Salmon fishing in Norway last week, the temperature dropped 24 degrees in 24 hours, and the salmon fishing went straight down the "toaletter" - so I took a day out to visit with Phill Dale at Skarnsundet Fjordsenter, a little north of Trondheim.
This is an excellent facility, well located - with sheltered fishing possible almost all of the time.
The accomodation is c£100 per day, self catering, for a very well appointed chalet which would sleep four anglers. Tackle shop on site, tackle for hire.
Boats suitable for two or three guys are c£45 per day. There are various options for larger boats and guided boat fishing.
The real difference and the real advantage is Phill himself. He is a mad keen shore angler. I was only there for a day, but Phill couldn't possibly have been more helpful. What he really wants to do is build on the shore fishing potential of the area. Many large fish have been caught from the shore, with big cod especially numerous from October onwards. I also heard of Pollack to 7lb and haddock to 9lb - from the dockside in the camp!
Phill and I went along to the mark at Straumen, and caught several nice codling in a short session - mostly caught by Phill! They were no great size, but a monster was lost there the next day.
Also, we had a short session in a boat, pirking with light tackle. This produced quite a few fish, but I have to say that Phill is a rubbish boat guide - he keeps getting you fish, but it the wrong places! Haddock at the cod mark, cod at the pollack mark - the mackerel ("two weeks too early for mackerel mate") ate the "certain" pollack mark - and so on. It was a treat to catch lovely haddock of 2/3lb in shallow water - but the fjord also has it's monsters, including enormous ling and some halibut.
I don't think the numbers of big fish are likely to match the far north, yet Skarnsundet is certainly worth serious consideration.
For a lot of guys, a big issue with Norway is getting the price of a trip past the wife. Phill can pretty well solve that for you. Apart from a flight (cheap off season) the only major cost is the chalet. For a modest fee, Phill will pick you up and act as a guide to marks, bait etc -so there is no need to hire a car. You need to buy food, but you would be eating anyway.
I think a shore trip (and, let's face it, REAL men fish off the rocks!) with great potential could be put together for no more than it would cost to go to Ireland or the far end of the UK.
Thanks again Phill for your hospitaity, and I hope to fish with you again.
This is an excellent facility, well located - with sheltered fishing possible almost all of the time.
The accomodation is c£100 per day, self catering, for a very well appointed chalet which would sleep four anglers. Tackle shop on site, tackle for hire.
Boats suitable for two or three guys are c£45 per day. There are various options for larger boats and guided boat fishing.
The real difference and the real advantage is Phill himself. He is a mad keen shore angler. I was only there for a day, but Phill couldn't possibly have been more helpful. What he really wants to do is build on the shore fishing potential of the area. Many large fish have been caught from the shore, with big cod especially numerous from October onwards. I also heard of Pollack to 7lb and haddock to 9lb - from the dockside in the camp!
Phill and I went along to the mark at Straumen, and caught several nice codling in a short session - mostly caught by Phill! They were no great size, but a monster was lost there the next day.
Also, we had a short session in a boat, pirking with light tackle. This produced quite a few fish, but I have to say that Phill is a rubbish boat guide - he keeps getting you fish, but it the wrong places! Haddock at the cod mark, cod at the pollack mark - the mackerel ("two weeks too early for mackerel mate") ate the "certain" pollack mark - and so on. It was a treat to catch lovely haddock of 2/3lb in shallow water - but the fjord also has it's monsters, including enormous ling and some halibut.
I don't think the numbers of big fish are likely to match the far north, yet Skarnsundet is certainly worth serious consideration.
For a lot of guys, a big issue with Norway is getting the price of a trip past the wife. Phill can pretty well solve that for you. Apart from a flight (cheap off season) the only major cost is the chalet. For a modest fee, Phill will pick you up and act as a guide to marks, bait etc -so there is no need to hire a car. You need to buy food, but you would be eating anyway.
I think a shore trip (and, let's face it, REAL men fish off the rocks!) with great potential could be put together for no more than it would cost to go to Ireland or the far end of the UK.
Thanks again Phill for your hospitaity, and I hope to fish with you again.
