Fly fishing for Atlantic Salmon on the Gaula River in Mid-Norway. A world class Gaula Flyfishing Lodge. A prolific private 9,5 km long Gaula Flyfishing beat is located in middle part of the Gaula River, near Stören, up and downstream of the mighty Gaulfossen. The beats consist several of the best fly fishing pools of River Gaula - Bruahölen, Evjen, Evjenöra, Helgemo, Helgemo svingen, Hovinsgjerdet, Lerdalshölen, Röskaft, Röskaft Söndre Övre, Röskaft Söndre, Sanden, Stasjonshölen, Svingen and Vollan. Biggest fish of the beat is 20,8 kg salmon caught on Bruahölen pool.

GAULA

Gaula is one of the best salmon rivers in Norway and flows into the sea near Trondheim. Gaula is famous for its big size salmon, the biggest ones are over 20 kilos. The average size of salmon is 5-6 kg. The annual salmon catch from the Gaula River is between 3000 - 6000 salmon per season.

GAULA FLYFISHING LODGE - ROTATION FLY FISHING

Guests will fish our beautiful, private Gaula Flyfishing Lodge beats situated in middle Gaula, downstream from Stören in Hovin and Lundamo about 25-40 km from the sea. Beats consist of 6,8 km of East bank and 2,7 km of West bank of the famous Gaula River. Maximum number of persons fishing at the same time on these beats is 16-20 per week. The guests are divided in 4-5 groups of 4 persons each. Every group of 4 persons can fish 1-2 beats at a time. The beats are rotated between fly fishing groups every six hours. In fly fishing rotation the beat change hours are 6:00, 12:00, 18:00 ja 24:00.

FLY FISHING BEATS

The stretches of river are divided in 9 fly fishing beats. Beat 1: Sanden pool. Beat 2: Bruahölen, Svingen and Rönningen pools. Beat 3: Vollan and Röskaft pools. Beat 4: Stasjonshölen pool. Beat 5: Evjenöra and Evjen pools. Beat HE1: Lerdalshölen and Helgemo pools. Beat HE2: Helgemo Svingen pool. Beat HG: Hovinsgjerdet beat is included in rotation 1st June-7th July and 31st July-31st August 2024. Beat RS: Röskaft Söndre Övre and Röskaft Söndre pools are included in rotation 1st-22nd June and 13th July-31st August 2024.

FISHING RULES

Only fly fishing with fly rod is allowed. Rod sharing is not allowed. Bag limit is one salmon per person per day. If fisherman kills a salmon, he must stop fishing until midnight. Weekly bag limit is 2 salmon and season limit is 4 salmon per person, of these only 1 salmon may be 80-95 cm. If person retains 2 salmon for week, he can continue next day C&R fishing to the end of week. If person retains 4 salmon for season, he must stop fishing for that season. Quota of Catch & Release is 3 salmon per person per day. All salmon over 95 cm must be released. All female salmon must be released 1.7-31.8. We recommend all salmon to be released. All seatrout must be released.

We recommend catch and release. If a fish that according to the rules should be released is bleeding and dying, it must be delivered to Gauldalsporten in Stören. Delivered salmon is counted on personal quotas. Scale samples must be taken from all retained Gaula salmon. Please take a few scale samples and put them into envelope and fill up details. If water level at Gaulfossen gauge drops below 20 cubics per second, only full floating fly lines and shooting heads are allowed. The floating line rule ceases when water level raises over 25 cubics per second at Gaulfossen. Every caught fish should be recorded to Elveguiden Gaula Laksebörsen immediately after catch.

FISHING SEASON

Fishing season on the Gaula starts on the first of June. During the two first weeks of the season only big salmon enter the river weighing often 7-20 kg. At this time you have a good chance to hook and catch a salmon of your lifetime. During the early season water level on Gaulfossen gauge is often 400-150 cubics per second and water temperature is about 6-10 degrees. For these high and cold water conditions as fly lines we recommend shooting heads sink 1/3/5, sink 2/4/6, sink 3/5/8 and sink 4/5 and sink 6/7. In these conditions tube flies with 8-13 cm long wing are recommended.

By mid June the numbers of salmon in the Gaula increase and in addition to big salmon there is often a good run of two sea winter salmon weighing 4-7 kg. The main run of salmon in Gaula River is from early July to mid August, that period we can catch all sizes of salmon and the catch numbers per week on our Gaula Flyfishing beats are highest. During mid season the water level on Gaulfossen gauge is often between 150-30 cubics per second and water temperature is about 10-16 degrees. For these medium water conditions we recommend our guests to fish for example with Int/S2/S4, Float/S2/S4 and Float/Int/S2 shooting heads and tube flies with a wing length 4-8 cm.

