Fishing with Rod Discussion Forum
Fishing in British Columbia => General Discussion => Topic started by: Rodney on December 06, 2006, 12:51:43 AM
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Greetings all, after scrambling in the past week to get all my work taken care of and leaping across the Atlantic Ocean yesterday, I am now once again at an apartment in the heart of Copenhagen, Denmark. The weather here is ridiculously warm, compared to what we have endured in the Lower Mainland recently. Daytime high is in the 10s C, but milder weather usually means gustier wind. As usual, there are plans to find fishing opportunities with the good folks at Global Flyfisher (http://www.globalflyfisher.com/) and Sports Fiskeren (http://www.sportsfiskeren.dk/), the national governing body of sportfishing in Denmark. Hopefully, I will be able to take you guys and gals along for the ride and have a few fishing photos and videos to show by the end of the trip, plus the odd stories about Denmark's landmarks.
The Flight
It is always so foreign to endure being caged in a highly pressurized metallic tube that is moving at 600mph with several hundred people for ten hours. ::) The flight was rather uneventful this time. No major turbulence, which means an extremely boring trip. Halfway into the flight, I looked around me and I seemed to be the only one awake. ::) The guy who sat next to me, slept deeply from the moment with took off until the last hour of the flight. :o He is an Bosnian who resides in Vancouver and was on his way to Bosnia to pick up his wife and kids, and visit his parents at the same time.
There's fair amount of inconvenience since the Heathrow incident a few months ago. At YVR, they insisted that I had to carry my tiny bottle of eye drops in a big ziplock bag like a granny. I purchased a bottle of water just before boarding from YVR, only to have it confiscated at Frankfurt. ::) I was so thirsty, yet I didn't want to fork out 3.50 Euros for 300ml of coke, so I was liquid-less until Copenhagen. :P
From Frankfurt to Copenhagen, I ended up sitting 2 feet away from the engine on a MD81. :-\ Luckily the flight was only 1 hour. :D
Coming out from Copenhagen Airport, I was greeted by dozens of cameras, but apparently they were not for me according to Nina. ;D
A couple of photos to start the trip. ;D
(http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/0607denmark/061204_1.thumb.jpg) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/member/gallery/0607denmark/061204_1)
A peek of the giant engines of A340 once we got off it.
(http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/0607denmark/061204_2.thumb.jpg) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/member/gallery/0607denmark/061204_2)
Inter-terminal train at Frankfurt Airport.
Enjoy, more updates to come!
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Coming out from Copenhagen Airport, I was greeted by dozens of cameras, but apparently they were not for me according to Nina. ;D
Guess they don't see too many Orientals in Denmark ! ;D ;D Have a good holiday.
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Guess they don't see too many Orientals in Denmark ! ;D ;D Have a good holiday.
We are indeed very rare in Denmark. ;) The only orientals who you see are Japanese and Chinese tourists in the summer months and the odd oriental Danes who grow up here.
Our first fishing attempt took place today. The weather remains unusually warm over here. Today's daytime high was between 5 and 10C. Normally ice would start to form on lakes by this time of the year. To make things even more comfortable, we were blessed with clear sunny sky and the absence of wind! On this island, it is rather unusual to avoid any breeze. I have always been rather intimidated when fishing in the wind over here, but the locals have always reminded me that you simply need to adapt and find calmer spots.
We spent the day at the stream where we frequently visit just south of Copenhagen. The drive is always around 30 minutes, rather easy once you are on the freeway. Driving within Copenhagen, is a different story. The narrow streets and tiny street signs always keep me on public transit instead.
The eastern part of Denmark has also been getting fair amount of rain in the past couple of months, so the river bank was pretty flooded today. The spongy marsh is completely saturated, making it difficult to walk around. Nina and I found outselves fishing alone most of the time today, perhaps because of the fact that you need to pay CAD$15.00 of daily fee to fish this river.
(http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/0607denmark/061210_01.thumb.jpg) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/member/gallery/0607denmark/061210_01)
A view of the river with the sun on the far horizon, creating a rather bright background.
Today's equipment included a 6wt setup that I chose to target european perch with. There was also a chance of encountering late sea trout, but retention for them is now closed.
(http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/0607denmark/061210_02.thumb.jpg) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/member/gallery/0607denmark/061210_02)
6wt Stryker rod matched with a silver Islander LX 3.4.
A couple of years ago, we were told by some locals that large presentations are the key of success when fishing for european perch, or redfin, during winter. The water is cold, the fish are not as mobile, so they are only willing to prey on larger food items. Our #6 and 8 flies just didn't produce back then. For this trip, I tied up some #2 flies. The patterns are simply my poor attempt of Christas Trees, with a bit of white marabou feathers tied to the head.
(http://www.fishingwithrod.com/fishing_photos/pics/pre/06-035.jpg) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/fishing_photos/pics/pic/06-035.jpg)
European perch.
(http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/0607denmark/061210_03.thumb.jpg) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/member/gallery/0607denmark/061210_03)
My choice of weapon.
The other species that we target this time of the year is the northern pike. Again, large presentations are needed. Nina fished with some #6 spinners with a golden or pink blade that I have made up for the trip. We also toyed with some large flashy flies that the locals use for them.
(http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/0607denmark/061210_04.thumb.jpg) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/member/gallery/0607denmark/061210_04)
A large pike fly.
You would think that large predatory species such as northern pike and perch have no problems falling for a spinner or flashy fly. Over the years, we've actually encountered more sea trout than perch or pike. Targeting them has always been frustrating at times, a couple of hook-ups per trip is considered successful.
