Fishing trip to Norway - tips for beginners
Norway is one of the dream destinations that should be visited at any price, and not just by hiking and outdoor enthusiasts. The country is of an almost immeasurable beauty that can only be surpassed by the diverse and varied animal world. If you add all these highlights together, you get a travel destination that offers an inimitable natural framework and that is practically within reach, just a few hours' flight from Germany.
It is precisely these outstanding features that make the land, bathed in lush green and at the same time dotted with rugged rocks, increasingly popular with anglers from all over the world. A longer stay in nature is a breathtaking and inimitable experience. If the variety of animals on land almost jumps out at you and leaves you in awe for hours, you should not make the mistake of underestimating the colorful hustle and bustle of the inhabitants in the water.
A fishing trip to Norway is a guarantee for unforgettable memories and fishing fun in an inimitable manner.
Tips for Beginners
Fishing newbies in particular lack the necessary experience in the initial planning phase of such a trip to set the right course for the trip. If you are also thinking about starting your first fishing trip to Norway soon, it is important that you ask yourself the right questions in advance and answer them as honestly as possible. Since not every place in Norway can be generalized and is the same as another, it is all the more important that your personal needs are taken into account when planning your trip.
Which accommodation is right for me?
The choice of accommodation plays a crucial role when weighing up your personal needs. Although certain types of accommodation have clearly emerged and proven themselves for fishing trips to Norway, they all have different characteristics and advantages and disadvantages that you should be aware of in advance:
Holiday home/apartment: Norway impresses in many ways with things that you would hardly dream of in Germany. However, you can also say that this fishing experience has its price and this can actually be said literally. Norway is an expensive country and as a fishing traveler you can feel this in the holiday homes and apartments on offer. So you should ask yourself specifically whether you really need this luxury or whether cheaper options could be suitable for you. If you decide on this type of accommodation, most holiday home offers boast great features. The rental properties are usually located in the immediate vicinity of the water and fish processing tables are also available. In addition, the catch can be conveniently and easily stored in a freezer. For additional fishing fun, there are even small boats available.
As you can see, in addition to the already impeccable and comfortable sleeping comfort of a house, you also get a first-class fishing set and environment, which makes getting started a lot easier for you.
Motorhome: Traveling in a motorhome also offers you a high level of comfort, and it also brings with it the security of being able to transport your fishing equipment in a first-class and safe manner. Officially, wild camping in a motorhome is prohibited in Norway, but it is tolerated everywhere, so that it feels more like a legal act on site. Just as common sense should actually be the norm, the motto here is that you always clear your campground of rubbish and other residues as soon as you move on. If you stick to these rules, nothing stands in the way of a fishing trip in a motorhome.
The high degree of flexibility and freedom allows you to choose your spots almost freely, taking into account the local conditions and rules. Official campsites can also be found for a reasonable price and thus represent another attractive parking option. The price differences compared to German fuel prices only quickly become apparent when filling up the tank.
Camping: Camping in Norway is the perfect way to get away on a budget. The Scandinavian right of public access makes it possible and ensures that you can pitch your tent almost anywhere you want. So if you are looking for a cost-effective option with a high degree of flexibility, camping could be the answer. The points deducted in terms of comfort are usually quickly forgotten as soon as you find yourself in the midst of the breathtaking nature.
Of course, it is important to note that this decision means that electronic cooling options for the catch will no longer be available. Many people use this type of overnight accommodation in addition to rented apartments or mobile homes nearby.
What type of fish do I want to catch in the future?
This is another important question that needs to be clarified after you have chosen the right accommodation. Not all fish species in Norway are evenly distributed across the entire water surface of the country. Some only settle in certain parts, so you should plan your fishing holiday in Norway according to what you intend to catch. During the planning process, the preliminary division into saltwater fish and freshwater fish should be divided:
Saltwater fish in Norway include cod, halibut, herring, coalfish, ling, tusk, mackerel, pollock, redfish, haddock, plaice, flounder, hake, monkfish, wolffish, turbot, whiting and sea bass.
On the freshwater fish side, however, there are eel, perch, trout, pike, salmon, whitefish, vendace, sea trout, burbot, char and zander.
You should also note that some fish species may be protected, as is the case with eels, for example. Eels have been protected in Norway since January 1, 2010, and must therefore be released back into the water if they are caught. Pay attention to these rules and legal requirements and take enough time in advance to find out more about them and the fish species you are interested in.
Norway - a country rich in history
Norway's 2,650-kilometer-long coastline has a rich history that easily outdoes this impressive number of kilometers in terms of events. In fact, this coastline would even grow to around 25,000 kilometers in length if the countless fjords were included. The name of the country of the former Vikings is made up of the words "Nor" and "Way" and sums up the question of origin perfectly - " The home of the Norsemen ."
