Fly Fishing in
Norway 🇳🇴

Capital

Oslo

Region

Europe

Sub-region

Northern Europe

Currency

NOK (kr)

The phrase "Fly Fishing"

Fluefiske

To sum up Norway’s fishing in a short introduction is difficult, but we'll try. From the rich and plentiful sea with many different fish species in vast numbers and often large in size, to rivers with healthy populations of different salmonoids and underfished lakes dominated by wild trout amongst other species. Norway is simply put, "a fly fisher’s paradise".

Not only is Atlantic salmon and sea run brown trout (or normally called sea trout) fishing in Norway highly accessible during its short three-month season, but relatively cheap too. Most rivers and streams linked to the sea bare their own wild, self-supporting population and are open for the hopeful fisher (national and waterway licenses apply). In the more Northerly rivers one can be lucky enough to experience the hard fighting and beautiful sea run arctic char in addition to the salmon and sea trout.

Every man's right

Norway has a constitutional law called "Allmennsretten" or literally translated "every man’s right". This law allows you to roam almost anywhere you wish and camp up to 3 days in nature in any one spot.

Where to go fly fishing in Norway

Curated locations, both guided and non-guided:

Glomma River

Norway's longest river

River

Brown Trout

Grayling

Pike

Otra river

Southern Norway’s El Dorado

River

Atlantic Salmon

Brown Trout

Sea Trout

Smøla Island

Saltwater fly fishing paradise from your belly boat

Sea

Fjord

Atlantic Cod

Atlantic Halibut

Atlantic Mackerel

Haddock

Pollack

The wild trout of Southern Norway

So much water and so much trout

Lake

Pond

River

Stream

Arctic Char

Brook trout

Brown Trout

The salmon rivers of Southern Norway

Large or small rivers, all full of salmon and sea trout

River

Atlantic Salmon

Brown Trout

Sea Trout

Southern Norwegian Archipelago

World class saltwater fly fishing in breath taking surroundings

Sea

Atlantic Cod

Atlantic Halibut

Atlantic Mackerel

Brook trout

Garfish

Haddock

Pollack

Sea bass

Sea Trout

Do you have a location you want to share? Let us know.

Fishing license in Norway

Saltwater

Saltwater fly fishers do not need to obtain permission or any type of license or permit.

Freshwater

The national fishing license which is needed for fishing waters where migratory fish dwell is known as the Fiskeravgift (‘fiske’ means ‘fishing’ and ‘avgift’ means fee in Norwegian). This license costs at time of writing 285 NOK per year. It can be purchased either at post office, fishing shops or online here fiskeavgiften.

For all freshwater fishing you will need a local license for that river zone or lakes, or permission from the landowner with fishing rights. Unfortunately, there isn’t yet one resource for finding where one can buy licenses, though there are universal solutions being developed. Local petrol stations, fishing shops, food shops, tourist information are good places to start.

No license needed for saltwater fishing
Fiskeravgift for waters where migratory fish dwell
For all freshwater fishing you will need a local license
Fiskeravgift

Species to fly fish for in Norway

The wild brown trout is Norway’s most plentiful freshwater fish and is be found in most freshwater waterways whether it be a lowland or mountainous lake, or any body of flowing water. In addition to this some areas also house other salmonoids like the arctic char, European grayling, whitefish, landlocked salmon, American brook trout. We must not also forget that Norway can also offer large pike, European perch, asp, rudd with others to the avid fly fisher. Outside of Atlantic salmon, at this moment in time freshwater fishing the least practiced and in most areas having a lake or river to yourself more the norm than the exception.

Another sort after and prized salmonoid is the ‘lady of the stream’. The grayling (Thymallus thymallus) these are found in the very eastern parts of Norway often along the border between Norway and Sweden from North to South. The grayling thrives in faster flowing rivers and streams where they readily take a dry fly during hatches or well-presented nymphs whether it be under an indicator or fished ‘euro-nymph’ style. They are happy to feed in all temperatures, but local seasons may apply. So be sure to check local bylaws.

Often underrated sportfish for the fly fisher are the pollack (Pollachius pollachius) and coalfish (Pollachius virens). These sea dwelling, aggressive and strong pulling fish from the cod family are unfortunately often overlooked when it comes to species that can be targeted with the fly. They are usually found in great numbers and regularly large sizes. They can be caught all year whether it be from land or boat but June to September/October are generally looked upon as the best season as water temperatures rise.

Other fish that are worthy and exciting to target are pike, perch, and asp in freshwater. In saltwater it's cod, mackerel, garfish, and halibut.

Arctic Char

Atlantic Salmon

Brook trout

Brown Trout

Common Carp

Grayling

Perch

Pike

Pike-perch

Is your favorite species not listed? Let us know.

Season for salmon and brown trout

In most places of Norway, the Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and sea run brown trout (Salmo trutta) run our rivers each year in healthy and self-sustaining numbers. South Norway typically tends to house smaller individuals (grilse up to 4kg) though very large fish (16kg+) are caught each year. As one travels West and then North, the average size increase, a lot! The most well-known rivers of Norway the Alta, Tana, Namsen, Gaula, Lærdalselva, Mandalselva and Bjerkreimselva but often, the smaller and less known rivers can provide some amazing sport in idyllic surroundings with far less fishing pressure. In most rivers, the seasons spans from the first of June to the 31st of August each year but local variations may apply. But as a rule of thumb, it’s around these dates.

For the love of salt

Saltwater fly fishing is a very popular activity for both Norwegians and visiting anglers. Rod fishing in Norwegian saltwater is free and open to all. The pristine and clean waters of the Norwegian archipelago house a myriad of fish species willing to take the fly which can grow to very large sizes and in great numbers. Amongst the most popular are the sea run brown trout, pollack, coalfish, mackerel and in later years the halibut and sea bass. that live in the fjords or along and around the exposed beaches, bays, and islands. They can be fished for all year round.

Fly fishing guides in Norway

These are the guides in Norway that can help you exlore new waters and learn new skills.

AnglerPilot

Guiding

Workshops

Fly tying

Koppang Fly Fishing

Guiding

Hembre Gård

Guiding

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Flyfish webshops in Norway

Webshops where you can find all your fly fishing gear.

Arctic Silver

arcticsilvershop.com

Loop

looptackle.eu

LTS Flyfishing

lts-flyfishing.com

Norwegian Fly Tyer

norwegianflytyer.com

Vak Fluefiske

vakfluefiske.no/home

Fly fishing in other countries

🇦🇹 Austria

🇧🇪 Belgium

🇩🇰 Denmark

🇫🇮 Finland

🇫🇷 France

🇩🇪 Germany

🇮🇸 Iceland

🇮🇹 Italy

🇳🇿 New Zealand

🇸🇪 Sweden

🇨🇭 Switzerland

🇳🇱 The Netherlands

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

🇺🇸 United States

Is your country not listed? Let us know.

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