Not long after we started fishing, Nina screamed "Fish on!" 50 metres upstream from me. Dropping my fly rod, I sprinted towards the cameras but was only to be told by her that the fish had come off. ::)
We fished about a dozen different spots with no success between 10:30am and 1:00pm. Finally, while stripping my fly in at one point, a sudden bump turned into a bent rod as I lifted it up. It was a european perch, not a large one (2lb or more) that apparently exists in this stream, but still a lovely fish. Spiny ray fish species have always interested me. The dorsal fin stretched to its maximum like a peacock as I lifted the fish up. ;) A few quick photos, it was sent back to the water once again. They are very tasty and anglers are allowed to keep a few per day, but we live in a very small apartment so we do not like to mess with cleaning fish. :D
(http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/0607denmark/061210_05.thumb.jpg) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/member/gallery/0607denmark/061210_05) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/0607denmark/061210_06.thumb.jpg) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/member/gallery/0607denmark/061210_06) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/0607denmark/061210_07.thumb.jpg) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/member/gallery/0607denmark/061210_07)
A landed fish lifted our spirit up. While taking a break, Nina connected with another fish. This time, it stayed on and appeared to be big! The Fenwick HMX spinning rod performed wonderfully while I focused the video camera on the action, until a sudden slack on the line as the fish approached shoreline. ::) Nina wasn't very pleased, apparently I did something to the lure. :P Based on the way this fish fought, we guessed that it was most likely a sea trout.
Our trip ended shortly after that. One landed fish and two losses, but it was certainly satisfying, for me anyways. ;) I caught my first european perch on the fly, something I wanted to do during this visit. :)
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Rodney just left for some sea trout fishing in north west zealand. Should have some good stories when he returns. Weather is warm, rainy and windy ;D ;D
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He left you to go fishing ? ;)
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He left you to go fishing ? ;)
Hey, living in a small apartment here, if I can get some time for myself, I'm all for it! ;D ;)
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thanks to both of you for including us in your trip. nice detail photos in rod's post.
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So going fishing eh Rodney? Is that why you have no time to do the work? ;D ;D ;D
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I've been caged in this tiny apartment for days, some fishing time was desperately needed. ;) Today's exploration was a new experience.
Besides northern pike, european perch, the most popular gamefish in Denmark is sea trout. Sea trout, are migratory brown trout, which spend a portion of their life in the ocean. Their anadromous lifecycle is pretty similar to their Pacific cousins. Because of this ocean phase, where plenty of nutrients can be had, sea trout can grow much bigger than residential brown trout. A average sized fish range between 5 and 10lb, while a few fish up to 20lb+ emerge each year. Angling for sea trout can be done in rivers when they return to their spawning ground, but an increasingly popular fishery for Baltic sea trout in the last several decades is beach fishing throughout the year.
During the winter months, sea trout have a tendency to inhabit in fjords where salinity of the water is much lower and temperature is warmer. This allows the fish to avoid expending too much energy. Due to this behaviour, it allows Danish anglers to catch some fine specimen from shore.
It is an unique fishery that is not common outside the Baltic Sea, so for many years I have always wanted to experience it. While the condition favours angling for them, catching them is not as easy as it sounds. To a newcomer such as myself, beach fishing, especially flyfishing, can be so intimidating once you look at the big piece of water that you have to work on. Environmental cues such as contours, kelp beds, rocks assist your hunt, but there are not too many hints beyond that. The fish's diet ranges from small shrimps to herrings. Close to shore, most of the feeding takes place near the bottom by the kelp bed, meaning they rarely rise and show themselves. The only method of yielding regular success is by fishing many different locations and knowing them intimately overtime. This is where local knowledge comes to play.
From networking on the internet over the years and introduction by friends, I have fortunately been able to tag along with some knowledgable local Danish anglers in the last few seasons. Not only are they experienced, they are always very willing to share if you have the will to learn. After email tagging back and forth since September, I finally had a chance to explore the beach fishery for the first time with Ryan. Ryan and his friends visited British Columbia this fall. They enjoyed it so much that they have already planned their trip to BC next year. During the planning session for this year's trip, I provided some suggestions on where they should visit. They have since insisted that I should come fishing with them during my stay in Denmark, an invitation that I cannot really resist. ;)
This morning Ryan picked me up just after first light, which was around 9am and we drove across Zealand to a location where he was connecting with fish last weekend. The weather was not so appealing. Rain and gust have been active since last night. For local beach flyfishermen, wind is simply an element that you have to adapt to. Because we are on an island, there are always sheltered places where your casts are not as influenced by the wind. Today's location faces north with a tall forest behind us, so the southerly wind did not really affect us at all.
(http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/0607denmark/061214_1.thumb.jpg) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/member/gallery/0607denmark/061214_1)
A shrimp fly pattern that is commonly used on the Danish beach.
Today's flyfishing setup is a 6 weight with a tapered leader tied to the floating line. The shrimp fly is slowly pulled in as it gradually sinks down. The hope was to cast it just beyond the weed bed and entice a few feeding fish if they were present. Spincasting is also another popular method on the beach, especially on windy days or whenever the fish are feeding beyond where a fly could reach. Small spoons are usually used while a fly under a weighted float can be even more effective at times.
The wading was not so bad compared to some of the other more difficult locations, so I was told. The beach has a gradual gradient with the odd rocks and some weeds. It was supposed to be a beach for entry-level beach fishermen. Nevertheless, The waves generated from ferries and current were actually quite strong today, despite of the absence of the wind. The water was pretty murky, especially towards the end of the day, meaning navigation required some caution.
(http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/0607denmark/061214_2.thumb.jpg) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/member/gallery/0607denmark/061214_2)
Fishing between surfs.
The first couple of hours resulted in no hook-ups, however I was pretty certain that a light bump I had was a fish's miss-take. Ryan was surprised by the result, as last weekend they brought several fish to shore, with a hook-up on the second cast of the day. Not to worry of course, as I did not have a big expectation, the first outing at a new spot is simply an exploration.
