News
On this page we will inform you about the
many things of interest to anglers in East-Jutland. You will
hear about the best fishing seasons in the best angling waters
that this region has to offer. Month by month, all year long,
we will take you through the fishing opportunities that abound
here - some of them even located in our newly established Mols
Bjerge National Park!
Angling in January
Slow seatrout in saltwater
In mild winters sea trout may be caught
in saltwater all winter long. Especially if you concentrate on
the brackish bays where freshwater tributaries reduce the salinity
and thus provide the sea trout with better conditions for living.
Fish are usually somewhat slow this time
of year, their metabolism being down in the cold water. Feeding
periods typically are short but intense in the midst of winter.
Usually you stand a better chance of success if you choose your
bait so that you may fish it slowly through the water. This gives
the fish more time to detect it and make up their minds. Strong
or even fluorescent colours typically add to your chances of
hooking up.
This means that colourful flies can be
used to advantage. But it doesn't necessarily mean that you have
to be a fly fisherman to reap the benefits of flyfishing. If
you are a spin fisherman you can use a water-filled float with
a trailing fly and fish it as slowly as conditions dictate. Few
sea trout can resist such a presentation.
Amongst the hotspots of East Jutland are
the Bay of Mariager to the north plus the Bay of Kalø
in the northern part of of the much larger Bay of Århus.
Further down south you will find good spots in the Bay of
Horsens. Typical spots have shallow water and freshwater
tributaries nearby. Make sure that you respect the 500 m protection
zones around these outlets.
Cold and wet Opening Day
January 16 marks the beginning of a new
angling season in the rivers of East Jutland. Depending on the
prevailing climatic conditions, Opening Day may be mild and wet
with plenty of muddy water in the rivers. Or icy cold with snow
on the banks and clear water running low. You never know.
Despite the unpredictable conditions on
Opening Day, good numbers of sea trout are usually caught in
the the lower River Guden and the Channels of Kolindsund
on Djursland. Mostly spawned-out fish in surprisingly good condition
but often also good numbers of smaller, immature and silvery
"greenlanders" in prime condition.
Most are caught on bait - the good old
"Earth Fly" reigning supreme - but plenty of fish are
also caught spinning or even flyfishing. No matter what bait
you choose, it should be fished deep and slow. For the flyfisherman
this means sinking lines or at the very least: sinking leaders
where rivers are not too deep. Flashy lures and flies are necessary
if they are to be seen by the fish in the deep and murky water.
Freshwater cod in cold water
Freshwater cod are found in many of the
larger and deeper lakes of the Jutland Lake District near
Silkeborg. This exotic fish is the only species of codfish
living in freshwater, its close relationship to saltwater cod
being shown by the barb under its mouth.
As a true codfish the freshwater cod likes
cold water when it comes to spawning. It spawns when winter peaks
and water temperature is at its lowest. Which is usually the
case at the end of January. Under the right conditions the freshwater
cod of the lakes gather in groups that spawn together.
Occasionally January has lakes covered
with ice but not so every year. Only a few days in a normal winter
offer ice thick enough to carry a grown man and his fishing gear.
Sadly as ice fishing for freshwater cod can be very exiting and
different from all other angling methods. Luckily, you will do
as well fishing from a boat in case there is no ice.
Freshwater cod are nocturnal creatures
- even in the midst of winter. This means that you should not
waste your time fishing for them in daylight. Instead you should
be fishing the dark hours of the day - with juicy bait on your
hook. An icy experience which can be had on many of the lakes
around Silkeborg that hold good stocks of this very tasty albeit
to many ugly-looking fish.
Cod in spawning mood
Mature cod now gather to spawn in the midst
of winter. The spawning itself is kind of a "bunch-wedding"
where many fish spawn together though they do find a specific
partner to spawn with.
Cod are normally associated with the bottom
but quite often cod move upwards to feed in pelagic waters where
schools of herring and sprat make up the menu. Such cod loose
their dark coloration and turn lighter. But when spawning cod
always stick to the bottom and on the screen of a fishfinder
you will see them as distinctive "bumps".
These "bumps" are often incredibly
dense and limited to but a few square feet of the bottom. This
means that it takes an attentive captain to detect them - and
an equally attentive angler to catch them!
Despite the fact that cod fishing has been
down over the last few years - due to large trawlers vaccuum-cleaning
the fishing grounds - the shallows around Sletterhage
and Djursland still offer decent opportunities of hooking
up with pot-bellied cod.
© 2000-2014 Steen
Ulnits
Angling in February
Spawning cod in freshwater
Freshwater cod are found in many of the
larger and deeper lakes of the Jutland Lake District near
Silkeborg. This exotic fish is the only species of codfish
living in freshwater, its close relationship to saltwater cod
being shown by the barb under its mouth.
As a true codfish the freshwater cod likes
cold water when it comes to spawning. It spawns when winter peaks
and water temperature is at its lowest. Which is often the case
at the beginning of February. Under the right conditions the
freshwater cod of the lakes gather in groups that spawn together.
Occasionally February has lakes covered
with ice but not so every year. Only a few days in a normal winter
offer ice thick enough to carry a grown man and his fishing gear.
Sadly as ice fishing for freshwater cod can be very exiting and
different from all other angling methods. Luckily, you will do
as well fishing from a boat in case there is no ice.
Freshwater cod are nocturnal creatures
- even in the midst of winter. This means that you should not
waste your time fishing for them in daylight. Instead you should
be fishing the dark hours of the day - with juicy bait on your
hook. An icy experience which can be had on many of the lakes
around Silkeborg that hold good stocks of this very tasty albeit
to many ugly-looking fish.
Spawning cod in saltwater
Mature cod now gather to spawn in the midst
of winter. The spawning itself is kind of a "bunch-wedding"
where many fish spawn together though they do find a specific
partner to spawn with.
