Just returned from a days fishing in the brackish water of Lake Oostvoorne nearthe port of Rotterdam.The fishing on the lake was closed for a couple of months (season) and hadjust recently opened. Yesterday a group of our local club went fishing thereand blanked amidst miserable weather conditions.When we went this morning roads where iced up, it was freezing outside and theskies where clear. At the lake the temperature was just above freezing and a strongNortherly wind was blowing on the water.Early morning I hooked into a fish on a small black booby nymph. Rainbow trout.We were fishing at the Northern shore of the lake. Action was minimal so we decided to hit the Southern shore in the afternoon. When we arrived at the Southern shore we where exposed to the full force of the wind. Nobody got hits and no fish where to be seen. After an hour or so fruitless fishing we all came to the conclusion that our first location was better than the one we where currently at. All gear including the belly-boats where put in the car for our trip to the other shore.Niels and Tom launched their belly-boats and moved to the East while I fished the seawalls and structures along the shore. I received one more hit but missed the fish. Niels and Tom each managed to catch a Rainbow trout at the end of the day. Near sunset we called it quits and settled in the restaurant at the shore for a meal. We slowly thawed while enjoying a goodmeal in good company.At least this fishing day was not in vain. Everybody caught fish and had several takes even tough it was quite cold. I guess we have to repeat this exercise very soon.
great article marcel and nice fish. looks very healthy. seems like you really had to fight the elements, but it paid off. i would have been like you and fished the seawalls and structures – you have to be a brave soul to use a belly boat in Rotterdam under these conditions in the dead of winter. they must have been freezing!!
GREAT PHOTOS! i took the liberty of blending 2 of them into one. i kinda like the way the sunset photo now just blends into the trout photo. i hope to make it over to europe someday and fly fish with you. i would especially like to try my luck in some of those slow winding German trout streams. maybe someday!
i have a question. you say that the water is brakish. so i assume that means the trout are sea run? if so – the trout must be able to get big. what is the biggest trout that you could catch in the waters you were fishing??? are there also other types of trout??
The lake has no connection to the open sea, it was a former sound now enclosed at both ends. After the dams where put in water became slowly brackish. The only remnants of the salt are now herring and some small fish species. In 2006 they will build a 6km long pipeline into the open sea to let in clean saltwater to make it possible for shrimp and other sealife to return.
On the shrimp diet the rainbows grew about an inch per month. The fish grew quick and strong. Now the water is too fresh which caused a major foodsource for the fish to die out (the shrimp). Currently growth rate is about 0.6 inch per month.
All fish are stocked, 99 percent rainbows and the odd brown trout. There have been rumours that they wanted to stock Salmon along with Brook trout in the land.
You can stock trout from a length of 30cm into saltwater. Smaller fish will not survive the transition.
It is a C&R only water where you need a special permit to fish. The maximum depth in the lake is about 100 ft. with some deep holes that are 130 ft, deep.
There are several reefs in the lake as well as old musselbeds.
Trout still grow fast and can grow quite big.
I have heard of fish of 32 inches being caught there. The fish are also very strong, quite different from the Rainbows I catch in German rivers. The fish in the lake just fight on and on. We will be back there next week. Maybe we get a shot at the fish again.
Nice fish. Great post. Keep them coming!