After a quick rest and some snacks on the beach, we were back in the water again. This time I decided to arm myself with a spinning rod and one of the spoons that I have made up for the trip. Whipping that fly while trying to balance myself between waves was getting rather exhausting. :-\
It was probably exhaustion, but I was beginning to slip once awhile. While taking a few steps out, I lost my balance and slipped slightly on an underwater rock. I quickly re-balanced myself. While thinking that I had just saved myself from a plunge, a swifty wave greeted me and lifted both my feet up. ::) With both legs suspended, I lunged forward like a swimmer doing a butterfly. In that split second, the camera inside my waders was the first item that popped up in my head, so I instantly extended my arms out to prevent water gushing into the waders. It sure worked, but that fjord water up to my armpits was absolutely freezing. :-X
Once I got up and replayed what had just happened, I chuckled a bit. We were, after all, only wading up to our thighs. You would think taking a plunge is the last thing that could happen. ::)
I started casting my spoon out again. A few casts later, a tap was felt. Thinking that it was probably just another bundle of seaweed like what I had been catching, I casually lifted the rod up but only to find the bent rod kicking up and down! I hurried and reeled in the slack, but it was too late. The first hook-up on the Danish beach was long gone. :(
While still bitter by the event that just took place, I looked down and discovered that two of my fingers are completely covered in blood! :o I guess they were cut up while I attemped to save myself from the plunge. I did not even notice that it because of the cold, the adrenaline and the fish. ::)
Our day ended soon after as we were running out of daylight at 3:00pm. Ryan was glad that I was able to connect with a fish briefly, and hinted that more will come as we head out again later on during my stay. :)
(http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/0607denmark/061214_3.thumb.jpg) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/member/gallery/0607denmark/061214_3)
Surrounded by water.
(http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/0607denmark/061214_4.thumb.jpg) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/member/gallery/0607denmark/061214_4)
Forested shoreline.
(http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/0607denmark/061214_5.thumb.jpg) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/member/gallery/0607denmark/061214_5)
Close-up of some wave actions.
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Guess they don't see too many Orientals in Denmark ! ;D ;D Have a good holiday.
perhaps because of the fact that you need to pay CAD$15.00 of daily fee to fish this river.
is there someone that has a booth or set up by the river that you actually pay, before you can proceed to the river kind of like a toll-booth?
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is there someone that has a booth or set up by the river that you actually pay, before you can proceed to the river kind of like a toll-booth?
There isn't a booth set up by the river, but there is a gas station located a couple of kms before the river where you can purchase the day card. The day card can also be purchased online prior to your fishing trip. The other option would be to join the fishing club/society that is responsible for that river, which would provide you all the access to the river during your year of membership. The money generated from the day passes and membership fee is used to pay the farmers for angling access to the river each year. The cost varies, based on a rate per meter of river bank.
I cannot answer the degree of compliance, but I would think most anglers do comply, pay and follow the club's rules set out for its stream. We've never been checked, we also don't see many anglers at all whenever we go. The river bank is always clean, since there is actually a group responsible to make sure the land owners are happy so future access is not jeopardized. It's different to how it is managed in Canada, and in some way I find it rather effective and enjoyable. $15 per day is a small price to pay if I am given an uncrowded, clean river to fish.
Second outing remains a learning phase
After a brief introduction to coast fishing for sea trout last week, Ryan arranged another trip on Sunday. As he had put it, the first trip was sea trout 101, and the second trip would be preparation for Sweden. The water was apparently more swift, the wading involved was expected to be trickier. I was anxious, yet excited, hoping to connect with my first coastal sea trout. Because of the differences in the diet, the fish we intended to target on Sunday are much larger because they feed on fish rather than shrimp and other marine invertebrates. Ryan talked about how much deeper the fish usually are and 5 to 10lb fish, or even bigger, are a norm.
I woke up before the alarm went off at 6:30am so I was ready to be picked up. Although getting around Copenhagen is convenient due to its effecient transit system, it really makes me appreciate my car in Vancouver when it is desperately needed for those serious fishing outings over here. I logged online, checked email and chatted briefly with Chrome Mykiss, only to find out about their successful day of 10 bull trout on the fly. The fishing bug was definitely catching on now.
Ryan arrived punctually at 7:45am, we then drove to another meeting spot. We were a group of six on Sunday. All were experienced local sea trout flyfishermen. The weather appeared to be co-operating, wind was blowing from the west as expected. All ingredients of a good fishing day were present, just needed a few fish to end it.
We travelled in Henrik's VW camper van, or the fish mobil as Ryan put it. It was indeed the ultimate fishing mobil, which has fishing rods hung from the ceiling, and tackle neatly organized at the back. Along the way, Henrik talked about his many travelling and fishing stories with the van around Denmark and other parts of Europe, as well as his recent fishing adventures to BC. The boys enjoyed the trips so much that they are coming back once again next September.
Time completely flew by as conversations took over the long drive. Before I knew it, we were already at our destination. Our starting spot looks like these:
(http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/0607denmark/061217_01.thumb.jpg) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/member/gallery/0607denmark/061217_01) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/0607denmark/061217_02.thumb.jpg) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/member/gallery/0607denmark/061217_02) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/0607denmark/061217_03.thumb.jpg) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/member/gallery/0607denmark/061217_03) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/0607denmark/061217_04.thumb.jpg) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/member/gallery/0607denmark/061217_04)
In British Columbia, or most places in North America, our fishing trips usually involve wilderness to some degree. In Europe, historic sites usually surround our fishing space. These houses above were established in the 17th Century. It certainly feels different knowing that people have walked through these paths for hundreds of years before us. Our walk through the park and down a steep path lead us to the beach where we wanted to fish. The steep chalk cliff, the narrow beach and the ocean, which were blanketed by fast-moving low clouds, resulted in a breath-taking view.
(http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/0607denmark/061217_05.thumb.jpg) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/member/gallery/0607denmark/061217_05) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/0607denmark/061217_06.thumb.jpg) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/member/gallery/0607denmark/061217_06)
Seeing how long the beach is and how much water there is in front of us, I was somewhat skeptical and discouraged. It wasn't until when my guides explained how one needs to work systematically to taste some success in this fishery. They pointed out the rocks and weedbeds in the water, where food may hold. Often, sea trout would feed along the dark patches of the water. One should also not be deceived by waters that do not seem structured. Deep troughs close to shore are known as bath tubs, where they are easily warmed during a sunny day in the winter time. The deep troughs often hold both large masses of food and fish, meaning multiple hookups if one is lucky to come across them. Nevertheless, it is a difficult fishery, which should only be participated if you are an optimist. It is similar to winter steelheading, except there are a million times more water involved. When comparing to what the Danes have experienced in BC, they say, "In BC you just chuck a fly in the water and a fish is guaranteed. In Denmark, you have to work for your fish." ;D That is indeed very true, as over the years I have found myself back to square one when fishing in Denmark.