Cod are normally associated with the bottom
but quite often cod move upwards to feed in pelagic waters where
schools of herring and sprat make up the menu. Such cod loose
their dark coloration and turn lighter. But when spawning, cod
always stick to the bottom and on the screen of a fishfinder
you will see them as distinctive "bumps".
These "bumps" are often incredibly
dense and limited to but a few square feet of the bottom. This
means that it takes an attentive captain to detect them - and
an equally attentive angler to catch them!
Despite the fact that cod fishing has been
down over the last few years - due to large trawlers vaccuum-cleaning
the fishing grounds - the shallows around Sletterhage
and Djursland still offer decent opportunities of hooking
up with pot-bellied cod.
Saltwater seatrout on a budget
In mild winters sea trout may be caught
in saltwater all winter long. Especially if you concentrate on
the brackish bays where freshwater tributaries reduce the salinity
and thus provide the sea trout with better conditions for living.
Fish are usually somewhat slow this time
of year, their metabolism being down in the cold water. Feeding
periods typically are short but intense in the midst of winter.
Usually you stand a better chance of success if you choose your
bait so that you may fish it slowly through the water. This gives
the fish more time to detect it and make up their minds. Strong
or even fluorescent colours typically add to your chances of
hooking up.
This means that colourful flies can be
used to advantage. But it doesn't necessarily mean that you have
to be a fly fisherman to reap the benefits of flyfishing. If
you are a spin fisherman you can use a water-filled float with
a trailing fly and fish it as slowly as conditions dictate. Few
sea trout can resist such a presentation.
Amongst the wintery hotspots of East Jutland
are the Bay of Mariager to the north plus the Bay of
Kalø in the northern part of of the much larger Bay
of Århus. Further down south you will find good spots in
the Bay of Horsens. Typical spots have shallow water and
freshwater tributaries nearby. Make sure that you respect the
500 m protection zones around these outlets.
New season in progress
January 16 marked the beginning of a new
angling season in the rivers of East Jutland. Depending on the
prevailing climatic conditions, Opening Day may be mild and wet
with plenty of muddy water in the rivers. Or icy cold with snow
on the banks and clear water running low. You never know.
Despite the unpredictable conditions on
Opening Day, good numbers of sea trout are usually caught in
the the lower River Guden and the Channels of Kolindsund
on Djursland. Mostly spawned-out fish in surprisingly good condition
but often also good numbers of smaller, immature and silvery
"greenlanders" in prime condition.
Most are caught on bait - the good old
"Earth Fly" reigning supreme - but plenty of fish are
also caught spinning or even flyfishing. No matter what bait
you choose, it should be fished deep and slow. For the flyfisherman
this means sinking lines or at the very least: sinking leaders
where rivers are not too deep. Flashy lures and flies are necessary
if they are to be seen by the fish in the deep and murky water.
© 2000-2014 Steen
Ulnits
Angling in March
Cold sea trout in warming waters
Along the coasts, lots of things are happening
in March. The air temperature is still a little lower than that
of the water - typically 2-3 degrees - but the sun is starting
to make an impact, and that is clearly felt under the water.
The sand hoppers are waking up and starting
to mate. Now is the time when it is possible to see the little
males riding around on the big females in the shallow water.
The survival of the species is at stake, and this does not go
off quietly -not even among sand hoppers.
The sea trout along the coast are also
fond of sand hoppers - and they do not care about the sex. Sand
hoppers are a delicacy for any sea trout - and sand hoppers make
their flesh nice and red. So the angler who goes fly-fishing
along the coast had better have some good imitations in his box
- and fish deeply and slowly.
Bristle worms hatching out
March is also the month when it is possible
to experience a major bristle worm party. Typically this happens
in conjunction with the full moon or new moon, which seems to
coordinate the swarming of large bristle worms.
When the water temperature and phase of
the moon are in harmony, the otherwise quite fierce Nereis-species
leave their holes on the bottom to go to the surface to spawn.
Here they circle around until they explode in a giant orgasm
that releases the reproductive organisms - and leaves the bristle
worms themselves as lifeless bodies.
The birds and fish of the coast really
know how to seize the opportunity when the bristle worms are
spawning. It is quite simply the first big meal of the spring
to be had here - a kind of strawberry season for the birds and
fish which have had to languish in the cold all through the winter.
This spawning may be so intense and concentrated
that sometimes the authorities get phone calls from worried people
who think that they have witnessed yet another environmental
disaster!
Brown trout, rainbow trout and
grayling
The regular inhabitants of the river -
river trout, rainbow trout and grayling - who are very dependent
on the amount of feed in the river, feel both good and bad here
in March. Like its cousin the sea trout, the river trout is a
winter spawner, and it is lean and slender after breeding.
The rainbow trout typically spawns in the
spring, however, and is usually in the best possible condition
- albeit strongly coloured, and therefore not quite as delicious
as otherwise. But the red stripe along the side is brighter than
ever! The rainbow trout has been truly stuffing itself with roe
from the spawning of river and sea trout, and they are more than
ready for the approaching breeding.
The grayling, too, is at the top of its
form. It does not change character to the same extent in the
period preceding spawning, which typically takes place from the
end of March until the beginning of May. The grayling is protected
from 15 March until 15 May, and is thus legal prey in the first
half of this month.
On warm spring days of March you may experience
the first mayflies of the year hatching on the surface. With
a little luck you will also see the odd trout or grayling rising
to take it. If so, bring out the dry flies and prepare for some
exciting fishing. If no surface activity is present, stick to
the spinning rod or a sinking fly line.
"Greenlanders" and kelts
Finally, March is the month when the "old"
trout premiere in the rivers takes place. There are still many
river-anglers who regard this as the only true start of the season.
But whether it is the true, or the wrong
start of the season, two things are certain: there are rarely
as many shiny "Greenlanders" - overwintering and immature
sea trout - in the rivers in March as in January, and the lean
kelts are usually in slightly better condition than earlier in
the year. Which is both good and bad.
