If you’ve ever dreamt of casting your fly into wild, untouched waters where Atlantic Salmon and Sea Trout run free, now’s your chance. The latest addition to our Norwegian Salmon fishing portfolio, the beautiful Horstad Gård Lodge, on the banks of the stunning Åelva River, allows you to do precisely that. Tucked away in the pristine wilderness of Arctic Norway, this fly-fishing gem is considered one of the country’s best-kept secrets. Privately owned and entirely off-limits for the public until recently, the system has been ranked as one of the top Salmon Rivers, boasting the highest catch rate per angler – something that’s not just good, it’s exceptional. (Fact: In 2020, 436 Atlantic Salmon were landed by just 46 anglers, equating to just over 9 fish per rod.)
The Åelva River, where Horstad is situated, is a charming waterway, and travelling rods stepping foot on its hallowed banks are spoilt with over 17 kilometres of water. It’s renowned for being gin-clear, and its rugged canyons and classic pools lend themselves perfectly to sight fishing for your prize. It’s home to a strong run of Atlantic Salmon with fish of over 40lb and specimen-sized Sea Trout, which provides a dynamic and exciting fly fishing experience throughout each month of the season.
This is wild salmon fishing on the Åelva River, the way it used to be — pure, remote, and unspoiled.
The Åelva River, or the Åbjora as it’s also known, is located in the Bindal Municipality in Nordland, Norway. It begins in the mountains between Tosen Fjord and the Namadalen Valley, flowing for 59 kilometres before finishing its journey in Osan Fjord. Despite being a relatively small river in the grand scheme of Norwegian waterways, it’s considered the country’s ‘secret river’. It runs through pristine wilderness and is home to an incredible array of wildlife, most importantly – large Atlantic Salmon.
In the case of the Åelva, nature has created a dramatic river with fast-flowing gorges, waterfalls and various pools, and it’s this underwater topography which has been responsible for the fish that inhabit it evolving into large, powerful beasts. Anglers who visit, of which there are a maximum of eight per week, have access to 19 named pools and 17 kilometres of water, including the seldom-fished deep canyon area of the upper river. This area offers fantastic fishing for sure-footed adventurers in good physical shape who don’t mind a little climbing.
One such section of the river, below the prolific Bjalfossen beat, is reputedly the most Salmon-dense stretch of river in all of Europe. The tall waterfalls also mean the prolific runs get concentrated for much of the season. However, for those who prefer an easier experience, there is plenty of other accessible water available.
The fishing methods and tackle used on the Åelva are as varied as the river itself, and there’s something to cater to the needs of all travelling rods, whatever your preferences and preferred style of Salmon fishing. This partly due to the unique range of fast-flowing gorges and waterfalls that break up the classic holding pools. These gorge sections provide excellent opportunities to fish smaller single-handed rods, apply stealth and stalk up onto the Salmon and Sea Trout in the narrow pools.
“Imagine a place where spying over rocks into the pool below and seeing salmon of up to 40lbs is a weekly occurrence – that’s one of the appeals of the Åelva.”
Fishing dry flies like the “Bomber” is very popular and exceptionally exciting, as watching the fish rise through the water column and engulf a fly is a heart-stopping moment and undoubtedly one of the best sights in fishing. Other common tactics include fishing the Hitch and small Sunray Shadows or dibbling these in the white water rapids that often hold a lot of fish waiting to continue upstream.
Other parts of the river are a little more open with dreamy runs and larger pools where spey casting a small double-handed rod will cover all those essential lies.
One aspect of fishing at Åelva, often overlooked, is the fantastic Sea Trout fishing from late July onwards. The fish average around 3 lbs; however, many fish pushing double figures get caught frequently, and the largest ever landed was an incredible specimen of over 25lb. Pools like Worlds End and Calm Water come alive in the evenings, and the fish can be targeted using traditional Sea Trout patterns on lighter tackle.
We recommend bringing two rods, a 12-15ft 7-10# double-hander and a 9-11ft 6-8# single-hander, matched with a reel with a substantial, smooth drag and the capacity to fight a big, angry Salmon. Leader and tippet materials must be between at least 15lb and 25lb, and all flies mounted on strong single and double hooks – small trebles are also allowed.