The wading was indeed more difficult. The water was slightly murky, mostly from the runoff that the chalk cliff produces. Not being able to see what I was walking on is somewhat unnerving. The depth change is also quite big compared to the gently sloped beach where we fished last week. To make matters worse, every few steps on the sandy bottom, there would be one baby-head sized boulder that is covered with algae. Finally, just to add one more element in to test everyone's balance, the frequency and height of the waves are irregular. ::) In the end, I chose to only wade a few steps out instead of what my local friends were doing. How the heck did they get out there still baffles me.
(http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/0607denmark/061217_07.thumb.jpg) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/member/gallery/0607denmark/061217_07) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/0607denmark/061217_08.thumb.jpg) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/member/gallery/0607denmark/061217_08)
The amount of water we covered was rediculously long. Again, steelhead tactics come to play, except there are no runs involved. By casting and taking a few steps everytime, the goal is to hopefully bump into some fish that just happen to be there. The fish do not rise during this time of the year because it is too cold, so the only visual cues that you are working with are the underwater structures in front of you.
(http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/0607denmark/061217_09.thumb.jpg) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/member/gallery/0607denmark/061217_09)
This photo gives you an idea how far we fished. If you look at the background closely, you can see the white chalk cliff from the first photo (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/member/gallery/0607denmark/061217_05).
My method during this trip was spincasting. I was told that the fish maybe a bit further out and spincasting would give me a better chance of connecting with one. Not knowing what lures to use, at first I Simply used some of the salmon spoons that we typically fish with in British Columbia. After awhile, I was then given a slimmer, heavier lure. Apparently I needed to whip it out much further to cover the water more efficiently. Later on, a angler from that area demonstrated exactly how far the cast needs to be. I could not spot where the lure landed everytime.
(http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/0607denmark/061217_11.thumb.jpg) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/member/gallery/0607denmark/061217_11)
My attempt of looking as if I know what I am doing.
After six hours of walking, casting, retrieving, all of us produced nothing except a pair of frozen hands. It appears the coastal sea trout is as fictional as H.C. Andersen's fairy tales. On our way back, we came across a few spincasters, who actually landed three sea trout and one atlantic cod! They kept one of the sea trout, which was around 6lb. Atlantic cod is apparently a common catch when spincasting as they move closer to shore during the evening hours.
(http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/0607denmark/061217_10.thumb.jpg) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/member/gallery/0607denmark/061217_10)
The walk back up was even more tiring on a fishless day.
Well, it looks like my search for the first coastal sea trout will continue. At least I was able to burn off those Danish pastries. Our next outings will take us back to hunting for european perch and northern pike. We will be attempting to find some european perch that inhabit in brackish water during the winter months. They are known to be big and very willing to take a fly or spinner. Stay tuned. ;)
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It's nice to catch some fish, but a day spent fishing with people who enjoy it is worth it, fish or no. Great report, gives the feeling of being there or at least what it must have felt like. Thanks.
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thanks a lot for sharing, Rod! It felt as if i just had my first european fishing adventure. :) ;D
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Rod, can you pick me up a 6 pack of Carlsberg "elefant" - I'll get you something for the effort.
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We have been gathering some information on european perch in brackish water on the last several days. It turned out that a few of the better spots are actually rather close to where we live. The south harbour in Copenhagen, just minutes from Central Station, was reopened for fishing this year. For decades, industrial pollutions kept this busy harbour unfishable. Although the water is cleaner now, some of the groundfish species can still not be retained due to fear of contaminants.
Today, we decided to explore a spot just a short train ride from here. It is a slough, or swamp, where a small creek feeds into. On one end of the slough, a gate that opens and closes border it with the harbour and the Baltic Sea. The water is slightly saline. Large fish inhabit this type of water during the winter time due to its ideal water temperature, salinity and abundance of food. There are plenty of small coarse fish that the larger predatory fish can feed on. We were told that large european perch are plentiful at this location, so I really wanted to check it out.
The 30 minute trip involved 15 minutes on the bus that we can hop on just outside the apartment and a 10 minute ride on the express train. Living in Copenhagen means you can get around anywhere on a bus or train very easily. The locals disagree when I comment on how efficient the public transit is, apparently trains and buses are delayed or canceled at times, but personally I have yet to experience anything that severe. The buses on our street go by every ten minutes on weekdays. The trains are almost as frequent. Express trains are faster than cars. The only time consuming commute would be walking, which seems to be one activity that we all fear back home. ;D Nevertheless, with all the services available, it takes away our dependency on cars, which are rediculously expensive to operate here.
(http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/0607denmark/061221_01.thumb.jpg) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/member/gallery/0607denmark/061221_01)
Patiently waiting for the arrival of our final train station.
Once at the station, it took 15 minutes to walk to the harbour. Our initial concern was not knowing exactly where we could fish. That concern quickly vanished as we approached the harbour, because we could see a dozen people fishing already. :P Not only were they fishing, they were also catching too. Every few minutes, a fish was brought in and released. According to the regulations set out by the local club that manages this particular fishery, all perch are to be released during this time of the year.
We first went on a lovely foot bridge and watched what people were doing to get a general feeling of what we should do. The foot bridge borders the slough and the creek, where a underwater barrier has been placed. I suspect that this is placed to keep the perch population away from the main creek, as it is a sea trout and salmon bearing creek. European perch is a predatory species, which feeds on insects to small fish, depending on its size. While observing the creek, we could see large schools of small fish rearing.
(http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/0607denmark/061221_07.thumb.jpg) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/member/gallery/0607denmark/061221_07)
The underwater barrier creates a small drop.
The common method used to catch these perch, is bait fishing with either a float or bottom rig. Most anglers employ a long rod, allowing them to whip the small float out with ease. The choice of bait includes worm, shrimp and small roach. Roach are small minnows that are very abundant in Danish lakes and rivers. They are commonly caught by line or net and used as live bait. Fishing with bait seemed almost to easy. ::) Before Nina and I even set up our tackle, we already saw a few dozen fish being caught. It seems somewhat pointless to use bait in a catch and release fishery. Not only you are sacrificing a fish for another fish, recapturing rate must be quite high as well. Anyways, it appears to be a pretty popular way of angling in Denmark, but a bit too messy for my preference. Our choice of method is not as uncivilized, casting and retrieving small spinners. ;)
(http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/0607denmark/061221_03.thumb.jpg) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/member/gallery/0607denmark/061221_03) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/0607denmark/061221_04.thumb.jpg) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/member/gallery/0607denmark/061221_04) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/0607denmark/061221_06.thumb.jpg) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/member/gallery/0607denmark/061221_06)
A broad look at our fishing spot. The harbour is on the right side of the photos. The water gate is near where most people gathered.
