WWW.SEATROUT.DK YOUR PLATFORM FOR CHASING SEA TROUT ON FYN, ÆRØ AND LANGELAND. HERE, YOU CAN FIND EVERYTHING YOU NEED IN YOUR QUEST FOR SEA TROUT APART FROM THE SALT WATER! Check out the interactive map of the 1,100 kilometres of sea trout coastline. For the first time, EVERYTHING you need has been brought together on one sea trout map. There are 117 fishing spots with satellite photos, topographical maps, descriptions of fishing spots, seasonal recommendations, conservation zones, special rules, etc. – all right at your fingertips whenever you need it!
WHERE TO CATCH A SEA TROUT? You can also:
• Find accommodation at a certified anglers’ establishment • Book the island’s best sea trout angler as your own guide • Watch a video about fishing for sea trout • Follow our work to promote Fyn’s sea-trout stocks • Read news from the coasts, the fishing guides and partners • Gain new knowledge about sea trout and practical fishing • See conservation zone information and fishing rules for Fyn’s coastlines
2 · SEATROUT.DK
Trout a e S d n i F Fyn on
Celebrating Sea Trout Funen IN 2020, SEA TROUT FUNEN CELEBRATES ITS 30TH ANNIVERSARY. SINCE 1990, OUR MAIN FOCUS HAS BEEN ON INCREASING SEA TROUT NUMBERS ALONG THE COAST. THIS GOAL HAS BEEN ACHIEVED BY CREATING THE BEST POSSIBLE CONDITIONS FOR SEA TROUT IN FUNEN’S RIVERS AND STREAMS. The Sea Trout Funen project is the realization of a dream, a desire to make environmental work and solid sea trout stocks go hand in hand with the creation of green jobs and attracting more angling tourists. This unique concept combining nature conservation, business and job creation, has succeeded beyond all expectations. In articles in leading European angling magazines, the Danish angling for sea trout is being praised as something worth traveling for. The fact that Funen today offers such excellent coastal sea trout fishing is largely due to the visionary work done by Funen’s municipalities to restore the streams, i.e. by removing hundreds of barriers, large and small. Now that the barriers that slowed or prevented the movement of migrating sea trout have been removed, the mature sea trout can reach the very best spawning stretches, which are typically found at the head of the rivers’ smaller tributaries.
Follow that gravel road Successful spawning also depends on good physical conditions in the streams, e.g. suitable gravel bottom, because gravel constitutes an important spawning habitat for fish. Unfortunately, many rivers had lost their natural gravel beds. To remedy this, load after load of spawning gravel has been distributed in rivers and streams. The bottom line of the many successful river restoration projects is that more sea trout spawn. This results in more smolts leaving the rivers. Ultimately, anglers experience the difference as a greater chance of feeling that unmistakable powerful tug of a sea trout when fishing along the coasts of Funen. It’s that simple: cause and effect!
An old water mill prevents the migrating sea trout from accessing the river upstream.
The same stream after a river restoration project. Free passage means more trout.
More than 5 million euros invested Since its inception in 1990, Sea Trout Funen has provided financial support to more than 150 river restoration projects. Over the past 30 years, 5.4 million euros have been spent on removing barriers, creating spawning grounds and distributing larger stones that provide hiding places for the fry.
Stocking with sea trout fry Alongside the great work carried out to ensure the best conditions for the stocks of wild fish, sea trout fry (smolts) are stocked in the rivers and streams. Each and every one of them has Funen ancestors, their parents having been wild sea trout caught during the annual electrofishing in local streams. The stunned parent fish are scooped up in a net and placed in a temporary holding tank where they can revive. Later, the sea trout are transported to Funens Laksefisk, a modern land-based hatchery, where the fish then are ‘stripped’ of their eggs and milt. At the hatchery, optimal survival of the fertilized eggs is ensured by placing them in trays with cold, clean and well oxygenated water flowing through them. Funens Laksefisk is a modern hatchery that makes use of recirculation aquaculture technology where the same water is purified then recycled. This renders the hatchery pollution-free. SEATROUT.DK · 3
Electrofishing for ‘mother fish’. The silvery smolts are 12-15 centimetres when released into streams from where they migrate into the sea.
Immediate, tangible results The sea trout respond almost immediately when something good is done to their environment. Shortly after the removal of an obstacle, sea trout running the river will colonize the stretches higher up the river system. Biologists use electrofishing to assess the reproductive success of the sea trout. These studies have concluded on a year to year progress in the vast majority of rivers and streams at Funen, Ærø and Langeland. Sea trout and their fry are found to be present at an increasing number of the sites monitored, and the density of sea trout is increasing as well.
Blue and green streams 29% 29%
22%
14%
16% 12%
Ecological status Trout index (DDFVø)
26% 29%
9% 14%
2009-2018 200-2009
High Good Moderate Bad/Not satisfactory Bad – no juvenile trout found
The figure on the left shows the result of biologists’ electrofishing at 389 different sites on rivers and streams on Funen and the islands. At more than half (51 %) of the surveyed sites, the density of trout were found to be optimal – the blue and green columns. Though trout were caught at 40 % of the sites – the yellow and orange columns - there still appears to be an untapped potential here. In other words, more trout can live in those streams, provided the physical conditions improve. Finally, trout were found to be completely absent at 9 % of the stations monitored – the red columns. Source: www.fiskepleje.dk
The last barriers In the coming years, Sea Trout Funen will focus on getting rid of the remaining barriers. This will give the sea trout access to the upper reaches of the rivers and streams where no trout live today. The yellow and orange stretches of streams and creeks also call for active efforts to exploit the full potential and to create high densities of trout fry. The final goal is to have 100 % blue and green rivers and streams everywhere on Funen and the islands.
Many volunteer hands The Sea Trout Funen project is entirely dependent on the many volunteer anglers. It is they who carry out the restoration projects, help electrofish parent fish and release the reared smolts into the rivers. The many enthusiastic volunteers are organized by the Board of Good Streamside Management, an umbrella organization for 27 angling associations at Funen. Among the many good ideas spawned by the Board is the “Gravel Gang”. This group of dedicated volunteers spend their free time helping to make the streams of Funen even better places for the trout to live in. As the name suggests, laying spawning gravel is the Gravel Gang’s most important activity.
4 · SEATROUT.DK
More wild fish It’s hard to imagine how only a few decades ago, Funen was ‘notorious’ as the region in Denmark with many beautiful rivers and only one problem: they had no trout in them! The problems were many, from barriers to pollution and deterioration of the streams’ physical conditions. This is now history! Funen and the islands can boast of being the region in Denmark with the highest density of trout in its streams. In 2017, the Technical University of Denmark (DTU Aqua) estimated the annual production of smolts in the streams of Funen to be approximately 120,000. However, to achieve natural and sustainable stocks this number has to be multiplied. If we are to achieve our goal, the last major barriers have to be removed and more hiding places must be created for the fry.
Fewer trout caught at sea Sea Trout Funen also fights for more sustainable regulation of sea trout fisheries at sea. Progress in this field has been made in recent years when new rules have been introduced for the use of nets. In cooperation with its partners, Sea Trout Funen works to extend these visionary ways of managing the fishery at a national level. In order to rebuild and sustain stocks of large sea trout, other measures are under consideration, such as introducing ‘bag limits’, limiting the number of fish anglers and net-fishers can take home. Other suggestions include changing the sea trout’s minimum sizes and introducing a longer closed season for mature (coloured) fish.
An even brighter future Excellent angling for sea trout is to the delight and benefit of many. Locals will benefit from the jobs that are created as well as the superb angling along the coasts. Anglers visiting from far and wide will increase the turnover in the local economy. Moreover, this increase in turnover produces additional tax revenues which approximately offsets the municipalities’ contributions to Sea Trout Funen. Not least the sea trout will benefit from even better conditions in streams and along the coasts going forward. Seen in this light, we have much to look forward to.
Tight Lines!
