DENMARK
- certainly not carp everywhere - nor very many
- but we are happy with the ones present - so make sure to put them all back!

Early morning after a nocturnal thunderstorm over Bagsværd lake, north of Copenhagen. To fish in Denmark, you'll need the general permit - the "Fisketegn" - available from any postoffice at 100.- dkr  - that is about 13,5 € - for the year.
Besides this, you'll need a local permit at many waters.
There is no general limit to the number of rods allowed, besides the waters freed by the forrest departments, where only 2 rods are allowed. Groundbaiting is not allowed in these waters

As something rather unique in Europe, quite a few waters in Denmark can be fished for free, when you've got the general permit. These are in general waters set free for fishing by the forrest departments all over the country, and also some communal waters are free to fish. Even at many private waters, anglers are welcome to fish for free.
Please note, that this possibility to fish for free is normally not signed at the waters - and even no fishing allowed is generally not signed either. You'll simply have to ask arround i each case.
Many waters can of course be fished on daytickets. Nightfishing is generally allowed in Denmark. On some waters bivvies are not allowed. The general rule is, that camping outside authorized camping grounds is prohibited - but generally an umbrella or a bivvy used during fishing causes no problems.

Bagsværd lake, Copenhagen
 This lovely big water just north of Copenhagen does not have that many carp in it, and fishing can be quite hard here. Carp have however been caught to 18 kg+ - and fishing from the public parts of the banks is free! The average carp here are 8 - 10 kg. Just make sure not to damage the vegetation around the lake, and respect the rowing stadion users. Do not forget to bring backleads! Many cayacs and canoes are sure to cross your lines!

Guldbjerg mose, Slagslunde
 The forrest dept. has set fishing in this little lake of some 2 ha. free. It's well stocked with carp to maybe 12 - 14 kgs. The majority of the fish now are considerably smaller - 4 - 5 kg. The fish in here have had a quite turbulent life - with fishstealing and unauthorized new stockings on and off for quite a few years. 2 rods allowed. It's a nice little place with surprisingly many swims to choose from - despite the small size of the water.

Phone-numbers indicated are for calls within Denmark.
From other countries, dial 0045 before the number

Guden river, Randers
 This is the biggest river in the country, and though it's hardly fished for carp, locals in the Randers area quite frequently catch long, lean hardfighting commons. Be prepared to put in som work and baiting in advance to get a better chance to contact the nomadic fish.

Harndrup lakes, Harndrup, Fyn
 These matures claypits also offers free fishing from the public parts of the lakes. In all they cover some 3 - 4 ha., and carp stocks are good. The average fish go some 6-7 kg. Only a few has topped 12 kg. Nightfishing is not allowed anymore

Harte Dons lakes, Kolding, Jylland
Dissaster have struck here in mid-may 2007, where hundreds of carp have been found dead in just one week, and the whole stock is feared to be on the verge of extinction due to a viral dissease! It is highly doubtfull, if this water will be re-stocked when this all is over, as regional authorities have proclaimed carp an udessired species in all major lakes in the region. Once one of the major big-carp venues of the country - now probably completely ruined and never to be the same again.

Hellenæs lakes, Nakskov, Lolland
 These 2 small claypits are free to fish, and offers good sport for medium-sized carp. A few has been reported topping 10 kg. Both commons and mirrors present.

Hirbo lakes, Rødby, Lolland
 These two lakes can be fished on a dayticket. The best stock is present in the bigger one - both commons and mirrors to 12 kg+. Several catches a night is possible.

Karlsgårde lake, Jylland
Very nice carp to 10 kg+ have been caught from this beautifull lake recent years. Rumours of several 16 kg+ fish have been rather consistant, but not confirmed. A special carpfishing ticket, allowing fishing with 2 rods are now available from The MacNab Outdoor, Jagt og fiskeri, Borgergade 54, 6700 Esbjerg, 75 45 43 17.

Kalvemosen, Gl. Holte, Sjælland
 This 3 ha lake north of Copenhagen is probably the hardest fished water in the country! It's well stocked with a few commons to 11 kg+ and magnificent "Tivoli"-mirrors, that have been caught to 20 kg+ - but it's by no means an easy water. The carp here has seen it all. Also big crucians, goldfish and giebel carp are present. Also the tench go to decent sizes. Fishing with 2 rods allowed - and it's free!

Klokkerholm møllesø, Klokkerholm, Jylland
 This shallow water is well stocked with magnificent grasscarp, that has been caught to 12 kg+. Carp are also present, but they are quite small and far between. Daytickets can be purchased at the gasstation in town - and the permit also covers the Østermøllesø in Dronningelund.

Setting up for the night in winter at Kalvemosen.