(http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/2006denmark/060615_8.thumb.jpg) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/member/gallery/2006denmark/060615_8)
Roach, typically used as live bait.
Originally I intended to also toss a fly, but the wind was not so favourable today. The westerly chop made it rather difficult, and cold too as we were facing it even though our backs were to the ocean. Only on a small island where you can find wind blowing towards the ocean.
The first hour of our attempt was rather frustrating. While others were still hauling in fish, we only missed a couple of touches. Once an angler decided to call it a day, we moved into his spot as the piece of water in front of him seemed to be producing all the fish. It only took a couple of casts before a large perch grabbed onto the green spinner. Unfortunately, while Nina was running for the camera, the dreadful slack in the line happened again. We had a good look of the fish when it first surfaced. It was a rather long perch, the biggest I have ever seen!
(http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/0607denmark/061221_02.thumb.jpg) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/member/gallery/0607denmark/061221_02)
Spin and wish.
The easterly breeze was picking up as noon approached. Nina was getting cold so we decided to shift to the other side of the slough so our backs would face the wind. The fishing was not so hot there. There seemed to be a huge abundance of roach on the other side. On almost every cast, we would bump into many items. At first I thought they were just weeds, but I was quickly proven wrong when a couple of roach were foul hooked.
(http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/0607denmark/061221_05.thumb.jpg) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/member/gallery/0607denmark/061221_05)
I can't feel anything after facing the winter breeze for awhile.
We decided that we should move back to the original side and be cold for a short time instead of be skunked. The move paid off instantly when I hooked another perch on my first cast. This time I brought the fish in quite carefully. It made a few sudden dives as it approached the shallows. I inserted my thumb into its mouth and lifted it out by the lip like a bass. It was a good sized fish, easily in the 2lb range! A fish this size seemed to be very typical as others were catching similar or bigger fish. I was pretty glad to finally see a large brackish european perch falling for my lure.
(http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/0607denmark/061221_08.thumb.jpg) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/member/gallery/0607denmark/061221_08) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/0607denmark/061221_09.thumb.jpg) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/member/gallery/0607denmark/061221_09) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/0607denmark/061221_10.thumb.jpg) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/member/gallery/0607denmark/061221_10)
Today's only catch. The three dorsal spines, the thick black bars and a rather large hump are common features of a large european perch.
We fished for another 30 minutes or so with no success. Nina managed to connect with one on a spoon but it was quickly lost. Apparently my lure has a flaw again.
Although we did not connect with dozens of fish like experienced locals, at least we found a new and seemingly good spot. :)
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Rod, can you pick me up a 6 pack of Carlsberg "elefant" - I'll get you something for the effort.
It will depend on the capacity of the luggage, as it is usually already packed with fishing gear. ;)
It's nice to catch some fish, but a day spent fishing with people who enjoy it is worth it, fish or no. Great report, gives the feeling of being there or at least what it must have felt like. Thanks.
thanks a lot for sharing, Rod! It felt as if i just had my first european fishing adventure. :) ;D
Glad you guys are enjoying the reads. Happy to share my new experiences. ;)
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nice looking fish, looks like our yellow perch only much bigger! what do the locals use for bait to catch them? back in Ontario we would use live minnows for bait, and the perch would gobble them up.
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Common bait that people use for perch are worms, shrimps and minnows. The minnows, or roach, are around 4 to 8 inches long. They are used for boat northern pike and perch. I've seen anglers targeting pike and by-catching big perch with these at times. The perch are pretty much the same as yellow perch, except the size. 1, 2lb fish are average, while they get as large as 4 to 6lb! :o The size difference between the European and North American species is mostly due to genetic, but I would think the amount of feed is also a factor. There is a tremendous amount of food in the water here. The number and types of coarse fish are numerous, insect activities in the summertime are also a lot more intense than what I have seen in BC. That is one aspect that I enjoy over here, there are so many different species that I can target in anytime of the year. Salmon, trout and steelhead are fantastic sportfish, but it becomes repetitive after awhile. ;D
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Hey Rodney,
How long are you over for?
Are you anywhere near the River Guden? Supposedly stuffed with fish including Pike and Perch.
What's your weather like there? we in the east of England have been shivering in freezing fog the last 3 or 4 days.
Tight lines,
Colin
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The weather remains abnormally mild over here. The five day forecast shows that the temperature continues to range between 5C and 10C. Usually by this time of the year I am well bundled up and shivering. Today I was walking outside with no gloves. :D It also makes going out not as tiring since it does not involved 20 minutes of putting layers on or peeling layers off afterward.
I've heard about the cold snap and fog over your way. ;D RossUK just emailed me about that today. Such a pity. ;) Maybe that will end up over here soon. :o
Not sure abou River Guden, I'll have to look it up. :) The locals have just been fantastic with aiding me to try different locations this month. :D I'm going to be here until early February, just before the big freeze begins over here. ;)
Cheers,
Rod
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Since Nina and I finished our Christmas shopping over two weeks ago, we decided to escape from the chaos in Copenhagen by heading down south for a brief fishing trip. It was probably the best day to venture out since most would be shopping instead of fishing. At first we could not really agree on where to go. I was interested in heading back to the brackish water to connect with some more jumbo perch, while Nina wanted to fish the river where pike, perch and sea trout are present. In the end, we ended up going to the river and paying $30 for the day use fees. It turned out that this move was a wise one, and this turned out to be one of the better Danish fishing days for me.
