Fishing in the Skanderborg Lakes
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The Skanderborg Lakes are beautifully situated in the Lake District of Central Jutland, one of the most charming areas in Denmark.
The fishing here is also outstanding and offers plenty of opportunities for a good catch. Of the various types of fishing, the area is known as one of the best places in Europe for angling, and several world records have been set in the lakes with rod and line.
Throughout the lakes, it is possible to find a large population of roach, bream and perch. Other fish caught include pike, whitefish, burbot (freshwater burbot), zander, brown trout and eel.
The Skanderborg Lakes consist of Store Sø, Ringkloster Sø, Hylke Sø, Vrold Sø and Tåning Sø, as well as a number of smaller lakes.
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The public is allowed only to fish in Store Sø and Hylke Sø, and for this a fishing licence for a day, a week or a year is required and can among other places be bought at Skanderborg tourist office.
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Non-predatory fish
Bream – There are many bream in the Skanderborg Lakes, and the population is characterised by many small and medium-sized fish while there are only a few really large fish weighing 4-5 kilograms. This is probably due to the fact that there are limited quantities of food on the lake bottom. Bream can grow to as much as 70 centimetres in length, but fish this size are rarely seen in the lake.
Ruffe – Ruffe are common in the lake and they stay away from the shore areas. The fish appear to grow very slowly, and the average life expectancy is short. Ruffe compete for food with bream and eel, and there is much to suggest that the ruffe is inferior when competing for food.
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Silver bream – Silver bream are very similar to the bream, but are much smaller. As a rule, they do not exceed 30 centimetres in length and are often confused with roach. Silver bream can be found in greatest numbers in Hylke Sø.
Rudd – The rudd population in the Skanderborg Lakes is relatively small, and insignificant from an angling point of view.
Roach – Roach are the predominant non-predatory fish in the lake and the population is characterised by there being many small roach in the shore areas. The fish range in length from 15-35 centimetres while they are never found weighing in excess of one kilogramme.
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Predatory fish
Perch – There are many perch in the Skanderborg Lakes. They can best be found on the lake bottom and in shallow areas, and when you encounter a shoal of perch you will enjoy some thoroughly exciting fishing. The population of one species of fish can fluctuate greatly; for example, some years we see considerable numbers of perch, while the population of zander is not so large; the opposite can also be true.
Pike – Many pike can now be found and the population is growing, the result of improved water quality in the lakes. Today, it is not uncommon to catch pike weighing 6-8 kilogrammes.
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Whitefish – Whitefish in the Skanderborg Lakes come from stocks introduced in 1911-1912. They occur in relatively high numbers in open water, but are comparatively small in size.
Burbot – The stocks of burbot in the lakes are relatively small, and they are normally fished for in deeper waters, at a depth of 8-12 metres.
Zander – There are many zander in the lakes and, especially in recent years, many large zander have been caught. The zander population in the Skanderborg Lakes is one of the largest in Denmark, and they can be caught weighing as much as 12 kilogrammes.
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Brown trout – The original brown trout population is comparatively small, due, among other things, to the poor conditions for spawning in the rivers leading into the Skanderborg Lakes. One can always recognise a “genuine brown trout” because it is completely shiny and only has a few black scales above the lateral line. Each year, many river trout are released into the lakes, but these fish are not able to survive as well as the native brown trout.
Eel – Skanderborg Lake is first and foremost an “eel lake”, but due to the poor conditions for fish that are running, combined with the effects of global pollution, the eel population has been declining in numbers for many years. However, following the massive stocks of eels introduced into the lake each year – approx. 49,000 – eel stocks are once again large.
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Angling in brief Angling for non-predatory fish can take place all along the shores of the lake, but if you want to fish for predatory fish it is best to have a boat at your disposal. It cannot be said, however, that it is impossible to catch perch, brown trout and pike from the lakeside. Boats with or without outboard engines can be hired from Skanderborg Youth Hostel. Fishing competitions Each year, many fishing competitions are held at the Skanderborg Lakes. Some of them are arranged by the local angling club, Skanderborg Lystfiskerforening. Visit their home page at www.sandarten.dk. Other fishing competitions are arranged by Skanderborg Tourist Association, visit their homepage at www.skanderborg-tourism.dk, or contact the tourist association for further details. If you belong to a Danish or foreign association, which is interested in conducting a fishing competition in one of the Skanderborg Lakes, you must contact Skanderborg Tourist Association in order to obtain the licence to conduct the competition. At the same time, you will obtain the rules for angling in the lakes. Skanderborg Youth Hostel could, if preferred, attend to the practical details. Visit their homepage: www.skanderborg-danhostel.dk. |
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