The Salmon fishing season on the Åelva River runs between June and August, with June highly regarded as the peak month, with fresh fish arriving on each tide, but July and August can be equally as fantastic. As with all fishing across the globe, lots will depend on the weather and water conditions. All the fishing on the river is based on two anglers per guide, fishing for eight-hour days; however, during peak season and thanks to the midnight sun, it’s possible to fish unguided for 24 hours per day if you wish. Other things worth mentioning include…
Rod sharing and room sharing are available at Horstad Gård Lodge and offer fantastic value for money.
The lodge is also child-friendly, and although primarily focused on serious fishing, families are more than welcome. At certain times of the year, fruit and mushroom picking is available, and there are opportunities to practice fishing, go swimming in the local ponds or even the sea, and take day trips to the beach.
A week at Horstad Gård Lodge runs from Saturday to Saturday, with six and a half days of fishing and a typical day consists of:
8.00am – Breakfast
9.00am – Meet with the guides
8.45am – Morning fishing
12.45pm – Lunch
13.00pm – Afternoon fishing
17.00pm – Return to the lodge
19.30pm – Dinner and drinks
Note: You can either have a packed lunch to take to the river or return to the lodge for a cooked lunch.
To learn more about Åelva River Salmon Fishing and the beautiful Horstad Gård Lodge, visit our YouTube channel.
The charming Horstad Gård Lodge is an authentic Norwegian farmhouse with a rich history dating back to 1611. Carefully renovated to maintain its historic charm, it’s located just a short walk from the river and serves as the perfect base for travelling rods fishing on the Åelva.
The lodge offers 13 traditional rooms with a total of 25 beds, providing comfortable accommodations for guests. Inside, there’s a cosy library with a large open fireplace, two dining rooms, a sitting room, and a spacious meeting room. All meals are served in the adjacent building, where there is a traditional dining room and open fire to enjoy meals together as a group.
For anglers, there’s a fly fishing shop, a fly tying area, and a tackle hut with a drying room for waders and a large rod rack situated in the middle of the grounds.
With full board accommodation, the experienced lodge chefs serve a traditional breakfast, lunch and delicious 3-course dinners with local ingredients, such as Cloudberries, Reindeer, Elk, Halibut and Cod. Weather permitting, serving lunch by the river is also a possibility.
Although the fishing days are fixed, the below itinerary is still flexible should you require additional free days to explore at the beginning or end of your holiday; we can tailor this itinerary to suit you personally. Feel free to talk to our travel consultants who can explain all options available.
Please note that depending on what international airport you depart from, travel to this destination may involve an overnight flight and/or an overnight hotel.
Once flights are available, your itinerary will be finalised.
Depart Any international Airport (See Details)
Arrive Trondheim
On arrival you will need to collect your hire car and drive into Trondheim, a journey of approximately 20 minutes. Once you have arrived and checked into your overnight hotel, you’ll be free to relax and explore this beautiful Norwegian city.
Overnight Accommodation: Trondheim Standard Hotel in a single room on a bed & breakfast basis
In the morning once you’ve checked out of your hotel, you’ll need to drive to Terråk, where Horstad Gård Lodge is located. The journey is around four hours, but there are plenty of scenic stops along the way.
Transfer from Trondheim to Terråk
Once you arrive at Horstad Gård you’ll be greeted with arrival drinks and canapé’s, before the lodge staff will take you on a tour of the facilities and the river. There will be a draw for the rota and you’ll have the chance to disinfect your waders and fishing tackle.
If you so wish, after your evening meal you’ll be free to enjoy your first fishing session (non-guided) on the beautiful Åelva River.
Overnight Accommodation: Horstad Gård Lodge in a single room on a full board basis
On your first two fishing days, you’ll experience the Åelva River in all its glory, wetting a fly on its hallowed banks across 17 kilometres of water. The river offers a fantastic array of water from fast-flowing gorges, waterfalls and various pools, all prime spots for the mighty Atlantic Salmon and Set Trout that reside within it.