After picking up the transportation from Nina's dad at 6:30am, we first headed to Nina's lab where she had to collect some data and water her experimental plants for her Master study. After it was taken care of, we got on the freeway and arrived at the river in no time. There was a moderate westerly breeze like it has been in the last few days. With the overcast sky, and good water clarity, I felt confident that we were going to find some fish. The river was slightly higher than before, so the bank was very saturated and muddy. This is always part of the charm when fishing at a Danish stream. Standing in knee-deep mud and reaching the main flow where the edge of the submerged bank is heavily covered with vegetation are no easy tasks. Sometimes it becomes rather frustrating when you are completely stuck in the mud, unable to perform a proper retrieve, or keeping mud out of all your gear.
We first fished a spot where Nina lost her first fish two weeks ago. After casting the streamer fly several times, I could feel a few small taps when stripping through the same spot. Finally I lifted up the rod curiously to figure out what was pecking, only to find a small elongated fish wiggling at the end of the line. Once the fish got closer, both Nina and I had a good laugh.
(http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/0607denmark/061223_01.thumb.jpg) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/member/gallery/0607denmark/061223_01) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/0607denmark/061223_02.thumb.jpg) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/member/gallery/0607denmark/061223_02)
This was my first pike on the fly, even though it was the world's smallest. :D
Big or small, a fish always lifts up the spirit this early in the game. If there is one, there must be another, or something that is willing to eat it. After sending it back to its playground, we quickly started tossing out our fly and lure again. It didn't take long before Nina also connected with a fish, on a small green spinner that I was using earlier this week. Sure enough, it was a medium sized european perch. The submerged shallow bank made it easy for her to land the fish by simpling guiding it into the shallow pool.
(http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/0607denmark/061223_03.thumb.jpg) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/member/gallery/0607denmark/061223_03) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/0607denmark/061223_04.thumb.jpg) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/member/gallery/0607denmark/061223_04) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/0607denmark/061223_05.thumb.jpg) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/member/gallery/0607denmark/061223_05)
Nina's catch of the day.
Two fish within 30 minutes was rather sensational. :) Most of the time we have a hard time just to catch a fish, but they are usually quite big. This particular river where we often fish is known to produce northern pike up to 20lb. I have always found that skeptical, as most of the ones that I've seen were under the double digit. There are also many big sea trout that travel through this river to their spawning ground, they sometimes grow as large as 20lb.
The brief excitement seemed to be the only highlight of the day as we came up empty in the next two hours. :o We were baffled, because there were some very nice spots where we thought a pike or two would live in. Unlike salmon fishing, I sometimes find it rather frustrating that moving and covering as many spots as possible is needed when targeting a stationary species such as pike. The fish maybe highly predatory and willing to take a lure, but that would not happen unless the lure brushes across its field of vision.
Discouraged and chilled by the breeze, we were starting to give up. I decided to head down to where I caught my first perch on the fly two weeks ago and see if anyone was home. After retrieving the fly at different speeds, I noticed that this section of the river is much deeper than other parts. I called Nina over, wanted her to drag a spinner through it slowly. Meanwhile, I let my streamer fly sink much longer before I started stripping the line in.
Nina found herself with a tangle in the main line after a cast and started fixing it. I flung the fly across the river and waited while it sunk. Just when I was starting to strip some line in, it was instantly tightened. My reflex set the hook hard and I found myself with a very bent and lively 6wt rod! This was no small perch!
I screamed, "Big fish! Big fish!" Nina looked up and froze for a few seconds when she saw the commotion, then quickly dropped her tangled rod and ran for the camera.
The mysterious fish stubbornly stayed deep down and began swimming towards me. I frantically tightened the line by stripping in while wakling backward. Once the line was tightened, it turned and headed downstream towards Nina's rod, which was sitting at the edge of the bank. I now found myself running forward, pointing the rod down and trying to turn it around. Luckily it changed its mind, turned around and headed upstream. The new Islander LX3.4 performed wonderfully as it smoothly fed line to the runner.
Finally it surfaced, a very long, grey body turned from side to side. I yelled, "It's a big pike! Big pike on the fly!"
The grey body then emerged from the surface and splashed a few times.
"No! It's a sea trout! Big sea trout on the fly!"
I jumped into the shallow water and slid the fish across the water surface before tailing it. In the beginning, I was expecting a big perch. I knew it was a big fish, but not that big. The cold hands were no longer a issue. I dipped both of them into the water with no hesitation and cradled the fish while Nina snapped a few photos. It was a long fish, but somewhat skinny, most likely one of the post-spawning fish, which are rather common this time of the year. Without stressing it more than it should be, I sat in the water and kept it submerged before Nina told me to let it swim away freely. We estimated the fish to be in the 6 or 7lb range. :)
(http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/0607denmark/061223_06.thumb.jpg) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/member/gallery/0607denmark/061223_06) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/0607denmark/061223_07.thumb.jpg) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/member/gallery/0607denmark/061223_07) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/0607denmark/061223_08.thumb.jpg) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/member/gallery/0607denmark/061223_08) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/0607denmark/061223_09.thumb.jpg) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/member/gallery/0607denmark/061223_09)
Who would have thought that a big sea trout would fall for a fly that I have tied up? Not me, that's for sure. The big perch never showed itself today, but I cannot complain with a sea trout as a substitute. ;)
Satisfied, we started to work our way back up the river to the car. I managed to briefly connect with a good sized fish on a #4 golden spinner before it came loose. Losing a fish that you intend to release is not a big deal, but losing a fish that you don't even get to see can be so frustrating. You end up replaying the whole event in the brain numerous times, guessing what it may have been. ::) For some reason, I can't seem to go beyond two fish in one day at this particular place. Nevertheless, I was very pleased with landing a fish that actually peeled some line off the fly reel today. ;)
Christmas arrived slightly earlier this year. ;D
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Nice fish! Good report. Merry Christmas.
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Since the establishment of fishing websites, I have use it as a tool to communicate with many anglers to gain local knowledge and new friendship. This process isn't just limited to British Columbia, but various parts of the world, including Denmark, where I spend several months each year. In the last several years, I have fished with Americans, Danes and Brits. All of the outings were fantastic learning experiences and many have become good friends since. One of the more recent and memorable trips was the stream flyfishing trip in Western Denmark with Global Flyfisher's Martin Joergensen and several other friends (http://globalflyfisher.com/podcast/podcast.php?id=17). By spending time with people who come from different backgrounds but share the same interest, I fortunately have been given the chance to appreciate other cultures and the pros and cons of their ways of life.
