On its way to the ocean the River Guden passes through the small Lake Sminge before finally entering the equally artificial but much larger Lake Tange.

This hydroelectric dam was erected in the 1920's and spans almost 10 km. Its construction laid waste that very part of the River Guden where the Atlantic salmon had its last spawning grounds.

Thus the construction of Lake Tange meant the extinction of the salmon population in the River Guden. The spawning grounds are now covered under a thick layer of mud at the bottom of Lake Tange. Just a few years later the last adult salmon was caught returning to its now dead river of birth.

Sea trout that had and still have about half their spawning habitat in tributaries below the dam at Lake Tange fared better. They were only reduced by some 50%. And more than half of these fish turn left and ascend the River Lilleå near Hadsten.

In this way Lake Tange divides the River Guden into two very different pieces of water: One major upper part with no migratory fish at all and one smaller lower part where both salmon (resulting from artificial stocking) and sea trout can be caught.

It is a wide and mighty River Guden that after a few days again leaves Lake Tange. Slowly it flows through the meadows at Bjerringbro, through Ulstrup and further on to Langå where it is met by the River Lilleå.

Right here - between the two railway bridges - both salmon and sea trout are fished for intensively. A very substantial part of the total catch of these two attractive game fish is thus made on a piece of water spanning no more than a few hundred metres. The lower part of the River Lilleå also produces quite well.

Below Stevnstrup another major tributary joins the River Guden - the River Nørreå that gets its water from the Lakes of Viborg. After merging with this tributary the River Guden finally reaches the city of Randers. Now as a true river with sedges and water lillies lining the banks and a population of fish that are similar to the one found in lakes.

Here you may catch salmon and sea trout passing through while pike, perch and pikeperch live here more permanently. The large perch often caught here have grown to their impressive size from feeding in the Bay of Randers. Just like salmon and sea trout they migrate upriver to spawn.

Stretches with a rocky bottom and a decent current are favoured by good-sized pikeperch while pike usually prefer the slower moving water close to the banks.

1. River Guden at Resenbro

Downstream of Silkeborg the River Guden flows lazily through the landscape - now an ideal habitat for pike, perch and pikeperch as well as roach and bream.

The stretch from Silkeborg Langsø to the dammed Lake Sminge offers world class coarse fishing for roach and bream. Fishermen from many countries go here to try their luck.
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2. River Guden at Tangeværket

Directly downstream of the dam the River Guden is fast, deep and has a V-shaped bottom profile due to digging. Fishing is not allowed here.

Further downstream pikeperch abound in the fast currents with a rocky bottom. Here they like to lie during the heat of summer. So do a fair number of salmon and sea trout that cannot continue their upstream journey beyond Tangeværket. Thus the number of fish here increases as the season progresses.

The outlet of three minor burns - Smedens Bæk, Skibelund Bæk and Møllebækken - attract many a fish that was born there.

Access to this productive piece of water is limited.
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3. River Guden at Bjerringbro

In the meadows around Bjerringbro a large number of salmon and sea trout are caught each season on their journey towards Tangeværket.

This stretch of the river contains many good holding spots for both salmon and sea trout. Amongst the classics are Sandskredet and Krumkagen in the vicinity of Busbjerg. Bamsebo looks less promising but still holds a good number of fish.

Apart from salmon and sea trout quite a few pike and pikeperch are also caught here.
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4. River Guden at Ulstrup

Behind the bridge pillows fish are always present. Further downstream - at Åbro - the county has made an artificial spawning site with regard to salmon. The spawning site is just upstream of the bridge while there is a deep sort of "waiting room" below it.

Further on downstream the small tributary Tjærbæk joins the river - with the confluence of the two being a true fish attractant. Below the confluence there is an old crossing which also provides the fish with good holding spots.

Before reaching the city of Langå we arrive at the estate Østergaard where the remains of an old salmon trap today provides fish with good shelter.
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5. River Guden at Langå

The section of river between the two railway bridges in Langå is one of the most productive in the whole river system. This is where all sea trout bound for the River Lilleå stop for a break. And since this is more than half of the total River Guden population, this stretch can be crowded with fish as well as fishermen.

