March 2021
By Jan Snejbjerg Jensen
Great trout success on new spawning grounds in Karup Å
In a fish survey carried out in August 2019, a very large stock of trout fry was registered on a newly established spawning stream in the main course of Karup Å by Sdr. Resen. A stock of a total of 634 was calculated. trout fry on a 23 meter long stretch of Karup Å, which corresponds to almost 28 trout fry per. meters of watercourses.
In September 2018, a large spawning area was established in Karup Å by "Det Røde Sommerhus" near Sdr. Resen. The project was made possible through a collaboration between anglers from Karup Å, landowners and Viborg and Herning municipalities and financed by the inter-municipal regional development project Riverfisher.
The spawning ground was established on a stretch which before the project was physically impoverished with massive growth of tall sweet grass along both banks, sandy bottom and a pronounced lack of variety and shallow growth areas for trout fry. The width of the watercourse was widened from approximately 7 meters to approximately 18 meters on the project section, and spawning gravel and stones were laid on the bottom. This created a good, natural fall and varied flow velocities across the spawning bank. In addition, a stone-safe flow gutter was established on one side of the ridge, which ensures good water runoff at large watercourses and enables sailing. After the establishment, volunteer anglers put the finishing touches by manually planting "good" aquatic plants such as water anemone and water star on the spawning bank, as well as by laying out the hiding place for fish and small animals.
In a fish survey carried out in August 2019, a very large stock of trout fry was registered on a newly established spawning stream in the main course of Karup Å by Sdr. Resen. A stock of a total of 634 was calculated. trout fry on a 23 meter long stretch of Karup Å, which corresponds to almost 28 trout fry per. meters of watercourses.
In September 2018, a large spawning area was established in Karup Å by "Det Røde Sommerhus" near Sdr. Resen. The project was made possible through a collaboration between anglers from Karup Å, landowners and Viborg and Herning municipalities and financed by the inter-municipal regional development project Riverfisher.
The spawning ground was established on a stretch which before the project was physically impoverished with massive growth of tall sweet grass along both banks, sandy bottom and a pronounced lack of variety and shallow growth areas for trout fry. The width of the watercourse was widened from approximately 7 meters to approximately 18 meters on the project section, and spawning gravel and stones were laid on the bottom. This created a good, natural fall and varied flow velocities across the spawning bank. In addition, a stone-safe flow gutter was established on one side of the ridge, which ensures good water runoff at large watercourses and enables sailing. After the establishment, volunteer anglers put the finishing touches by manually planting "good" aquatic plants such as water anemone and water star on the spawning bank, as well as by laying out the hiding place for fish and small animals.
Preliminary study
In August 2018, immediately before the spawning grounds were established, the Danish Center for Wild Salmon, with the help of e.g. the anglers, a study of the fish stock at the project site for Viborg and Herning municipalities.
As expected, the result was not flashy, and there was far from meeting the target for the fish stock in accordance with the objective of good ecological status in the water area plans. 3 trout were caught in 45 meters of watercourse, which corresponds to poor ecological condition.
Efficacy study
One year after the establishment, in August 2019, a new study of the fish stock was carried out on the project line.
The study was conducted by elf fishing using the thinning method. The result showed that on the 23 meter streams there was a population of a total of 634 pieces. trout fry, 17 older trout and one sea trout, which corresponds to almost 28 trout (of which 27.6 trout fry) per. meters of watercourses.
Preliminary study
In August 2018, immediately before the spawning grounds were established, the Danish Center for Wild Salmon, with the help of e.g. the anglers, a study of the fish stock at the project site for Viborg and Herning municipalities.
As expected, the result was not flashy, and there was far from meeting the target for the fish stock in accordance with the objective of good ecological status in the water area plans. 3 trout were caught in 45 meters of watercourse, which corresponds to poor ecological condition.
Efficacy study
One year after the establishment, in August 2019, a new study of the fish stock was carried out on the project line.
The study was conducted by elf fishing using the thinning method. The result showed that on the 23 meter streams there was a population of a total of 634 pieces. trout fry, 17 older trout and one sea trout, which corresponds to almost 28 trout (of which 27.6 trout fry) per. meters of watercourses.
Preliminary assessment of the project
The result of the new spawning stream is a great success for the trout population in Karup Å, and the overall impression of the river on the stretch is a similarly uplifting experience. The spawning ground appeared beautiful with large vegetation islands of water anemone and water star species, and many other aquatic plant species at the banks. The sea trout spawning trenches from the winter were still visible. Water depths and velocities were varied in a mosaic of stream gutters with ripples on the water surface, and plants and rocks have created habitats for fish of all sizes as well as habitats for a diversity of small animals.
All in all, the project appeared to be a great success, and a preliminary proof that one can recreate the wide and shallow spawning and rearing areas for sea trout in the large watercourses, where the fall conditions are suitable for it. It will be exciting to follow the development of the spawning stock and not least the trout stock over the next few years.
Kim Iversen DCV and Charlotte Højbjerre Herning Municipality
Preliminary assessment of the project
The result of the new spawning stream is a great success for the trout population in Karup Å, and the overall impression of the river on the stretch is a similarly uplifting experience. The spawning ground appeared beautiful with large vegetation islands of water anemone and water star species, and many other aquatic plant species at the banks. The sea trout spawning trenches from the winter were still visible. Water depths and velocities were varied in a mosaic of stream gutters with ripples on the water surface, and plants and rocks have created habitats for fish of all sizes as well as habitats for a diversity of small animals.
All in all, the project appeared to be a great success, and a preliminary proof that one can recreate the wide and shallow spawning and rearing areas for sea trout in the large watercourses, where the fall conditions are suitable for it. It will be exciting to follow the development of the spawning stock and not least the trout stock over the next few years.
Kim Iversen DCV and Charlotte Højbjerre Herning Municipality
Jan Snejbjerg Jensen was born in 1967, and lives in the city of Skive. Jan started fishing when he was a young boy. Even then, it was primarily sea trout and salmon that was the target of his childhood fishing trips. He fished the coastal areas of East Jutland, different rivers of Jutland, and made trips to more northerly-based rivers as well. As he grew older, his fishing developed and annual trips to River Gaula for salmon, as well as fishing in the local River Gudenå, took over. In 1994, Jan moved from Aarhus to Skive, and has since then fished extensively in River Karup. Jan has also fished in many other parts of the world, and he has tried everything from large salmon to sailfish. As a writer for the Danish publication, “Fiske Avisen” and a Swedish Tourist Office, he has also fished several different locations in Sweden, where everything from grayling to flounder have been the target of the trips. In recent years, it has primarily been sea trout fishing in River Karup, which has occupied Jan. As Jan says, fishing in River Karup offers challenge, excitement, tranquility, beauty, nature, unity with likeminded anglers, and, of course, the catch of sea trout. His fishing today is primarily fly fishing in the evening and night-hours. The morning fishing can also lure Jan to the river. Jan is Chairman of the board in “Sdr. Resen Konsortiet” (Angler association) and Vice-Chairman of the KÅS Association by the river. The biggest catch Jan has caught in River Karup is a sea trout of 10.81 kg, caught on fly on a September night in 2011.