Today I joined Brano for another day of fishing in windy Denmark. I was in fact the guide of the day as he had never fished this river where I frequently visit, however he has more overall experience on targeting Danish fish species. Brano is originally from Slovakia and has only resides in Denmark for two years. On the way to fishing, we managed to identify the pros and cons of living in this country. Generally, we agree that Denmark's social system is excellent, even though at times I find it rather frustrating to make compromises in this socialist country. We both don't know why more people don't go crazy here in the winter, the lack of daylight right now can turn you into a vegetable after a few days of lack of activities. It is too flat here, inhabitable if you come from a place that is surrounded by mountains. Anyways, the grass always seems to be greener on the other side. ;)
Our target species today were mainly european perch and northern pike. Besides sea trout in brackish water, these are the only two freshwater sportfishing species that are available this time of the year. The water is getting colder by the day, the fish are becoming less active. catching them requires you hunting for them, instead of waiting for them to come to you. We decided to arm ourselves with both fly and spinning rods. The wind was spontaneous, so it was advantageous to switch between the two at times.
Not long after we started fishing, I witnessed a medium-sized pike following my spinner to bank without committing. A few casts later, I found a tiny perch hanging onto my size 6 spinner! The spinner itself is almost as large as the fish. Seeing that perch were around (they usually travel in schools), I switched to a size 3 spinner. The change was a wise one. The next fish, which attacked the spinner just several feet from me, was a rather impressive one.
(http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/0607denmark/061227_01.thumb.jpg) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/member/gallery/0607denmark/061227_01)
Catch of the day!
This perch was easily over 2lb! I estimated the length to be around 18 to 20 inches. Its deep body and large orange fins were typical features that seperate it from fish in the smaller size class.
Seeing that my spot was producing, Brano moved up to spincast next to me. Maybe it was luck, maybe it was the size 3 green spinner, I proceeded to hook and land two more perch! Both fish were smaller, much smaller, around 8 to 12 inches long. Four fish within 20 minutes, this was going to be a banner day, so i thought. I should have known better, because during the winter months, we usually only encounter one or two fish per trip. The rest of the day, I stood, spun, watched swans flying by, and hooked nothing other than weeds.
Brano on the other hand, turned his luck around by landing two tiny northern pike on spinners. Again these were rather ambitious, by attempting to swallow a lure that was almost as big as themselves. We snapped a couple of photos before they swam away freely.
(http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/0607denmark/061227_03.thumb.jpg) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/member/gallery/0607denmark/061227_03) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/0607denmark/061227_04.thumb.jpg) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/member/gallery/0607denmark/061227_04)
Brano's two pike.
He finished the day off by landing two perch on the fly.
When it became dark at the end of the day, we could see small minnows, or roaches, surfacing frequently. We thought that may trigger some larger pike to feed on the surface, but that was not the case.
Tomorrow we are attending our last Christmas lunch of the year. Christmas lunches usually involve many delicious traditional Danish dishes. Typical dishes include smoked salmon, smoked eel, shrimp salad, pickled herring, pan fried fish (flatfish/sole) fillet, pork liver paste with bacon, meat balls. These are usually served as toppings on bread. Aquavit usually accompanies the food or coke for lightweights such as myself. The meal usually ends with cheese, fruit, coffee/tea and chocolate.
(http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/0607denmark/061227_05.thumb.jpg) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/member/gallery/0607denmark/061227_05)
Christmas lunch is ready to be served
The next fising outing will hopefully be on Friday or Saturday. A report will be filed if it takes place.
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It was one of those days when you entirely enjoy being out, no matter the fish activity... Thanx for showing me a new spot, it was definitely worth it, cannot wait till spring, when the water reveals its secrets ;)
See you around in 2007 Rod.
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Beautiful sea trout Rod...Very nice indeed and always more exciting on something you tied.
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great pics Rod.That ocean fishing looks interesting, anyways both of you have a merry Xmas and a happy new year.
P.S: nice spinner :)
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Boy Rodney their christmas lunches sound just like in Holland. Reading about the christmas lunch reminds me of home.
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It is 11:00pm and fireworks are cracking all around us now. Six years ago, I discovered that Danes are obsessed with fireworks. I've never seen anything like it until the eve of 2001. Rockets shot up from every household and lit up the entire sky around Copenhagen. An hour after midnight, thick smoke blanketed all the streets. In an hour or so from now, we will experience that once again.
Today Nina and I made a short trip to a spot where we have been fishing lately. During the last couple of outings, Nina and I both lost one sea trout each. My fish tested my handling and landing skills, and failed me miserably. When I brought my this 4lb sea trout to shore, I placed the rod on the rocks and tailed the fish. The fish slipped out of my hand, began swimming into the deep and taking the rod into the water. I quickly dipped one hand into the water and grabbed the rod while grabbing the main line with the other. The fish decided to ran again and with a quick snap, the fish swam away freely with a Gibbs Croc spoon in its mouth.
That was last Wednesday, and I have been thinking about it since. Today the weather was less forgiving, so we decided to give it another try to see if our good luck streak would continue. When we were there on Wednesday, another gentleman landed a 10lb+ sea trout. He and a few others chatted while we fished that day, also witnessed my rather comic performance.
When we returned today, one of the gentlemen was already there. It turned out to be Allan, a friend of Ryan who I recently met. The gentleman who caught the big fish on Wednesday also joined us soon after we arrived. Ryan later on joined us as well, so did a few other of his friends. This short outing turned into a rather social gathering on New Years Eve.
Despite of the sunny weather, the wind was incredibly gusty. At times, it seemed that the sudden gusts almost swept me off the rocks. Because of the wind, the current was rather swift, according to those who fish there regularly. We were told not to be discouraged, as the fast water shouldn't affect the fishing at all.
(http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/0607denmark/061231_01.thumb.jpg) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/member/gallery/0607denmark/061231_01)
Water rushed through the gaps under the bridge.
