Lakes and rivers, large or small, all are packed with wild trout. The wild brown trout (Salmo trutta) is the most plentiful of Norway’s freshwater fish and Southern Norway is no different. Here it inhabits most waterways but often shares its waters with other fish in the Salmonidae or salmon family. The American brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis), Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) and the common whitefish (Coregonas lavaretus) are the most common but, in the river Otra catchment area one can also catch the internationally unique Bleka and the Otra’s ‘marble trout’. The Bleka is a relic landlocked Atlantic salmon from the last ice age and the Otra’s ‘marble trout’ is a morphism of the indigenous brown trout which has unique markings common of the marble trout in the Balkans.
One of the things that will often surprise people is the amount of water in Norway. There is literally water in its different forms everywhere, whether it be a small or large lake, stream, or mighty river, and each is more than likely inhabited by the native wild brown trout. In Southern Norway it is certainly no different.
When you put the other Salmonidae in the mix, that makes a cocktail of wild fish which in most cases will take you to the most wonderous surroundings one could ever envisage. The average size of trout here in Southern Norway at least in Norwegian terms, relatively small. This is due to the rock type being such that it doesn’t bare chalk or lime that increases the water’s pH and creates an optimal environment for insect life. Though, there are always monster carnivorous trout lurking amongst the small but getting them to bite is a game of patience, good knowledge and at times, luck. Each year trout more than 4-6kg are caught but a fish of 1kg+ is considered a fine prize.
Trout can be at times finicky feeders but most of the time here it is just a matter of finding them and they’ll more than likely bite. They often rise to tasty morsels in the surface film but don’t forget just about 10% of their feeding is undertaken in the water’s surface. The rest is under the surface but if you particularly enjoy the action of fish taking in the surface, then a buoyant fly that breaks the water’s surface like a streaking caddis can lead to some explosive eruptions!
With Southern Norway’s proximity to mainland Europe, it’s vast wild nature with exceptionally little fishing pressure, extensive wild trout stocks, and varied waterway options, it is naturally a perfect place for the fly fisher.
