Denmark
Denmark Lakes & Rivers Fishing Map
Find your stretch of water. Explore the lakes and rivers, get to know the species and plan your next day by the water.
Lakes and riversAll 121 grounds on the map
01 / Discover the waters
Denmark Lakes & Rivers fishing spots 121
Choose a place, explore its details or go straight to its pin on the map.
A total of 121 grounds; the first 90 of them are below.
Matching grounds:
Show 84 more grounds
No matching grounds. Try another place or explore all grounds on the map.
02 / Species
What can you catch in the lakes and rivers of Denmark?
Meet the species recorded in these waters. Open a species for its techniques, bait and fishing grounds.
Matching species:
Brown trout
Salmo trutta
Northern pike
Esox lucius
European perch
Perca fluviatilis
Roach
Rutilus rutilus
Atlantic salmon
Salmo salar
Common bream
Abramis brama
Rudd
Scardinius erythrophthalmus
Grayling
Thymallus thymallus
Common carp
Cyprinus carpio
Tench
Tinca tinca
Ruffe
Gymnocephalus cernua
Common bleak
Alburnus alburnus
Pikeperch
Sander lucioperca
Rainbow trout
Oncorhynchus mykiss
Crucian carp
Carassius carassius
Ide
Leuciscus idus
Common dace
Leuciscus leuciscus
Burbot
Lota lota
Pumpkinseed
Lepomis gibbosus
Goldfish
Carassius auratus
Round goby
Neogobius melanostomus
Grass carp
Ctenopharyngodon idella
White bream
Blicca bjoerkna
Common whitefish
Coregonus lavaretus
Brook trout
Salvelinus fontinalis
No matching species. Try another name or see every species in the catalog.
In season · October
Denmark Lakes & Rivers fishing calendar
Species with a productive season this month. Seasonal data is a guide, not a guarantee of a catch.
Species counts peak in the lakes and rivers of Denmark in Jul, Aug, Jun — the strip shows how many species are productive in each month.
- 1 Jan
- 2 Feb
- 2 Mar
- 5 Apr
- 14 May
- 20 Jun
- 21 Jul
- 21 Aug
- 17 Sep
- 11 Oct
- 2 Nov
- 2 Dec
The height of the strip is the number of productive species in that month; it is not a guarantee of a catch. The turquoise column is the current month.
What is caught in the lakes and rivers of Denmark month by month
For each month, the species in season — the most seasonal ones first.
- Jan
- Burbot
- Feb
- Burbot, Common whitefish
- Apr
- Rainbow trout, Brook trout, Roach, Ide, Common whitefish
- May
- Rainbow trout, Rudd, Common carp, Crucian carp, Northern pike, Common bream and 8 more species
- Jun
- Tench, Grass carp, Pumpkinseed, Rudd, Common carp, Crucian carp and 14 more species
- Jul
- Tench, Grass carp, Pumpkinseed, Rudd, Common carp, Pikeperch and 15 more species
- Aug
- Tench, Ruffe, Grass carp, Pumpkinseed, Rudd, Common carp and 15 more species
- Sep
- Ruffe, Pikeperch, White bream, Brown trout, Northern pike, Common bream and 11 more species
- Oct
- Ruffe, Rainbow trout, Pikeperch, White bream, Brown trout, Northern pike and 5 more species
- Nov
- Burbot, Common dace
- Dec
- Burbot, Common dace
What bites in the lakes and rivers of Denmark this month
Ranked by this month’s research score at the lake and river spots of this region.
Good
- Pikeperch
- Grayling
- White bream
- Ruffe
- Atlantic salmon
- Northern pike
- Brown trout
- European perch
- Rainbow trout
- Common dace
+8 more species
Weak
A 0–100 score from season, water temperature, habitat and local records; a general trend, not a guarantee.
Before you cast
Rules specific to this region 32
The entries are summaries compiled from that country’s fishing legislation; each lists its legal basis and official source. The official text is binding, and rules can vary by state and by water. Check the rules on your permit before you fish.