Another productive spot is Jernbanesvinget which produces good numbers of fish throughout the season. Just as many fish - but fewer fishermen - can be found further downstream at Husmandsbrinkerne.. This is where one of the largest ever River Guden sea trout was caught in 1995 - a fish weighing an impressive 11,5 kg.

Way back in 1443 another salmon trap was built at Frisenvold. Today the remains of this old wooden construction make an excellent lie for both trout and salmon - and a great snag for loosing fishing tackle too. This a a classic spot on the lower River Guden.
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6. River Guden at Stevnstrup

Here two large bends in the river have produced good numbers of fish for many years. Mostly small immature sea trout that migrate upstreams to overwinter.

Further on downstream the River Guden changes its face. At Fladbro it receives its final large tributary, the River Nørreå. At the confluence of the two rivers a very deep holding spot is located. It is mostly fish like pike, perch and pikeperch that are caught here.
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7. River Guden at Randers

During winter and early spring good numbers of immature "greenlanders" are caught from Justesen's Plæne right in the middle of the city of Randers. Good numbers are also caught in the harbour itself - together with perch and pikeperch.
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8. River Gjern

A small but meandering river with a decent trout population. Often very short and very precise casts are needed because of the dense vegetation found here. The River Gjern meets the River Guden downstream of Resenbro.
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9. River Lemming

A relatively unknown river with stationary brown trout as well as escaped rainbow traout from this river's fish farm. River Lemming is the upper part of the River Alling which enters the River Guden from the west side just above Lake Tange.
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10. River Alling

Small river that gets its water from lakes Hinge and Alling. River Alling is the connection of the River Lemming with the River Guden and mostly holds pike, perch, roach and bream plus the occasional trout.
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11. River Lilleå

The most important of all tributaries to the River Guden. More than half of all sea trout ascend this river to spawn and do so successfully. River Lilleå meets the River Guden at Langå.

Earlier on sea trout could not negotiate the dam at the fish farm by Løjstrup. Now this has been taken care of and now sea trout are caught all the way up to the city of Hadsten. Here they mingle with stationary browns and escaped rainbow trout.

The lower part of River Lilleå is very popular with local anglers - in fact so popular that the county found it necessary to implement new rules to protect the area from being worn down.
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12. River Nørreå

One of the major tributaries to the River Guden which drains the lakes around Viborg. Slow moving water with a dark colour and a good population of pike and perch, roach and bream. The dark water holds no appeal for salmon and trout.
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13. Lake Sminge

Downstream of Resenbro the River Guden has been dammed to make Lake Sminge which is an interesting piece of water in its own right.

Where the River Guden enters the lake you may encounter groups of whitefish. And where the smaller River Gjern comes in, trout may often be caught.

All over the lake you may experience great fishing for roach and bream - a fact that explains the presence of very big pike in this lake. Fish over 15 kg have been recorded. Good winter fishing as long as there is no ice cover.
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14. Lake Tange

Not a real lake, Tange is Denmark's largest manmade reservoir for hydroelectric power production. The River Guden was dammed here in the 1920's.

Lake Tange is more then 10 km long and very narrow. To the north lies the dam wall where the greatest depths are found. To the south where the River Guden enters the lake at Kongensbro, the lake is very narrow and shallow. Throughout the lake the bottom is sandy and shallow - the old river bed in the bottom being the only deep parts.

Lake Tange is known for its good stocks of pike, perch and pikeperch - fish that move around a lot in this artificial lake and thus may be hard to find. Pike may exceed 10 kg and are best located near the sedges during spring and autumn. Pikeperch often congregate near the old river channel.

There is also a big population of roach and bream many of which grow to record size in this shallow, warm and nutrient rich lake. The sandy bottom abounds in chironomids, favourite food of bream.

The very same chironomids make for some specialised fishing for whitefish that migrate downstream into the lake during spring to feed on the large hatches in May and June. In June the water gets too warm for them and again they leave the lake in favour of the cooler waters of the river. In March and April ledger fishing can be good while dry flies and nymphs do the trick in May and June.

During spring and autumn the occasional lake trout may be caught too.
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