Within just two hours of driving you are gifted with eight Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and sea run brown trout (Salmo trutta) rivers to choose from. Being located just a relatively short trip from mainland Northern Europe, it’s easy and affordable for most to reach. Small and intimate spate rivers, mighty spate rivers and large hydro electric-controlled rivers each nestled in eye wateringly beautiful valleys. Don’t be surprised if you see a beaver swimming the river to its cabin or an osprey or golden eagle overheard hunting for its next meal.
The tug is the drug
We won't lie, salmon fishing can be mildly put challenging, frustrating and soul destroying. ‘The tug is the drug’ as they say and it certainly stands true here, as when one feels that sudden weight gently yet decisively pulling the line between your fingers, all is forgotten and the endorphins flow.
We're maybe being a little dramatic here, but salmon fishing is often difficult, seeing over 100 salmon leap during a day’s fishing is certainly not unheard of, though getting them to bite can be something else entirely. I’ve had people tell me of their many trips, often weeks at end, resulting in no landed fish. If you get that long awaited pull it may not result in a hooked fish, and if you do hook a salmon, it’s not given that the hook won’t loosen and the salmon regains its freedom. Though it’s just this that attracts fly fishers from around the world, time and time again.
A beautiful scenery
But what does it matter when that anticipation of hooking a silver prize, usually large and strong, is in nature so wonderful that you must pinch yourself. Depending on where you choose to fish, you could find yourself with the river to yourself in untouched surroundings and an array of birds and other animals keeping you company on your hunt.
The average seasonal visitor can be upto 16kg even 20kg though the average around 4kg when we think of the salmon. Sea trout will average around 1kg though 6kg fish are caught each year and the record stands at around 10kg.
And salmon fishing is to be honest all about the moment. So be sure to put aside time during the day for a well deserved break on the river bank, hopefully with something good to eat or drink whilst you absorb what nature has provided us.