However, the fly-fisherman who wants to
make contact with these fish will have to use a sink line or
weighted flies to get down into the still rather cold water.
The spin-fisherman is in for an easier time. For him it is no
problem getting down deep with his spinners, spoons and wobblers.
And should you find that your catch is
still too lean to be of any use in the kitchen, you always have
the option of putting your fish back unharmed - to grow and put
on the weight it lost while spawning.
© 2000-2014 Steen
Ulnits
Angling in April
Trout and grayling - feeding and
spawning
Permanent inhabitants of the rivers in
East Jutland are in for a busy time in April. Grayling which
are found in the upper reaches of the River Guden are
on the spawning grounds from mid-March all through April and
into mid-May where they are protected from fishing. Due to excessive
pressure from cormorants, Danish grayling are now protected all
year - with the hope that stocks will recover.
Brown trout on the other hand are very
busy gorging themselves on the increasing number of hatching
insects. They have spawned during the cold winter months and
are now eager to put back on the weight they lost during spawning.
Thus they become an ideal target for the fisherman - especially
the one who prefers the long fly rod with tiny nymphs and dry
flies.
The first May flies of the year - the fly-fishermans
"Large Dark Olives" and the Baëtis rhodanis
of the entomologist - typically hatch out on warm days in April.
This becomes the first surface meal of the year for the trout
and grayling of the river - the latter now spawning and consequently
preserved.
So now is the time to get the first dry
flies out of the fly box. Old standbys that have been there for
years, and which may have been given a touch-up over a steaming
kettle in the kitchen. Or completely fresh ones that were tied
during the long winter evenings. Flies that have fed the imagination
of the dry fly angler, who by now has had to live without the
river for months.
Lakes warming and waking up
April marks the spawning of pike which
have a closed sesaon during the whole of April. If you catch
a pike heavy with roe or milt, it has to be put back immediately
so that it may spawn and contribute to the future of its species.
April is also the month when perch, heavy
with roe, arrive at the spawning grounds. Here they spawn in
long chains on the water plants, which will later provide good
protection to the young, unless the tenant of the lake wants
to thin out the stock. If so, he may have thrown a number of
rice vases or old Christmas trees into the water and anchored
them there.
The lake perch finds such artificial spawning
grounds absolutely enticing and will immediately spawn there
- almost to order - with the desired result that the tenant of
the lake can then pull the roe-covered rice vases or Christmas
trees out of the water again.
Lake fishermen now are consequently on
the wait for a new season to start - in May!
Peak season for salty sea trout
Along the coast, the silvery sea trout
is truly in its element. Those that were breeding in winter are
gradually regaining their lost weight. At any rate, the water
temperature is now so high that the fish can hunt actively all
day. And the water is now full of all kinds of small fry, crustaceans
and bristle worms.
And the sea trout that have spent the winter
in the rivers or the brackish fjords can now move out to more
open and salty water. Here in April there is a massive movement
of sea trout from many closed fjord areas to the open coastal
areas, where the fish will later spread out all through the summer.
Out here on the open coast they can stuff
themselves with the shoals of sand eel, sprat and herring. In
no time they can grow much bigger than they would have been able
to do in the fjords, where the majority of the feed is made up
of sticklebacks, gobies, shrimps and sand-hoppers.
In April you will meet feeding sea trout
all along the shores of East Jutland - be in in the Bay of
Mariager, Bay of Randers, Djursland, Bay
of Aarhus and down south in the Bay of Horsens. Sea
trout will be everywhere this month!
Coastal cod and game garfish
The long-billed garfish typically arrives
towards the end of April. The first ones are always the biggest
- about a metre long and as thick as a wrist before the breeding
that will really do something to the weight they gained during
their winter stay in the North Sea.
The first catches are usually reported
from the island of Læsø, after which the fish will
spread throughout the Danish waters and soon after reach the
shores of East Jutland. Here they will spread out over the weedy
shallows where they will spawn later on as the water gets warmer.
Thick-bellied cod also shown up along the
shores of East Jutland. The coastal waters now have a temperature
that really suits the cod and it can be seen very close to the
shore, where it hunts for its favourite food - crunchy crabs.
The best time for spotting it is the hours just before and just
after sunset.
© 2000-2014 Steen
Ulnits
Angling in May
"Buzzer" time on the
lakes
In May, millions of midges are hatched
from the muddy lake bottoms. The worm-like larva is an extremely
important food source for many of the lake fish, and the bream
particularly is a true expert at hoovering the bottom of the
lake for the red larva. When they hatch, the midges are known
as "buzzers" due to the sound of their flapping wings.
Luckily, they do not bite or sting"
It is funny that the foe of the gnat -
the high-backed bream - also breeds in May. It then moves into
the rushes and paddock pipes to spawn. Here it may meet the large
pike who is on its way out after also spawning in the shallows
of the lake.
For that very reason, May is the month
of the traditional pike premiere - after the official closed
season in April. However, this is a close season that is not
very precise. For example, typically, deep lakes do not get warm
enough for spawning until May which is the start of the
season.
Of course, the experienced pike fisherman
knows this, and he puts back any roe-filled female pikes that
might be tempted by a hook in early May. Usually, the small males
are the first to appear in the shallow water. Not until the water
temperature is exactly right do the large, roe-filled females
appear.
Nighttime cod and seatrout
Along the coast, both small and large animals
are very active in May. For instance, the shallow water along
the coast is full of small fish, fry and various crustaceans.
The fish know this, and at this time of the year they prefer
to visit the coast during the dark hours - which do not, by the
way, get very dark during the light northern nights.
The sea trout is very fond of the nighttime
and has a keen eyesight to deal with darkness. On warm and sunnt
days of May it usually stays in deeper and colder water during
the day, only to enter the food-rich shallows after sunset. Here
it hunts during the night, looking upwards to see its prey silhouetted
against the lighter sky.
