Savalen

It is becoming our tradition to spend Christmas time in a cabin nearby Tynset. This year we found this nice cabin on south-west end of Savalen lake. Five days in our classic rhythm - icefishing in the mornig, cross-country skiing in the afternoon. 

I was fishing for the arctic char. The fish were like a watch. Biting every day exactly from 9:00 to 10:30. The red flashing light was the most effective.  

The lake was different every day. 

Most fish were small and I was very surprised with this fat big char (50cm, >1kg)

These two fish were slightly smaller, but still amazing dinner size. 

No filter here, just a strange evening light. 

There was not so much snow as usual, but we did ski every day. This picture is from our trip to nearby Rødalen - a valley with a system of 15 lakes and several old farms.

And this one from our favourite ski-loop in Aumdalen near Tynset

Another trip to Røndalem, to use sunny (but very cold) conditions to check the views

South-west from Røndalen

After 5 days, we headed back to Oslo. We decided to drive along a route nr. 29 through Folldalen, turn left to this scenic route nr. 27 that goes along east slopes of Rondane mountains and connects to the main route E6 in Ringebu.  

But before E6, we stopped in Trabelia to enjoy some great winter. 

Femundsmarka in winter

Ice-fishing for artic char requires an early morning start, in order to set the rods just before "sunrise". On this picture, Tobias is hiking up to Volsjøen lake. I was really happy that he joined me on this trip, as it is great to have a good companion on the ice and in a cabin. We stayed in Dammhytta cabin on Valdalen farm - a perfect basecamp for our "expeditions". 

Weather conditions were not ideal up on Volsjøen, because the wind was strong and snow was in the air. But the ice was good (20cm) and we were hoping in a lot of fish. 

We managed to find a nice spot that was sheltered from the wind and that had an interesting depth profile. And for a few moments, we enjoyed some views as well. 

But most of our time we were looking at different types of our rods, hoping to hear the sound of bells...

Femundsmarka is one of the famous ice-fishing destinations, but our rods were silent most of the time. Tobias got one very nice artic char (>40cm) every day and that was it. The other icefishermen we met were not lucky at all... strange and unexpected.

Our last (3rd) day we spent on Hammarsjøen, a nice lake next to Fv654 road. We fished (=drilled 100 holes) on the farthest end of the lake just to find out, that we should have probably stayed at the opposite side. 

Catching an artic char is the only chance to see some other color than white/dark in these days. And it tastes so good! We must come back in March, when the days are longer, to discover other lakes farther from the road. 

Ice ice baby

November in south Norway is not the best month. Short days with a lot of rain...

but some days are OK.

Lakes up from Hakadal became my favourite places. Just 5km cycling from the car, a feeling of wild nature. This one is Langvann, with very nice trout and perch swimming there.

When you are near Lillestrøm, I recommend visiting the place, where river Glomma enters Øyeren lake. It is called  Fetsundlenser. You can fish there, observe the birds or enjoy the outdoor museum - Fetsund timber booms.

And finally, the winter is here (slowly). It took some effort to find a nearby lake with "safe" ice 

but I finally drilled some holes in the ice,

got a trout from this ice-hole

and uploaded my observation regarding the ice to iskart.no.

Sometimes I go to work as well, and it is nice... But now it is time to visit Femundsmarka and get some arctic char!