From the 9th to the 11th century, the Vikings ruled the land of natural beauty and were then replaced by the Danish occupiers. They ruled there for the next two centuries and were responsible for introducing Christianity. It was not until 1814 that power passed to the Swedes, as the Danes suffered defeat in the Napoleonic War. The ever-growing national consciousness reached its peak in the middle of the 19th century, so that Norway was granted its independent status in 1905.
Typically Norwegian
Just as every country is famous for certain highlights, peculiarities and distinctive features, Norway also has the “ Typically Norwegian ” category, which partly reflects the way of life and behavior well.
In Norway, for example, everyone is addressed informally, as is the case in English. The big difference here, however, is that people only use their first names. It doesn't matter whether the conversation is between a construction worker and the Prime Minister, or between the accused and the judge - the informal "du" is part of normal everyday language here and is only paused when addressing the royal family.
Of course, Norwegians are also proud of their unique nature and spend a lot of time in the refreshing greenery. At weekends, many of them head out into the forests and go hiking and fishing, or settle down on boats and sailing ships on the many beautiful lakes and rivers.
When it comes to alcohol consumption, Norwegians are curbed in their drinking euphoria by the high prices, so they often head to the neighboring countries of Denmark or Sweden to stock up on spirits. This border tour is known as "harrytur," with the word "harry" translating to something like "chubby."
Oh yes - a peculiarity of the category “ Typically Norwegian ”, which could also be important for a fishing trip to Norway, should also be noted:
If you drive too fast in your car or motorhome, this can have painful consequences for your wallet. Even a prison sentence is theoretically possible if you disregard the traffic too much. Compliance with the strict traffic laws is therefore highly recommended, as it tends to be harder to catch fish in prison.
Communication in Norway - what do I have to pay attention to?
Communication should be easy in Norway, as the population speaks English at an above-average level. Many of the films from English-speaking countries that are completely dubbed here are only shown in the original language version, so that Norwegians come into contact with the language at a very early age and want/need to understand it. For this reason, an accent is sometimes barely noticeable.
In addition, many residents speak acceptable German or can at least help with a few words. Using “ hands and feet ” can also help you communicate very positively if necessary. You don’t have to worry about any language barriers before your next fishing trip to Norway, but can concentrate completely on your upcoming adventure and enjoy the anticipation.
Fishing in Norway - do I need a fishing license?
Here too, when planning your trip, you should roughly divide it into two categories in order to get a clearer picture. You can divide the fishing areas into salt and fresh water and look at the relevant regulations for each:
Salt water: In salt water, fishing is permitted without a fishing license (which is often incorrectly called a fishing permit). A permit is also not required to cast your bait into the cool water. As long as you only fish for your own use, you are spared from many rules and regulations on the coast and can pursue your hobby in the greatest possible relaxation.
However, there are a few things to be aware of. Traps, nets and similar are strictly prohibited, so tourists are only allowed to use hand fishing rods. Selling the catch is therefore also prohibited. You should stay at least 100 m away from the nearest fish farm when fishing, and some fish species are protected all year round, as mentioned at the beginning of the text for eels.
As a tourist you are allowed to take out a total of 10 kg of fish, but some fishing camps also offer the option of taking out 20 kg of catch. In addition, the minimum dimensions of each fish species must always be observed. These must not be undercut under any circumstances. For example, a cod below the 62nd parallel must have a minimum length of 40 cm. Try to find out all the details of each fish species in advance so that you don't have to worry about legal consequences. It is always advisable to check the Norwegian Ministry of Fisheries website for changes and information before you start your trip and it only takes a few minutes.
Freshwater: Freshwater fishing, i.e. in lakes and rivers, is also subject to certain regulations that you should familiarize yourself with beforehand. A permit is always a basic requirement for freshwater fishing. The "Fiskekort", as the permit is called in Norway, is always intended for smaller, regional sections and gives you the "go" for this section. There are several ways to buy the permit you want. Buying it online or by SMS is very popular and saves time. This way you have the necessary certificate with you in just a few moments and can start pursuing your hobby straight away. But you can also buy the Fiskekort at gas stations, kiosks, supermarkets and similar shops.
These pieces of equipment belong in every suitcase
As with many other points previously, when compiling the fishing packing list you must also make sure to mentally divide the selection into different sub-areas. Particular attention should be paid to the appropriate fishing equipment. Here it is advisable to divide it into deep sea fishing and fly fishing.
