Visit to Norway

[dougwoolcott]

Drove to Stavanger Airport on Thursday afternoon and collected 3 enthusiastic fishing pals from UK (Kent) after a 35 min. drive arrived in a town just across the fjord from the island where we live as the lads needed to top up on fishing gear. First lesson learnt - get Norwegian Kroner not Danish ! a quick visit to the bank was needed.
On the way home I was able to point out the marks I intended to fish in the morning and noticed one or two of them drooling and looking glassy eyed !
Got home about 18.00 and introduced our guests to our home made liquor.
After a slap up meal, red wine, more hooch plus duty free whisky we were ordered to bed by my wife Carolyne - so I'm told
Well, next morning, slightly jaded, we went down to my boat moored about 200 yards away, loaded in the rods,bait ect. and set off for the first mark which is in a narrow fjord known locally for big cod which come in to spawn during winter. Then came the wind accompanied by sleet/rain - lovely ! We fished all day using pirks and squid but nothing - until we drifted to the end of the fjord in about 20 metres of water when in came a dab not much bigger than a CD ! A few more dabs were caught but the weather was turning worse so we decided to call it a day so back to base, another gourmet meal from Carolyne washed down with a sensible amount this time ! ( the meal - not Carolyne )
Up bright and early Sat. morning and set out again, the weather still not looking good but I was determined to get some fish in the boat.
We drifted, anchored, drifted, anchored and ended up in the same place as yesterday when the dabs reappeared. Some nice sized dabs came in taking squid strips then a plaice of about 1. 1/2 lb then the first and last cod - not a monster but a cod at last ! next was a pollack of about 5lb. I decided to move to the south side of the island where I have taken sizeable cod in the past and en-route collected freshly baked pasties and scones from Carolyne who met us at the jetty. I was a little concerned to see quite a few seals on the way as they are definately NOT a good omen but we pressed on and fished various marks but the only fish to come in was a horrible spiney creature of about 1ib. looking like a cross between a John Dory and a Monkfish ! The weather again made life uncomfortable so we headed back in to get washed and changed for the "Wear a funny hat" party in the village hall.
Armed with copius amounts of whisky, wine and hooch we descended to the hall which was just starting to fill up and by midnight the lads found out just how friendly the Norwegian girlies are !
Sunday morning - gale force winds so we decided to leave early and show the lads Stavanger before catching their flight home.
It's sods law that when you really want to show people the fishing here it all goes pear shaped, but the feedback we got was that the hospitality, scenery and the few fish that did surrender made it an enjoyable 3 days and they have promised to return in the summer months when the sea is literally full of fish.
Anyway, Dixie, Paul 1 & Paul 2 if you read this, glad to have had you over here and you'd be welcome back anytime.

Dixie is an old army friend & the two Pauls are drinking/fishing buddies from Upnor near Rochester

Doug

[pingu]

sounds a damn good social , but hard on the fishing
nice report doug

[fishypaul]

enjoyable read doug,shame the fishing was difficult

[dougwoolcott]

Would you belive it !!
The weather has changed and the cod are being caught left,right & centre !

[upnorth1]

......never mind the fishing....

[Greenheart]

Great report Doug, sounds like this could be a cracking venue for a Forum meet.

[dougwoolcott]

Thanks Ian - if theres enough interest I could start to look at arrangements.
Accomodation would be no trouble as we could hire the village hall, although this would mean camp beds and sleeping bags and depending on numbers , could probably round up enough boats. The shore fishing is excellent anyway.