Legal framework and permits
Fisheries and fish farming act (LBK nr 205 af 01/03/2023 (formerly LBK 261/2019)). Fisketegn requirement (§54–56), exemptions (§55), ministry's powers on fredningstid, mindstemål and fredningsbælter (§30–34). Permit: Lystfiskertegn: under-18s and those of pension age are exempt; exempt in private waters without outlet to the sea/rivers and for the landowner and household on their own shore. In addition, the water owner's permission (private waters) is required. Competent authority: Ministeriet for Fødevarer, Landbrug og Fiskeri; enforcement Fiskeristyrelsen (from July 2026 the fisheries area was transferred to Miljøstyrelsen).
Legal basis: Lov om fiskeri og fiskeopdræt (fiskeriloven) communiqué text
Legal framework and permits
Regulation on minimum sizes and closed seasons for fish and crayfish in fresh water (BEK nr 1198 af 07/06/2021 (in force 01.07.2021)). Fredningstid for laks, havørred, søørred, bækørred, helt, heltling, snæbel, gedde, sandart, stalling, flodkrebs; minimum sizes; fish caught during the closed season/undersized are released immediately (§1). Competent authority: Fiskeristyrelsen / Miljøstyrelsen.
Legal basis: Bekendtgørelse om mindstemål og fredningstider for fisk og krebs i ferskvand communiqué text
Legal framework and permits
Regulation on recreational fishing in salt and fresh water and on fishing with gear in fresh water (BEK nr 1429 af 05/12/2024 (in force 01.01.2025)). Lystfiskeri = light hand gear (rod, pilk etc.); fisketegn rules and fees; prohibited methods in fresh water (§33); special Gudenå rule (§35). Permit: Lystfiskertegn 12 months 214 DKK, 1 week 150 DKK, 1 day 46 DKK (2025 BEK; 2026 amount could not be verified); www.fisketegn.dk. The fisketegn number + ID must be shown while fishing. Competent authority: Landbrugs- og Fiskeristyrelsen.
Legal basis: Bekendtgørelse om rekreativt fiskeri i saltvand og ferskvand samt redskabsfiske… communiqué text
Legal framework and permits
Skjern Å vandsystem (West Jutland): Regulation on special fishing rules for the Skjern Å water system (BEK nr 202 af 28/02/2024 (in force 05.03.2024)). River fishing seasons, laks protected all year (catch-and-release), bait and hook rules. Permit: Fiskeristyrelsen permit for quota-based laks fishing (apply by 15 January). Competent authority: Fiskeristyrelsen.
Legal basis: Skjern Å vandsystem (West Jutland): Bekendtgørelse om særlige fiskeriregler for… communiqué text
Legal framework and permits
South Jutland (rivers flowing into the Vadehavet): Order on special fishing rules and protection zones in the Vadehavet and certain South Jutland rivers (BEK nr 204 af 28/02/2024 ('Gældende' on retsinformation as of 26.10.2026)). Varde Å, Sneum Å, Kongeå, Ribe Å, Brede Å, Vidå river systems + Vester Vedsted Bæk, Rejsby Å, Brøns Å: fishing seasons, laks protected all year, bait/hook rules, mouth protection zones. Permit: Fiskeristyrelsen permit for quota laks fishing. Competent authority: Fiskeristyrelsen.
Legal basis: Bekendtgørelse om særlige fiskeriregler og fredningsbælter i Vadehavet og i vis… communiqué text
Legal framework and permits
Regulation on the ban on eel fishing in salt and fresh water (BEK nr. 670 af 15.07.2026 (in force 01.08.2026; repealed BEK 486/2025)). §1–5 closed seasons for commercial ål fishing (ICES 3: 15.09.2026–15.03.2027; ICES 4: 01.09.2026–28.02.2027); §6–8 recreational ål fishing completely prohibited in fresh and salt water. Competent authority: Fiskeristyrelsen.
Legal basis: Bekendtgørelse om forbud mod fiskeri af ål i saltvand og ferskvand communiqué text
General provision
An angler (lystfisker) fishing with rod/line carries a lystfiskertegn (those fishing with nets/fyke nets: fritidsfiskertegn). Exempt: under 18, those of retirement age, enclosed private waters, owners of shoreline land and their household. Period: All year.
Legal basis: Fiskeriloven §54–55; BEK 1429/2024 §3 communiqué text
General provision
Trawls and gear opened by wings/paravanes (including oter), electricity, explosive/poisonous/narcotic substances, fishing by draining, spearing with artificial light, any kind of spear/harpoon/firearm, driving fish into gear, and drag fishing (rykfiskeri) are prohibited. Period: All year.