Publisher: Sea Trout Fyn / www.seatrout.dk Editor: Martin Porsborg Hemrich Print run: 26.000 in total Layout: Omar Bo Gade Print: Printconnect Translation: Thomas Vinge Photos: Johannes Radtke, Terkel Broe Christensen, Finn Sivebæk, Omar Bo Gade, Jakob Sørensen, Jonas Høholt, Mauro Barbacci, Stefano Ticchiati, Jan Kamman, Andre Miegies, Herard Nachtigal Cover: Robert Weijman - Jan Kamman
The Sea Trout Funen Secretariat
SEATROUT.DK · 5
AN ITALIAN SEA TROUT AFICIONADO ONE OF THE SACRED FISHING SPOTS ON FUNEN IS THE HELNÆS PENINSULA. ITS GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION IS IDEAL AS IT OFFERS FISHING IN BOTH A SHELTERED BAY AND ON THE OPEN SEA, OFF THE MORE WIND EXPOSED COAST. THE AREA IS ALSO ATTRACTIVE
BECAUSE IT DOES NOT TAKE LONG TO GET FROM ONE FISHING SPOT TO ANOTHER. STAFANO TICCHIATI, A PASSIONATE ITALIAN SEA TROUT ANGLER, GIVES YOU HIS TAKE ON FLY FISHING STRATEGY AND FLIES FOR SEA TROUT.
By: Stefano Ticchiati Convincing my father and brother to head north on a fishing holiday was in the bag after a friend of mine had suggested going to Denmark to challenge sea trout in salt water. I live in Italy and have a passion for fly fishing and chasing wild fish in wild places, and in fact, my friend’s suggestion revealed to be one of the best tips I’ve ever been given! Prior to our visit to Denmark we had no experience with sea trout as this species doesn’t occur in the Mediterranean, its salinity of 4 % undoubtedly being too high for salmonids. Along the coast of the Danish inland waters, the water has a salt content of only 1-2 %, which is obviously perfect for sea trout.
Choosing our destination Based on our initial research, we decided to head to Helnæs, a peninsula located in south-western Funen near the town of Assens. We would go there in spring as this is when the days begin to lengthen. At the same time, as the water temperature rises, the sea trout will start hunting for prey along the coast throughout the day. I, for my part, would challenge the sea trout with my fly rod, while my father and my brother would use spinning outfits.
Four-legged conservationists The Helnæs peninsula is connected to the main island of Fyn by a narrow 1.5 kilometre long isthmus that can be crossed by car. Once you are out on this near-island, woods alternate with cultivated fields and you’ll meet some magnificent woolly specimens of Scottish highland cattle with their upward curving horns. Cows in meadows are a typical feature of the Danish countryside and these four-legged conservationists ensure the area hasn’t become forest and scrub. Grazing keeps the vegetation in a semi-natural state, giving as many plants as possible favourable growing conditions. Not only plants but also many species of insects, amphibians and birds benefit from the grazing animals. 6 · SEATROUT.DK
The sacred point Following the peninsula’s single main road one fine April morning, we arrive at the highest point with a magnificent lighthouse approximately 30 metres above sea level. On an adjacent wheat field, we remark a single-chamber megalithic tomb, a “dolmen” from the Stone Age 4000 to 5000 years ago. A testimony to the fact that this land has been inhabited since ancient times when it was considered sacred. In Danish, Helnæs means the sacred point. Looking down along the coast from the light house hill, we discover what looks like perfect sea trout territory: Dark seaweed beds alternating with large rocks, small bays and alluring spots.
A sheltered bay The isthmus connecting the Helnæs peninsula to the mainland creates a large sheltered bay, which attracts many species of sea birds. This is also where sea trout find refuge from the prevailing western winds during the winter months. The geographical position of the peninsula is a significant advantage from the point of view of fishing as you don’t need
this seaweed and in the midst of it that the sea trout search for prey in the form of small fish, shrimps, crustaceans (gammarus) and sea worms.
When the rag worms breed Ragworms (Nereididae) breed once during the spring and then die. At this time of year, it is by no means rare to see them moving on the sand or swimming in mid water. The sea trout and sea birds like terns and gulls see these proteinpacked delicacies too! The very first time I fished the bay I learned how important
a boat to go there. And, traveling by car, you can quickly and easily move from one fishing spot to another, and to do so several times during a day.
The wind factor We soon learned that on the day, your decision to either fish within the bay or on the more wind exposed spots facing the open sea largely depends on the direction of the wind. In a strong westerly wind, the bay offers shelter, for the sea trout and the fly fisherman alike. On days when the wind blows from the east, you will normally choose the west coast, facing the open sea, so as to fish sheltered from strong gusts of wind.
Wade fishing The land around the shallow, sandy bay is characterized by reed belts alternating with meadows and the charming gardens of the cottages overlooking the bay. You fish in waders, and it is important to move cautiously so as not to alarm the fish. Out on the sandy bottom you will easily identify patches of seaweed. It is in the vicinity of
these worms can be as a prey for the sea trout in early spring. It was a calm, windless and foggy morning. In the dim light, both the worms and their flying and swimming predators were active and as the first rays of sun broke through the fog, a magnificent bright sea trout was deceived by a worm imitation tied on a streamer hook.
Careful wading Success depends not just on choosing the correct fly. Remembering to wade carefully is equally important, as the fish are easily spooked by splashing or if you stumble on stones. SEATROUT.DK · 7
A mistake, sea trout anglers often make is to stay in one place for too long. One key to successful sea trout fishing is to be dynamic and continuously on the move. This can be on foot within the chosen spot, or involve moving to a different area in search of actively feeding fish.
Fishing from a boat Fly fishing the coast is best done wading, although fishing from a boat will enable you to cover more water than fishing from the shore. In a boat you can reach distant spots and they can be covered by casting from the boat. Or, once you reach an interesting – shallow – spot, you can get out of the boat and cover the area wading.
Fishing the west coast To access the fishing spots along the west coast of Helnæs, you can park your car in one of the lay-bys along the main road. The coast is then only a short walk through green meadows and fields. The lay-bys along the road have benches and tables where you can relax and enjoy a packed lunch as you contemplate the view over the water. The parking areas along the roads have signs which include topographical maps and more specific information for anglers.
Boulder-strewn territory Compared to the inner bay, the west coast of the Helnæs peninsula is very different. The water is deeper and the bottom is strewn with boulders. This is a dream hunting ground for sea trout which also offers refuge from predators such as birds, seals and porpoises. You have to take care while wade fishing here because the seaweed on the rocks can make them very slippery.
Hunting porpoises Porpoises often pass by very close to the coast, terrorizing
the smaller sea trout. Contrary to what you’d expect, you can catch sea trout in the vicinity of porpoises. Close to the shore, that is, as it seems that the sea trout take refuge here when porpoises are about. Some anglers have caught sea trout immediately after hunting porpoises have passed by. Perhaps these sea trout profit by taking the herring and sand eel that were injured but not eaten by the porpoises.
The Piglet fly Being a passionate fly-tier, I tie my own flies. Some of them imitate small baitfish while others mimic shrimps, gammarus and ragworms. The local favourite is a very special fly called “Pattegrisen” (= the Piglet). It is a pink shrimp pattern with a long and lively spey hackle. Personally, I have had most success with a light olive shrimp pattern using so-called “cul de canard” feathers from a duck. I tie this fly on small size 10 single hooks.
The importance of colour In clear and calm water, I choose naturally coloured flies approximately the same size as the sea trout’s live prey. On days when the water is cloudier and contains a lot of suspended sand, I use larger flies in bright colours, such as pink, orange or fluorescent yellow. The “Pattegrisen” is the pattern of choice under such conditions.
The stuff dreams are made of During my first trip to Denmark, while fishing on the west coast of Helnæs, my miniature imitation of a shrimp was snapped up by a specimen sea trout. It fought very hard and only after a prolonged fight was I lucky enough to land it. A mighty, bright sea trout measuring 70 centimetres and weighing approximately 4 kilos. That’s the stuff dreams are made of!