During the last two weeks of August there are still some fresh salmon running but we also catch coloured salmon which have been in the river for a while - often very big ones. During late season the water level on Gaulfossen gauge is often between 60-20 cubics per second and water temperature is about 9-15 degrees. For these medium/low water conditions we recommend our guests to fish for example with Float/S2/S4, Float/Int/S2 and Floating shooting heads and tube flies with a wing length 4-6 cm. Gaula fishing season ends on the last day of August.

FLY FISHING TACKLE

For fly fishing salmon on Gaula we recommend 13-15 ' double handed rods for lines #8-11 and suitable fly reels with good quality brakes. Floating, sink tip or intermediate shooting heads are most popular fly lines but you should also bring sinking shooting heads for possible high water conditions.

DISINFECTION

Disinfection of fishing gear. Before fishing starts everyone must disinfect fishing gear and buy a Norway Fishing Fee and Gaulakortet. These licenses can be bought from internet and disinfection can be done at Gaula Natursenter or Stören Camping.

FLIES

Good fly patterns on Gaula are for example Banana, Green Butt, Red Butt, Black Sheep, Dee Sheep, Green Highlander, Greenlander, Grey & Green, Black & Yellow, Black & Orange, Black & Green, Allys Shrimp, Francis, Willie Gunn, Monkey and Sunray Shadow.

ACCOMODATION

Gaula Flyfishing Lodge accomodation for guests is arranged in Hage, Hage stabbur, Helgemo, Röskaft Söndre and Öran House. These old charming houses are located close to our Gaula fly fishing beats and they have been restored for fishermen. There is a big living room, a well equipped kitchen, several bedrooms for 1-2 persons, toilet and shower. We can provide a single room lodge accomodation for every angler. Guests can cook their meals in self catering kitchen but food is not included in price.

PANDEMIC

Due to pandemic no cancelling, refunding or postponing Gaula Flyfishing Lodge bookings. In case of possible travel restrictions we can try to resell your booking to other anglers. Only if we can resell your booking, postponing to next season will be possible. We recommend travel insurance for all anglers.

PAYMENTS, CANCELLATIONS

Deposit is 50% of total price. Balance of 50 % of total price has to be paid before the first of March. In case of cancellation, deposit and balance are non-refundable.

TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS

Fly fishing trips to the Gaula will be arranged throughout the fishing season and the packages can be booked according to the client’s favourite week subject to availability. Anglers will take flight or car transport to Norway. It is 80 km, about one hour drive from Trondheim airport to the Gaula Flyfishing Lodge. Jouni Rauha works there as a lodge manager, shows the accomodation and introduces fishing beats to guests. Fishing week starts at 16 o'clock on Saturday afternoon and ends next Saturday morning at 10 o'clock. Introduction of the beats for new guests will be arranged on Saturday at 18 o'clock.

Price: 850 - 2350 eur/person/week
Trip length: 7 fishing days/7 nights
Number of guests: 16 - 20 persons/week
Price includes: Rotation fly fishing, Self catering accomodation in single room, Introduction of beats
Price excludes: Flights/car transports, Norwegian state license (310 NOK = 30 eur), Gaulakortet (200 NOK = 20 eur), Disinfection of fishing gear (includes in Gaulakortet), Food/drinks
Fish species: Salmon, Seatrout
Fishing season: 1.6 - 31.8

GAULA FLYFISHING LODGE - BEATS

Guests will fish our beautiful, private Gaula Flyfishing Lodge beats situated in middle Gaula, downstream from Stören in Hovin and Lundamo about 25-40 km from the sea. Beats consist of 6,8 km of East bank and 2,7 km of West bank of the famous Gaula River.

Beat 1 - Sanden

Sanden. Right bank.Sanden is a classic salmon pool. It is 600 meters long and has a nice current which suits great for fly fishing. It's one of the most prolific of our salmon pools. In this pool salmon tend to stop for rest even longer period. In the middle of pool there is a long deeper place in front of huge stone. The tail of pool before short rapids is also a hot spot place for catching big salmon. Sanden fishes well at many different water levels between 450-10 cubics per second.

Beat 2 - Bruahølen, Svingen og Rønningen

Bruahølen. Right bank. Bruahölen is a very long and prolific pool, typical holding pool, length is 700 meters. The upper part fishes well in in low water. From middle towards the end of pool it is good water all the way and it fishes well all water levels. Bruahölen is very easy pool to wade. A Salmon of 20,8 kg has been caught at Bruahölen. Bruahölen pool fishes well with 400-10 cubics.

Svingen. Right bank. Svingen is 600 meters long. It starts with short fast rapids which then slows down. In this pool salmon tends to stop for longer periods and you see lot of jumping salmon. Svingen is a typical holding pool. The riverbank is steep, no need for wading at all. The best taking places here are from middle of the pool towards the end of pool. Svingen fishes best from middle to low water levels between 100-20 cubics per second.

