The Channels of Kolindsund rank among the most productive sea trout streams in Denmark and at the same time have a very special origin.

Originally - at the end of the last Ice Age some 10.000 years ago the area was a large tunnel-shaped valley. Later it turned into a narrow strait that connected the River Grenå to the Bay of Randers. Later yet it developed into a lake that emptied its water into what is now the River Grenå.

But it wasn't meant to stay like that. Local farmers needed more land for farming, and so the whole area was dammed and drained. Today arificial dikes and pumps make sure that the old lake bottom is kept nice and dry and thus usable for farming.

Pump water enters the artificial North Channel which is named "New River Grenå" on its lower stretches. Natural runoff takes place via the more natural South Channel as well as through the also artificial Middle Channel.

Of prime interest to fishermen is the North Channel which receives water from Nimtofte Å - a tiny but very important spawning tributary for sea trout belonging to the Channels of Kolindsund.

On their way to Kattegat the channels drop less than one metre making for a very slow and at times stagnant current plus very few typical sea trout lies.

Despite of this sea trout are in no need of holding spots. For many local fishermen the key to succes is focusing the effort around the many bridges that cross the North Channel. They provide sea trout with plenty of shelter.

Apart from sea trout the channels are host to a lot of other fish species. Pike, perch, roach and bream are all prolific and grow to impressive sizes in the slow current.

The plentiful coarse fish make sure that spawned out sea trout quickly regain their weight. Because of this the channels are well known for kelts in such good condition that they are often mistaken for fresh run fish.

The Channels of Kolindsund are also well known for their late winter and early spring fishing for overwintering and immature sea trout - "greenlanders" - that have fled the icy and salty Kattegat. The lowermost stretches hold most of these fish.

1. Channels of Kolindsund

North Channel: Fishing for salmon, sea trout and steelhead plus pike, perch and bream. Largest and most productive of the channels with fishing allowed on the south side only. The confluence of this channel and the tributary Nimtofte Å attract both fish and fishermen.

Middle Channel: No fishing permitted.

South Channel: Fishing for salmon, sea trout and steelhead plus pike, perch and bream. Substantially smaller than the North Channel with fishing allowed on the north side only. Least channel-like of the channels.

- [ see map ] -

2. River Grenå

Just west of Grenå city the three channels merge into what is now called the "Old River Grenå" which passes through the city and empties its water into salty Kattegat, right in the middle of the harbour.

On its lowermost stretches the River Grenå usually produces some very good winter fishing for the so-called "greenlanders" - small immature and silvery sea trout. Typically, the harder the winter the better the fishing.

For many years the fishing on the city piece of the river was free - a fact that attracted many people from all over the country. Today you need a day ticket to fish here.
- [ see map ] -

3. Lake Stubbe

A fairly large but also quite shallow lake which is surrounded by forest on most sides. Lake Stubbe suffers from excess influx of nitrogen and phosphor from the surrounding agricultural areas which makes for very turbid water filled with algae during summer.

Further pollution has been stopped so things will improve in the time to come. Even a fish farm which earlier on contributed heavily to the pollution of Lake Stubbe has been closed down.

Today you may catch predatory species like pike, perch and pikeperch, the latter of which thrives best of all in the turbid waters of this lake. You may also catch roach and bream, the latter of which reach good sizes here.

Unfortunately it is diffucult to gain access to the fishing in Lake Stubbe.
- [ see map ] -

4. River Alling (not shown)

A relatively unknown river that empties into the shallow Bay of Grund in the Bay of Randers area.

Only a few years ago it was a heavily polluted river but today large investments in sewage treatment plants have made it possible for many fish species to breathe and breed successfully in it. Both sea trout and perch thrive, the latter feeding in the bay and breeding in the river in spring.

River Alling today holds a good population of sea trout that often reach impressive sizes. Unfortunately, most fish often do not start ascending this river until the fishing season has closed.
- [ see map ] -

Back