directly from a train station or airport using only public transportation, a more practical option is to travel by car or taxi and provide the address in front of the shop or the address of the desired fishing point.

Some farm roads in the upper reaches are described as inaccessible by vehicle, and visitors are advised to walk in rather than drive during the farming season. A route of about 300 m on foot from the shop to the upstream fishing points is also recorded. Anyone carrying a fishing chair and equipment should therefore avoid preparing an excessive amount of luggage based solely on parking in front of the shop.

Accessibility for wheelchairs and strollers has not been confirmed. In particular, the approximately 1.5 km of unpaved road, undeveloped banks around the aquatic vegetation, and walking-access sections in the upper reaches may be inconvenient for users of mobility aids. No recommended viewing duration is provided separately, so it is best not to calculate a simple visit to see the waterway and a long fishing trip as the same itinerary.

Enter destinations separately when there are multiple addresses

The information address for the Geomdan Waterway is 1460 Oryu-dong, Geomdan-gu, Incheon Metropolitan City, but the address provided by the user is Room 218, Room 219, 820-26 Taejang-ro, Gimpo-si, Gyeonggi-do. The fishing-point information address, 768 Hagun-ri, Yangchon-myeon, Gimpo-si, Gyeonggi-do, and the management-office address, 1459 Oryu-dong, Seo-gu, Incheon, are also used.

When selecting a point, distinguish among the upstream entrance A section at 1300 Oryu-dong, Seo-gu, Incheon; the midstream shore-side B section at 761-18 Hagun-ri, Yangchon-myeon, Gimpo-si, Gyeonggi-do; and the road-embankment C section at 768 Hagun-ri, Yangchon-myeon, Gimpo-si, Gyeonggi-do. The D section near the shop is at 1459 Oryu-dong, Seo-gu, Incheon; the E section around the sluice gate is at 1458 Oryu-dong, Seo-gu, Incheon; and the G section inside the sluice gate channel is at 1456-1 Oryu-dong, Seo-gu, Incheon.

It is easy to mistakenly assume that a car can be parked anywhere if you focus only on free parking and all-time access. The closest place after parking is the D point in front of the shop, but it may be crowded on weekends, and the upper reaches and farm roads require walking. For first-time foreign visitors, the safest order is to save the address in front of the shop on a map first and then call the management office at 031-564-1152 to ask which sections are accessible.