In several places, it will be possible
to hear the first cod come "chomping" towards the coast
at the surface. If there is a little current, it will often be
possible to see them swimming so high that their dorsal fins
are visible. You may then experience some very exciting visual
fishing - despite it being pretty dark.
If you are a fly fisherman, you should
tie on a large black fly like a Muddler and fish it high in the
water. Often, a fly streaming in the surface will provoke heavy
strikes!
Daytime garfish in the shallows
If the light nights in May belong to the
sea trout and cod, the long-billed garfish have usually taken
possession of the coastal waters during daylight hours.
The first ones are always the biggest -
in the best cases a metre long, as thick as a wrist and weighing
over a kilo. They come as a vanguard and go wildly for any jig
or fly. Later, the smaller but considerably more numerous medium-sized
garfish will arrive - followed by the smallest fish, usually
half a metre long, sometime in early summer.
They only come to spawn and, having come
so far, they have completely lost interest in food. Under favourable
conditions it will be possible to see them spawn as they are
often so absorbed in their breeding that one can get quite close
and witness the spectacle.
After spawning they are hungry and easy
to catch. Most productive are thin slices of herring fished on
a light float but most fishermen stick to long, slim and shiny
spoons like the Toby, Tobis and similar lures. Finally, the fly
fishermed is in for a good time with his small flies fished on
long and thin leaders.
Month of the blackflies
May is one of the big months for fly fishermen
who are fond of the constantly flowing water in the river. After
a cold spring, the insect life there almost explodes, and the
river is alive with the sound of various water insects.
The mayflies are certainly still there
- as they were last month, albeit less numerous. But in May,
it is often the very small black flies that dominate.
The hatching may be so massive that the
water can be completely covered in newly hatched flies. Fly fishermen
then talk about a "blanket hatch".With so many flies
on the water, it is obvious that the fish are more active than
ever and constantly targeting the little black ones.
The grayling is also very fond of the black
flies, and they are in the process of finishing their breeding
towards the end of May. At least that is what the law says, since
the close season runs from the middle of March until the middle
of May.
Thus May belongs to the fly fisherman who
has a good stock of tiny black dry flies size 18-24 in his box.
And delicate tackle with hairthin tippets to handle flies and
fish!
© 2000-2014 Steen
Ulnits
Angling in June
Salmon running the River Guden
June marks the beginning of silvery salmon
leaving the salty ocean to migrate up the River Guden. These
early fish are larger than average but fewer in numbers.
The lowermost part of the River Guden -
near the city of Randers - has good numbers of salmon
passing this part of the river on their way up. Here they are
not fished seriously for as the river is wide and deep, showing
very few evident holding spots for migratory fish.
For that reason most salmon are caught
further upstream - near the city of Langå - where
deep pools and narrow bends in the river offer good holding spots
for these early running fish. Later in the season salmon and
seatrout start showing up near the city of Bjerringbro
where many fish spawn in the tributaries.
The lower part of the River Guden - below
the hydroelectric power plant at Lake Tange - thus offers the
visiting angler a really good chance of hooking up with salmon.
And do bear in mind that in 2001 the River Guden entered the
European Top Ten list of salmon rivers - with a rod catch close
to 2.000 salmon!
Now the mayflies are hatching
The present month is a hectic one for fish
and fishermen in and along the rivers. June is the month where
both the largest and the smallest of the mayflies hatch. This
goes for the giant mayfly Ephemera danica - named after
Denmark - and the tiny little Caënis species.
A characteristic trait of both trout and
grayling is that they always seem to regard the first E. danicas
with great scepticism. They simply are not used to seeing such
big bites floating along on the surface and thus they are reluctant
to rise to the first ones they see.
But when they become used to these giants
they often take them in preference to anything else. This is
the time where you may witness even large fish swim long distances
to catch another danica!
And once accepted trout and grayling will
be looking for these tidbits even after they have stopped hatching
and mating. Fish obviously have a very good memory!
The upper part of the River Guden
is a good bet for floating dry flies in June.
Pikeperch Premiere
If you like lakes and lake fishing, June
is a perfect month. Especially if you are fishing in lakes with
a stock of tasty pikeperch. They have just finished spawning
in areas with shallow water and rocky bottom and are now hungry
after the strenous sexual act. They are also legal prey again
after the closed season in May.
For some time after spawning pikeperch
typically hang around close to the spawning grounds. Here they
are easy to locate and comparatively easy to catch. Later on
they spread out in deeper water where they are much more difficult
to locate.
Ry Mølle
and Lake Jul are traditionally two of East-Jutland's absolute
hotspots when it comes to pikeperch fishing in June. At Ry Mølle
fishing is for those pikeperch that have ascended the river to
feed on spawning bleak - called "millinger" by the
locals.
On Lake Jul itself fishing takes place
on shallows like Torsdagsbanken, Frydengrund, Himmelbjerggrund
and Møgelgrund.
Light nights on the beach
June is the month of light nights, and
the light nights definitely belong to shoreline fish - be they
silvery sea trout or thick-bellied cod. Both species usually
stay in deeper water during the hours of daylight. But when the
sun sets and beaches are covered in a soft semi-darkness, they
move into shallow water for the kill!
On quiet evenings and nights you can both
see and hear if fish are present. If so you will hear them splash
in the surface layers of the water while they hunt. An experienced
angler may even distinguish between sea trout and cod as the
latter splash more distinctly.
If you prefer fishing during daylight,
you may want to choose some of the garfish that fin around along
the beaches. They have completed spawning and are now much easier
to lure into striking than before the sexual act. They strike
willingly at lures and flies before they leave the shallow water
- to spend the rest of summer at greater depths.
With increasing water temperature fish
start congregating at locations with strong currents. Kysing
Næs, Vosnæs Pynt and all the classic hotspots
on Djursland are now well worth a visit.
