Skjern diaries part 2. Challenges, and meet with Andreas

On the 2nd day, I decided to get up very early, to avoid crowds. I stood up at 4:00, and was at the river at 5:00 something. I stayed in Troldhede/Kibaek, so it was a 7 kilometers from my accomodation to the nearest place in the river - Ahlergaard farm and wooden bridge. 

Not very often you can see an airplane, when going fishing.

There was nobody at the river at this time.

I walked downstream on the left bank. There was no wind, and my left side single spey cast is much better than right side, so it was less stressful for me. Good spey casting practice is very important - I feel I have not enough of it, so i'm stuggling when casting from "wrong" positions or wrong side of the river. With Skjern in particular, casting can be challenging, because you cannot wade in most places, there is a reeds or grass near the bank, which fly line can catch during D-loop formation, so you need to place anchor farther from the bank.

Specifically for this trip I got Guideline Compact I/S3/S4, which is very short head (between scandi and skagit). I felt it a bit heavy for current conditions, my fly was very often catching grass. 

I've seen many people fishing with floating lines and polyleaders.

I walked 3 or 4 bends, some places were looking as proper holding water for salmon, but I had no strikes.

This stretch is particularly interesting, because of complex currents, and underwater structures.

After lunch I stopped at Vorgod (smaller river, tributary to Skjern) and checked some places in it. But river is so small and not suitable for double hand rod, so I decided not bother with it, and continued to Gjaldbaek again.

There I fished all way from the bridge down to the end of the beat managed by Borris fishing association , covered by my license. 

Somewhere near the end, I met a man playing fish - that was Andreas Lyngø. I already knew him from Youtube channel , to which I subscribed. I came just on time, to make a photo session, and to help him capture releasing of the fish on the video.

Also, Andreas uploaded video clip, where he played that fish:

I covered most of Gjaldbaek stretch, no luck again.  In the end of the beat, I found some interesting place, where are some stones , breaking the current, and deep pool behind them.

In the end of the day I checked another place upstream from Ahlergaard, called Landevejssving. It's also unofficially named as "Polish place". According to anecdotical evidence, there was a Polish angler named Tomasz, who caught 4 fish in one day at one place.

On each fishing beat, there is a map of the river with parking spots for anglers.

In the evening, my host Gert in Kibaek prepared for me handmade pizza, which he called "Best pizza in Denmark".
Gert, you are the best host, and man of many talents!