Norway 🇳🇴

Otra river

Southern Norway’s El Dorado

Water

River

Lines

Floating and intermediate

Rods

AFTMA 2 to AFTMA 5

Species

Atlantic Salmon, Brown Trout, Sea Trout
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Best months

May, Jun, Jul, Aug
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Weather forecast for this location

Today

Wed Nov 29

-6 - -2 °C

NE4

20%

Thu Nov 30

-5 - -4 °C

NE4

16%

Fri Dec 1

-7 - -4 °C

NE3

0%

Sat Dec 2

-6 - -4 °C

NE3

0%

Sun Dec 3

-8 - -6 °C

N2

0%

Mon Dec 4

-8 - -5 °C

N2

0%

Tue Dec 5

-6 - -3 °C

NE2

0%

The river

Otra, with a total length of about 245km, is Norway’s 8th longest river. The River follows Southern Norway’s main road North Rv 9 where it eventually flows out into the sea in the heart of Southern Norway’s capital, Kristiansand.

Along its course, Otra has a lot to offer, and it often changes from torrent white water to wider slower flowing areas, to small and large lakes.

Otra is an exciting river, with the lower 16km housing migratory Atlantic salmon, sea trout, as well as wild brown trout and European freshwater eel. In 2014, 6537 kg of fish were caught in the lower parts. 94% was wild Atlantic Salmon.

As we move upstream from where the migratory fish meet their artificial stop in Vennesla, the Otra takes form as multiple joined lakes and small rivers. Large quantities of wild brown trout, with a small average size, live here but in such a number, one is almost guaranteed a catch!

Beautiful scenery
Beautiful scenery

Otra Fishing Association (Otra Fiskelag)

In June 2023, Otra Fishing Assoiation will launch a “smart Fishing license”, together with Fishby, to develop a sustainable future for angling tourism in the valley. With a Fishby fishing licese, you get access to the whole upper 180 kilometers of the Otra river system in Setesdallen Valley. From Hartevatn at Hovden in the north to Kilefjorden in the south. Note that the Fishby license does not include fishing after migratory species.

The most common trout here is the wild brown trout, but some wild American brook trout can be caught too. Common are average-sized fish of around 300g (3/4lb) but hidden amongst them are some leviathans reaching 8kg (17.5lbs). There is a unique salmon species living in Byglandsfjorden, called Bleka. The fish is often no larger than 250 grams, but its distinctiveness makes it a sought-after fish.

South of Fennefossen, in Evje, you can find perch, whereas, in the higher reaches of the river, you will find minnows.

General rules

The use of live fish as bait is strictly prohibited! A report to the police and the National Nature Inspectorate will follow. Important safety note; during rainy seasons, those that are fishing near dams and power stations, please beware of possible sudden rising water levels!

Two treasures: marble trout and Bleka

The upper Otra river system hosts two internationally unique species that can only be found here:

Southern Norways’ Marble trout

Its distinctive lines resembles the Salmo Marmorata, which is Native to Northern Italy and Slovenia, and some parts of Croatia. However, studies have shown that the fish is a hybrid between a common Broun Trout (Salmo Trutta), and American Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis). Specimens up to 500g have been caught in Evje municipality.

Marble trout with its unique colors
Marble trout with its unique colors

Bleka

Byglandsbleka (also called “bleka”, from the Norwegian word for “pale”), is a dwarf salmon (Salmo Salar), that spends its entire life landlocked in the upper parts of the Otra River system. 

Bleka, often mistaken for brown trout, is a dwarf salmon
Bleka, often mistaken for brown trout, is a dwarf salmon

When ocean levels rose after the last ice age, Atlantic salmon entered the lake, but as the climate changed, the Byglandsfjord became cut off from the sea. Now the adult bleka lives in the lake, which is at 33km2 and has a maximum depth of 167m.

The bleke formed a regular part of the diet for locals until two environmental threats nearly wiped the whole population out. First, a hydroelectric dam, built in 1905, made many of the spawning grounds inaccessible; then, from the 1950s onwards, acid rain from the industries of northern Europe wreaked further havoc. By the early 1970s, it was estimated that only around 200 breeding adults were left. 

Today, 50 years after the population collapse, the continuous and ongoing rescue efforts have taken us a long way towards the goal to restore a self-reproducing and harvestable bleke population. If this goal is achieved, the bleke may regain its previous position as an important part of local culinary culture, with positive implications for recreation, tourism, and business development.

Photos

Otra river • Norway Otra river • Norway Otra river • Norway Otra river • Norway Otra river • Norway Otra river • Norway Otra river • Norway Otra river • Norway Otra river • Norway Otra river • Norway

The best months to fish

Fishing in the summer months is best!

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Not allowed
Don't bother
Doable
Best time

Species

There might be more species you can catch in this location or in the area, but the current page and description focusses on these fish species.

Atlantic Salmon

Brown Trout

Sea Trout

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