© 2000-2014 Steen
Ulnits
Angling in July
The River Guden still produces
May 16th this year was a day to remember
for those fishing the River Guden. some years ago. That
day an impressive silvery salmon of no less than 14,1 kg, 108
cm long, was caught on a spinner. This was then one of the largest
salmon caught in the River Guden since it was dammed by Tangeværket
in the 1920's when the original salmon stock was totally eradicated.
But this great fishing has not happened
by itself. Instead it is the result of intensive fisheries management
undertaken by local angling clubs along the river. Again this
year more than 100.000 small salmon were released into the River
Guden - at places like Bjerringbro, Ulstrup and Stevnstrup. Places
located downstream of the hydroelectric power plant Gudenå-Centralen
that still blocks further upstream migration of seatrout and
salmon.
It is expected that the heavy stocking
of salmon smolts in previous years will result in heavy catches
of returning salmon in the remaining part of this year. Something
to look forward to!
Peak season for peaceful fishing
Now is the peak season for heat-loving
coarsefishes. They have finished spawning and now turn their
attention 100% to feeding and putting back on the weight they
lost during spawning.
If you fancy the exciting coarsefishing
for species like roach and bream, tench and carp, East Jutland
has many a good piece of water for you. Especially when it comes
to roach and bream, several lakes in East Jutland are second
to none. Some are even of international renown.
This in particular goes for Lake.
Skanderborg that some years ago yielded several new world
records and thus became internationally known. The fish are still
there but a ban on heavy ground baiting - no more than 0,5 kg
is allowed per day per fisherman to improve the water quallity
of the lake - has limited the number of anglers here in recent
years.
But fish are so plentiful that in fact
you do not need heavy groundbaiting to be able to make heavy
catches in the Skanderborg and Silkeborg Lakes. They are
just loaded with roach and bream!
The night time is the right time
For seatrout, that is. Coastal waters are
now so warm - around 20 degrees Celsius - that predatory fish
like cod and seatrout usually abandon them and spend the day
in deeper and cooler waters.
These predatory fish are well aware that
the shallows are still very rich in easy-to-catch food. But they
wait untill sunset before they migrate towards the shoreline
to feed during the dark hours of the day. The water being at
its coolest just before sunrise.
Especially the silvery seatrout is a common
guest close to shore during warm summer nights. It prefers localities
where deep water and strong currents are found close to the shoreline,
making for pleasant temperatures. Fishing is usually best from
points that protrude out into the open ocean - typically on Djursland
that offers many good places for nighttime summer fishing. Among
the classics are Fornæs Fyr and Sletterhage.
If you don't like fishing through the dark,
you may instead throw your line at the mullets that feed eagerly
during the hours of daylight. These heat-loving fish may be caught
on flies but it is a difficult game indeed. Better luck is usually
had by those fishermen using bread as ground bait and small pieces
of bread on a tiny hook below a small bobber.
Family fishing for flounder
All the flatfishes have now finished spawning
and are eager to put back on the lost weight . Thus they are
easier to catch than ever.
Easiest of all are probably those flounders
living along the ship channels in the Bays of Mariager and
Randers. Here the water is being exchanged constantly, assuring
a fresh supply of water and plenty of food. Placid lug worms
are the standard bait but if you can get them, biting Nereids
are even better!
If you are fishing open waters with a sandy
bottom, small but oh so tasty dabs will usually dominate your
catch. If on the other hand you are looking for larger plaice,
you should move towards deeper and cooler water. If you manage
to find a light sandy spot on an otherwise dark bottom, chances
are that you will catch good numbers of fair-sized plaice.
Or you may want to do battle with larger
but rarer species like turbot and brill. Good places to look
for these attractive fish are the gravelly shallows off Øer
Maritime near Ebeltoft.
© 2000-2014 Steen
Ulnits
Angling in August
Mackerels in Kattegat
Each year a number of mackerel are caught
in the waters off Randers Fjord and Djursland.
The large majority are caught in nets but many more mackerel
could be caught on rod and reel if anglers targeted these fisk
more specifically.
Fishing for mackerel peaks in August where
most mackerels have reached Danish waters. Usually they hang
out in deeper waters where they can be reached exclusively by
boat. Only rarely do they get close enough to be caught from
the shoreline.
Very often these mackerels feed in deep
water where you need at least a Dipsy Diver to bring your lure
down. If you have access to a downrigger so much the better.
Then you will have no problems getting down deep where the fish
lurk - even using light tackle fit for this the strongest of
all fighters in Danish waters!
Autumn seatrout on the move
In August large numbers of sea trout start
migrating towards the rivers where they are to spawn later in
the year. This migration primarily takes place on dark nights
but even overcast days may see some fish migrating. The worse
the weather the better the fishing!
During the latter half of August water
temperatures peak along the coast. This may sound good if you
are a tourist wanting to swim in the ocean. But if you have to
live all your life under water, this is bad news indeed. Unless
of course you are a bluegreen algae and thus thrive in warm water!
With increasing temperatures the oxygen
content of the water decreases. This is critical to many fish
species that are forced to move towards areas with strong currents
bringing in cold water rich in oxygen. Thus fish migrate from
protected shallow bays towards the deeper open ocean.
Fishermen should follow this migration,
focusing specifically on dark overcast and windy days where fish
are most active. Djursland offers good numbers of suitable
spots for productive shoreline fishing in August. Look for points
protruding into the open ocean and try to catch a high tide that
brings in colder water. This will greatly increase your chances
of succes.
Perch on the porch
The light nights are definitely over but
decreasing day lengths make the eels embark upon their long and
dangerous spawning migration back to their ocean of birth, the
Sea of Sargasso.
August is also a time where hungry perch
are having a ball chasing this year's fish fry that have ventured
outside the protective cover of the water vegetation. Here they
have been hiding all day and summer in the shelter of the long
weed stems.
