Fly fishing | Snuitide

Fly fishing came to Norway from Britain in the 1820s with the British “salmon lords” who visited Norwegian salmon rivers. Johan Widerøe Thoning Owesen is reckoned to be the first Norwegian to fish with an artificial fly in a Norwegian river — the Nidelva at Trondheim, shortly after 1820. Since then fly fishing has become a central part of Norwegian fishing culture, particularly for salmon and trout.

What sets fly fishing apart from other fishing is the casting technique. Instead of using the weight of a spinner or jig, you use the weight of the fly line itself to cast an artificial fly. The line is thick, the fly almost weightless. The result is an entirely different casting rhythm in which line work is the core of the skill — and an aesthetic that many anglers hold in a class of its own.

For anyone wanting to build fly-fishing skill there is a considerable learning curve compared with spin fishing. But the great majority of Norwegian fly anglers talk about it as worth it — it is a discipline that connects movement, the reading of water, and the artistic choice of fly.

Main techniques

Fly fishing has several distinct techniques:

Dry fly — a fly that floats on the surface, imitating an insect that has hatched or landed. Classic for trout that “rise” to the surface in May–July. Visible fly fishing — you see the fish take the fly.

Wet fly — a fly that sinks just below the surface. Imitates drowned insects or fish fry. Can be used on its own or as a “dropper” (an extra fly on a single cast).

Nymph — a fly that sinks deeper, imitating insect larvae. Classic for taking fish feeding on the bottom or in mid-water. Requires reading the current and weighting the fly.

Stripping — you draw the fly aggressively through the water in short jerks. Classic for salmon in rivers, and for triggering a prey response in predatory fish.

Spey casting — a variant of fly casting built for big rivers where back-cast room is limited. Classic for salmon fishing in large rivers where you stand in waders.

For anyone new, wet fly and nymph are the easiest to start with — you cast out, let it drift downstream, and wait for a take.

Equipment

Fly-fishing equipment has its own logic:

Fly rod — longer and more flexible than an ordinary spinning rod. The line-weight rating (#) indicates the capacity:

#3–#6 — for trout and grayling in rivers and lakes
#7–#9 — for salmon in smaller rivers, sea trout
#9–#11 — for salmon in large rivers, large trout
#11–#15 — specialised for big salmon, sea fishing

For Norwegian all-round use a #7 is a good start (suits both trout and light salmon fishing).

Reel (fly reel) — a simpler construction than the spinning reel, focused on line storage and drag for salmon. Classic makers: Hardy (British), Sage (USA), Loop (Sweden).

Fly line — this is what carries the weight. Different types:

Floating — for dry fly and surface fishing
Sinking — for nymph and deep fishing
Intermediate — a compromise

Leader — a transparent length of line between the line and the fly. Tapered, so that it travels easily through the air.

Flies — artificial imitations. Hundreds of thousands of variants. For beginners a basic set of 8–12 classic patterns suffices (Hare’s Ear, Pheasant Tail, Olive, Black Gnat, etc.).

Fly box for carrying flies — a light plastic or metal box with foam.

For a complete starter package: reckon on 4,000–8,000 kr for good-quality basic equipment. Second-hand gear often works well — fly-fishing equipment is durable.

Where in Norway

The fly-fishing tradition is strongest in the salmon rivers:

The Trøndelag rivers — the Namsen, Gaula, Orkla, Stjørdalselva. All have a long fly-fishing tradition and infrastructure for fly anglers.

The Møre rivers — the Driva, Surna, Eira. Classic fly-fishing rivers with a British-Norwegian history.

The Lakselva in Finnmark and the Tana — internationally recognised fly-fishing destinations.

The Glomma and its tributaries — a grayling fly-fishing mecca. The Engeråa is a classic.

The Numedalslågen — grayling and trout.

Mountain lakes — on the Hardangervidda and similar plateaus you can fly fish for trout from boat or land. More subtle than river fishing, but rewarding.

Local fly-fishing clubs exist in most larger towns — Oslo Fluefiskeforening, Trondheim, Bergen and Stavanger all have active communities that organise group tours and courses.

The way in

For anyone wanting to try fly fishing:

Take a casting course — a weekend with an experienced instructor gives you the first skills. NJFF, local fly-fishing clubs, and some commercial schools offer courses. Price 1,500–3,000 kr.
Build a basic casting rhythm before you fish. Fly casting is a movement that takes time to build — you practise it in the garden or on a car park before you take it on a fishing trip.
Begin on calm stretches — brooks, small rivers, lakes. They require less casting range than large salmon rivers.
Go with an experienced fly angler for your first outings. You learn where the fish hold, which fly suits, and how to read the current.
Move on to more demanding fishing after a season. Salmon rivers, large rivers, more exposed water.

For the experienced spin angler: fly fishing is not an upgrade but an entirely different activity. Many do both — fly fishing for trout and grayling, spinning for salmon in particular conditions.

Reading water and choosing a fly

Fly fishing calls for reading the water and choosing a fly:

Reading the current — where the current is calm enough for the fish to rest, where it is fast enough that insect larvae drift along with it. Classic hot spots: behind larger stones, in the transition from fast to calm water, in the shade beneath overhanging branches.

Hatch activity — which insects are active right now? A butterfly-like fly in summer, smaller nymphs in spring and autumn. Many fly anglers study the surface before they cast — it is part of the art.

Water colour and temperature — clear brooks call for finer flies; murky water for more colour; warm days bring more surface activity, cold days more deep-water fishing.

Local knowledge — fly-fishing clubs and local guides know which flies have worked lately. You save time by getting a recommendation rather than experimenting.

For anyone wanting to build deep knowledge: local tackle shops and fly-fishing clubs are knowledge hubs. The NJFF magazine Jakt & Fiske runs regular fly-fishing articles.

Season

The fly-fishing season follows insect activity:

May–June — spring fishing. The classic hatch period. Dry-fly fishing is at its peak.
July–August — summer fishing. Warmer water, more surface activity.
September–October — autumn fishing. Insect activity falls, a shift to larger flies.
November–April — fly fishing is mostly on pause. Some carry on with nymph fishing in open stretches.

For salmon fishing the season is narrower: 1 June–31 August is classic in southern and central Norway. Northern Norway starts later.

Ethics

Fly fishing has its own ethical tradition, often stricter than other fishing:

Hook types — by preference use hooks without barbs or with a minimal barb. Easier to remove, less harm to the fish.

Catch and release — the fly-fishing tradition is strong on this. Many fly anglers always or almost always release the fish — the focus is on the experience, not the catch.

Gentle handling — wet hands, a short time out of the water, hold the fish in the water while you remove the hook.

Biosecurity — disinfecting equipment is critical in Norway because of Gyrodactylus salaris.

For anyone wanting to build an ethical practice: read the NJFF guidelines and become part of a local fly-fishing club where the ethical norms are passed on by word of mouth.

Next steps

If fly fishing is new to you: sign up for a casting course through NJFF or a local fly-fishing club. It is the simplest way in.

If you have done a basic course: join the club group tours. You learn more in a season with experienced fly anglers than in several years on your own.

For salmon fishing: salmon fishing goes through the king discipline of Norwegian fishing.

For choosing equipment: fishing equipment goes through the choices in more detail.

Learn more

Text: Snuitide (2026).