Around Tynset again

Tynset and Tolga districts are our favourite areas in Trøndelag. Autumn gives a special feeling to the landscape and it is really magical period here. Birch forests become yellow and mountains show all the colors. We found a lovely cabin in Gammeldalen and explored the area. Farmland in the valley, hunting season up in the mountains. On Saturday, we made an amazing 25km round-hike, starting from Bjørkkjølvangan and continued around Storjønna, Eidsætra and Klettsætra, meeting just 3 hunters along the way. On Sunday, we drove to Hodalen, a complex of clear lakes full of grayling and got a few for the grill. Must come again!

More salmon

 "The salmon-trout drifts in the stream, 

The soul of the salmon-trout floats over the stream

Like a little wafer of light."

Ezra Pound

After the trip to Orkla, I was looking forward to meeting KarlHeinz on Mandalselva. Before that, I took a short trip to a small river called Lierelva. This river is just 30 minutes drive from Oslo and is known for  seatrout and small salmon fishing. 

After 15 minutes, I got this male 1kg salmon hiding behind a stone in this small pool in Grøttedammen. I was using the same spinner as on Orkla, just little bit smaller. Hmm, I was really surprised. 

On Friday, I  finally arrived to Villmarkscamp and met KarlHeinz, who has already been fishing on the south for a few days. 

In the next 3 days we fished in Zone 3 and KarlHeinz was guiding me in an amazing style, as he knows the river very well and is always positive. Purely enjoying the possiblity to fish on this beautifull place. 

The water level was not ideal, but we were in perfect mood and I believe we made a great team. Our motto was "everything must be simple". We had a strict regime - waking up at 6:00, had a small breakfast, drove to some place, fished for 3 hours, went back to camp for a second breakfast/lunch, fished around the camp, had coffee and cake, drove to another place, fished for 3 hours and returned back to the camp to have a dinner and 1 (2) beers. It was very easy to go to bed... 

Here is KarlHeinz fishing under the cables in The cable pool. Tricky place to cast. 

Fishing was not very successfull, KarlHeinz had a couple of bites on his fly and that was all for the whole Saturday. But there were so many fish in the water and I have never seen so many big fish jumping around like in some magical salmonarium. This photo is from one of our favourite places - Finsdal. 

On Sunday morning I got very lucky and got this beautifull male salmon in Finsdal, on the beginning of a small rapid, where KarlHeinz had a bite a moment ago. Using the same spinner as usual. The fish is not silver, but darker - it is a sign that it has been in the river for longer time. 

Getting a fish meant that we finished this beautifull day with great dinner.

And it seems that I will transform into a flyfisherman. KarlHeinz gave me a gift - a couple of flyfishing rods with some lines and a reel. I practised to cast under his guidance and it has been just perfect experience. So challenging to coordinate the movements. I must practice a lot. Next year again! And thanks!

Innerdalen

After a week of salmon fishing, I picked up Belma in Oppdal and we headed into the mountains. We planned to explore Innerdalen again  and enjoy some nice weather. 

We hiked 28km in 2 days, connecting Renndalen with Innerdalen. This route is marked as an extra difficult hike.  

It starts with a steep section (from 250m to 1100m) along some nice waterfalls, from Renndølsetra to Renndalen.

We had a little foggy Renndalen just for ourselves.

The valley ends with a steep section leading to Langvatnet. First snow encountered here.

Crossing the water above the waterfall from Langvatnet. 

Belma chose to walk in the lake instead...

 The waterfall from Langvatnet into Renndalen.

Langvatnet was foggy, with lot of flies and some ice in the lake! No fishing...

The original plan was to camp next to the lake ... well, it was not possible

So we continued, ... escaped from the fog and found a great place to put a tent,

with some amazing views all around.

Our camp in the evening

and in the morning. No fog!

But more snow:)

Around lunchtime, we reached the entry gate into Innerdalen, with amazing landscape everywhere around and no people at all. 

The Innerdalen valley looks nice and easy, but it was a long walk down to the car...

I especially enjoyed the endless muddy section through Lusmyra.

Beside the mud, it offers great views as well

but it takes a lot of energy from an old man to walk in the mud.

Bittersweet Orkla

We have been planning this trip to Orkla a long time and due to corona situation, we had to change the date several times. Finally, my fishing guru Fery and his grandson Honza entered Norway, only 10 hours before the Czech republic became red health risk zone (so no need to have 10 days quarantine). I brewed a special beer edition for the occasion.

We stayed 7 days in this lovely cabin in amazing Svinsøyen lakse camp. It has great atmosphere, reminding me of a climbing camp... We had 3km of Orkla river available for fishing, being accompanied only by a few friendly fishermen.

The first and the biggest salmon we encountered was hanging on a wall in our cabin.

We fished mostly in Rorommet and Saghølen, using spinners and lures.

Since there was nobody occupying Svinsøyhølen (which is usually part of an exclusive salmonpackage), we spent some time there as well.

First day of fishing was just amazing. There was lot of activity, many salmon jumping all around. I started in Saghølen, using my favorite spinner from FC Spinner. Suddenly, I hooked a salmon in the middle of the current. The fish seemed big. That was a moment I had been dreaming about the whole year. Salmon went straight to the bottom and after a while freed itself from my hook. I only saw a huge silver shadow. It was the moment of desperation and hope as well. Will I get another chance? After an hour, another one on the hook. Smaller size. Again, the fish went down to the bottom, then jumped, show me its beauty and escaped. Well, I have never hooked two salmon in a season, so it was obvious, that there is no chance to get another one that day (or the trip)... I moved to Rorommet and we had a nice dinner there. Fery went to sleep in the gapahuk and I tried to cast. And got another salmon! Finally, I was able to land it, Honza helped me with the net and we got beautiful male fish for the dinner (70cm, 3kg).

Wild atlantic salmon is the best...

Such a day needed some decent celebration.

Salmon fishing is very demanding, so one needs a lot of breaks - it is a great idea to go and pick up some mushrooms

and host a lovely couple from Brno:)

After short trip to Aure, where we got a few mackrels and a cod, the final day of salmon fishing on Orkla has come. I went to Saghølen, my most favorite section. After 10 minutes, I walked back to the camp with another salmon (60 cm, 1.6kg). Getting (and keeping) salmon so early means that I was not allowed to fish anymore that day. 

So I spent the whole day preparing the salmon soup, grilling, picking mushrooms and drinking beer. And hoping, that the next year Fery will be in better shape and will have a chance to fish more.