But when darkness arrives they venture
outside this cover to feed in open, unprotected water, and here
many a fry ends its short life in the huge mouth of a hungry
perch...
East Jutland has many good perch lakes
to offer both local and visiting fishermen. Most of them are
located in the Danish Lake District around Silkeborg where
almost all lakes hold good populations of tasty perch, some weighing
in at over two pounds!
Hot rivers on wait
Decreasing day lengths also put mature
sea trout on the move towards their rivers of birth - quite opposite
the eels that now migrate from their freshwater feeding grounds
to their saltwater spawning sites.
August is the warmest month of the year
and this can be felt both over and under water. On hot and calm
August days the rivers show very few signs of life. It seems
as if they are surviving more than actually being alive. But
when darkness arrives, fish show up in many places. They roll
or even jump showing fishermen on the banks that they are indeed
there - ready to be caught.
But you have to stay awake during the night
to catch fish in the heat of August - unless of course August
comes up with wet, cold and windy days. Conditions that lure
fresh salmon and seatrout into the rivers. August weather like
that is much awaited along the banks of the mighty River Guden!
© 2000-2014 Steen
Ulnits
Angling in September
Keep on moving...
...if you fish rivers, that is.
Well into September most larger seatrout
have left the ocean and ascended the rivers to spawn later in
the year. They are no longer silvery but have taken on the colours
of the spawning dress.
Especially the males become territorial
this time of year - a habit you may use to your advantage when
fishing for them. By making several repeated casts to the same
holding spots you may be able to lure an aggressive fish into
striking.
But do consider that this late in the season
you are seldom alone on the river. For that reason many rivers
have adapted the rule that you should constantly be on the move
while fishing. In this way you avoid the irritation of having
one fisherman putting a particularly good spot under siege and
thus keeping others away from trying it.
Heavy rainfalls in late July made it possible
for many salmon and seatrout to ascend the rivers of East Jutland
and fill up the pools. Both the River Guden (with the
productive tributary Lilleåen) and the Channels
of Kolindsund now hold good numbers of fish making a trip
to either one a promising proposition. In the River Guden you
even stand a good chance of hooking up with a real Atlantic salmon!
Golden trout on golden
days
Most large seatrout have now matured and
left saltwater in favor of freshwater rivers. The remaining seatrout
in the sea are thus smaller but nevertheless still difficult
to catch. They have spent all summer feeding voraciously in the
ocean and are now well fed and very discerning.
On beautiful sunny September days they
can be particularly difficult. With the sun shining from a cloudless
sky and the water lying mirror calm, fishermen often have to
look at fish finning around in shallow water - rather than catch
them. Unless you switch to the lightest possible tackle - ultralight
gear with diminutive revolving spoons or tiny dark flies.
It is by far easier to hook up with a fish
on grey, wet and windy days where seatrout are much more active.
This kind of rough weather may remind them of the upcoming spawning
season and a winter where food is scarce. Thus they want to make
sure not to let any food pass by. At the same time they start
migrating along the shoreline - probably searching for freshwater.
On days like these strikes are often hard
and uncompromising - on lures and flies that may be surprisingly
large. Those megahard strikes are followed by long lasting battles!
Points and landspits in the Bay of Aarhus
and along the shoreline of Djursland produce salty seatrout
in September.
Prime time for perch
If you fancy the striped predatory perch
in freshwater lakes, you cannot posibly find a better month than
September.
These fish are now extremely well fed and
in top condition after a summer of relentless attacks on this
year's pinfry - activity that usually takes place in the margins
of the weed beds. At the same time the water is still warm enough
for fish to hunt actively all day long. Thus September is the
top month for bringing home some very tasty perch fillets for
the pan!
Pike are a different matter alltogether
as they do not fancy the warm water of September. They have moved
into deeper and cooler waters where they are more difficult to
locate. The peak season for pike is later in the year - in October
and November - when they migrate back into shallow water.
The same goes for the ever unpredictable
pikeperch that also has its peak season later in the year when
frost has killed the algae and cleared up the water. Right now
it is difficult to find and catch.
The pike and perch of September may both
be caught in the beautiful Lakes of Silkeborg or in Lakes
Glenstrup and Fussing further north.
Time for the annual oxygen depletion...
It is sad but it is a fact: If you are
a dedicated sea angler, September is not a top month for you
here in East Jutland. Reason: September is the month where the
annual oxygen depletion sets in - in the depths of the sea. This
inevitably has a significant impact on the fishing.
Despite a summer that was quite grey and
wet, the sea still holds fairly warm water. And for that reason
the best angling spots are those that offer deep water and strong
currents - be it close to the shoreline or reefs and banks way
out in the sea.
The annually recurring oxygen depletion
pushes cod and other bottom fish away from the depths of the
sea - back into shallower water where oxygen can still be found.
Thus these fishes should now be sought in shallower water with
a strong current to cool down and oxygenate the water.
The ocean at Sletterhage offers
both - steep underwater slopes and strong currents. Here it is
almost always possible to find some fish and get some action
while you are waiting for the cooler waters of the coming winter.
© 2000-2014 Steen
Ulnits
Angling in October
Closing soon: The River Guden
The River Guden Association held its annual
angling competition in September. The purpose of this competition
being to raise money for further stocking of the river with true
River Guden sea trout.
This work is being done by local fishermen
on a volutary basis and fish are raised at the association's
own hatchery in Skibelund near Bjerringbro. This work resulted
in many sea trout being caught. Salmon too were plentiful.
Apart from this, October in general marks
that the end of season in the rivers of East Jutland is getting
closer. So if you want to catch a salmon or sea trout in one
of our rivers, now is the time to do it. The fish are there already!
Apart from the mighty River Guden,
the Kolindsund Channels are another good bet this time
of year.
