Stangnes Lodge on the Lakselv River is an authentic piece of fly fishing paradise in the land of the midnight sun. Famed for its two-handed fly fishing, a multitude of quality Atlantic Salmon beats, and a vast array of easy wading opportunities, it’s no surprise that the Lodge is now a destination at the top of many freshwater fly fishing bucket lists.
The fishing is all undertaken on the mighty Lakselv River, located in northern Norway’s Troms og Finnmark county. It flows for over 100 kilometres, starting its journey in Karasjok before running north through Porsanger, Finmark and the village of Lakselv before emptying into Porsangerfjorden, a fjord off of the Barents Sea. Despite being set in a region with a relatively low average water flow of only 26 m3, the river has been among Norway’s top rivers for its number of big Salmon captures over the last couple of seasons. The really big specimens in the river typically range between 40lb to 50lb, and the current record stands at a whopping 55lb. Despite being famed as a ‘big fish’ destination and river, the Lakselva produces good numbers of fish and catches a consistent eight tonnes of Salmon every year.
Despite being a relatively unknown Salmon river for many years, certainly compared to other big rivers in the region, in recent times, it has been brought to the attention of travelling freshwater fly fishing anglers from all around the globe.
This tour is also available as a fully-guided, all-inclusive holiday, staying at Olderø Lodge.
The Stangnes Lodge, built in the summer of 2019, is a self-catering Lodge designed for single fishermen or small groups looking for an independent fishing schedule and the opportunity to cook for themselves. Located just ten minutes drive from the Olderø Lodge and run under the same management, it offers travelling freshwater fly fishing anglers four private, single bank beats of varying lengths. All four of Stangnes beats feature different pools and are spacious enough to accommodate two anglers fishing together easily.
Currently, guests have the opportunity to fish the following beats:
– Sarppula
– Holmen (Fishing allowed from 9.00pm to 6.00am)
– Grillhytten (Homepool for Stangnes)
– Bakery (Fishing allowed from 9.00pm to 6.00am)
All the beats not only offer incredible Atlantic Salmon fishing but are all carefully selected to accommodate any water levels during the season, meaning there is always somewhere to fish regardless of the weather and conditions. The Stangnes Lodge also offers travelling rods, one of the most private fishing experiences as is possible on the Lakselv. They own some parts of the river and lease other parts from landowners annually, giving rods a much more significant privacy element than those fishing on public water.
We recommend that anglers travelling to and fishing at Stangnes, on the Lakselv River, apply for a fishing license for the public waters, as this allows for even more exploration along this beautiful stretch of river. It’s possible to buy a permit from the 1st of March each year and prices start from around £30 per person/rod.
To find out more about the Atlantic Salmon fishing at Stangnes Lodge in Norway, visit our YouTube channel.
Stangnes Lodge is ideal for freshwater fly fishing anglers looking for some world-class Salmon fishing without a guided experience, and it’s perfect for single anglers or small groups who wish to fish and explore off their own back. There’s no schedule at Stangnes, and with it being entirely self-catering, there’s no time you need to be back for lunch or dinner, and in the land of the midnight sun, in the summer months, it’s possible to fish 24 hours per day. The stay at the Lodge consists of seven nights and runs from Sunday to Sunday, and includes towels, bed linen and cleaning when you leave. You don’t need to bring any fishing nets either, as there are two clean nets free to use during your stay. The local town of Lakselv is only a short drive away, and there’s a good supermarket where you can purchase your food and drink for the week.
If you’re visiting with a non-angling companion, there are many different activities they can enjoy. For example, in Lakselv, there’s a 9-hole golf course, plenty of hiking trails in the mountains, and numerous spots close by to sail in a canoe. Lakselv is also only a 2-hour drive away from the famous North Cape and the town of Alta.
We recommend that non-fishing guests book a rental car from the airport to be independent from the anglers in the group and to make the most of their stay. It’s also handy to have a vehicle in case you need any extra food or supplies from the shop throughout the week.
The Atlantic Salmon fishing at Olderø Lodge runs from the 15th of June until the end of August. During the first two weeks of September, all Salmon must get released, and 99% of the fish landed throughout the year are anyway. The fishes welfare is paramount, and like with many Salmon Lodges in Norway and Iceland, the disinfection of fishing tackle is essential. All the equipment needed to do this safely is available at the Lodge.
The Sea Trout season on the Lakselv runs from the same start date as the Salmon fishing in June but finishes on the 15th of September. During the last couple of weeks of the season at the start of September, all anglers fishing for the Sea Trout must adhere to the following tackle restrictions:
– Leaders must have a maximum diameter of 0.25 mm
– Single hook flies only, with a maximum of size 10
– Sink tips or sinking poly leaders are not allowed
– Weighted flies and lines are also not allowed
Despite the Salmon fishing season taking part during the summer months and with temperatures soaring to over 30°c degrees in July and August, it’s still possible to experience several extreme weather changes in a single day and heavy frosts at the start of the season aren’t unusual.
Stangnes Lodge is located in zone 2 – only 5 minutes walk from one of the beats and between a 5 to 20-minute drive from the other four. It features four rooms with separate entrances, and each room has its own bathroom. There is a shared kitchen/living room area for cooking and relaxing. You can air-dry your waders in the cellar, and there is a big freezer for keeping your food cold. It has an outside gas barbecue, so you can cook outside and enjoy your dinner on the big terrace with a view of the beautiful surroundings.
Stangnes Salmon Lodge is perfect for four anglers but can accommodate up to eight anglers. At the Lodge, there are maps with descriptions of the beats and how to get there.
The stay at the Lodge consists of seven nights and runs from Sunday to Sunday, and includes towels, bed linen and cleaning when you leave.