HOT STRATEGIES FOR COLD-WEATHER
By: Johannes Radtke Photos: Kim Lohse & Johannes Radtke 10 · SEATROUT.DK
SEA TROUT
A SEVERE DROP IN TEMPERATURE, AN EXTREMELY LOW TIDE AND NO WIND AT ALL. SUCH CONDITIONS ARE NOT CONDUCIVE TO SEA TROUT FISHING AND YOU MAY ASK YOURSELF IF FISHING IS WORTH THE EFFORT? MOST ANGLERS WILL CONSIDER HEADING FOR HOME… BUT NOT ALL. JOHANNES RADTKE IS THE TYPE OF ANGLER WHO IS NOT PUT OFF BY ‘HOPELESS’ CONDITIONS. FOR WHAT IF…? The sleeping sea is dark, its surface like molten lead, and save for a faint line along the horizon, it is difficult to differentiate between the water and the mist laden sky above. It is early March, and I’m not sure I’d ever seen the sea as dark and calm as this before. I feel drowsy, almost lethargic, a sluggish tiredness resulting from the celebration of our first day on holiday the night before. Shouldn’t we just accept that the fishing conditions are far from favourable, be pragmatic about it, and return to the cottage to relax and hope for better weather later on?
A morning person My fishing pal Kim doesn’t mind the shuddering morning cold, or the fact that it is only half past seven. Having a job that involves early morning hours, he is used to being up with the chickens. As we put on our neoprene waders with slow, stiff movements, the thermometer shows +1 degree Celsius. It doesn’t look that fishy, but we have agreed to give it a try anyway.
Ultra-light gear If indeed there are any trout about, light tackle is not just another option, it is the only option. This morning, I opt for a weight 5 rod and a reel loaded with a clear intermediate shooting head. The choice of fly is an easy one. The previous day two nice fish in the two pound range both took a lightly dressed, red-headed grey streamer tied on a size 8 single hook. Having proved to work well, I see no need to change it and I tie it to the end of a 0.21 mm fluorocarbon tippet.
Temperature drop As I wade out into the bay, I notice that the water level is almost half a meter lower than usual. At this time of year, small prey fish and gammarus are present in the shallow water along the coasts. But not on this morning. It looks as if life never existed here. But there’s an explanation for everything: I submerge a thermometer to check the water temperature and during the night it has dropped from five degrees Celsius to three.
A cold start I decide to start fishing where the water is deepest at this spot. Kim takes the opposite direction and starts casting from the shore. To begin with, my casting is atrocious. Only half awake and with stiff fingers, I struggle to control the thin and smooth monofilament shooting line as well as the 12 metre-long shooting head. Thirty-metre casts with a stretched leader remain a distant dream. Although, I gradually feel my casting improve, I probably don’t need to mention that not much is going on out there where the fly is performing...
Exploration at low tide If there is one positive thing to be said about the conditions this morning SEATROUT.DK · 11
12 · SEATROUT.DK
it is that it is possible to wade out much further than usual. Actually, it’s quite exciting to wade out and take a closer look at some of the spots where I have previously caught sea trout. “Oh! These large boulders explain the way a flock of sea trout was as glued to this particular spot last year.” – Wow! A whole school of fish! I am dragged back to reality by a shout from Kim. As I turn around and look towards where he is standing, I see a faint disturbance in the water in front of him. Only now do I realize how far I’ve waded out from the shore. Kim is still standing on the shore and I figure out that the school of fish was frightened by his fly line landing among them.
A perfect line loop All of a sudden, I am awake and fully concentrated. As I wade closer, I strip line down into the line basket in preparation for making a cast in what I presume to be the direction of the
fish. It is satisfying to see the line forming a perfect loop in the air, but there is not the slightest reaction to the fly, even though there must be fish in the vicinity. A serious mistake Kim, too, makes targeted casts along the probable course of the school of sea trout. Since nothing happens, I stop casting to concentrate on scanning every square foot of surface to both sides. – Hey! Uh! Wasn’t that a tail I just saw? Though I’m not entirely certain, I yell at Kim and point to what I suppose are fish. I wade slowly and as silently as possible in the same direction as my prey. Kim follows parallel to me at a distance of 30 metres. Then I begin to doubt myself and think perhaps I’m making all this up in my head. Maybe we both have just mistaken a coincidental wave for something else. After all, it doesn’t make sense for a sea trout to be cruising in ice cold water barely 30 centimetres deep.
SEATROUT.DK · 13
The bow-wave With all my senses open, I stand still waiting in an attempt not to scare the fish, if there are any. It is then that the fish makes a fatal mistake. By getting a little too close to the surface, the water lifts in a way that certainly cannot be written off as a coincidental wave. And the fish is within casting range. Now take your time and don’t screw up the cast, I think to myself. I have to give the line time to roll out above the water’s surface to make sure the fly flutters downward gently. Nothing is more important now than making sure the heavy shooting head doesn’t land with a splash...
The perfect cast I cast and then succeed in perfectly slowing down the shooting head at the end of the cast causing the fly line and leader to land silently onto the water. The small red-headed fly takes the water as gently as a feather, right in the middle of the vortex. The fly immediately starts moving away in short, quick twitches. A flicker on the surface, one metre from the fly, quickly grows into a bow wave. A mute resistance propagates through the fly line and I extend my line hand backwards to raise the rod and set the hook. – Yes! Hooked!
Is it a kelt? Although the fish doesn’t run immediately after I hook it, I don’t make the mistake of assuming that I have hooked a small fish. The way it behaves makes me think that it may be a kelt.
A bright surprise The flexible, supple rod absorbs the shocks caused by the
fish’s violent head movements, preventing the tippet of my line from breaking. I move backwards on the sandy bottom, stripping line to keep the fish tight. The fish follows and the broad back of a nice trout with dime-bright flanks shows for just a moment as it turns. The fish must be in the mid-sixties. – It’s no kelt! I cry out loud. – It’s a bright maiden fish!
Full throttle Now its true identity has been revealed, the fish turns on a dime and, full throttle, initiates a breath-taking run. In a matter of seconds, it empties all the line from the basket. Then it steals another 20 metres from the fly reel as it stubbornly heads straight for a group of boulders. Trying to keep up with the fish, I run through the water, spraying water in every direction.
On a short tether Still out on a long line, the fish starts tracing big circles on the surface. When it turns and starts following, I reel in at full force to get the backing and the fly line back on the reel. I keep my quarry on a short tether from the moment it seems to begin to surrender. Then, just as I think it’s time to net him, the fish tries a new tactic: jumping, twisting, and turning, again and again, whipping the water into foam. Fearing that he will eventually throw the fly, I take a few quick steps forward in an attempt to get my net under the fish. The move is successful and I simply can’t contain a vociferous outburst of joy. Only now do I realize that Kim is actually standing right next to me, camera in hand and capturing me as I catch that magnificent sea trout. We embrace each other. What a fish! And what a feat to deceive it against all odds this particular morning, one we had otherwise deemed hopeless.
Facts
FREEZING BRIGHT SEA TROUT
14 · SEATROUT.DK
ON COLD, QUIET DAYS IN EARLY SPRING, A PECULIAR PHENOMENON CAN BE EXPERIENCED IN THE SHALLOW WATERS ALONG THE COAST WHERE SCHOOLS OF BRIGHT TROUT ARE CRUISING JUST BENEATH THE SURFACE. AND IT IS NOT FOOD THEY ARE AFTER. WHAT ATTRACTS THEM ARE LOWER SALINITY AND A HIGHER WATER TEMPERATURE. THE EXPLANATION FOR THIS PHENOMENON IS THAT BECAUSE FRESH WATER IS LIGHTER THAN SALT WATER, IT WILL CONCENTRATE JUST BELOW THE SURFACE, PROVIDING THE WEATHER IS CALM AND THERE ARE NO WAVES. EVEN UNDER HEAVY CLOUD COVER, THE ENERGY FROM THE SUN’S RAYS HEATS UP THE WATER SLIGHTLY. IT IS THIS FAVOURABLE COMBINATION OF WATER A LITTLE WARMER AND SLIGHTLY LESS SALTY THAN FARTHER OUT, THAT ATTRACTS THE WINTER SEA TROUT TO THE SHALLOW WATERS.
BOOK THE BEST SEA TROUT ANGLERS OF THE ISLES
FISHING GUIDES ON FYN, LANGELAND AND ÆRØ
TURBO-CHARGE YOUR FISHING FOR SEA TROUT: SEA TROUT FYN IS 1,100 KM OF SEA TROUT COAST DISTRIBUTED ACROSS 90 ISLANDS – AND THE KEY TO SUCCESSFUL FISHING IS KNOWING PRECISELY WHERE, WHEN AND HOW TO FISH. YOU CAN MEET A PROFESSIONAL FISHING GUIDE WITH LOCAL, UP-TO-DATE KNOWLEDGE OF THE COASTLINES, WHO WILL MAKE A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE TO YOU AND YOUR FISHING.
