Published Jan 15. 2015 - 9 years ago
Updated or edited Apr 25. 2019

Spring dreams

We're in the middle of the dampest, grayest, wettest, warmest winter I can remember for a long time, and I'm dreaming of spring.

Garfish! - Spring is also plenty garfish and plenty fun
A sign of spring
Henning Eskol

This is written mid-January 2015, and we've just come out of a couple of weeks with two storms, extreme tides - even flooding - wrapped up in temperatures that have neither been warm nor really cold. Altogether pretty miserable bordering on depressing. And the weather forecast promises more of the same. No wonder I'm longing for spring!

No wonder I'm longing for spring!

Now, don't misunderstand me. I have always been a winter and cold weather fisherman, and haven't minded fishing when the weather was rough - or at least not optimal. But things have changed around here, and not only do I fish much less than I have ever done, but I have also become a fair weather fisherman who shun cold water and tough conditions.

Where it starts - When the sun hits the shallow water, these sea weed patches will start buzzing with life. Sea trout food!
A coastal view - Many Danish coasts have slightly elevated beaches giving a great view of the water
A cloud - Days can be endlessly beautiful
Lots of fishing water - Long undisturbed stretches of very fishable water
Almost tropic - Some days can turn a Danish beach into something almost Caribbean
Spring impressions
Steve Schweitzer - Ken Bonde Larsen

Other people have gone fishing, and when the wind in particular permits access to the water, fishing is actually really good. The mild winter and the relatively warm water means that the sea trout, which are the main quarry for the coastal anglers here in Denmark, have been thriving and have been able to stay close to the shore and still find food and good conditions.
It doesn't make the days warmer, sunnier or less windy, but catching sure does make it more fun.
Personally I don't long to go fishing on these gray and dull days. When I go fishing I want everything to be optimal: water, weather, company, access. Like going on a good spring trip to a favorite spot with good friends.

So I long for spring.

Hard to complain - This 5 lbs. or 2½ kilos fish was landed after a very hard take and a fierce fight
Ready to land - Fighting a sea trout in the shallow water close to the beach
A spring prize - When things come together as they sometimes do, the prize is a nice, bright sea trout
Another fine fish - Typical in condition and size for a good spring fish
Good friends, nice fish
Henning Eskol - Jens Groenlund - Martin Joergensen - Paul Kalbrener

When that feeling comes, I tend to dig into the archives and read my old fishing reports and look at pictures. And some years I have been inspired to make that into an article for this site, probably instigating a certain feeling of cabin fever and spring dreams in other anglers in the same kind of fishing limbo as myself.

I'm of course sorry about that, but also happy that these images can maybe bring a little impression of sunshine into the dull days of the many northern sphere anglers who - like me - look forward to the first spring days.

Sea horses - You see all kinds things on the Danish coast. Like these riders playing with their horses in the shallow water. There\'s room for everyone.
A rapeseed field - A typical sign of spring
The run - The fish has taken hard and has taken its first runs
Going home - Walking along the beautiful coastline after a day of fishing
When the sun comes out
Martin Joergensen - Jan-Ole Willers
The trusty LAW - Right now the reel is in its pouch and the rod in its tube, both waiting to be brought out into the spring light
Fish on! - A fish is hooked in the clear water on the Danish coast
Getting away - A sea trout is ready to swim off
Trick of the tail - A flick and the fish is off
Spring memories
Ken Bonde Larsen - Kai Nolting - Martin Joergensen

Other spring galleries

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