Rønningen. Right bank. Rönningen pool is 200 meters long. The riverbank is here quite high and steep. There is no need for wading at all. There is a nice current here and fly swims very nice, there is also no need for long casts. The pool is quite deep. Rönningen fishes best in water levels 200-100 cubics.

Beat 3 - Vollan, Røskaft

Vollan. Right bank. Vollan beat is 700 meters long, it is located 1 km upstream from Gaulfossen, lower border of Vollan is upper border of Stasjonshölen. The beat is located on East side of the Gaula river, right side of rived looked downstream. Vollan includes long nice gravel bar run followed by deep hole, nice tail of pool and short rapids. Vollan fishes best with water levels between 200-10 cubics per second.

Röskaft. Left bank. Röskaft is 200 meters long and a quite fast flowing pool. The deepest places of this pool are in the middle and tail of pool. It has a nice current for flyfishing all the way and is very easy pool to fish. Pool ends to fast rapids and is a pool where salmon tends to stop after they run up those rapids. Röskaft is located about 1 km below Gaulfossen on the West (Left) side of the Gaula. Röskaft fishes best between 400-40 cubics.

Beat 4 - Stasjonshølen

Stasjonshølen. Left and right bank. Stasjonshölen is 300 meters long on West side and 200 meters long on East side of Gaula. We can fish both sides but West side is easier to fish and more productive. Stasjonshölen is very easy pool to wade. In the middle of pool there is a deep hole. From middle towards the tail of pool there is stronger current. A 20 kg salmon has been caught at Stasjonshölen. The pool fishes water levels between 250-30 cubics.

Beat 5 - Evjenøra, Evjen

Evjenøra. Left bank. Evjenöra pool is 500 meters long and is located 3 km below Gaulfossen on the West (Left) side of the Gaula. Evjenöra pool has a nice current for flyfishing all the way and is very easy pool to cover well with fly. Evjenöra is a very easy pool to wade. In the middle of the pool there is a deeper area which is one of the hot spots. A 20 kg salmon has been caught at Evjenöra pool. The pool can be fished in water levels between 400-20 cubics.

Evjen. Left bank. Evjen pool is 600 meters long and is located about 3 km below Gaulfossen on the West (Left) side of the Gaula. The riverbank is quite high and steep. There is no need for wading at all. In this pool salmon tends to stop for longer periods and you often see lot of jumping salmon. There is no need for long casts because salmon stops here often close to riverbank. A salmon over 20 kg has been caught at Evjen. The pool is long and deep, it is very beautiful and prolific pool and can be fished well in most water levels between 400-20 cubics.

Beat HE1 - Lerdalshølen, Helgemo

Lerdalshølen. Right bank. Lerdalshölen pool is 500 meters long and is located 7 km below Gaulfossen on the East (Right) side of the Gaula. In this pool salmon tends to stop for longer periods and you often see jumping salmon. In high water salmon stops here often close to riverbank, in medium water in the middle of river or closer to opposite bank. Lerdalshölen fishes well with water levels 400-60 cubics per second at Gaulfossen gauge.

Helgemo. Right bank. Helgemo pool is 500 meters long and is located 7 km below Gaulfossen on the East (Right) side of the Gaula. Helgemo pool has a nice current for flyfishing all the way and is very easy pool to cover well with fly. Helgemo is a very easy pool to wade. In the lower part of the pool there is a deeper area with big underwater stones, which is one of the hot spots. The pool can be fished in water levels between 200-20 cubics at Gaulfossen.

Beat HE2 - Helgemo svingen

Helgemo svingen. Left and right bank. Helgemo svingen is a very productive and long pool. It is 600 meters long on West side and 500 meters on East side of the Gaula. We can fish both sides but Left bank is easier to fish and more productive, especially in high and medium water. Helgemo svingen is quite easy pool to wade and cover well with fly. In the middle of the pool there is a deep hole. The pool fishes best with water levels between 450-40 cubics.

Beat HG – Hovinsgjerdet

Hovinsgjerdet. Left bank. Hovinsgjerdet beat is 500 meters long and is situated righ above the Gaulfossen on West (Left) side of the Gaula. Salmon tends to stop in the pool after they run up Gaulfossen rapids. Hovinsgjerdet beat fishes best with water levels below 80 cubics. Parking is by the Hovin water cleaning station. From left side of yellow building begins path down to the beat. Be careful when crossing railway, keep your fly rod low. The beat is located inside of the nature reserve, it is forbidden to make fire.

Beat RS - Røskaft Søndre

Røskaft Søndre. Right bank. Beat RS is approx 1 km long and is located 1 km below Gaulfossen on the East (Right) side of the Gaula. Röskaft Söndre Övre pool is 200 m long and is located above fast rapids. Röskaft Söndre pool is 700 m long and is located below fast rapids. Salmon tends to stop in these two fine salmon pools. RS is a very famous and prolific beat and fishes well in in most water levels between 400-20 cubics.