During your fishing week, you will fish the river on a rotation basis, which is drawn on the day you arrive; this ensures that the fishing is fair and that everyone gets some time on every stretch.
Overnight Accommodation: Horstad Gård Lodge in a single room on a full board basis
On fishing days three and four and throughout your fishing week, you’ll depart with your guide around 8.30 am and fish a morning and afternoon session. Depending on your preference, you can return to the lodge for lunch or take a pack-up to enjoy on the river bank.
All the fishing on the Åelva River is based on two anglers per guide, fishing for an eight-hour day; however, during the summer months and thanks to the midnight sun, it’s possible to fish unguided for 24 hours per day.
Overnight Accommodation: Horstad Gård Lodge in a single room on a full board basis
On your last two fishing days, if you’ve been lucky enough to catch an Atlantic Salmon or two and fancy trying something a little different, the river is home to some fantastic Sea Trout. These fish average around the 3lb mark, but every season, some exceptional specimens get landed – the lodge record currently stands at a whopping 25lb.
Overnight Accommodation: Horstad Gård Lodge in a single room on a full board basis
On the morning of your last day, after breakfast, you will enjoy your last guided session on the Åelva River, fishing until 11.00am. Once the morning session is over you will need to collect your bags and drive your hire car back to Trondheim. The journey is around four hours, but there are plenty of scenic stops along the way.
Transfer from Terråk to Trondheim
Once you have arrived and checked into your overnight hotel, you’ll be free to relax and explore this beautiful Norwegian city.
Overnight Accommodation: Trondheim Standard Hotel in a single room on a bed & breakfast basis
In the morning, after breakfast and after you’ve checked out of your hotel, you will need to drive your hire car back to Trondheim airport ready for your return flight home. (The journey is around 20 mins.)
Depart Trondheim
Arrive Home
Please note that depending on what international airport you wish to return to, travel from this destination may involve an overnight flight and/or an overnight hotel. Once flights are available, your itinerary will be finalised.
The season runs from June to August.
Season: June to August
Peak: June
Weight: 8lb to 45lb
Average Weight: 14lb
Season: June to August
Peak: July
Weight: 3lb to 25lb
Average Weight: 3lb
Remember that Sportquest Holidays' services are completely FREE! When you book a trip with Sportquest Holidays, you never pay more than when you book directly with the lodge and flights independently.
Recent fishing trip to the Åelva and stayed at Horstad Gård Lodge. Very relaxing with excellent guiding and great food for breakfast, lunch and supper. Good company and well organised. Fishing was relatively easy in medium flows and more difficult in heavy water. I did not have any low flow days which must be a different challenge. Moose and deer and a few interesting birds to watch. A life jacket and wading staff are essential since the water flow can get strong. The plans to improve resting areas for smolts should lead to increasing fish returns in years to come. I hope to return. JB
Exclusive to Sportquest Holidays, Howenh Lodge, based on the incredible Rio Grande, offers travelling rods the opportunity to wet a fly across over 30 kilometres of water. With just four to six rods per week, it provides some of the best Sea Trout fishing in the world, both in terms of the number of fish and excellent average size.
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Bella Sofia Lodge is new for 2023, offering anglers single rooms and world-class Sea Trout fishing on the Rio Gallegos and the Rio Gallegos Chico Rivers. Based on only six rods per week, it offers guests more than 10 kilometres of water each to wet a fly, making it the most exclusive fishery in all of South America.
Las Buitreras Lodge on the Rio Gallegos in Argentina offers an unparalleled Sea Trout fishing program. Catch statistics for size and numbers on the Rio Gallegos and the Rio Grande are similar, however, many anglers remain loyal to the Rio Gallegos River for it’s a dream to fish with its low gradient, technical characteristics, exclusivity, outstanding guides and the vast number of pools you get to fish each day always providing well-rested water.
Hosted by our CEO Peter Collingsworth, this exclusive trip to Worlds End Lodge in Argentina offers travelling rods the chance to enjoy some of the finest Sea Trout sport on the planet. The fishing, based on the famous Irigoyen and Malenguena rivers, regularly produces specimens of over 20lb.