Large pike in skinny water
Below the surface of the many lakes in
East Jutland hectic activity is going on in October. Pike are
extremely well fed this time of year, and the water temperature
is just perfect for them. Because of that you may find surprisingly
large pike finning around in surprisingly shallow water - pike
that until now have stayed in the cool depths of the lake.
Hotspots for October pike are Lake Glenstrup,
Lake Fussing, Silkeborg Langsø and many
of the other lakes in the Silkeborg area. Here you may also enjoy
some good fishing for pikeperch - best at the end of October
when the water starts clearing up after the heavy algal blooms
of summer. Julsø is always a good bet when it comes
to fishing for pikeperch - Lake Borre and Brassø
equally.
If you fancy the delicious fillets of perch,
October is also a prime month. Perch have been feeding heavily
all summer long, putting back on the weight that they lost during
the spawning time of spring. Lakes offering good perch fishing
are Lake Ravn, Lake Fussing and Lake Glenstrup
to name a few.
Shoreline cod at dusk
It is high time for catching cod from the
beach and will be so for the next two months. Now the water temperature
is again low enough for cod to thrive in, so now they are leaving
the cold of the depths in favor of the rich feeding found closer
to shore.
As always cod are on the lookout for their
favourite food - crisp crustaceans like crabs! They vaccuumclean
the kelp beds for these delicacies and doing so they become very
vulnerable to red and yellow shoreline woblers fished slowly
just above the bottom. If you are a fly fisherman you may try
casting realistic and drab looking crab flies. But you should
know that quite often cod prefer the gaudy coloured flies to
the realistic ones...
As always you should pay special attention
to the hours before and just after sunset. This is when you will
find most cod within reach of your casts from the shoreline.
The beautiful shores of Djursland
are truly the hotspots of October - whether you fish for cod
or would like to try your luck for sea trout.
Fine flatfish for the frying pan
The largest flatfish of the year are always
caught in late summer or early autumn. The reason being that
then the fish have fully recovered from the strenous spawning
period of spring. Now they are fatter and heavier than ever,
and for that reason October is a very fine time for pursuing
flatfish.
Use a traditional paternoster type rig
with two hooks hanging from the main line in short pieces of
nylon with weight attached to the end of the line. Hooks should
be longshanked #4-6 so as to be easily removable from the mouths
of hooked fish.
They should be baited with lug worms that
can be bought in most places close to the beach - if you don't
want to dig your own at low tide that is. Slices of herring may
also be used and are always easy to get hold of - even in the
supermarket!
But beware that herring slices are but
emergency bait compared to lug worms - unless you fish strictly
for brill and turbot both of which are highly predatory fish.
Fresh sand eels make an even better bait for these fish if you
can get them.
The Bay of Ebeltoft is one of the
hotspots of East Jutland when it comes to flatfishing. When it
comes to turbot it is probably one of the best spots in the whole
country. If you fancy tasty flounders, the mouths of Bay of
Mariager and Bay of Randers are well worth a visit
in October.
© 2000-2014 Steen
Ulnits
Angling in November
End of season salmon
November 15 marks that the end of season
in the rivers of East Jutland. So if you want to catch a salmon
or sea trout in one of our rivers, now is the time to do it.
The fish are there in good numbers!
The River Guden has had yet another great
season with some anglers bringing home several good-sized salmon.
Most of the fish are of course 2-3 kg grilse but good numbers
of one-seawinter salmon in the 5-6 kg class have been caught
this year. Finally a number of fish have exceeded the magic 10
kg barrier.
Both salmon and seatrout are caught by
fly fishing, spinning or baitfishing. If you prefer fly or spinner,
both artificials should be fished deep and slowly to entice the
coloured fish that no longer have any striking reflexes left
from the ocean. Both fly and spinner should be large and gaudy
to attract attention from aggressive prespawning fish!
Many dedicated salmon fishermen stick to
bait and choose fresh shrimp that are mounted on special rigs.
Obviously these shrimp remind salmon of their feeding in the
depths of the North Atlantic. At least it is a fact that you
primarily catch salmon when you bait your hooks with shrimp.
Seatrout much prefer worms!
Pikeperch in clear water
It is about high season for pikeperch in
the lakes of East Jutland. This very tasty but also tricky and
unpredictable fish with its characteristic "marble eyes"
really thrives in the cold waters of November where frost has
killed off a large percentage of the algae, making for clearer
water.
All predatory fish species benefit from
the less turbid water but especially the pikeperch feeds voraciously
now and may again be caught on artificial baits that it had no
chance of seeing earlier on in the algae infested waters of summer.
Now trolling again becomes a productive way of fishing - and
an interesting one.
Large Rapala and Bomber wobblers are good
bets for artificial baits in November, red and white Hi-Lo wobblers
also. The latter may be adjusted to fish high or deep in the
water depending on prevailing conditions. Typically pikeperch
stay in deep waters during the hours of daylight. When the sun
sets they move into shallower waters or rise towards the surface
to feed. Adjust your wobbler accordingly and catch fish!
Julsø, Brassø and Lake Borre are amongst the favourites
when it comes to pikeperch fishing in the Lake District of East
Jutland.
Seatrout in search of brackish
waters
Water temperature is now getting closer
to the point where seatrout in saltwater do not like it any more.
Those immature seatrout that haven't already left the ocean for
the freshwater and spawning grounds of the rivers now start looking
for the brackish waters of the secluded bays.
Fish that have been stocked on open shorelines
with no rivers in the immediate vicinity typically return to
the place of stocking when they become sexually mature. Often
you may see coloured fish jump clear out of the water on quiet
days spotting a mirror-calm surface. These fish are usually difficult
to catch - unless you fish with small drab coloured flies on
long leaders with light tippets.
The Bay of Mariager is a good bet
for saltwater seatrout in the cold of November. At the bottom
end of this long and narrow bay you will encounter silvery and
immature seatrout as well as dark fish preparing for spawning.
