Northern Norway for the angler

Fishing straight from the cabin shore

Sea fishing in Norway generally does not require a fishing permit. You should still note the protected and permit-based zones at river mouths, as well as other local restrictions.

At the head of the Lavangen fjord there is also a river estuary with its own fishing rules. The fjord additionally has a fish farm, and a safety distance applies to fishing near it. Always check the current regulations before fishing.

If you intend to take fish caught at sea out of Norway, Norway's own export rules apply as well. Check your right to export a catch before the fishing trip.

When you stay at Villa Sjøsiden, you don't always need a boat to go fishing. A good caster can get dinner straight from the cabin shore. Cod, saithe and mackerel are caught in the area, and sea trout is a possible catch too.

During the season you often see boats fishing right in front of the cabin. That is a good sign that you don't have to look far for the fishing spots.

Out on the Lavangen fjord

If you want to get properly out to sea, you can rent a boat from nearby Aa Gård. A fishing guide and fishing gear can be booked there as well.

For anyone fishing the area for the first time, a guide can be an excellent choice. Local guides know the fjord, the deeps, the currents and the fishing spots in a completely different way than a first-time visitor.

Lavangen also holds the chance of really big fish. Halibut is one of the most interesting species in the area, so it is not worth heading out with the lightest tackle.

Villa Sjøsiden has two bottom-fishing rods with bait lines that guests may use. The storage also holds lures and an older spinning rod to borrow. For active anglers I still recommend bringing your own gear.

One small tip of mine for shore fishing: keep the rod fairly high as the lure approaches the shore. That lifts the lure higher in the water so it doesn't snag as easily in the weed along the shoreline.

An easy spot for shore fishing

Mjøsundbrua, a short drive away, is a good option for casting. Around the bridge there are rocks, deep water and stronger current, so you often see local anglers there as well.

The fishing spots are reached from the near side of the bridge, and you don't need to cross it. You can leave the car at the rest area, which also has a fire pit and a toilet.

The place also works well when not everyone in the group is interested in fishing, as you can walk and enjoy the scenery at the same time.

Fly fishing on the Barduelva

River fishing, and dry fly fishing in particular, is my own passion. I lived for over ten years in Setermoen, and during those years the Barduelva became very familiar to me.

The Barduelva, which flows through Setermoen, is a fine trout river. I have fished it for years and caught my personal best trout there. In many places the river flows calmly, but beneath its clear surface there are genuinely fine trout.

It is exactly in dry fly fishing that the Barduelva comes into its own, in my opinion. When the fish start rising and you find the right fly, you may have an evening ahead that you still remember years later.

Because I know the river from my own experience, I am happy to share my own tips about spots and flies with guests staying at Villa Sjøsiden. You don't have to learn everything from a map or spend the first day searching blind.

The Barduelva is not only for fly anglers either. You can also fish it with a spinning rod, so fly fishing experience is not required.

Good to know

• Shore fishing works straight from the cabin shore
• Cod, saithe and mackerel are common catches
• Sea trout is a possible catch
• Boat, guide and gear available from Aa Gård
• Halibut calls for solid tackle
• At the cabin: two bottom rods, lures and a spinning rod to borrow
• Mjøsundbrua has a rest area, fire pit and toilet
• The Barduelva is fished with both fly and spinner