Pricer:
1/2 day (4 hours): DKK 2,000 1/1 day (8 hours): DKK 3,000 Meet us at WWW.SEATROUT.DK
DANISH FLY FISHING – AN AMERICAN PERSPECTIVE DRIVING THROUGH THE DANISH COUNTRYSIDE ON MY WAY TO THE SOUTH SIDE OF FYN, I FOUND MYSELF WINDING THROUGH GRASSY FIELDS SCATTERED WITH COTTAGES AND FARM HOMES BUILT PROBABLY IN THE EARLY 1800’S. COMING FROM THE WESTERN UNITED STATES WHERE EVERYTHING WAS BUILT IN THE LAST HUNDRED YEARS, AND MOST OF THE HOMES IN THE LAST FIFTY, SEEING THE HALFTIMBERED BUILDINGS, THATCHED ROOFS, AND STONE WALL AND HEDGELINED PROPERTIES ALONE WAS A TREAT.
Slowing down time Occasionally I passed through villages so quaint that the only way to know they are a proper incorporation is by the official name place sign, and maybe a single store. Only few of these villages have a name easy enough to pronounce and remember for an American like me. Traveling somewhere new always seems to slow time down, as the brain is on high alert absorbing every little detail, sign and turn, so that you don’t get lost; or at least you can find your way back if you do. I found this to be true yet again. After passing through one of these villages and a few
By: Sean M. Hays, Tucson, Arizona USA 16 · SEATROUT.DK
more turns and twists, finally I was finding myself driving along the ocean. There was a slight fog, but that did not keep me from scouring the water for any sign of the Danish sea run brown trout that I had been reading about from my home in Tucson, Arizona. My eyes spotted nothing, but of course they had to quickly return to the road and the spectacular emerald countryside.
‘Virtual guiding’ Normally I like the challenge of learning how to catch trout in an area on my own, but it sometimes takes time and can produce no fish. I was in Denmark on business, and only had a day and a half to play. I decided that a guide would help me get the most out of my time. Back at home I turned to GlobalFlyfisher.com. When I started my search, I only knew that some salmonoids could be found in the area, but I wasn’t sure which varieties, let alone where, or what the local regulations were. I quickly learned that both salmon and trout swim in these fresh and salt waters. Martin Jørgensen, who runs GlobalFlyfisher.com from his hometown in Copenhagen, was very helpful in connecting me with my guide. My trip fell into place, making it possible for the quick weekend jaunt.
Angling license Obtaining the mandatory national angling license (Fisketegn in Danish) was quite easy and relatively inexpensive, by visiting the website. Apart from that, fishing in salt water is free for all. So, me and my guide drove back through those winding
roads with the vast ocean to our side. We passed the areas where my eyes scoured for any sign of life, and I knew the decision to hire a guide was the right one. We arrived at a parking lot with several walkers and bikers in yet another small town. The weather was nice for September. It was a sunny morning with few clouds and a bit of wind. The community was taking advantage of it. This is what I expected in Denmark.
Getting started Before this trip, I never thought of Denmark as a fly fishing destination, so I was surprised to see another fly fisher at the parking lot. It was a bit like a ‘hot spot’ experience in the Northwestern United States where there are often a couple of cars parked in the lot. Apparently, the fellow angler was a famous caster from the region. He and my guide chatted a bit in Danish and my guide reported to me that the other angler had caught a few sea trout, but that the fishing was a bit slow. Some days are like that, even for the best. So, we proceeded
to put on our chest waders and set up a 12-foot leader and tippet with a pink shrimp and a smaller white-tan shrimp dropper another foot and a half behind.
The Devil’s breath Once rigged, we walked out to the ocean side bay on a long sandy trail cutting through lush rose hips with our eyes again fixed on the surface of the bay for trout movement. On the rocky beach, the water was crystal clear. Apparently, this is normal. It was easy to see through the glassy sea water to the wave-worn rounded rocks and kelp, where I would navigate my artificial shrimp. The ocean was relatively calm, but there was enough wind to break its surface and my attempt at a long-distance cast as well. When fishing for Danish browns – sea trout – in the sea you’re best casting fifty to sixty-five feet (that’s 15 to 20 meters for the rest of the world). I was fishing my 8.5-foot 5 weight with the Devil’s breath cutting perfectly across from my right-handed cast to the left. SEATROUT.DK · 17
As I am more accustomed to delicate casts in small streams and rivers, it was challenging for me as I tried to reintroduce myself to parts of my fly line that I have not seen in a long time.
Covering the big ocean Sometimes when you meet an old friend after a long hiatus, you jump right back into the rhythm, and sometimes the conversation is awkward. The reunion with the back half of my line was definitely a calamity. A serious case of Fly Fisher’s Conflict set in. The more I tried to cast my line out, the worse my cast became. I stopped trying to drop my fly on the shores of Jutland and conceded that I would not be casting the desired distance. Finally, I was able to work with the wind to a small degree and at least have my line in the water most of the time. I began stripping the shrimps in a one-one-two, one-one-two cadence. This is the presentation tactic. Between each cast and retrieval, my guide instructed me to take two steps to the
18 · SEATROUT.DK
right in order to cover a lot of water; after all, there is a big ocean out there! After covering a good distance, it was time to move on to new water. Fishing an ocean is much different from fishing a river. It’s not a question of whether the trout are taking or not, it’s a question of whether the trout are there in the first place. Finding them is a bit random.
A good day out there Back through the sandy trail to the cars and another short drive to the other side of the bay. Before reading about the Danish sea trout fishing, I would never have guessed that I would fish in such conditions. I was already enjoying the experience. Every fisherman knows it’s a good day when you have a chance to hold a cast-ready rod in your hand while standing outside in or near a body of water. Having the magical Danish landscape surrounding me made this day much sweeter. In
hindsight, it is likely a great place to bring your significant other that does not fish. They would enjoy exploring the local villages, leaving you to search for the day’s catch.
Into a fish My guide knew exactly where to go. We slowly waded out deeper into the sea, careful not to make too much noise or slip into the water. Almost instantly we ran into a school of sea trout. This time the wind was at my back, making the long distance cast much easier, but the porpoising targets were still a stretch for me. Wading deep with the chest waders, relaxing my cast, and positioning to keep the wind working with me on the forward cast, I was able to reach the trout. It only took a couple casts and I was into a fish. Bliss. The muscles and tendons in my hand and forearm kicked into action, keeping the rod tip as high as possible, though the 5 weight did its best to point back down at the water. Very quickly I pulled the silvery brown trout closer and eventually
parked it into the net. My childish ego kicked in, “Mom, mom: look what I caught!”.
I’ll be back There were more fish out in that bay, but after catching the first one they must have communicated. For the rest of my casts always fell short about ten feet. Before noon, we tried yet another area where I managed to hook one more trout. That night I had a really good night’s sleep. The next morning, I went out on my own. With only a couple of hours, I wanted to have a little more fun before my business travels continued… While I left many uncaught fish and a few new friends behind, I brought the memories home, and the hope to return to Denmark fly fishing again someday.
SEATROUT.DK · 19
HOOKED ON SEA TROUT DUTCH ANGLER JAN KAMMAN CAUGHT HIS FIRST DANISH SEA TROUT 25 YEARS AGO. SINCE THEN, HE HAS BEEN LURED BACK TIME AND TIME AGAIN TO EXPERIENCE SUPERB SEA TROUT FISHING AND GOOD FRIENDSHIP WITH OTHER ANGLERS. THIS IS HIS STORY ABOUT HOW HE TACKLES THE DANISH SEA TROUT. When I first ventured to Denmark with my fishing buddy Michel, we had heard that catching a sea trout could require a thousand casts or more. After two fishless days and well in excess of the anecdotal thousand casts, our faith waned with each new cast. The April weather was definitely to blame. In short, we experienced harsh and bitterly cold winds combined with temperatures around zero. Some of the passing rain showers even bombarded us with hail.