Deep sea fishing
In order to be able to react appropriately to every situation, it is usually best to use a medium to heavy boat rod. You should also have a pilk and a spinning rod on board as part of your equipment. Depending on what you are aiming for, you may need to make fine adjustments to the equipment. This is also the case in deep waters - here a strong rod with robust multiplier reels is a suitable means of facing the heavy underwater guys well prepared. Pilkers and bait weights between 100 and 500 grams also belong in your suitcase.
Especially when fishing from a boat, pilkers weighing between 100 and 400 grams are excellent. In terms of color, you should go for silver tones with light green, blue and red accents in Norwegian waters. If you are after the not uncommon ling and tusk in these waters, natural baits such as herring and mackerel scraps can also be promising.
Since pilkers and lead are quite heavy, it is recommended that you take them with you, especially on fishing trips that are done by car. If your preferred mode of transport is an airplane, the use of twisters and rubber fish is a promising and relatively light-footed alternative. Cod, for example, will quickly bite on the appetizing rubber bait when using this approach.
Fly fishing: The packing list looks different if the fishing trip to Norway is to take place mostly on the shore or on the lake, as is the case with fly fishing. For smaller fish such as whitefish, perch or even smaller trout, it is recommended to use a rod with line class 5. Dry flies, nymphs and wet flies can be used excellently for fishing with this option.
A rod with a very wide range of applications is also a class 6 with a length of 270 cm. A weighted nymph in combination with a small streamer can quickly get some zander to bite and should therefore be on every fishing packing list for Norway.
In addition to the right fishing equipment, you should of course also be prepared for the climatic conditions. Since it can get frosty and windy in the "far north", you should choose the right clothing depending on the season. In order to be able to stay at the scene for a longer period of time, a thick, warm jacket is essential.
Precisely because you only move in phases during this leisure activity, you should make sure you have a jacket that can provide sufficient warmth even when you are standing still. A down jacket combined with a waterproof outer jacket ensures that your mood is not spoiled by the weather while you are fishing.
The protection your hands need from the cold should be correspondingly high. Make sure you choose warm gloves that still give you a good grip. The highest quality and warmest gloves are of no use if you can't react quickly enough while fishing. When choosing clothing, you should generally make sure that the items suit your own sensitivity to cold and the season.
Many fishing enthusiasts who travel to Norway by car also forget how stormy it can be in this fishing paradise. It is therefore important not only to have adequate and suitable tires, but also to take snow chains with you, which proves to be absolutely vital. In some regions of Norway, continuing your journey is only possible in this way, so taking snow chains with you can sometimes even determine the overall success of the trip.
Heavy snowfall is not uncommon in the country, even at the beginning of May. This also means that vehicles with a total weight of over 3.5 tonnes must be fitted with snow chains by law between November 1st and May 1st. This regulation alone reflects the wintry and stormy nature of the country. This topic should definitely be approached with the necessary respect and good preparation.
Do it yourself or travel agent?
The land of the fjords can be reached using many different means of transport. To save time, various airports in Norway can be reached easily in just a few hours by plane from Germany. Even those who suffer from fear of flying don't have to despair, because Norway is also easily accessible by car and motorhome.
If you choose the latter method, the travel options are divided into the complete car journey and the "mixed journey" in conjunction with a ferry. Especially for first-time travelers to Norway, the question often arises during the planning phase as to which of the named transport options is the best. And anyway - should you put yourself through all this stress or does it make more sense to put this task in the hands of an experienced travel agency? WOLFGANGS has examined a few points in this regard to shed some light on the matter.
Traveling without the help of external experts is initially the cheaper option, as you are not dependent on a set package and can therefore also start comparing prices. This can be particularly noticeable in terms of the price of accommodation, rental cars and other means of transport. There are also no service fees or labor costs. In general, you enjoy greater flexibility and, above all, individuality, as you can tweak even the smallest of settings to create the perfect vacation.
Tour operators do offer this individuality in the form of good service, but it can never be as sophisticated and detailed as if you had put the trip together yourself. The motto is usually: "Choose from option A, B or C" and if you are really looking for option D and want to fish the seabed there, this wish cannot usually be fulfilled.
By the way – You can usually find ferries to Norway from Kiel or Hirtshals in Denmark. These connections can be booked easily online with just a few clicks, so this part of putting things together yourself is not really a hurdle. The Color-Line and Fjordline shipping companies, among others, sail from the ports mentioned above and usually do so every day.
But not everything about a travel agent is bad. Especially if you are very busy with a job and have little time for your own planning, using a travel agent is a good idea. Here you can settle in and have a successful fishing experience quickly and efficiently. In addition, many offer an almost all-round carefree package that includes accommodation with a boat, but also has the necessary permits already included. Of course, the journey is usually an integral part of such all-inclusive offers, so here too you only have to manage the journey to the airport or the ferry yourself.