The latter are illegal prey from November 16 until January 16
and must be released unharmed no matter how big. Only silvery
seatrout with loose scales and exceeding 40 cm may be taken.
The Bay of Kalø at the northern
end of the Bay of Aarhus is yet another good spot for overwintering
seatrout in the salt. Along the open shores of Djursland
seatrout are getting scarcer as most fish have now left the salty
ocean and entered the Channels of Kolindsund or the River Guden
further up north.
Coastal cod on the prowl!
Coastal cods are in peak condition in November.
They are well fed and preparing themselves for the spawning season
ahead by feeding voraciously on anything that moves. They typically
start spawning sometime after New Year, depending on locality,
salinity and water temperature.
The coastal waters of November usually
have a temperature that suits cod just perfect. Therefore they
move into really shallow water where they gorge themselves on
tiny fish and crispy crustaceans. As always crabs are very high
on the list! Really large cod seldom move into shallow water,
no matter the temperature. Instead they stay in deeper waters
where you need a boat to get in touch with them.
Quite often you will experience days where
cod are not the least interested in the silvery pirks and spoons
normally used. On days like that you should search your tackle
box for artificial baits in red, orange and yellow colours -
preferably small flies or supersoft jig tails that are often
taken eagerly by the very same cod that completely ignored your
larger pirks and spoons!
In the waters between Hjelm, Sletterhage
and Samsø you can normally find cod that are willing
to cooperate. They make for some great eating when back home
in your kitchen.
© 2000-2014 Steen
Ulnits
Angling in December
Spawning season salmon and seatrout
November 15 marked the end of the fishing
season in the rivers of East Jutland. Now salmon and seatrout
are left alone to do their job - to spawn and secure another
generation of salmonids.
The River Guden has good numbers of spawning
grounds for seatrout that like to spawn in the smaller tributaries
of the main river. Amongst these tributaries the River Lilleå
produces about half of all the seatrout in this, the longest
river of all Denmark.
As for the salmon, they are in for a tougher
time. They require larger water with coarser bottom to spawn
succesfully and this they do not find any lomger in the River
Guden. Their main spawning grounds are at the bottom of the artificial
Lake Tange, covered by a thick layer of mud.
The future of Lake Tange and thus the salmon
population of the River Guden is being debated right now. So
far the politicians have decided upon prolonging the working
period of the hydroelectric power station Tangeværket by
another two years.
Pike and pikeperch in winterclear
lakes
It is now high season for pike and pikeperch
in the lakes of East Jutland. These predatory fish really thrive
in the cold waters of December where frost has killed off a large
percentage of the algae, making for clearer water.
All predatory fish species benefit from
the less turbid water but especially the pike and pikeperch feed
voraciously now and may again be caught on artificial baits that
they had no chance of seeing earlier on in the algae infested
waters of summer. Now trolling again becomes a productive way
of fishing - and an interesting one.
Large Rapala and Bomber wobblers are good
bets for artificial baits in December, red and white Hi-Lo wobblers
also. The latter may be adjusted to fish high or deep in the
water depending on prevailing conditions. Typically pikeperch
stay in deeper waters during the hours of daylight. When the
sun sets they move into shallower waters or rise towards the
surface to feed. Adjust your wobbler accordingly and catch fish!
Julsø, Brassø and Lake Borre are amongst the favourites
when it comes to pikeperch fishing in the Lake District of East
Jutland. If you are looking for a monster pike, Silkeborg
Langsø, Lake Fussing and Lake Glenstrup
are good bets.
Overwintering seatrout in brackish
waters
Water temperature is now getting closer
to the point where seatrout in saltwater do not like it any more.
Those immature seatrout that haven't already left the ocean for
the freshwater and spawning grounds of the rivers now start looking
for the brackish waters of more secluded bays.
Fish that have been stocked on open shorelines
with no rivers in the immediate vicinity typically return to
the place of stocking when they become sexually mature. Often
you may see coloured fish jump clear out of the water on warm
and quiet December days spotting a mirror-calm surface. These
fish are usually difficult to catch - unless you fish with small
drab coloured flies on long leaders with light tippets. You need
to fish your flies s-l-o-w-l-y in the month of Christmas!
The Bay of Mariager is a good bet
for saltwater seatrout in the cold of December. At the bottom
end of this long and narrow bay you will encounter silvery and
immature seatrout as well as dark fish preparing for spawning.
The latter are illegal prey from November 16 until January 16
and must be released unharmed no matter how big. Only silvery
seatrout with loose scales and exceeding 40 cm may be taken.
The Bay of Kalø at the northern
end of the Bay of Aarhus is yet another good spot for overwintering
seatrout in the salt. Along the open shores of Djursland
seatrout are getting scarcer as most fish have now left the salty
ocean and entered the Channels of Kolindsund or the River Guden
further up north.
Canonball Christmas Cod!
Coastal cods are in peak condition in December.
They are well fed and preparing themselves for the spawning season
ahead. They typically start spawning sometime after New Year,
depending on locality, salinity and water temperature.
The coastal waters of December usually
have a temperature a little too cold for comfort - for cod that
is Therefore they move into deeper and warmer water where they
prepare themselves for spawning. They still feed but don't do
it as voraciously as earlier in the year.
Quite often you will experience quiet and
cold days where cod are not the least interested in the silvery
pirks and spoons normally used. On days like that you should
search your tackle box for artificial baits in red, orange and
yellow colours - preferably small flies or supersoft jig tails
that are often taken eagerly by the very same cod that completely
ignored your larger pirks and spoons.
In the waters between Hjelm, Sletterhage
and Samsø you can normally find cod that are willing
to cooperate. if you prefer fishing more coastal waters, the
outer piers of the Harbour of Aarhus is a good bet for
wintery cod. These fish all make for some great eating when back
home in your kitchen!
© 2000-2014 Steen
Ulnits
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