A sheltered spot On the third day of our trip we decide to have a go at a small reef called Korsebølle, on the west coast of the island of Langeland. Our hope is, that having the wind coming in from our left side, we will be able to fly fish there. Things look promising when we arrive and we agree to give the spot an hour. Michel heads off a little further to the right as I pull fly line off the reel and make my first cast obliquely off the reef. Just as I start retrieving, I notice a sharp tug in my line and
By: Jan Kamman
20 · SEATROUT.DK
see an impressive swirl at the surface. The next instant, the fish starts pulling line straight off my reel. The deeply arched rod signals unmistakably that this is serious business and Michel comes running to help with the netting. The very thought of the many thousand casts made the preceding days simply vanishes, as the fish starts to tire and is finally netted. This is how I caught my first Danish saltwater sea trout back in 1994. Both my fishing pal and I were well and truly ‘hooked’ and returned a month later, in May. We even arranged a third trip in the fall that first year. It’s probably fair to say we had become addicted to fly fishing for sea trout!
Back home again Over the 15 years that followed, I regularly set off to fish on Funen. Then came a time when I was eager to try fishing destinations in other countries. When, some five years ago, I eventually returned to Funen, it felt good to be ‘back home’ again. Now the annual sea trout trip to Funen has once again become a recurrent tradition.
I have found that the sea trout fishing has improved in the intervening years: today there are far more trout swimming along the coasts of Funen than when I first tried my luck there some 25 years ago.
Fishing company I’ve always enjoyed fishing with other people because I like to share a good thing with someone else as crazy about fishing as I am. Fishing together with someone else means the sea no longer seems so vast and together, you can cover a larger stretch of coast. In the morning, we talk about where to go in relation to the wind. Maybe we’ve got a few tips from the local tackle shop that we want to check out. Before setting off to go fishing, we often visit Google Earth to get an impression of spots along the coast – as they are from a bird’s perspective.
Wave-loving sea trout Stormy weather with the wind driving straight at the shore can make fishing impossible. And tail winds are seldom positive either, even though casting a fly is easier with the wind coming from your back. The problem with wind coming from the shore is the absence of waves. For the fish, waves that agitate the water make for optimal hunting conditions. For the angler, it’s easier to approach the sea trout without scaring them when the wind is blowing. A moderate breeze blowing onto the shore creates a favourable combination of wind and waves and slightly murky water is only an advantage. During a day’s fishing, we will visit three or four spots, fishing each of them for a few hours. If we catch fish, we may stay a little longer. If nothing happens and we begin to lose faith in the place, it is time to move on. In angling, faith is the most important factor as it makes you fish better, increasing the chances of catching a fish.
Keep your flies wet If you live on Funen, you can choose when and under what conditions you want to fish. As a visitor with only a few days at your disposal, you have no choice but to deal with the weather situation as it is here and now. Over the years we have landed fish under a huge variety of weather conditions. Sea trout have taken the fly on sunny days at 25 degrees Celsius, when you might have thought the conditions were better for swimming than for fishing. At the other end of the scale, we have experienced phenomenal fishing during severe hail storms on five-degree Celsius ‘cold’ days. Fly casting when the wind is howling can be quite a challenge. Another challenge is to find places where you can get the fly in the water at all. But as long as you have the fly in the water, there is a chance of hooking up with a hard-fighting sea trout. Maybe the most important thing is to dress according to the conditions. Feeling warm and comfortable helps to keep your spirits up and to fish all day.
Tandem tactics A good tactic when two anglers fish together can be for one to start fishing while the other continues about 50 metres to the right or left and start his fishing there. Not infrequently, the sea trout swim only a few metres from the shore. So in most places you should not wade more than
SEATROUT.DK · 21
knee-deep and concentrate on covering the water close to land. Most casts are made across the coast, but don’t forget to make some casts parallel with the beach, too. After each cast, you take one or two steps sideward. Then, when you reach the spot where your partner started his fishing, you wade out a little further than him and carry on fishing from there. This allows two anglers to effectively cover a long stretch. And both will be fishing ‘virgin’ water.
Aim for the hotspots It is not enough just to cast the fly out into the sea and then retrieve it. Ideally, each cast should be targeted, with the aim of covering a hotspot, e.g. boulders or the edge between the sandy bottom and the dark forests of kelp and eelgrass. Quite often, you will be able to spot the sea trout simply 22 · SEATROUT.DK
by looking for swirls or ‘bulges’ on the water’s surface. A chasing sea trout like this will be a willing taker. Therefore, keep looking for ‘nervous water’ or water that has a slightly different surface texture, and be ready to target it immediately with your fly.
Stretch the leader To me, it is very important for the leader to ‘turn over’ perfectly before my fly hits the water. The thing to avoid is the leader and tippet landing in a heap. It is much better to cast a few metres shorter with a stretched leader than constantly trying to make long casts, often resulting in a poor presentation of the fly. Remember that nobody can cast 50 metres with a fly rod anyway, and most trout swim just 5-15 metres from land – or closer yet.
Your optimal casting distance
Line selection
Any fly fisherman has an optimal casting distance but in order to achieve optimal presentation it is often worth shortening it down by a metre or so. This ensures that the loop of line rolls out perfectly with both line and leader stretching out before falling to the water. It feels as if the line is trying to get a little further. It is held back by the reel and this resistance causes the leader to advance further at the end of the cast. A sea trout can take at any time during a retrieve. Sometimes even at the very moment you are about to lift the fly out of the water for the next cast. However, most sea trout take within the first few metres of a retrieve.
The basic gear for sea trout is simple. Personally, I prefer a weight 6 or 7 rod, a saltwater resistant fly reel with a floating or intermediate fly line and a long leader. Another option is the so-called ‘hover line’: an ultra-slow-sinking line that ‘hangs’ close to the surface. Both hover and intermediate lines provide better contact with the fly when fishing in waves.
Long leader An intermediate poly leader is attached at the end of the fly line. A 0.25 mm tippet finishes the set-up. You may want to opt for a slightly thicker tippet as it reduces the risk of tangling. The total length of the leader should be around 4.5 metres (15 feet). SEATROUT.DK · 23
Ultimately, your choice of rod is always a matter of taste and many sea trout anglers prefer a slightly heavier class 8 rod and a shorter leader, and catch fish with it.
Large landing net A fishing net, a line basket and polaroid sunglasses complete the equipment. The landing net helps you to land the sea trout in less time. Especially if it is to be released, it is important to stress the fish as little as possible. Rubber nets are ideal, as they are less likely to harm your catch. The fish can stay briefly in the net in the water while your fishing pal grabs his camera to take a few good photos. When choosing a net, go for a relatively large and deep one: big enough to hold the biggest fish of your life!
That all-important line basket When fishing from the coast, line management is a big issue and a line basket is a great help when it comes to preventing your fly line from getting tangled. Otherwise, you will risk the line getting wrapped around rocks and seaweed. Getting caught up like that will almost certainly compromise your next cast. The coating of your line may also be scratched and damaged as you try to pull the line free. A basket definitely takes some getting used to. It may help to hold your rod a little higher than usual during the retrieve, with the rod butt resting on your chest. Each cast should, as I said, be targeted, for which reason you should always be able to see where your fly is fishing. Polaroid sunglasses are good because they remove the reflections from the water making it easier to ‘read’ the bottom
to get an idea as to where any fish may lie. Sunglasses also protect your eyes from stray flies.
fly, and of course vice versa. You never know. You chose the set-up, but in the end, it is the trout that makes the decision.
Fly-combination
At least 25 more years!
Sea trout are opportunists, and capable of feeding on a wide array of different forage. In most cases it will respond to a well-presented fly, as long as you are in the right place at the right time. I always fish with two flies on the leader. My personal favourite combo is a salmon coloured ‘Pattegrisen’ (The Piglet) as point fly and a smaller, brownish shrimp imitation as the dropper. The distance between the fly at the end of the leader and the dropper should be approximately one metre. Most of the time, I fish with the same fly combination as my fishing pal. The funny thing is that some days he catches all his fish on the top fly while I only have fish taking my bottom
One absolute highlight of fishing for sea trout is the tightening of the line and your heart starting to race with excitement the moment you set the hook and the fight is on. Today, 25 years after I caught my first sea trout in Denmark, I still remember, as though it was yesterday, the take, the fight and that special feeling of relief and gratitude as my first sea trout slipped into the net. And what is more, it’s so gratifying to be outdoors and to feel the weather change during the day in a beautiful landscape. What makes it absolutely perfect is when you can share it all with a good fishing buddy. I hope to be able to do just that – for another 25 years, at least!
