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First published before January 1st 2001 - More than 8 years ago

Rule no. 3½


Danish inshore fishing

By Martin Joergensen

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This should actually be rule number 4, but it's still a bit too vague to be so
it is based on my own and a lot of other fishers experiences, but still...
Fishing is best when water is going out
and please notice, that this doesn't only refer to tidal movement.

Good days and bad
There's no doubt that water movenet is essential when fishing the coast. Differences in water movement can mean the difference between a good and a bad day on the same location. But how should the water move in order to give the optimal conditions for the fish? Well, that depends... would be the obvious answer, but even though there's a lot of difference between locations, it seems like one condition gives better fishing no matter where you fish: the water has to move out.

When is the water going out?
Water moving 'out' means that one or several of the following conditions are true:

  • Tide is falling, drawing water away from the coast
  • Water flowing out of fjords etc.
  • Water is moving west or north
Wind and water movement
The wind has a strong influence on water movement. In the narrow Danish waters the wind can either press the water into straits and fjords, help the water leave the same places or have no influence.
When there's no wind, the water will move from the baltic Sea out through the Danish sounds in a northern direction. Likewise no wind will mean that water will flow out of the streams into the fjords and on into the sea. This in the natural direction of the water.
Looking at the map again will tell you that most Northern winds will press water into the Danish sea and stop most water from running out from anywhere. Most fishers I know will always stay at home when the wind is strong from Northern directions.
Winds from southern directions, on the other hand, will press water out of the sounds and help the natural current.

Why is it better?
To be honest: I don't know!
My personal guess is that several factors change in a positive direction when water runs out from somewhere.

  • Water moves, which will make the fish more active.
  • Fresh water (fresh as in not salt) replenishes salt water. This is especially important in the cold seasons
  • Food items from lower, warmer water will wash out. Fish will feed on them while swimming against the current
These are just my feeble theories. One thing is quite sure, though: winds and currents from the south gets my blood running.

Lucky for us there are places where these rules meet.


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