Lammefjord canals, Holbæk, Sjælland
 2 of these 3 canals can be fished on a dayticket basis. Tickets valid for 24 hrs.. These canals are well known for their hardfighting commons - some of which have totally reverted to the wildie state and are impossible to distinguish from "real" wildies! Very few mirrors are present.
Even though carp of 10 kg+ are present, they are very rare and far between. In the southern Gislinge canal the average fish are some 2½ - 4 kg - in the northern one considerably smaller.
Fishing is only allowed from the dyke side - and with a 2 rods limit. Shelters and umbrellas are allowed, closed bivvies are not. You can drive along the Gislinge canal on the dirt track - but the possibilities to park are few if you are not to block the track. No parking on the dyke allowed! Unload your gear on your chosen spot - and drive back to the road to park the car!

Langesø, Morud, Fyn
 This beautifull forrest lake can be fished from a part of the southern bank only. Tickets are available from tackle stores in Odense and from the gas station in Morud. Carp are present to 12 kg+. Fishing is not all too easy. 2 rods allowed.
Lyngby lake, Lyngby, Sjælland
The fishing is free from the northern bank of thes big lake on the Mølleå river. It is well stocked with carp, and several different 15 kg+ carp have been caught. The average fish these days are around the 10 kg mark. Not too many swims are available on the northern Åmose side. Do not try to fish the orther sides of the lake - it will only get us all into trouble!
A bivvy can be used at night, but it's highly recommended to take it down during the day - as many people do not accept our presence and "camping". Make sure not to block the tracks around the lake - many people walk their dog here, jogg and get great pleassure out of complaining over anything they do not understand! Which happens to be carpanglers in this case .....

Mølleåen river, Sjælland
This small, slowly running river is dammed at several places to form small shallow lakes. Carp has been introduced to them all many years ago, and they have been caught to 10 kg+. Fishing is free with 2 rods from public areas on all the lakes. Good carp has been caught from Brede lake, Ørholm lake and from Stampedam lake.

These two magnificent fish of 15,5 and 17,0 kg were caught from a private water by Max Møller, 2004

Nordborg lake, Als
 This was the first danish water to produce a 20 kg+ carp in 2006 and have produced lots of other fantastic fish in recent years. This has all come to a tragic end in mid-may 2007, as massive fish deaths have been reported, including at least one 20 kg+. It is believed, that a highly contagious and deadly carp virus is the cause, and the entire stock is feared to be lost.

Pedersborg Lake, Sorø, Sjælland
 Not too many swims are available on this very beautifull lake, well stocked with carp to just short of 14 kg. The lake bottom is very silty, making bait presentations of crucial importance to succes. Daytickets are available in Sorø - also covering the Sorø lake. A camping is found right next to the lake.

Sorø lake, Sorø, Sjælland
 This big lake is very much on it's way up in the danish carpangling scene. Now it offers very god possibilities for a bonus surprise, and carp has in recent years been caught to 12 kg+ - and the average fish 5 - 7 kg. There's many features to chose from - lilliebeds, sunken trees etc..

It might not be the biggest carp ever seen - but when it's pending for a new PB from the water - the scales has to do their job.

Store Vejle river, Ishøj, Sjælland
 It's in fact only the wide approx. 1 km stretch just befor the river runs out in Ishøj yacht-harbour, that is of any carpangling interest. Both carp and grasscarp are present here, and fish to just short of 10 kg has been caught here. Daytickets are available from the Q8 gass station in Ishøj.

Trekantsøen, Ørestad, Amager
 This urban water just outside Copenhagen, on the island of Amager, right beside the highway to the airport and to Sweden, is also stocked with small carp. They are hardly ever fished for - but the water would be well worth a few hours stint with light tackle. Bream, roach, ide, eel and perch are also present.

Tueholm lake, Vallensbæk, Sjælland
 Formerly one of the top carp waters in this country, but due to biomanipulations, only rather few carp and grasscarp are now left. These have on the other hand grown on very well - and carp are present to 15 kg+ - as are grasscarp topping 12 kg+. The shallow water is almost completely overgrown with weed in summer months - and in good weather conditions you can see the big grasscarp basking in the holes in the weed!
Daytickets available.

Viborg lakes, Viborg, Jylland
 These two big lakes, divided by a road and a narrow canal under the road, can be fished from public areas for free! Carp stocks are very good, but location of the fish is needless to say of key importance. The average carp here are of a rather modest size - around the 4 -6 kilos, but fish to 14 kg+ has been caught. Rumours of even bigger fish has been forwarded years ago - but are doubted by local anglers.

Østermølle lake, Dronninglund, Jylland
 This rather small water is very well stocked with carp - but has been detrimented quite a bit by emmigrant anglers killing the carp for food with no understandig for the vulnerabillity of the danish carp stocks. The water can be fished on a dayticket basis. Tickets available from the Metax gasstation in town. This ticket also is valid for Klokkerholm Møllesø. The carp in this water go to just under 10 kg - bigger fish has been reported from time to time, but they are few and far between.