The Spreewald fishery around Lehde
The fishing around Lehde is practiced as so-called “Koppelfischerei”, i.e. as a bundling of many fishing rights, some of which are centuries old. Today, this traditional Spreewald fishery is practiced and kept alive by the Association of Spreewald Fishermen. The focus is on the preservation of traditional fishing techniques, the care and maintenance of the waters and the conservation of the local fish population.
Originally, Spreewald fishing was mainly carried out with the so-called “gag net” – a heavy, close-meshed net made of soft yarn. The net, which was around 15 meters long, was laid out in a semi-circle around a bank area and the fish were shooed into the net using a long stick with a bundle of straw or leather flaps, the so-called “pogan”. This type of fishing requires a certain knowledge of where the typical pike, tench and whitefish can be found, as the net only remains in the water for a short time. In addition, trap fishing and fishing with “dollies” was a traditional fishing method for many years. Furthermore, until a few years ago, a lot of “seine” was used, a comparatively small drag net that is towed downstream by two barges. Today, however, smaller single-walled gillnets or triple-walled nets are also used.
Due to the selective and temporary nature of Spreewald fishing, it has always had a very sustainable character and contributes a great deal to the sense of belonging to the region. However, due to the changing cultural landscape and the increase in the number of trees in the Spreewald, water management has become an increasingly important part of maintenance and conservation work compared to pure fishing.