Legal basis: BEK 1429/2024 §33 communiqué text
General provision
Fish caught during the closed season or below the minimum size must be released immediately, alive if possible. Period: All year.
Legal basis: BEK 1198/2021 §1 communiqué text
General provision
Recreational fishers may not sell their catch. Period: All year.
Legal basis: LFST communiqué text
General provision
Gudenå (Nørreå – Frisenvold Fiskegård): In this stretch, including tributaries, only light hand gear (rod and line etc.) may be used. Period: All year.
Legal basis: Gudenå (Nørreå – Frisenvold Fiskegård): BEK 1429/2024 §35 communiqué text
General provision
Skjern Å vandsystem; Varde Å, Sneum Å, Kongeå, Ribe Å, Brede Å, Vidå, Vester Vedsted Bæk, Rejsby Å, Brøns Å: Shrimp and fish roe (rogn) prohibited as bait; one hook per line (single/double/treble); barbless hook mandatory, but with natural/scented bait a single hook is mandatory and it may be barbed if the hook gape is ≤6 mm. Period: All year (excluding lakes forming part of the system).
Legal basis: BEK 202/2024 §5; BEK 204/2024 §2 stk. 3–6 communiqué text
Protected species
North Sea houting (snæbel) (Coregonus oxyrinchus): Protected all year.
Legal basis: BEK 1198/2021 §2 nr.6 communiqué text
Mandatory release
Atlantic salmon – Skjern Å and the Vadehavet rivers (Varde, Sneum, Kongeå, Ribe, Brede, Vidå) (Salmo salar): Protected all year (catch-and-release); Fiskeristyrelsen may grant quota-based permits.
Legal basis: BEK 202/2024 §3; BEK 204/2024 §4 communiqué text
Protected species
European eel (Anguilla anguilla): Recreational fishing prohibited all year in all waters (fresh + salt); any ål caught is released immediately (from 01.08.2026).
Legal basis: BEK nr. 670 af 15.07.2026 §6–8 communiqué text
Protected species
Grayling (stalling) (Thymallus thymallus): protected all year until 15.05.2026; thereafter closed 15.03–15.05, 33 cm.
Legal basis: BEK 1198/2021 §2 stk.2 communiqué text
Closed season and minimum size
Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), River + lake — Closed season: 16.11 – 28.02. Minimum size: 40 cm. In leap years 29.02. Fish caught during the closed season/below size are released immediately, alive if possible (§1). In Skjern Å and the Vadehavet rivers, laks is protected all year (separate entries).
Legal basis: BEK 1198/2021 §2 nr.1, §3 communiqué text
Closed season and minimum size
Sea trout (havørred) (Salmo trutta trutta), River + lake — Closed season: 16.11 – 28.02. Minimum size: 40 cm. Fish caught during the closed season/undersized are released immediately, alive if possible (§1).
Legal basis: BEK 1198/2021 §2 nr.2, §3 communiqué text
Closed season and minimum size
Lake trout (søørred) (Salmo trutta lacustris), Lake + river — Closed season: 16.11 – 28.02. Minimum size: 40 cm. Fish caught during the closed season/undersized must be released immediately, alive if possible (§1).
Legal basis: BEK 1198/2021 §2 nr.3, §3 communiqué text
Closed season and minimum size
Brown trout (bækørred) (Salmo trutta fario), River — Closed season: 16.11 – 28.02. Minimum size: 30 cm. Fish caught during the closed season/undersized must be released immediately, alive if possible (§1).
Legal basis: BEK 1198/2021 §2 nr.4, §3 communiqué text
The first 20 of 32 entries are listed.
Frequently asked
What can you catch in the lakes and rivers of Denmark?
25 species are on record in the lakes and rivers of Denmark: Brown trout, Northern pike, European perch, Roach, Atlantic salmon, Common bream, Rudd, Grayling and others.
What can you catch in the lakes and rivers of Denmark in each month?
The month with the most species in season is July (21 species). By season: winter: Burbot and Common dace; spring: Brook trout and Common whitefish; summer: Tench and Grass carp; autumn: Ruffe and Pikeperch.
How many fishing grounds are there in the lakes and rivers of Denmark?
There are 121 fishing grounds on record in the lakes and rivers of Denmark; each has its own page with the location, the species caught and the conditions that suit it.
