We have now reached the halfway point of the season and are heading into the second half here at Olderø Fly Fishing Lodge. The river continues to offer exciting fishing, and with conditions beginning to change, we are looking forward to what the coming weeks may bring.

The week got off to an absolutely epic and memorable start. Joe was fishing in the middle of Zone 2, and as the first day was drawing to a close, a salmon suddenly came up and took his fly right at the end of the pool. Initially, the fish stayed within the pool, but both Joe and his guide knew that if it decided to turn downstream, the situation could quickly become very interesting.

That is exactly what happened.

The big salmon suddenly turned downstream and headed around an island below the pool, disappearing into the fast water beyond. Joe and his guide had no choice but to cross the river and make their way to the opposite bank so they could continue the fight.

What followed was an epic battle through high and powerful water. After an incredible effort from both Joe and his guide, they finally managed to bring the fish safely to the net.

And what a fish it was — a magnificent 103 cm Atlantic salmon weighing 12.9 kilos. It was Joe’s new personal best Atlantic salmon and an unforgettable way to begin the week.

The following day, Joe moved further down our river beats and once again found a salmon that was more than willing to take his fly. After another short but powerful battle, he once again had the pleasure of seeing a beautiful salmon safely in the guide’s net.

This time, the fish measured 97 cm and weighed 10.8 kilos. A fresh, powerful salmon straight off the tide, showing all the signs of a fish that had only recently made its journey from the sea.

But it wasn't only the bigger salmon that kept everyone busy throughout the week. Fresh grilse were being caught across several of our beats, with action coming from different sections of the river. With fish being hooked and landed and plenty of activity in the river, the atmosphere in camp was excellent.

The fishing remained steady right through to the final days of the week, when Matt also had the opportunity to experience the kind of Lakselv salmon that anglers travel from all over the world to find.

Fishing the very same pool where Joe had his epic battle on the opening day, Matt found another good salmon willing to take his fly. After a strong and exciting fight, another beautiful fish was brought safely to the net — a 96 cm salmon weighing 10 kilos.

A fantastic fish and a perfect way to round off the week.

As we now move further into the second half of the season, both the river and air temperatures are gradually dropping, and conditions appear to be settling into a stable pattern for the coming week.

We are also beginning to see the first noticeably darker nights. Over the next few weeks, this change in light and temperature is often an important trigger for the older salmon that have already spent time in the river. These fish can become increasingly active as the season progresses, and this is one of the things that makes the latter part of the season so exciting.

With cooling temperatures, darker nights and fresh salmon continuing to enter the river, there is plenty to look forward to as we head deeper into the season at Olderø Fly Fishing Lodge.

Week 32, Midway point.

Olderø fly fishing Lodge