River Karup is a long river with marked differences between the upper and the lower course. For convenience, we describe the course of the river as:

• Upper river.
• Middle river.
• Lower river.

Upper River Karup

The upper part of the river is the stretch from the fishfarm at Agerskov down to the town of Karup. Here a series of bends create both a scenic landscape and perfect pools for the sea trout.

The following angler’s associations sell fishing licenses to this part of the river:

• Herning-Ikast angler association.
• Silkeborg angler association.
• Brabrand angler association.
• Viborg angler association.

Middle River Karup

The Middle part of the river’s course is the stretch from the town of Karup and downstream to Hagebro Bridge. Many deep bends and interesting pools await the angler here. Single handed fly rods or short 11-12 feet double handed rods will do the job on this part of the river. There is plenty of fishing room but the closer you get to Hagebro Bridge, the more anglers there will be.

 The following angler’s associations sell fishing licenses to this part of the river:

• Herning-Ikast angler association.
• Aulum-Haderup angler association.
• Sønder-Resen angler consortium.
• The angler association for Skive and surrounding area.
• The angler association of 1926.

Add to this, that several local landowners along River Karup sell fishing licenses to anglers.

River Haderis is an important tributary. The two rivers meet a little upstream of the town of Hagebro. River Haderis is not as big as the River Karup and is thus ideal for fishing with shorter rods. But not lighter tippet material! Make no mistake, as the sea trout in River Haderis are just as big as the ones in River Karup!

The following angler’s associations sell fishing licenses to River Haderis:

• Aulum-Haderup angler association.
• The angler association for Skive and surrounding area.

Lower River Karup

The Lower part of is the stretch from Hagebro Bridge to the river’s outlet in the Skive Fjord. Here, the river is broader than upstream Hagebro Bridge, and there is a little farther between the bends and turns – not least downstream the town of Vridsted. The lower part of the river offers a great variety. Near Hagebro the river’s course is characterized by large, big bends and more straight stretches in-between. Further downstream, and closer to the city of Skive, there are fewer bends. The sea trout don’t seem to care and you can even get a hook-up in the middle of the city of Skive! Down here, the river is so wide that the obvious choice is a two-handed rod. At times, you’ll meet quite a few many anglers on the lower beats, especially in the Hagebro area.

The following angler’s associations sell fishing licenses to this part of the river:

• The angler association for Skive and surrounding area.
• Aulum-Haderup angler association.
• The angler association of 1926.

The map shows some of the bridges on the river. Bridges can be useful in more than one way, as they also serve as distinctive landmarks to orient yourself along the river.
Our River Karup-folder helps you get an overview of all the pools and fishing spots in the river.

As early as in the 16th century, disagreements about net fishing rights were recorded and these types of quarrels continued until around 1850.

The first angling associations in the River Karup area were formed at the end of the 19th century. From this early period, we have records of two monster sea trout. Both were netted in the river – one weighing 16 kilos (35lb), the other fish weighed 17 kilos (38lb).

The rod fishermen also battled with the river’s big fish although it was usually the fish that won. But not always! One summer’s day at the end of July 1939, Mister Christian Plejdrup hooked a very large and powerful sea trout and only after a prolonged fight did he finally manage to land what turned out to be a world record.

The first angling associations in the River Karup area were formed at the end of the 19th century. From this early period, we have records of two monster sea trout. Both were netted in the river – one weighing 16 kilos (35lb), the other fish weighed 17 kilos (38lb).

The rod fishermen also battled with the river’s big fish although it was usually the fish that won. But not always! One summer’s day at the end of July 1939, Mister Christian Plejdrup hooked a very large and powerful sea trout and only after a prolonged fight did he finally manage to land what turned out to be a world record.

The actual weight of that fish has been an object of controversy ever since. A fishmonger in the city of Skive weighed the fish at 16 kilos (35lb). The fish was sold to the local grocer in the village of Hagebro and here it was weighed at 14.4 kilos (32lb). This latter weight was the one accepted as the official world record weight.

Until the 1930s when fly fishing became more and more popular, the favored methods were worm fishing and spinning.

Back then, angling was only practiced during the day. Later, night fishing for sea trout developed and today the River Karup angler can choose to go fishing in the morning, during the day, in the evening and even during the darkest hours of night.

Though fishing with worm and spinner is still practiced, the majority of anglers are fly fishers and the majority of fish are taken on the fly.

Back in the 1920s and 30s, the fishery started to decline due to pollution, fish farming and net fishermen overexploiting the stock in the fjord.

Anglers and land owners did what was possible to improve the conditions in the river and its many tributaries. Obstacles were removed, spawning beds established and stocking of fish organized.

Finally, and most importantly, anglers, landowners, locals, and conservationists succeeded, in 1964, in having the whole River Karup valley protected. This saved the river from an almost certain death as it had been planned to establish a huge fish farm with in excess of 150 trout ponds stocked with rainbow trout. The protests and the decision to protect the river and the valley thankfully put an end to that plan.

In the following decades, members of the angler’s associations were involved in restoring the river to its former glory. Instrumental for the final success was the voluntary work, goodwill from land owners, and support from local counties, municipalities, and the state itself.

The sea trout responded by returning in ever increasing numbers and during the 1990s and in the early 2000s, the River Karup became Denmark’s number one fishery.

From the very start, the Hagebro Inn and fishing hotel was the epicentre for anglers from near and far visiting the River Karup. Up to this day, the Inn has continued to be the place anglers meet before and after fishing on the river. If only the walls could speak here!

Much has happened since the post-war era, when local youngsters could earn their pocket money by offering to dig worms for the visiting anglers lodging at the Hagebro Inn.

Something that hasn’t changed is the dream of catching one of the famed double figure sea trout that made, and still make, the River Karup renowned.