Ice fishing in Norway

[Old Smoothound]

Did anyone see the Ice fishing programme on Discovery Channel last night called Cast On?

Some nice Cod caught from under the Ice. Didn't fancy the teperatures though...... minus 12c

Cold enough to blast freeze em!

But they were also catching Cod on Pirks from a boat..... nice fish.

[Simon TorbayFishing]

I did see that and also saw the pages in the sea angler about the plaice, haddock etc they were catching in Norway.

I would love to go there for a holiday... not sure what the misses would say about it though

[robertlangford]

I've never done any ice fishing but the coalfish and cod fishing is unbelievable. It starts in spring if you know where to go, and you can often catch massive coalfish and cod on light gear.
Rob

[Old Smoothound]

I have been to Norway some time ago but only to Oslo and Bergen, where are the areas that are worth fishing? And what is the best time of year.

Minus 35c is not my idea of fishing fun. But are the "Big Cod" around in summer?

[robertlangford]

If you take a look at a map of Norways NW coast you will see countles islands, inlets and fjords. they ar a perfect breading habitat for all kinds of fish. But if you get just a little away from the coast and look for fish holding features, the fishing can be unimaginable pretty much all along the whole 2000 km.
However all those fish do you no good if you can't get at them. That's why certain areas have become known for their fishing. Hitra is good, actually very good. Massive coalfish, giant ling, and big cod, by the box!
But it's only that good because there are some places where you can hire quality boats that can get you to the marks that might be 15 or twenty see miles from your cabin.
The big cod are there all year round, 17 kg is usually as big as they get around Hitra. On a average to good day you'll see 1 or two fish this size per boat. On a good day you can sink the boat with them. One day in April this year two of us went out with the intention of fishing for the freezer. We put back everything that was under 10 kg. The boat did 30 kn going out and comeing back we managed max 8 kn. We spent 4 hours fileting.
Spring and early sommer is best for the cod, but there are always a couple of coalies around as well. If you want really big cod then you have to go a long way north. That is expensive, fraught with bad weather, but my biggest fish this year in one daytrip that I manage from a destination that I visited was 26,5 kg (over 58 lb!)
Further south the coastal weather is still afected by the gulf stream. So although they have crazy temperatures just a few miles from the coast on the coast it's generally mild. Yesterday a buddy called and told me about a ling he caught last week of 35 kg. The weather yesterday was clear blue sky wind 2-3 temp 4°C at noon sea slight, and he bagged up on Norway haddock to 2,5 kg. You can see the ling on www.sportfishig.com
Rob

[robertlangford]

Just a taste



Rob

[Old Smoothound]

Great information Robert Big COD my favourite

Well looks like a bit of scrimping and saving for me then.... will definately be going in 2006.

That gives me a lot of time to do my research and get the Euro's together, maybe even invest in some trinkets to take along with me for the fishing.

How often do you go there? Sound like a regular thing for you. Is it expensive to hire a car there?

[robertlangford]

Yes it's a regular thing for me. I'm a journalist and I spend a lot of time researching articles for European magazines. So I’m in Norway several times a year and tour around a lot.
And yes hiring a car in Norway is very expensive.
Also it's no good to you if you don't know where to go. The key as really angling infrastructure. You'll find houses everywhere. But the problem is always the boat, usually the boats that are offered are inadequate or very expensive. That's why I'm setting up as a guide with my own fleet of specially built boats.
Rob

[john-boy]

I saw this programme too, Shaun, and I have to say - I remember saying to myself several times - I'm going! I'm going! So perhaps we can get a forum trip going? Personally I'd prefer next year - but that really depends if I can make a go of my business, otherwise I won't be able to afford it!!

Rob, you're idea for setting up one-stop-shop type trips sounds like a real winner; Who in their right mind will be able to resist the chance for quality Cod fishing like that? Assuming it doesn't cost the absolute earth!

Wow, a journalist - sounds exciting, I'm hoping to be doing some writing on fishing in the not-too-distant, perhaps an article on Norwegian Cod Fishing would be a good place to start!!

Excellent information btw ... I noticed you gave another guy a lot of advice recently - sorry, can't remember his name Do you know if he went/is going? I'd love to know how that went.

Cheers,
JB.

[john-boy]

Oh yeah - one other thing I meant to ask, sorry - is there anywhere to beach fish for Cod there? Or is dry-land stuff limited to ice-fishing?

I mean, does anyone beach-cast into a Fjord - sounds like a wonderful prospect!

Cheers,
JB.