Nina and I worked around a few different spots, before we spotted an older gentleman who had a fish on. It turned out that Ryan decided to lend him the rod for awhile and he ended up with a fish at the end of the line. The fish was rather dark, a spawner that is most likely staging before returning to one of the smaller streams nearby. Once the fish approached shore, Ryan hurried down to the edge and released the fish for him.
(http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/0607denmark/061231_02.thumb.jpg) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/member/gallery/0607denmark/061231_02)
Releasing the last sea trout of 2006.
Just before Nina and I decided to head home after two hours of trying, Stig yelled at us. We looked down and found him holding onto a dancing rod. Excited to see what it was, all of us grabbed the camera and ran over to see what it was. We waited while the fish stayed deep down. We were all expecting to see a sea trout, but only to be surprised when it surfaced. It turned out to be an atlantic cod. It was not a very big fish, but one that is very good eating for its size. Stig exclaimed, "New Year cod!" as it is a tradition for the Danes to eat cod during the new year holidays.
(http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/0607denmark/061231_03.thumb.jpg) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/member/gallery/0607denmark/061231_03)
The mysterious fish surfaced.
(http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/0607denmark/061231_04.thumb.jpg) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/member/gallery/0607denmark/061231_04)
Cod landing.
(http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/0607denmark/061231_05.thumb.jpg) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/member/gallery/0607denmark/061231_05)
Dinner is ready!
Although we ended our good luck streak today, it was a pleasant way to end a rather eventful year. Seeing so many different people being drawn together with one common interest is indeed heart warming on this cold Baltic day. With the assistance of so many fine locals who I have gotten to know quite well, I can only be excited about what might happen in 2007.
Happy New Year all!
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Whenever we visit a new place, I always want to take a peek at the local aquarium if there is one. In Denmark, there are quite a few of them, since it is an island nation. So far, I've been to three. The Copenhagen Aquarium, where I have been twice, is unfortunately not as amusing as what I had expected. Its collection of species is almost as impressive as the Vancouver Aquarium, but the entire gallery takes less than an hour to browse through. The North Sea Museum, which was once burned down in an accidental fire, was rebuilt in 2005. We visited it last winter and found it very educational and enjoyable. Its large pelagic tank was especially breathtaking. Last summer, between spring creek trout days, we visited AQUA (http://www.ferskvandscentret.dk/en/aqua/welcome/), a freshwater aquarium that features Danish fish species from lakes and streams. Its hands-on approach was very entertaining, I found it hard to leave after spending a few hours there as there was simply so much to see.
Today, we decided to take a look at Øresund Aquarium (http://www.oresundsakvariet.ku.dk/), which is located in Helsingør (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=10592.msg99129#msg99129). Øresund Aquarium is actually a marine biological laboratory of the University of Copenhagen. It is not big, but the amount of information packed in it was overwhelming, as we found out.
Øresund Aquarium specifically focuses on the ecosystems that are found in Øresund, a narrow strait between Sweden and Denmark. Its complex current movement, cycle between salt and freshwater, large diversity of fish and invertebrates make it an extremely interesting subject. If you are fond of exploring different fisheries and chasing different species regardless of size each time, this is the place to be. One can beach fish for sea trout, jig for herring, baitfish for bottom species such as flounders, boat fish for cod, flyfish seasonally for garfish and mullet.
Like AQUA and the North Sea Museum, a large touch tank was available at the entrance. At first, the sandy substrate seemed so lifeless beside a few shrimps and clams, but the flounders and soles showed themselves after we looked hard enough.
(http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/0607denmark/070106_01.thumb.jpg) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/member/gallery/0607denmark/070106_01)
The touch tank is divided into different stages, simulating different tidal zones.
There were two exhibits that I was attracted to. The large groundfish exhibit that contains wolf eel, cod and pollack allowed us to observe Denmark's favorite commercial species closely. The other large tank that contains other smaller benthic species was also very amusing, especially when this rather cheerful fish that kept spitting out of the tank onto onlookers, including myself.
(http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/0607denmark/070106_03.thumb.jpg) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/member/gallery/0607denmark/070106_03) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/0607denmark/070106_04.thumb.jpg) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/member/gallery/0607denmark/070106_04) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/0607denmark/070106_05.thumb.jpg) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/member/gallery/0607denmark/070106_05)
The two large exhibits
In the third section, we saw a dozen smaller exhibits that represent different ecosystems found in Øresund. The eel grass ecosystem was surrounded by wrass, eels, and sculpins. A school of sand eels could be found circling in another tank while an octopus remained partially hidden beneath them. The smaller exhibit illustrates where different Danish saltwater species may live in, which made me wonder where else I might want to wet a line on the east coast of Denmark.
(http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/0607denmark/070106_02.thumb.jpg) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/member/gallery/0607denmark/070106_02)
Sand eels circle the tank continuously.
Here are some of the local species that we saw.
(http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/0607denmark/070106_06.thumb.jpg) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/member/gallery/0607denmark/070106_06) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/0607denmark/070106_07.thumb.jpg) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/member/gallery/0607denmark/070106_07) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/0607denmark/070106_08.thumb.jpg) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/member/gallery/0607denmark/070106_08) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/0607denmark/070106_09.thumb.jpg) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/member/gallery/0607denmark/070106_09) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/0607denmark/070106_10.thumb.jpg) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/member/gallery/0607denmark/070106_10) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/0607denmark/070106_11.thumb.jpg) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/member/gallery/0607denmark/070106_11)
(left to right) Goby, atlantic cod, flounder, sculpin, red mullet, wolf eel and pollack.
We also witnessed a crab fight. The one-clawed crab lost obviously.
(http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/0607denmark/070106_12.thumb.jpg) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/member/gallery/0607denmark/070106_12) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/0607denmark/070106_13.thumb.jpg) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/member/gallery/0607denmark/070106_13) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/0607denmark/070106_14.thumb.jpg) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/member/gallery/0607denmark/070106_14) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/0607denmark/070106_15.thumb.jpg) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/member/gallery/0607denmark/070106_15)
Enjoy the photos. :)
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Here's a 2.5 minute video of footages from the aquarium.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ol4m8t9pHUw
The mild and rainy weather in Denmark meant no fishing at all in the entire January before I returned back home. I have one more non-fishing related story that I hope to write up for this thread when time becomes available. :)