24 · SEATROUT.DK
ONE DAY’S FISHING IS NEVER ENOUGH! IF YOU INTEND TO HUNT FYN’S SEA TROUT OVER SEVERAL DAYS, THERE IS GOOD NEWS FOR YOU AND YOUR FISHING BUDDY: STAY IN AN AUTHENTIC ANGLER’S COTTAGE AND GET MORE FISHING TIME BY THE WATER. Along the coasts of Fyn, ÆRØ and Langeland there are close to 30 certified accommodation establishments, all making us anglers, in particular, very welcome. That means they are aware of the things that matter to us. The accommodation establishments have local knowledge of the fishing; they can assist with procuring certified sea trout guides, fishing licences, you can dry and store your gear and even hire fishing boats and kayaks – and much more besides!
A ALL THESE ESTABLISHMENTS CAN BE FOUND VIA www.seatrout.dk
AND YOU WILL RECOGNISE THEM BY THIS SIGN:
SEA TROUT FYN PARTNER.
SEATROUT.DK · 25
DUTCH SEA TROUT DREAMS ALTHOUGH THE NETHERLANDS HAS A COASTLINE ALMOST 500 KILOMETRES IN LENGTH, THE WATERS ARE VIRTUALLY DEVOID OF SEA TROUT. THIS IS BECAUSE FOR SEA TROUT TO SPAWN THEY NEED STREAMS WITH FAST FLOWING WATER. BEING A FLAT COUNTRY, THE NETHERLANDS SIMPLY LACKS SUITABLE SPAWNING GROUNDS IN STREAMS AND CREEKS. FOR THIS REASON, MANY DUTCH ANGLERS TRAVEL TO DENMARK TO LIVE OUT THEIR SEA TROUT FISHING DREAMS. In the Netherlands, we have no shortage of water. Large lakes, wide rivers, canals and marsh landscapes. Add to this our approximately 500 kilometre-long coastline facing the North Sea. No, anglers in the Netherlands don’t suffer from a lack of water. What we do lack, on the other hand, is fast-flowing streams and creeks teeming with brown trout, grayling and salmon. Although we do have good fishing for sea bass along the coast, we only catch the odd sea trout – very much the exception to the rule. In other words, to realise our dream of catching trout we have to travel. It is now 25 years since I first went to Denmark with my wife. Our first destination was the longest river in Denmark, the Gudenå, where we had numerous encounters with its grayling and fine-spotted brown trout. After a few days, we travelled on to Funen to try sea trout fishing from the coast.
Where to start? Studying a map of Funen and trying to guess where to find good fishing, we suddenly felt so small and
By: Andre Miegies 26 · SEATROUT.DK
insignificant compared to vastness of the sea. The map showed headlands and coves as well as large bays. There were cliff shores, salt marshes and meadows as well as sandy beaches and shores with lots of big stones out in the water. Where should we begin? And what should we fish with?
The treasure map To make sure we had the right gear we visited a local tackle shop to stock up with a few of the native fly patterns. The tackle dealer was glad to talk fishing and ever so helpful: we left his shop with quite a few crosses on our ‘treasure map’. With the right flies in our box and a good idea of where to fish for sea trout, we headed for an area with steep cliffs along a wide-open shoreline with a lighthouse towering above us on the hillside.
I’ll never forget As we were tackling up, two fly fishermen returned to the parking lot. They had time to chat and could confirm that
we were in the right place for the time of year. As if to emphasize this, one of the anglers turned around so that I could see the lovely bright sea trout he was carrying on his back. I will never forget meeting those two anglers and was touched by their willingness to share their knowledge with a novice like me. They bid me goodbye with the usual “Knæk og bræk” – meaning tight lines in Danish – or more precisely: I wish that your line as well as your rod will break. Before leaving, the lucky angler handed me a fly from his fly box, similar to the one he had used to deceive the big sea trout. “It’s called Magnus”, he told me. “Try it!”, he said “It’s got thousands of sea trout on its conscience!”
Skating around All that tailwind made me high with excitement and I was eager to get my new Magnus fly swimming. As I waded out, I skated around on the algaegreen, seaweed-covered rocks. My waders had rubber soles and I might as well have been fishing in nylon socks after smearing soap on the stones, because the rubber couldn’t get a hold of the mirror-smooth surface. Even before I had made my first cast, both legs slid from under me. Oops! I lost my balance, collapsing backward into a couple of feet of freezing water. While I tried to get back on my feet, a wave came rolling, knocking me over completely and filling my waders with cold water. Brrrrrr!
Soaked to the skin With difficulty I re-established contact with the seabed and just stood there for a while, a little shocked and unsure what to do. This certainly wasn’t what I had been dreaming of, but since I had come here to fish, I tried to ignore the fact that I was now soaked to the skin. Indeed, I had to cope with a very different kind of angling compared to what I was used to from back home. Not only did I have to concentrate on not losing my balance and falling over again, I also had to keep the line from getting all tangled up in weed and stones, not to mention my feet. And then there was the casting, trying not to hit a rock during the backward cast. Little by little, my casting improved. I cast the line, retrieved and made a new cast obliquely from the shore and then scooted a few meters to the right, slowly covering a larger area.
A sandy spot in the seaweed jungle A sudden jerk of the line caught me a little off guard, as I was not expecting to catch anything. The sea trout, if there had been one at all, was
gone again, as quickly as it had appeared. Half an hour later I saw a fish jump near where the top of a large rock was jutting out of the water. I moved smoothly towards the rock, and some 15 metres from I arrived at a small spot of sandy bottom where I could relax and concentrate on fishing without being afraid of stumbling.
Hook-up! The fly landed perfectly in the area near the stone. This time I was instinctively ready and the moment I felt the tension caused by a fish taking my fly, I struck, instantly realizing there was something alive out there. “I’ve hooked it! I’ve hooked it!” I cried out loud. The fish swam back and forth a few times before I could bring it in close. It was no giant, but a rather small sea trout about 30 centimetres long. But man, did I feel good! I got hold of the tiny streamer hook, and whoops, the fish was free, quickly disappearing into the safety of deeper water. Though small, that fish proved crucial to me as an angler and since then I have been to Denmark at least once, often twice, every year.
SEATROUT.DK · 27
28 · SEATROUT.DK
Light flies When it comes to flies for sea trout on the coast, I prefer using light ones in combination with a “hover” line. It is a line that ‘hangs’ just below the surface. As to flies, I’m particularly fond of a pattern called “Autumn”. It’s a fly tied with golden yellow-brown materials. The tail and front hackle are made of the red-brown body feathers of a
golden pheasant. Another personal favourite of mine is a greyish CDC shrimp, tied with the special, small oily cul-de-canard feathers from the back of a duck. This fly has a grey spey hackle as well. Another important detail is the fly’s two orange shrimp eyes with black pupils. They are tied in so that the eyes protrude from the back of the fly.
SEATROUT.DK · 29
Off to an island
Tårup Strand Beach
There are so many exciting coastal spots on Funen and the islands of the South Funen Archipelago. Several hundred of them, in fact. In the following, I will present a few of my favourite locations. The first place is an island. The good thing about islands is that it takes a little extra effort to get there. In this case, the island of Avernakø, you have to take a ferry from Faaborg, and the trip lasts about half an hour. The best thing about being out on an island is the feeling of adventure. Another advantage is that a sheltered mark is always available regardless of the wind direction. And for the sea trout angler, Avernakø has it all: tall cliffs, underwater reefs and a ‘leopardskin’ bottom with a patchwork of stones, sand and eelgrass. All the features that characterize a good sea trout coast. The island is just perfect for exploring by bike or car. It’s not possible to walk and fish all the way around Avernakø in one day and, thus, it is best to have a few days at your disposal so that you can get to know the different places properly.
Between the towns of Svendborg and Nyborg the coast is quite shallow. The beach at Tårup being the exception. You access this spot from a campsite from where you have a kilometre-long stretch of excellent fishing with deep water, lots of seaweed and stones. Big fish are landed here every year – probably because of the deep and cool water close to land.
