Øystein Enghaug Solstad, guide at Laagen Fly Fishing, has been on a new hike accompanied by good friends and fishing rods to what may be the world’s highest grayling population, a trip with many great experiences in the high mountains of Lesja.

Wild reindeer, mountain fox, grouse, trout and grayling. This trip was to be the real deal mountain wilderness experience. The goal was to catch grayling at 1174 meters over sea level. This must certainly be the worlds’ highest elevation population of grayling, and this alone makes it very cool! The trip took us along the incredible Vangsfjellet mountain in Dalsida and Lordalen public lands, roughly three hours at a mild pace from Gåsbu at lake Aursjøen. We fished in lakes Vangsvatnet and Vangstjønne, and the river Vangsåi, and the trout in Vangsvatnet were the first to be fooled.

There were two cabins in the area, which are available for rental on Inatur.no. Lesja fjellstyre (Lesja Mountain Board) owns one of the cabins, which is located on Vangstjønne, and Lesja Hunting and Fishing Association owns the other on Vangsvatnet. This was the cabin we stayed in, and it was right near the cabin we saw wild reindeer and mountain fox.

The first day the oldest of us had the hot hand, catching many fish on the fly. However, the nice weather made fishing with spinning gear and lures more difficult.

For those of us who chose to fly fish the conditions were dreamy.

At Vangstjønnet there were and unbelievable amount of grayling rising at the same time, and the flies didn’t need to lie on the surface very long before they were eaten.

There was unfortunately too little water in Vangsåi for it to be fishable. It seems like a very exciting mountain stream, but it would have been nice with more water in the river. The advantage to having little water is that crossing the river was easy. Vangsåi runs out from Vangsvatnet.

If you are looking for beautiful surroundings and an exciting nature experience combined with good fishing, you will find everything you are looking for in Lesjafjella. We strongly recommend it!

Everyone to the mountains!
ØES