I'm a very happy bunny

[Vidar6]

I’m recently back from a week in Norway where I together with a couple friends spent the first few days fishing for Brown Trout and Arctic Char in one the many thousands of lakes available within the Hardangervidda Mountain National Park area. The lake in question is located 965 meter (3200 feet) above sea level, and is with its 4 miles length only one of the medium sized lakes within the National Park area, but it contains a great head of Brown Trout and Char. Unfortunately, this year the Char turned in a no show, but the Brown Trout fishing was great and we caught a good amount of fish to well over 3Ib.

 

However the highlight of the trip came when we as planned moved to fish for Atlantic Salmon in one of the West Norway’s Salmon & Sea Trout Rivers.

 

The fishing started on the slow side, but on Wednesday evening I ended up catching two Salmon to over 20Ib with the biggest one being a female fish of no less than 10.5kg or 23Ib in imperial money. Because it was freshly run the fish had the appearance of a bar of silver, in addition it was super fit and put up massive scrap in a river that was carrying a lot more water than normal for early July. Using very light tackle for Salmon fishing, a 10 feet ABU medium light action baitcasting rod paired with my Shimano Conquest 101 DC, it took me around 15-20 minutes to land each of the fish.

 

To catch one 20Ib Atlantic Salmon in an evenings fishing is good going, but to catch two on such light tackle that I was using is truly an amazing experience

 

It's safe to say I was a very happy bunny

 

The largest of the Salmon

 

 

The river the Salmon was caught from

 

 

The swim the Salmon was caught from

 

 

The mountain Trout & Char lake at Hardangervidda

 

Edited July 10, 2007 by Vidar6

[Gerald]

Seems like you had some fun.

 

Need to get some cash together and go a fishing holiday. Was it expensive(if you dont mind me asking)??

[Ian FG]

Great post, the kind of trip I dream of.

 

Copper ABU Toby, my all time favourite lure.

[lutra]

O Why did i opt for a wife 2 kids and a mortgage?

[Vidar6]

Seems like you had some fun.

 

Need to get some cash together and go a fishing holiday. Was it expensive(if you dont mind me asking)??

 

River & lake Trout fishing is Norway is cheap, very cheap and quality fishing for wild Brownies is available in abundance everywhere you go. The cost for a season fishing ticket (1st June until 1st September) in the mountain lake in question is £35, and around £15 for a week permit. Worth remembering is the lake produces a good number of plump, fin perfect wild brownies to well over 6Ib every single year.

 

The Salmon fishing as per normal was a very different kettle of fish though, but still not silly money compared to some other rivers.

 

Abu Toby is a great lure for both Salmon and Trout, but the lure in question is actually a Solvkroken Vikingsild (Viking Herring), cooper coloured with red and black back. Solvkroken makes some of the best game fish and predator lures money can buy.

 

Solvkroken Vikingsild

[Anderoo]

Wow, well done! That looks absolutely mouthwatering, and I bet those salmon go like hell. I must add that to my 'things to do before I die' list

[medwaygreen]

Absolutely STUNNING

[Tony U]

Vidar

They don't count unless they were caught on the fly you know

But getting real for a moment, it looks a wonderful fish; have you any pictures of the Brownies you caught and are there any Grayling in the river?

 

 

Tony

[Elton]

I keep hearing more and more about fishing in Norway, all of it good.

 

Nice report, Vidar6

[Jigotai]

That river looks absolutely fantastic, great report, thanks for sharing it with us.