Stage 1
Imagine having an entire month to simply fish… how would you plan it out? Here we provide a bit of inspiration within Fishspots’ hottest areas – Tour de Fishspot 2021.
Stage 1 – Drifting Rena
We begin our journey with high hopes of huge trout. Renaelva is one of the best rivers for intense caddis hatches during late summer. But it is the early season when the biggest fish are caught.
Rena has a 5 kilometer long fly fishing only zone, stretching from Storsjødammen to Rødhammeren. But in the early season it is all about rafting downstream from the fly zone. We will drift our way down to the new Americans in town, John and Silje bond at Rena Fishcamp. (we’ll be back for the fly fishing zone a bit later in the summer).
Silje managed to drag john along to Norway when Rena Fishcamp came up for sale, and now the run the fishcamp together with their two daughters and their dog Dragon.
John has guided the most famous rivers in Montana, and has a different approach to fly fishing than most Norwegians are used to. Sit down and have a chat with John and you will likely learn something new, including tips for targeting big trout.
Fishing guide John Bond.
Drift fishing from a boat is a fantastic way to get going at the beginning of the season. The chance to come into contact with massive trout is just a bonus.
If summer arrives earlier than normal the is a chance of getting some dry fly action, but typically this time of year is all about high water and big streamers. On Rena you will have the chance to come into contact with the trout of a lifetime during the right conditions. There are trout caught weighing several kilos each season in this river.
The section of river that can be fished from a boat is a whole 25 km long. The river is relatively slow flowing for the most part. The banks are lined with dense trees, which makes fishing from land a challenge. With a boat you eliminate this hassle, and it is very effective casting streamers tight into the banks. After a day of drifting we head up to the fishcamp for a round of cold drinks and to get ready for the next step of the journey.
Photo Vegard Veberg
Rena is a big river. If you are planning on fishing from the banks you should practice your single hand spey casting. However, you typically don’t need to cast super far as the trout are typically in close to the banks. Grayling are typically found further out. The grayling in Rena can grow very large, and there are grayling around 2 kg are caught regularly. The river is large, and can be difficult to figure out when you first fish it. We recommend booking a day our two with a guide, as this can be a big advantage when learning Rena.
Drift fishing from a boat is a fantastic way to get going at the beginning of the season. The chance to come into contact with massive trout is just a bonus.
If summer arrives earlier than normal the is a chance of getting some dry fly action, but typically this time of year is all about high water and big streamers. On Rena you will have the chance to come into contact with the trout of a lifetime during the right conditions. There are trout caught weighing several kilos each season in this river.
The section of river that can be fished from a boat is a whole 25 km long. The river is relatively slow flowing for the most part. The banks are lined with dense trees, which makes fishing from land a challenge. With a boat you eliminate this hassle, and it is very effective casting streamers tight into the banks.
After a day of drifting we head up to the fishcamp for a round of cold drinks and to get ready for the next step of the journey.
Equipment:
4 and 5 wt rods are ideal for dry fly fishign. A 5-7 wt rod is best for streamers. Wading is required here. The river can be a bit challenging to wade and is often deeper than you think. Felt soled or studded wading boots are a big advantage. The current is strong, wade carefully!
Your fly box should consist of standard midges, mayflies, caddis, and some streamers. If you’re fishing later in the season then swimming pupa are the ticket. If you are in need of flies you will find the most effective patterns at Rena Fishcamp. Make sure to use a stout tippet. Fish over the maximum size limit must be released.
PLAN B:
You are right in the middle of the famed Engerdal. In addition to Galthodet and Isterfossen you can also take a detour to Femundelva, Tufsingdalen, and whole variety of mountain lakes with large trout and arctic char in Femundsmarka National Park.
Next Stop – Stage 2:
SØMÅKVOLVET – Wilderness and mystical arctic char.
Has the warm summer settled in over Femunden? In this case it may be a bit warm in the shallow lakes of Kvolvet, and we’ll instead take a journey to Røvolltjønna and Abbortjønna on the east side of Femunden, and the south end of the Røa watershed.
The next article in the Tour de Fishspot series will be coming in a few days!