Rental car offers can also be taken advantage of through a travel agent. Some portals even offer basic equipment. This can be particularly advantageous for beginners in fishing, as they often lack important pieces of equipment and therefore do not have to buy them at the start of the trip. If you can do without complete flexibility and individuality and do not have to watch every penny, you can put together a high-performance Norway adventure with the help of a travel agent.
booking an on-site guide
The question of whether or not it makes sense to book a guide also depends on your personal characteristics and, above all, on how you want to design your own adventure on site. Are you the kind of person who just wants to arrive and find everything already organized, or would you rather go on a journey of discovery and get the help of a travel guide or local at short notice? Here, too, there are various advantages and disadvantages behind the different options, which you should consider carefully before starting a trip in order to make the right decision.
The huge advantage of using a local guide on site is that you get maximum individuality. The prices can vary between local guides, but if you take enough time to compare prices, you can save money in the end. You could also enjoy a tour that could be described as a "rarity" . Many of the locals offer tours that are not available in the tour operator's magazine. The " assembly line" character is not what counts here, but rather it is more about offering a special and, above all, individual adventure trip.
You will sometimes be taken to remote regions that have not yet been made accessible to the masses of tourists or that have only been developed to a very limited extent. In addition, no one can represent and convey a region or a certain attitude to life as authentically and strongly as a local guide who has perhaps lived here his entire life. And who knows - maybe at the end of the tour you will end up at the dinner table with the local's family to enjoy a regional speciality?
It is not uncommon for such close and genuine situations and invitations to arise, which are only available in this form from local guides. Once you have arrived at your destination, you should definitely keep your eyes open for suitable offers. Many guides have their contact details stored in hotels, or you can contact them directly on the Internet. After a short search, you can find many private local tours in this way, and communication and fine-tuning are also quick and easy.
If you don't want to go to the trouble of putting things together yourself and making contact, you can of course also use experienced tour operators. Here, too, you will find a large selection of tours and activities and the guides will also take you to spectacular places that will stay in your memory for a long time. The advantage of such tours is that you can find and book them much more quickly, if they are not already included as part of a complete travel package. In terms of speed and simplicity, this approach is hard to beat. If you don't value great individuality and just want to enjoy an effortless tour, you will get your money's worth with this option.
The most beautiful fishing areas in Norway
Of course, in such an attractive country as Norway, everyone wants to be sure that they can cast their bait in the best and most promising spot. So, where is the best and most beautiful fishing area in Norway?
The land of the fjords is so huge that it is of course impossible to answer this question in general terms. Too many factors play a key role in answering the question and individual aspects also play a role in determining the location. For example, it is pointless if, in theory, the most beautiful place in the country is in the north, but one of your fishing targets is pollock. Since pollock can only be found in the waters of southern, western and central Norway, a trip to the far north would be unlikely to be successful. You should therefore always make sure that the fishing area that you consider the most beautiful also matches your future fishing intentions.
However, if you put the individual factors aside and just look at the pure natural features, you will find some places in the country that have an outstanding and hard-to-beat character. Here you find yourself in the middle of a natural spectacle and sometimes you can't do anything else but just marvel and enjoy:
This is the case with the Lofoten Islands, for example. This beautiful small part of a group of 80 islands, located in the Nordland region, is extremely beautiful and boasts a first-class variety of fish. Cod, halibut, haddock, wolffish, but also redfish and coalfish like to bite here and are present in large numbers.
The same fishing opportunities can be found at the North Cape. The northernmost point of the European landmass can easily keep up in terms of uniqueness. Here, however, the scenery is more rugged. High cliffs, small hills and a seemingly endless expanse that is only surpassed by the incredible size of the sea . The largest halibut ever caught in this region weighed 220 kg. Perhaps you are in a position to beat this record catch?
Not quite as far north is the Romsdalsfjord, which is very popular with fishing fans. Here, the bait will most likely become the target of underwater creatures. The variety of fish in this part of Norway is also incredibly diverse. When it comes to pure sea fishing, the fjord is one of the absolute highlights of the country, and all without the force of meter-high, lashing waves. Thanks to the relatively sheltered location, excellent fishing is possible here even in conditions that are normally too poor.
The island of Hitra, which is not far away on the map, is also very popular. The rocky island, which lies not far from Trondheim in the Norwegian seas , is one of the most popular sea fishing areas in the country. Hake and monkfish are often caught here and are regularly brought to the scales.
The most popular freshwater regions include the Hardangervidda plateau and the valley area around Hemsedal. The rivers, streams and countless lakes there are absolute fishing must-dos for many.
