The water from Lake Mossø merges with the water from Salten Langsø before the River Guden finally enters the Danish Lake District via Lake Guden.

On its way towards Silkeborg it passes through a number of lakes. Chronologically, it is Birksø (draining Knudsø and Ravnsø), Lake Julsø, Lake Borresø (draining Thorsø) and finally the large Silkeborg Langsø that receives water from the small Lake Ørnsø.

Most of the lakes in this region are socalled "long-lakes" meaning that they are actually more of a slow river section than a true lake.

One of the characteristics of such lakes is the fact that they have a fast turnover of water compared to normal lakes. This is of great importance to fish like trout that demand cold water rich in oxygen. Salten Langsø is widely known for its large lake trout that migrate up the River Salten to spawn.

During 1972-75 the counties along the River Guden - Vejle, Viborg and Århus - made a thorough research to determine the water quality of this river system. A project that cost 10 million Danish crowns and which established the sad fact that water quality was indeed very poor.

End result of the research was that in 1976 Silkeborg built the most advanced sewage treatment plant in all Europe - the facility at Søholt which offers both mechanical, biological and chemical sewage treatment. And a facility that cost 20 million Danish crowns at that time. A very high price for a better aquatic environment.

This three-stage water treatment meant a significantly improved water quality in many of the lakes. Unfortunately, huge amounts of nutrients still exist in the lakes, bound in the bottom sediment from where it is regularly leaked to the water column. Thus many lakes still have turbid water filled with algae.

But today the Lakes of Silkeborg boast good populations of pike, perch and pikeperch plus roach and bream. Fish species that thrive in the nutrient-rich water.

At the same time you fish in a breathtaking scenery with Himmelbjerget, famous Danish hilltop, as the characteristic background. Right in the middle of the Lake District that offers water as deep as 20 metres in many places.

1. Lake Gudensø

The first of the Silkeborg Lakes below Lake Mossø. Beautiful and surrounded by forests, this lake boasts a population of stocked trout. Floating pontoon bridges make for easy access - especially for fly fishermen. Also good numbers of pike, perch, pikeperch and various coarse fish.
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2. Lake Vessø

Drains Ry Møllesø but is not accessible for fishing.
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3. Ry Møllesø

Nationally known for its pikeperch fishing when these fish migrate upstream towards the mill in June to feed on spawning bleak. Today this fishing is but a shadow of the past.
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4. Lake Ravnsø

Lake Ravnsø that provides Lake Knudsø with water through Knudå is beautifully located in a forest-clad landscape. It is a deep lake with steep and rocky banks providing perch with ideal habitat. If you are looking for large pike, Barongrunden in the east end of the lake is ideal. Here several 10 kg plus pike have been caught over the years.
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5. Lake Knudsø

This lake that gets its water from Ravnsø and passes it on to Birksø is widely known for its fine pikeperch fishing. Fish larger than 5 kg are a realistic proposition, smaller lake trout too.
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6. Lake Birksø

Where Birksø meets Knudsø at the bridge, pikeperch can often be found. There is also a general possibility of catching a lake trout in this lake. Water proceeds to Rosvig through a bottleneck.
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7. Rosvig

Not really a lake in itself - more like the beginning of the much bigger Julsø. Rosvig is a small bay that may yield any of the many fish species living in the Lakes of Silkeborg.
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8. Lake Julsø

When fishing this lake Himmelbjerget provides you with an incredibly beautiful setting.

Classic Danish angling lake with good populations of pike, perch and pikeperch that all reach good sizes here. Thus you may catch pike in excess of 10 kg and pikeperch towards 10 kg!

Pike prefer places with a prolific vegetation - sedges and water lillies - preferably over a soft bottom.

Perch and pikeperch are found in places with a rocky bottom. Good fishing spots out in the open lake are Frydengrund, Møgelgrund, Himmelbjerggrund og Store Grund all of which are located at the foot of Himmelbjerget.

All three predatory species may also be found roaming the open waters of this lake. Here you may also encounter the odd lake trout.

Depths of up to 20 metres are to be found in Lake Julsø.
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9. Lake Borresø

A very varied lake with a scenic south side. Lake Borresø offers good fishing for pike, perch and pikeperch. The latter can often be found - after the closed season in May - in shallow water near the outlet of Lake Slåen. This is where the spawning grounds lie.
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10. Lake Slåen

Clearwater lake that lets its water out into Lake Borre. Lake Slåen offers good fishing for pike and perch plus the chance of a lake trout. Surrounded by forests on all sides. This lake is not an integral part of the River Guden water course which explains its unusually clear water.
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11. Lake Thorsø

Good stocks of pike, perch and pikeperch plus the occasional lake trout. South end offers fishing for large roach and bream.
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12. Lake Almind

Another clearwater lake that offers fine fishing for good-sized pike and perch. This lake is not an integral part of the River Guden water course which explains its unusually clear water. Depths of more than 15 m in large parts of the lake.
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13. Lake Brassø

Surrounded by forests on all sides and holding good populations of pike, perch, pikeperch, roach and bream. Also the occasional carp and lake trout. Especially known for its large pike and bream.

The River Guden between Lake Brassø and Silkeborg Langsø has good shoreline fishing for roach and bream - plus god numbers of spectators that walk by. The old steamship "Hjejlen" also passes by here regularly.
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14. Silkeborg Langsø

A long and narrow lake that is divided into three main basins.

East Basin: After the closed season for pike - beginning in May - plenty of pike are caught in this part of the lake. Fishing along the sedges and water lillies is a good bet.

Middle Basin: Pike may also be found here but this part of the lake is better known for its perch and pikeperch. They like to hold over rocky bottom near the Viborg and Krogård bridges. Perch larger than 1 kg are often caught here.

West Basin: This is the part of Silkeborg Langsø that regularly produces truly large pike. Nobody raises an eyebrow if a 10 kg pike attacks your lure here! And 15 kg fish are a definite possibility.

Apart from these predatory species Silkeborg Langsø has a large population of roach and bream that grow to large sizes in this nutrient-rich lake. If you are looking for big bream, the northside of the lake is a good bet. It is also where you find the advanced sewage treatment plant previously mentioned.
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15. Lake Ørnsø

An interesting lake to fish. This is where the River Funder enters - a fact that explains the regular catches of trout that have migrated downstream. A relatively low temperature during summer is much appreciated by the trout.

The presence of trout is also highly appreciated by pike and pikeperch which thrive on young trout. Pike larger than 10 kg are not unheard of here - perch in excess of 1 kg neither.

During winter this lake offers good fishing for freshwater cod that spawn in deep water - especially in the south end of the lake.
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16. River Funder

Probably the fastest flowing river in this country. From its origin in the Hills of Funder the water flows fast until it reaches the first dam at the first fish farm.

The many dams prevent the wild trout of this river in reaching and using their spawning grounds. At the same time pollution from the many fish in the farm ponds harm the water quality in a significant way. Still you may experience a good fishing day here.
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