Check-in – Sunday after 4 PM
Check out – Sunday before 10 AM
Stangnes Lodge is all self-catering, so you will need to buy all your food and drink for the duration of your week. In Lakselv, there are a few supermarkets, including a Coop and Spar.
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.
Depart Any international Airport (See Details)
Arrive Oslo
Once you arrive in Oslo and have collected your bags you’ll need to take a taxi and transfer to your overnight accommodation.
Overnight Accommodation: Airport Hotel (Twin Room) B/B
After breakfast at the hotel, you’ll need to taxi back to Oslo airport and board the flight to Lakselv. (The flight stops in Tromso en-route.)
Depart Oslo
Arrive Lakselv
Once in Lakselv, you’ll need to pick up your hire car and drive the short distance to Stangnes Lodge. Once there you’ll be free to unpack, relax and prepare for the next days fishing.
The journey from Lakselv Airport to Stangnes Lodge is around 15 minutes.
Overnight Accommodation: Stangnes Lodge (Single Room) S/C
For the next six days, you’ll be fishing the mighty Lakselv river for the giant Atlantic Salmon.
On the Lakselv there are four exceptionally well-managed beats and when staying at Stangnes anglers have access to four of them. These include…
– Sarppula
– Holmen (Where fishing allowed between the hours of 9.00pm to 6.00am)
– Grillhytten (Homepool for Stangnes)
– Bakery (Where fishing allowed between the hours of 9.00pm to 6.00am)
All anglers follow this during their stay, meaning each area gets protected and rested at specific points during a typical fishing week.
In addition, to limit pressure even further and ensure better fishing conditions, each beat is limited to two anglers.
Overnight Accommodation: Stangnes Lodge (Single Room) S/C
After breakfast, you’ll need to drive your hire car back to Lakselv Airport and start your journey home.
Depart Lakselv
Arrive Oslo Depart Oslo
Arrive Home
The season runs from June to August.
Season: June to August
Peak: July
Weight: 10lb to 55lb
Average Weight: 10lb
Season: June to September
Peak: August
Weight: 2lb to 20lb
Average Weight: 5lb
N/A
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.
| From | To | Duration | Price | Availability | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 08/06/2024 | 16/06/2024 | 9 | £2,001 | Enquire Now | ||
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| 15/06/2024 | 23/06/2024 | 9 | £2,145 | Enquire Now | ||
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| 22/06/2024 | 30/06/2024 | 9 | £2,796 | Enquire Now | ||
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| 29/06/2024 | 07/07/2024 | 9 | £3,157 | Enquire Now | ||
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| 06/07/2024 | 14/07/2024 | 9 | £3,735 | Enquire Now | ||
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| 13/07/2024 | 21/07/2024 | 9 | £3,735 | Enquire Now | ||
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| 20/07/2024 | 28/07/2024 | 9 | £3,735 | Enquire Now | ||
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| 27/07/2024 | 04/08/2024 | 9 | £3,735 | Enquire Now | ||
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| 03/08/2024 | 11/08/2024 | 9 | £3,735 | Enquire Now | ||
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| 10/08/2024 | 18/08/2024 | 9 | £3,735 | Enquire Now | ||
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| 17/08/2024 | 25/08/2024 | 9 | £3,157 | Enquire Now | ||
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| 24/08/2024 | 01/09/2024 | 9 | £2,796 | Enquire Now | ||
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| 07/06/2025 | 15/06/2025 | 9 | £2,037 | Enquire Now | ||
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| 14/06/2025 | 22/06/2025 | 9 | £2,189 | Enquire Now | ||
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| 21/06/2025 | 29/06/2025 | 9 | £2,872 | Enquire Now | ||
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| 28/06/2025 | 06/07/2025 | 9 | £3,251 | Enquire Now | ||
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| 05/07/2025 | 13/07/2025 | 9 | £3,865 | Enquire Now | ||
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| 12/07/2025 | 20/07/2025 | 9 | £3,865 | Enquire Now | ||
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| 19/07/2025 | 27/07/2025 | 9 | £3,865 | Enquire Now | ||
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| 26/07/2025 | 03/08/2025 | 9 | £3,865 | Enquire Now | ||
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| 02/08/2025 | 10/08/2025 | 9 | £3,865 | Enquire Now | ||
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| 09/08/2025 | 17/08/2025 | 9 | £3,865 | Enquire Now | ||
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| 16/08/2025 | 24/08/2025 | 9 | £3,251 | Enquire Now | ||
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| 23/08/2025 | 31/08/2025 | 9 | £2,872 | Enquire Now | ||
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Prices are based on 4 anglers sharing fishing and accommodation (unless otherwise stated) and are correct at the time of going to press. Subject to time of year or date and currency fluctuations, these prices may fluctuate slightly due to flight price increases or fuel surcharges.
My brother Robert Harper has already left a review, but I felt compelled to add one too - our week was that enjoyable! Everyone in our group landed Salmon with the biggest tipping the scales at just under 20lb. We had a fantastic laugh with some great banter, it was nice to roam freely and fish as and when we wanted. Stangnes gets a big thumbs up from me and all my group!
After visiting Olderø Lodge for the past couple of seasons me and my brother David (plus our two fishing buddies) decided we'd try out the self-catering accommodation known as Stangnes. It was a slightly different experience to that at Olderø, but still with the same excellent fishing opportunities. Am sure we'll be back again next year too!
After enquiring about Olderø and hearing the news that it was sold out me and my group opted for the self-catering option at Stangnes Lodge. It was a bit different from what we were used to but totally worth it. The fishing was a little tough due to the unsavoury river conditions, but we still managed some nice fish between us.
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