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I became a Salmonfisher 7 years ago. Before that I was a trout and graylingfisher with singlehanded rods, not a good one but still one. My father was pushing me too follow on salmonfishing and lend me an old 14 feet rod, not too easy too cast with and for the first two year I really didn't get the fly where I wanted or as long as I wanted, even if you don´t need to cast long cast it is not fun when the fly lands 10 meter out with the leader in front. So my first two years I think was totally wasted. My third year I bought a new 12 feet rod and the casting was better but not good. I watch all Syrstad and Göran Andersons movies and tried too get better, but when you don’t have anyone that can tell you what`s wrong it´s a bit difficult. On my fifth year as a salmon fisher? I´ve hooked my first fish and that was the first as ever had taken my fly. This year I get another one too the biggest just over two kilo. Most of the people would have give it up, but in away I found it interesting . On the autumn this year I took my first four days course with Syrstad in Beiarn and the next year I took another one in Beiarn and then my casting got better and I started to reach reasonable lengths. Knut told me that the casting was good but I should try a longer rod, so I ended up with a new 14´6, the best they have. And at the end of the course he asked me of my personal best and after 6 year it was only 3 kilo. He sad that if I came with them to Orkla he could promise me a big salmon.
So after a while of consideration I thought it out, my father should turn 70 the next year and what could be better then giving him a casting course and good fishing.

Now i´m sitting on flight towards Trondheim and the big happening, Mum and dad are on their way by car. She decided that she wanted to learn it too even tho she never had held a flyrod before. So they picked me up at the airport and we where driving to Lökken Verk where we should catch up at there pensionat. When you get to a course with these guys it´s good you know that the organization around this isn´t the best but after two courses with them I knew what to come. Of course the casting is top quality and that's what i looking for.

When we arrived we got taken hand of by Martin (a practicant) who went on the fishing academy in Forshaga. There were only three others on that course which suited me just fine. Less people will give better training. So after dinner we drove directly too the river and our place Överöyen too catch up with Trond and Knut. The casting training started immediately so we had to bring all our packing to the river, no time for going two our apartment before training. The first training evening was good and I think that mum and dad had the most out of it, my casting was only crapcasting this evening and you all know how frustrating that is.

Martin was doing a marvelous job with mum and he did the whole course standing by her side and telling her what two do and not too do in his calm way, what a teacher he was. After the course it was free fishing until half past nine Friday morning. I managed to get to bed by 5 o´clock and I had felt nothing on my fly.

Friday was a fantastic day but not if you are a salmon fisher it was warm and sunny, and I started in a bad mod. Nothing could take the fun out of salmon fishing as warm sunny day.. but what a heck now i´m here and have too do the best out of it. This evening Trond and Knut and some other from LTS had a little party just where we was fishing which was really good cause you could always get some tips. I picked a fly and put it on the rod and was heading too the river when Trond asked me what fly I was putting on, he shake his head and said it wouldn’t be his first choice and put on a big black fly instead. I fished one time down and nothing happen. Should I take another fly or what? No had Trond recommended it I should have it on. So on the third trip down I felt a little drag in the fly let the line go and lifted the rod up. And a little yes was coming from my moth. All this time of waiting and there it is. I was wondering how big it was, it is really hooked, will the leader hold and many other question was going through my head. Knut picked up his mobile and called for Trond who was on his way home, he came back in a moment and helped with the landing. The Salmon wasn’t that big as I thought but a really nice one and 4.4 kg new personal best. Trond is a really funny guy and showed a lot of true happiness over my first Orkla Salmon.
I was in the heaven and fished on too five a clock. Had some sleep and only dreamed happy dreams. The weather on Saturday was even better or as a salmon fisher would say worse. The casting this day wasn´t crapcasting at all. Only tight loops and long cast with air mending's.. every thing was good. Not only my casting, there was another guy there who was taken the instructor course an he was really good.

It´s funny how much easier everything gets when you have catched a fish, youe relax and become a better and nicer person. After dinner it had been a little clouded and not too sunny but against better knowing I decided too sleep for two hours- When I got to the river a new fisherman had arrived, one big Salmon hanging on the cabin and as I put on the fly he hooked his second salmon this evening over 8 kilo, after only one hours fishing. Sometimes life feel unfair but he was a good fisher no doubt about that, and I felt like I had missed the opportunity too get salmon this evening. It´s not easy to always feeling happy too other peoples catches, most time I can but not always. The fisherman wasn´t happy at all because after two fish you have too stop fishing and he wanted more, some people never get satisfied. About ten I felt a fish in the rod but held the line tight between my fingers and lifted the rod too fast and missed the fish dam it! F..k. But I´m not the one who gives up before its over and by midnight I had missed my second chance this eve. Will I never catch the big one. I got up, took some coffee and a whiskey just looked at the other who fished. No one else that was on the course had felt anything so in fact I shoudn´t feel sad about the one I didn´t get. An other man was before me in line now but he sad that he should just drink his coffee and go to bed so he send me out in the river- some cast and then, bang! Let the line go and lifted the rod. Fish ON! I shouted, and I could feel directly that this one is big after ten seconds he showed him self with a little jump before he getting down streams. The reel was roaring, its fun with reels that have a big sound and this one have. I got a bit nervous when the fish had taken about 30 meters backing but then it stopped.

After twenty to thirty minutes I could land a big salmon 8,5 kg. I was so happy and hanged it up on the cabin taking photos and then just settled down for three hours by the fire and really enjoyed life. All this 7 years of waiting an then it´s over I couldn´t understand it .Tried to fish a little after that but it felt unnecessary. So it was bed time by 6 o´clock. The last day was fishing and some casting on the evening. Trond and Knut was really glad over my fish and that Knut had held his promise.
After all a fantastic trip and I can live on this for at least ten years, and if I dont catch anymore big salmons in my life I will live on this one the whole life.


//Bo Häll