This week, we welcomed back a familiar group, including some new friends, to Olderø flyfishing lodge. Our returning guests came with very high expectations due to the great fishing in previous years. Even though the conditions were getting better and better, we all had to realise that this year we had a late spring. Actually just a very normal start to the season compared to the last two years where summer heat and salmon came early.
The river looked very nice and clear with temperatures of 6 to 10 degrees Celsius and a steady run of water between 40 and 30 cubic meters. So still, quit cold and big river. This, of course, affected our general approach of how to reach fewer fish in the river. We used different tactics, changing between Skagit heads with heavy sink tips and more traditional scandi heads.
Our guests would discover that, as last week, there were still some “old” fish around in our beats. So the excitement of getting taken in the strong current was short-lived because, unfortunately, most of the time, it was a kelt/størring on its way back to sea. All of these fish were fought quickly and handled with care by both angler and guides so they can continue their journey out of the river.
By the middle og the week, Bill Connelly, a new friend of the house, was fishing with his brother in the top of zone 2. Here he would encounter a fish that was headed upstream rather then down. The fish was a 83 cm buck that gave Bill a very good run for his money and was safely released back into the river after a quick picture.
The next few days didn’t have as much activity as we had hoped. But on the last session of the week, this all changed. Bill was again on the spot this time in our famous Homepool. It didn’t take long for both Bill and his guide to realise that this was not a small fish. From the moment the fish took the fly, the battle was on, and Bill got all of his fighting skills tested. Eventually, after a great fight, the fish gave in and was securely netted.
The great salmon was an exceptionally large female, measuring 101 cm and weighing 13.8 kg. The fish was, of course, released. An absolutely stunner of a fish and Bill’s personal best. First PB off the season and for sure not the last one. Also, the first massive Lakselv fish in the books for this season.
CONTACT US
If you would like to find out more information about Olderø Lodge and how you can join in on the action and fish it for yourself, make sure to take a closer look at our tour page. If you have any questions regarding this tour, you can contact our freshwater fly fishing team on 01603 407596 or by emailing them at info@sportquestholidays.com and one of the team will help you with your query.
