River Skjern is undoubtedly the most most famous salmon stream
in Denmark holding the record with a 26.5 kg giant salmon. It flows
through a pictoresque landscape throughout its way to the fjord with
a varied mix of meadows, sandy banks, moors and pine trees.
The river is fishable along most of its entire lenght of app. 100 km
and along most of its contributaries like river Vorgod and river Rind.
The river is between 6-25 meters wide creating good opportunities
for covering all of the beats with bank fishing. Wading is seldomly
practised. Water depth generally varies between 1-4 meter making
parts of the river flowing rapidly and swift through the river bed while
other parts consists of more gently flowing water.
Besides the salmon river Skjern holds seatrouts, brooktrout, pike,
grayling and rainbow trouts making it possible to combine salmon
fishing with other kind of sports.
The estuary is a sight for itself. It has recently undergone complete
makeover creating new habitats for birds and other kinds of wildlife.
This project is the largest natural restauration project undertaken in
Northern Europe and is certainly worth visiting during your stay.
Salmon fishing in river Skjern has two distinct
periods - fishing for spring salmon in april &
may (6 kg - 15 kg) and fishing for summer
salmon in june-august (3 - 6 kg). Autumn
fishing is not possible due to closing of the
season on September 15th.
All kinds of fishing metods are permitted by
the river but fly fishing is probably the most
common method for salmon. Flies used often
includes a special variant of the famous
Red Tag, T&L, Jock Scott, Mickey Finn as well
as a diverse range of tube and hair wing flies
in darker colors. A two hand rod is the main
tool used but one hand rods i.e. 11,5 ft. will
work fine in most instances.
The major part of salmon catches takes place around the beats
found at Borris like Borriskrog, Ahlergaard, Smedegaardsvinget,
Landevejssvinget etc but good opportunities can be found on many
other stretches by the river. The area around Skarrild can some-
times deliver surprises for early salmon & several fine beats around
the town of Sdr. Felding offers excellent fishing. The lower parts of
the river with pools like Jernbanebroen, Gjaldbaek and Vorgod
will also exhibit fine fishing opportunities throughout the season.
Good beats are also to be found in the lower parts of river Vorgod.
Salmon runs early in season are scattered
and few in numbers so covering wide areas
of the river can be a good idea. Sinking lines
and large flies is well advised to use here.
Later on the river will hold both freshly run
salmons and older fish and concentrating
on one or two streches of the river will often
pay-off. Sink tips and smaller flies are now
the name of the game. As for spin fishing
casting across the river and upstream is
the most widely used tactic. Spinners and
wobblers are both effective (Mepps, ABU
Reflex, Flying Condoms and Rapala..)
