Skanderborg Lille Sø (Skanderborg Little Lake)

This fairly shallow lake is connected to the main Skanderborg Lake and holds massive amounts of Bream in the weeks approaching there spawning weeks and shortly after. The fact that they are spawning does not seem to put the fish off feeding. Regular bags of 150lb+ of Bream are a reality during the warm months of the year with some 200lb+ weights also being boasted by some anglers. About mid June is when most of the fish move out into the main lake so after this time the fishing becomes much harder. It’s always worth fishing, but expect it to make you think as the small amount of fish in there will be hard to catch.
 
Tactics at Little Lake

Top tactics in late April until mid June is 5 to 8 meter pole or whip fishing to hand with float of about 1gm minimum in calm conditions. Do not be afraid to go up to 2 or even 3gm if the wind is strong. Elastics on your poles should be strong but not barbaric, a number 8, 10 or 12 set fairly tight is ideal. I have also been experimenting with power gum but as yet see no reason to suggest this. You can fish straight through to the mainline but I personally prefer the safety of a hook length. Main lines should be no less than 0.14mm up to .20mm, with hook lengths (if you have one) ranging from 0.09mm if the fish are finicky to 0.12 or as heavy as 0.19mm if the fish are really having a good feed and are confident. Hook sizes is difficult for me to tell you about but don’t go lower then a size 14 as lower than this will result in a lot of hook pulls and missed bites. If the fish are not afraid then try using a size 8 or 10. I personally like barbless hooks even though there is no ban on barbed hooks here in DK waters. These allow for better hook hold and as long as you keep the line tight at all times, the fish losses will be absolutely minimum with the easy unhooking of the fish.

There is a lot of overhanging trees on most of the swims, fishing the waggler will be difficult unless you can get into the water a meter or so. Depth is generally about 4 to 5ft 5meters out with it going a little deeper further out.
Feeder fishing is also a winning tactic with huge catches of Bream being caught if they are not close in. Generally casting about 25 meters is all that is needed to get onto the fish. Casting further than this out in little lake you will find that there is a lot of "rubbish" on the bottom such as old leafs etc. Remember one important thing, striking when using the pole should be strong and positive otherwise you will miss a lot of bites.
If you do not have a pole, there is no reason to feel left out, you can easily fish a 13ft or 14ft match rod with a medium size waggler a meter or so beyond the tip. An ideal pattern of waggler is the Drennan loaded crystal waggler. Even though you are not casting far out, don't be fooled into using a float that is too light, its important to get the bait down as quick as possible and to keep it as still as possible - especially when the fish are not so positive feeding.
Pre-baiting is not generally necessary. Try it if you want too, but make sure you get there the next day early (4am or 5 am) otherwise your swim will be taken!

Bait at Little Lake

Sweet corn is very cheap and very effective hook bait in most Danish waters, but like in the UK the fish do want a change. Ground bait need only be plain breadcrumb, and as a general rule do NOT over feed to begin with. I have seen so many people throw in 2 or 3 kg of ground bait in the first hour and a couple of tins sweet corn and the fish have fed and gone.
 I find the best initial feed is 3 Tennis ball sized balls and about 20 pieces of corn. Wait until the fish move in on the bait (This is normally very quickly) and when you start getting fish/bites throw in a golf ball sized ball of ground bait after every fish/bait change together with a few grains of sweet corn. If there are a few more anglers around, then maybe double this, but do NOT over do it as this will kill the swim quickly. Hemp is also a good alternative or even betters an addition to ground bait.
If the fishing slows up on sweet corn change to a worm or maggots and this will normally buy you more bites. But be warned, if you do not keep the feed going in when they arrive, they will move on.
For the groundbait tarts
If you are one of those that INSIST on using continental ground baits to give breadcrumb an edge then you could try the following recipe,
50% Brown crumb
50% Sensas Bream 3000

Small amount of VDE Brasen or vanilla flavouring
Sensas Aromix Bream mixed into mixing water 
Black colouring to mix in AFTER you have wet the groundbait, this I have found makes the fish more confident in feeding instead of a brown patch on a dark bottom.
Top Tip: Groundbait should not be of the fine consistencies used in England. They need to be coarse and of high feed value to keep the fish happy here! It’s important to make sure your groundbait gets down to the bottom quickly. Adding PV1 binder or a sticky groundbait such as River 3000 to act as a binder works wonders.
Another mix I have had increasing success with and which will be my chosen mix for coming seasons is the following
50% Trabucco Team Master Supreme
50% Trabucco Super Bremes
A good amount of Trabucco PASTONCINO
Mondial Brasen
Trabucco black colouring
Unfortunately it is not possible to get these ingredients or the many other superb Trabucco ground bait in England, but its very easy in Denmark - cheap too! More information can be found on my links page

Picture above: 3 hours fishing on the pole 5 meters out on Little Lake.

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