Dark spots on the sandy bottom I remember one year going to Avernakø with a fishing buddy, when we were severely challenged by the wind. Extreme northerly winds made fishing impossible on most of our favourite spots. Only the middle of the island’s south coast offered some shelter from the violent gusts. The water looked fine when we took a closer look at the location, but the bottom was nothing but sand. It seemed a little boring but then, as we waded further out, we discovered some darker areas, probably scattered patches of seaweed and eelgrass. I made a long fly cast towards the dark bottom and had barely started stripping in the line, when I felt the ferocious take of a fish that unfortunately missed the fly. For the next hour or two we moved along the coast, making a few casts toward each and every size of seaweed formation, which obviously had a magical attraction on the sea trout, and we both landed a couple of very nice fish.
31 · SEATROUT.DK 30
On the brink of giving up A couple of years ago, I had been fishing with a group of angling buddies for several days without much luck. It had been bitterly cold and the wind had been against us every single day. The day before we were to leave for home, the weather situation got even worse and fishing was no longer possible. We had to give up and drive back to our rented house. Then, later in the evening, the wind suddenly died down and we agreed to go out to the coast in the early morning before heading home. It was still dark when we arrived at Tårup Beach early the next morning. Dark and quiet. But then we heard a splash... Could it be...? Yes, indeed it could! Hunting fish were on the surface and close by. Within a few hours I had landed five nice specimens, and my friends had a good number as well. When we headed home, after a few hectic hours, the memory of the previous fishless days was as blown away…
The fishing village of Torø Huse The third coastal spot, I want to mention is the small fishing village of Torø Huse, south of Assens. From here you can access the tiny island of Torø, which is connected to Funen by a small footbridge. The island can only be visited on foot and offers beautiful, unspoilt nature. Along the coast you may be lucky enough to see harbour porpoises swimming quite close to land. Right after the harbour are some coves that most anglers neglect, but I can tell from experience, that if you give them a try you might have a silvery surprise!
A tidal spot It takes a short hike to reach the westernmost tip of Torø, where a cross has been erected in memory of three skeletons found here during the extraction of gravel almost 100 years ago. The tip is a tidal spot with deep water and a pronounced current. It can produce fish all year round. Another spot in the Torø Huse area is situated on Funen. It is reached by walking behind the houses after the small harbour at Torø Huse. Here you have an exciting fishing spot with forests of seaweed. The beginning of a reef is marked by a large rock, the top of which is out of the water at normal water level. The reef continues towards a wreck a few hundred meters from the shore.
line off the reel, then, crouching like an Indian, I sneaked closer and knelt down. To cover the fish, my cast would have to be ridiculously short, with only the fly and the leader touching the water. The fish immediately surged in for a look and bow-waved after the fly, then accelerated and inhaled it. Fish on! At times, those sea trout can be so easy to catch it’s almost embarrassing!
The Helnæs Lighthouse The last fishing spot I will mention here is the peninsula of Helnæs. One of the very best spots is on the coast by the lighthouse. From the parking lot by the lighthouse, follow the path to the right that leads down to the rocky coast. If you stand right there and look out over the water, you will understand what I mean when I say that this place has it all: deep water and a bottom that alternates between seaweed and rocks, some of which are really big. Really big sea trout are caught here year after year. Helnæs can be fished all year round, except in harsh westerly winds when the water can colour up badly. But as soon as the weather clears and the winds die down, fishing will improve.
Close encounter with sea trout A few years ago, I was walking along the shore one early morning when, less than a meter from shore, the presence of a sea trout was suddenly betrayed by a boil. I gently pulled
SEATROUT.DK · 31
FISHING GUIDE BOOK FYN, ÆRØ AND LANGELAND OFFER KILOMETRE UPON KILOMETRE OF COAST JUST MADE FOR SEA TROUT AND SEA TROUT ANGLERS. MORE THAN 1,100 KILOMETRES OF COASTLINE AWAIT, WITH SCARCELY A SINGLE METRE WHERE, AT SOME POINT, A SEA TROUT CANNOT BE CAUGHT.
Book contents:
Answers to these and many other questions can be found in our guide book to guide you to 117 brilliant fishing spots around Fyn, Langeland and Ærø. Several of the islands’ most experienced saltwater anglers have contributed to the book and share the benefit of their fishing experience. The guide book is full of inspiration for the seasoned trout angler and the novice alike. Good maps and accurate descriptions make it easy to find just the right fishing spot – depending on the season, fishing method and wind direction.
• 117 coastal spots on Fyn, Langeland, Ærø and the numerous smaller sea trout isles. • Aerial photos of every single fishing spot bring a brand-new dimension to fishing. • Fifteen detailed maps with depth contours. • The best season and wind direction for each fishing spot. • Useful tips about tackle, strategy and how to fish all year round. • Useful knowledge about the sea trout. • Guide to sandbars, reefs, troughs and other coastal features. • Ten fascinating tales from some of the spots described in the book.
ocal
l r u o y m o r f k o Buy the bo
e r o t s e l k c a t g n i h s fi n Fy 117 pots!
Costal S
COLD SPRING, WARM SPRING IN SPRING THE WEATHER IS BEST DESCRIBED AS UNSTABLE. IN APRIL ONE YEAR, A WEEK’S FISHING RHYMES WITH DEGREES OF FROST AND A COASTLINE SCATTERED WITH SMALL HEAPS OF ICE CHUNKS. THE FOLLOWING YEAR, IN EXACTLY THE SAME WEEK, COASTAL ANGLERS EXPERIENCE THE FIRST T-SHIRT DAYS OF THE YEAR. NEVERTHELESS, IT HAS TO BE SAID THAT YOU CAN USUALLY CATCH FISH WHATEVER THE WEATHER AND HOWEVER CHALLENGING IT MAY BE, IF YOU PUT ENOUGH EFFORT INTO IT. The Easter break falls on different dates every year – any time between March 22 and April 25. This means you have to be prepared to adapt to the prevailing conditions. For the past 15 years, I have travelled to Denmark during Easter week to open the sea trout fishing season with a couple of fishing buddies. In some years, our annual Easter fishing week has been characterised by Arctic weather freezing most of Northern Europe. In other years we have been blessed with T-shirt weather. Fortunately, on Funen it is invariably possible to reach coastal spots that can be fished under the prevailing weather conditions within a short driving distance. During the cold season, it is usually a matter of going to the shallow bays with soft bottoms. The fresh water from streams make the water less salty here, and on sunny days the water warms up a bit. The open shore, on the other hand, is the favourite hunting ground of the sea trout when the spring sun starts to warm the landscape. The rise in water temperature annually kick starts the coastal food chain. In the following, I will describe three different spring fishing experiences to give you an idea of how different springtime fishing can be.
Angling fever and chills One year, we had been looking forward impatiently to a week of sea trout fishing in early March, having suffered
By: Herard Nachtigal
from angling fever throughout the long winter. Much to our surprise, we were offered a chill pill as we drove north, slowed by the slippery surface of the highway from Hamburg to Flensburg, which was lined with piles of snow. The weather did not look much better on Funen. Here too, King Winter had transformed the green countryside into an all-white landscape. The first day out on the coast, we were faced with a sea with the first few metres of water frozen to ice. Snow showers driven by a bitterly cold Easterly wind were sweeping the coast, and down in the water where the sea trout lurked the temperature was definitely below the magical four degrees Celsius. The prospects for sea trout angling could hardly have been worse.
Seeking shelter The next morning everything had changed. The wind was coming from the south and the sun shone from a cloudless sky. During the day the temperature rose from zero to ten degrees. Such a significant change in the weather would most certainly be plain as a pikestaff to the sea trout. We started out in a shallow bay where, some 50 metres out, the sandy bottom gave way to a darker and softer bottom. It wasn’t long before the first fish was lured by the fly right where the dark and the light bottom met. A nice trout of about 45 centimetres. We caught another few smaller fish
SEATROUT.DK · 33
before what was obviously a stronger specimen took the fly right at my feet. The reel screamed as the entire fly line disappeared through the rod rings, and still the fish showed no sign of slowing. Then, finally, the fish came to the net after several aerial displays. What a feat! To land a 60 centimetres bright sea trout in those conditions. My son was too far away, so I released the beautiful fish without having it photographed. The good weather and equally first-rate fishing continued all week, and we managed to land several fish between 40 and 60 centimetres.
