Salmon Fishing on the Reisa

In the world of Salmon fishing there are rivers, there are big fish rivers and then there are rivers like the Reisa. The Reisa is amongst a handful of rivers that doesn’t just boast colossal salmon each year but can do it on a weekly basis throughout its short season. During our time guiding on this beautiful Norwegian river and being part of the annual fish count dive team, we have seen the almost unbelievable creatures that migrate this waterway.

The river itself is one of the most beautiful salmon rivers imaginable, with pools that look as if they were hand crafted for fly fishing. The river starts its journey in lake Raisjavri and travels 75miles through the famous Reisa national park and its gorgeous valley of pristine waterfalls before finishing in the small town of Storslett as it enters the equally awe inspiring Reisa fjord.

In the years that we have been involved with the guiding team on this river we have been lucky enough to experience some unforgettable captures and losses of colossal salmon. These captures include several fish in the upper thirty pound range and even some in the upper forty pound range, in fact this river has already and has the ability again to produce fish over fifty pounds which is pretty mind blowing.

We are very excited to announce that we now have even more quality water available to our guests in both zones three and four. These pools produced the best numbers and some of the biggest fish on the whole river last season and with relatively easy wading and absolutely stunning scenery, we are pretty sure you will like them as much as we do.

What to Expect

The fishing on the Riesa is not private, the system means that the local anglers have the right to buy a limited amount of cards for each zone. Some of the river is also available to a limited number of non local anglers through a first come first served system. What makes a large percentage of our water so great is that it only has access from us and a limited number of local anglers meaning that your fishing is unlikely to see other anglers during your fishing days.

Having a guide on a river like the Reisa is a must. Even if you are a seasoned salmon angler with years of experience behind you, having the help of one of our guides to net some of the monster fish you will hook in this river, turns the virtually impossible into a realistic chance. We also use traditional Reisa river boats with their sleek profile that are perfect to transport you to many parts of the river that are not accessible by any other means and in times of extremely high water they can also be used to fish from and to follow running fish.

Now the rivers ability to produce anglers with such gigantic salmon has not come without a cost. Over the years poaching, netting at sea and the dreaded fish farms have all taken their toll on the Reisa’s fish stocks. This unfortunately has been the case with every salmon river around the world with virtually all seeing dramatic falls in their stocks. Even with a declining number of fish running the river we are pleased that it has still managed to send many visiting anglers home with personal best salmon that will be hard to beat and some amazing fishing memories. We do have some good news to share, the netting at sea in a large area that affects the Reisa has recently been outlawed. We are anticipating that this legislation will have immediate positive effects on the rivers salmon numbers as many more tons of fish will be allowed to enter the river.

We are hoping that with continued support from traveling anglers and with the knock on effect from this recent legislation, that further improvements can be made for this spectacular river and for its even more spectacular inhabitants.

What to Bring

The Reisa is a medium sized salmon river that would be described as a relatively technique river to fish. An anglers ability to cast and control the line and fly makes a big difference on such a river as well as being able to play big powerful fish once they are hooked. For these reasons we recommend that you bring the right gear to deal with these situations, rods should be 9wt and 10wt fourteen and fifteen foot double handed. Reels should have large line capacity, capable of holding 400m of 30lb gel spun backing.

As with all fishing trips in Northern Europe the weather can be subject to dramatic change, because of this we recommend that you bring plenty of layers for your fishing days. A decent set of base layers and mid layers is normally all that is required under your waders and wading jacket but it is also a good idea to have extra fleece tops or waist coats if needed. As with all fly fishing trips having polaroid glasses, hat and a buff will help you from sun, wind and keep you safe from flies during casting.

We provide full gear lists and Itineraries with booking confirmation but for any more details please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Accommodation

Reisastua lodge is situated in the picturesque valley of the Reisa river. It is a wonderful setting for a fishing lodge as it looks straight out onto the river and the mountains behind. The lodge has seven fantastic en-suites that are just perfect for travelling anglers to relax in when not on the river bank. When a celebration is in order to toast a new personal best salmon or just to try one of the famed local beverages the dramatic looking Bivrost bar is a great place for guests to congregate. But If you are looking to truly unwind on your trip, there really isn’t anything better than kicking back in the roof top jacuzzi, drink in hand and marvel at the surroundings under the midnight sun. Breakfasts and evening meals are served in the lodges spacious restaurant, whilst lunches are either enjoyed by the river bank or in the lodge depending on the zones that you are fishing that day. Breakfasts are a choice of full English, continental or cereal’s, lunches include fire grilled meats, salads, breads and deserts. Evening Meals are three courses with the mains generally being a mixture of timeless classics and traditional Norwegian cuisine.