Published Feb 2nd 2006
What can you do when fishing is slow? Take some pictures!
Anglers in the Baltic area will often spend some days in the cold months in pursuit of sea trout. Sometimes you can run into the most fantastic fishing, but most days are slow and cold. You cannot stay too long in the water, and when it is as coldest, ice will form - both in the water and in the guides of your rod. There is little life in the water and the few fish, which are around, are generally slow and not very active. Sun can stimulate activity, and just a few hours of heat from the low sun can bring about an amazing blooming of critters in the shallow water. When the water is close to freezing, even a couple of degrees increase in temperature will make a big difference.
Once you do engage with Baltic sea trout in the winter they seem to fall in three categories: large, bright ones, large colored ones and small bright ones. The latter can occur in large schools, but the chance of running into one of these flocks is slim. The bigger fish can be found in the deep Baltic - southern Denmark and Sweden and northern Germany. The big fish are fish, which go into the Swedish and other Baltic streams. These fish will stay close to the shore to feed until temperatures rise. Then they move out into the deeper water and out of reach of most anglers. During the cold season you can meet them as fish on their spawning run, as kelts, which have spawned or as silver-bright fish, which have skipped a spawning run and staid in the ocean to feed.
So why go?
We go because we still like to be by the water, and because we might happen to be lucky. And who can sit in the living room looking out on a nice sunny day, which just plagues you to go fishing? Once you are out there you can enjoy the fantastic snowscapes, the ice formations and hopefully the beauty of a blue sky and a low sun. And don't remember to bring a camera and take plenty pictures. This page shows what the Baltic area can bring. Your favorite fishing water may offer similar sights.
OK, I have to admit it. A few of these images are actually from Sweden, so the article should rightfully have been named Baltic winter. But it captures the essense of fishing both sides of Oresound.