A classic week in April One April a few years ago we fished in the same area, and then with weather classic for early April with warmth in the air and the water at about 7 degrees Celsius. At some point during the spring, when many fish leave the 34 · SEATROUT.DK
fjords, the large shoals of sea trout split into smaller groups and spread out along the coasts. Being unable to tell if this shift had already taken place, we tried both sheltered bays and more exposed spots along the open coast.
Bathtub fishing It quickly occurred to us that we had arrived at the very time this change was taking place. We were catching fish everywhere, although the best fishing was to be had in relatively shallow water along the open coasts. And nothing could beat locations with a sandy bottom and one or two “bathtubs”: the deeper water between the shore and sand banks further out. In the clear sunlight, it was easy to spot the classic bathtubs, which resembled elongated, dark bands along the coast.
Difficult trout Later on the same trip I was covering a relatively narrow and long bathtub together with my son and we had several takes but were unable to hook the fish. It was as if the fish were coming short, only nipping at the tail of our flies. Perhaps they were shy or just so accustomed to the abundant food supply that they were not taken in by our deception. An entirely new approach was obviously called for, so I extended my leader with a metre of 0.20 mm fluorocarbon and tied on a brown gammarus imitation. I could see that my son was also busy changing his set-up for a lighter one, so I made a quick on-the-sly cast along the coast in front of him. The fly landed 10 feet from where he was standing, and after just a couple of short strips, the water practically exploded and I saw a huge tail fin break the surface. The trout pulled out into open water, towing 30 metres of line. It got further into the backing, then jumped. Several still shorter attempts to escape followed. As it finally started to tire, I gained line. Then the fish started swimming in circles.
Five kilos of pure silver It was difficult to use the weight 6 fly rod as a lever to force the fish to the surface. Nor was it possible to beach the fish because of the dense seaweed. When, all of a sudden, the fish steered directly into the seaweed, my son reacted like a shot with the net. Luckily, none of the many things that could have gone wrong did. Never before, or since, have I caught such a magnificent sea trout. We measured it to 74 centimetres and estimated the weight to be about five kilos. Seconds later we released the fish from the barbless hook and it was free to swim away.
Picky trout in the garfish season
Moving with the current At times, wind and tide can create a weak current along the coast, and we made sure to move in the same direction as this current – on the assumption that the sea trout were moving and chasing against it. We fished in teams of two, and to cover the spots both efficiently and to the satisfaction of both, we did so in a way that the one who went ahead did not wade out, but concentrated on covering the water closest to the shore. The fishing buddy, who followed, would start about 100 metres further along the coast, wading out to cover the far side of the bathtub. One would think that the angler who reaches the farthest out in the sea, would have the best chances. But time and time again, we have been surprised how close to land the sea trout actually move – that is, provided you don’t spook them while wading!
Normally, spring fishing for sea trout ends in late April or early May. This is when the garfish enter the scene along the shallow coasts. At this time of year, the sea trout have had several months to recover and rebuild their fat reserves after the hardships of spawning the previous November and December. They are now much more discerning and difficult to hook than in the early spring. Last year we planned an extra week’s fishing holiday in early May. When we arrived on Funen there was absolutely no wind. This was quite atypical. Of course, there can be days of gentle winds and moments of calm along the coasts. But now everything stood still, and did so for a whole week. And in the sky, there was not a cloud to dim the sharp rays of the sun. Not surprisingly, the already ‘spoiled’ sea trout were now even more suspicious.
Stationary tactics Without wind or waves to blur your movements, it is almost impossible to avoid frightening the fish when wading. We discovered that it was all about deciding on a spot and then standing completely still, not moving so much as a metre. So there I stood, on a small, tidal reef that I could cover with casts to the left and to the right as well as with casts directly out over the innermost part of the reef. I had adapted my tackle to the conditions: a light weight 5 rod, a long, tapered leader and a fly in lifelike colours.
SEATROUT.DK · 35
One final trout I had probably been standing there for an hour or so when I saw a ring caused by a fish some 30 metres away. In order to reach it, I pulled line off the reel and sent the fly out there. It landed at the end of a not fully stretched leader, and to make contact I quickly pulled in a few metres of line. As soon as I established contact, the fly was violently pulled off in the opposite direction. Hook-up! I succeeded in landing the fish, which measured almost 60 centimetres. What a magical finale to our angling holiday, fishing for sea trout under what we had presumed would be ‘impossible’ conditions.
The world’s simplest fly Throughout the season you can try to ‘match the hatch’ and choose your fly according to what is on the sea trout’s diet right there and then. When the ragworms swarm in early spring, nothing beats a long ‘woolly’ fly. In sunshine and clear water, I like to use small, discreet fly patterns. Windy days with waves call for a larger and more gaudy fly. My own personal all-round favourite is a small bait fish
36 · SEATROUT.DK
imitation. It’s a simple one-material fly where long-fibred, tancoloured dubbing constitutes both tail, body and wing. The only other material is a pair of clear eyes glued to the side of the fly’s head. This fly doesn’t look particularly special, but to the sea trout it obviously looks just right and is probably taken both for a goby and a stickleback. Gobies constitute an important prey for the sea trout throughout the year.
Barbless hooks As I mentioned earlier, I caught my personal-record fish on a fly tied on a barbless hook, and it is with good reason that I tie all my flies on such hooks these days. When smaller trout greedily take a fly, they often get hooked deep inside the throat, which makes it difficult to get a barbed hook out. The risk is, that the fish starts bleeding and then it can be doubtful whether it will survive release. Barbed hooks are considerably easier to remove and you can land even very large fish on a fly without barbs. Although you will sometimes lose a fish from a barbless hook, I think it is worth the risk. To eliminate the barb, I simply squeeze it down to the hook.
SEATROUT.DK · 37
TOURIST
INFORMAT ION W E A RE H
E RE T O S U
WE ARE HAPPY TO HELP YOU WITH • AN ANGLING LICENSE • LOCAL ACCOMMODATION FOR ANGLERS • LOCAL ACTIVITIES • AN ACTIVE OUTDOOR HOLIDAY • ATTRACTIONS (ALSO BEYOND SALTY SEA TROUT!) • SHOPPING
P P OR T Y O
U IN Y OUR
H UN T F OR
S E A T R OU
BOOK IT ALL AT WWW.VISITFYN.DK
You will find us here: VISIT ODENSE Vestergade 2 5000 Odense C Tel. (+45) 6375 7520 otb@visitodense.com www.visit-odense.dk VISIT KERTEMINDE Strandvejen 6 5300 Kerteminde el. (+45) 6532 1121 turist@visitkerteminde.dk www.visitkerteminde.dk VISIT NYBORG Torvet 2B 5800 Nyborg Tel. (+45) 6333 8090 visitnyborg@nyborg.dk www.visitnyborg.dk VISIT SVENDBORG Havnepladsen 2
38 · SEATROUT.DK
5700 Svendborg Tel. (+45) 6223 6951 turist@svendborg.dk www.visitsvendborg.dk VISIT FAABORG Torvet 19 5600 Faaborg Tel. (+45) 7253 1818 visitfaaborg@fmk.dk www.visitfaaborg.dk VISIT ASSENS Tobaksgården 7 5610 Assens Tel. (+45) 2337 8466 info@visitassens.dk www.visitassens.dk VISIT MIDDELFART Havnegade 6 5500 Middelfart Tel. (+45) 8832 5959 mail@visitmiddelfart.dk
www.visitmiddelfart.dk VISIT NORDFYN Vestre Havnevej 9B 5400 Bogense Tel. (+45) 6481 2044 info@visitnordfyn.dk www.visitnordfyn.dk LANGELAND TOURIST OFFICE Torvet 5 5900 Rudkøbing Tel. (+45) 6251 3505 info@langeland.dk www.langeland.dk ÆRØ TOURIST OFFICE Ærøskøbing Havn 4 5970 Ærøskøbing Tel. (+45) 6252 1300 post@arre.dk www.visitaeroe.dk
T
SEATROUT.DK · 39