Fish in Skanderborg Sø

Lots of fish to be caught

The lake Skanderborg Sø is one of the most beautiful and best places for angling in Denmark. The lake consists of four lake basins: The lake Ringkloster Sø to the southeast, the lake Store Sø towards the town of Skanderborg, the lake Hylke Sø to the southwest and the small lakes Vrold Sø and Tåning Sø to the west. However, only Store Sø and Hylke Sø are open to fishing by the public, and a fishing licence (valid for one day, one week or a year) is required.

The extensive lake area is inhabited by a very large population of mature predatory fish as well as numerous non-predatory fish. The lake has become clearer in recent years, which has resulted in a stable ecological balance between the various fish species. There are not as many non-predatory fish as before, and the pike population is growing. The character of the lake has changed fundamentally in recent years from being a typical green lake dominated by non-predatory fish to a lake with growing numbers of predatory fish. This has also meant that angling has seen a decline, but the anglers have by no means disappeared completely.

As angling with heavy pre-baiting is not optimum for the aquatic environment in the lakes, anglers may use a maximum of 0.5 kg of pre-baiting a day. Two major angling competitions may be held each year with a maximum of 60 participants. These events are particularly popular with anglers from the Netherlands, the UK and Germany.

Groups wanting to organise an angling competition with accommodation are welcome to contact the youth hostel Danhostel Skanderborg Vandrerhjem which is happy to assist with the planning. Visit the Danhostel website at www.skanderborg-danhostel.dk. For further information about fishing in the lake Skanderborg Sø, please visit the website of the Skanderborg Tourist Information Office at www.visitskanderborg.dk or the website of the local anglers’ association at www.sandarten.dk 

Fish in Skanderborg Sø

Predatory fish
Zander – Skanderborg Sø has for many years been known for its many and often large zander which thrive particularly well in the murky waters. The fish typically weigh 1-3 kg with a real possibility of catching some weighing more than 6-7 kg.

Pike – Skanderborg Sø has in recent years become almost world-famous for its excellent pike fishing. Several pike weighing more than the magical 10 kg have been caught. To safeguard the ecology of the lake, the local anglers’ association urges everybody to release all pike caught in the lake as it helps to maintain a sustainable number of non-predatory fish in the lake.

Trout – The original trout population is relatively small. This is attributable, among other things, to the less than optimum spawning conditions in the streams and river flowing into Skanderborg Sø. Each year, a large number of river trout is released, but the chances of survival are not as high for the released trout as for the original river trout population.

Lavaret – The lavaret in the Skanderborg lakes stem from releases as long ago as 1911-12. The fish are relatively numerous in the open waters, but relatively small.

Burbot – There is only a small burbot population.

Perch – The population of perch is abundant in the Skanderborg lakes. They are most frequently found in shallow waters and on inclines. It is quite exciting for tourists, birds and anglers when a group of perch chases small fish to the surface.

Eel – Skanderborg Sø originally had a very large eel population, but due, among other things, to the difficult access conditions, the population has been in constant decline for many years. However, following the massive release of approx. 49,000 eels a year, the population is now quite large again.

Non-predatory fish
Bream – The Skanderborg lakes have a considerable population of bream, and it is no coincidence that as many as three new angling world records have been set since 1994, the most recent standing at almost 150 kg of fish.

Roach – Roach is the most dominant non-predatory fish in the lake, and the population is characterised by many small roach along the shore. The fish measure 15-35 cm and never weigh more than 1 kg.

Ruffe – Ruffe are common in the lake, but slow-growing. Ruffe compete for food with bream and eel, and it would seem that the ruffe is not doing that well.

White bream – White bream resembles bream, but is much smaller and seldom grows longer than 30 cm. Most are found in Hylke Sø.

Rudd – The population is small and is not significant for anglers.

Put & Take
One of Denmark’s oldest and most beautifully situated put & take lakes is found in the Municipality of Skanderborg, more specifically in the valley of Aarhus Ådal at Pindsmøllevej near Hørning. In 2007, it is 25 years since Richard Borgbjerg turned a former fish farm into Pinds Mølle Put & Take, also known as “All the family’s favourite fishing place”. The facility consists of three lakes covering a total of 15,000 square metres stocked with perch, river trout, rainbow trout and eel. Once you have obtained a put & take fishing licence, you can also fish along a one-kilometre stretch of the river Aarhus Å, which is particularly popular with salmon and sea trout anglers in the autumn.

The put & take lakes provide access for the disabled, and thanks to wooden platforms along the lake shores, it is easy, for example, for wheelchair-users to come angling. At the same time, it is possible to drive right down to the lakes. Pinds Mølle Put & Take can make one of the smaller lakes available for special events for, for example, associations, institutions or private parties.

Pinds Mølle Put & Take is open 24 hours a day (kiosk only 8 am-4 pm), but fishing licences and some gear and bait can be bought from the vending machines. Read more at:  www.pindsmoelle.dk