Grindal Lodge-The Orkla

The water height is fairly stable throughout the season. The Orkla is regulated for hydro power production, and big dammed lakes in the mountains collect a lot of the snow melt and rain and contribute with a flow of water to the river. This means that we normally don`t experience big floods, and that we have fishable water height even in times of drought. The water temperature is also affected by the hydro power production. The water temperature in the river is almost never above 15 degrees, even during prolonged heat in the summer.

In the beginning of the season the water is affected by snowmelt, so the river temperature could be as low as 5-6 degrees. From mid-June the water temperature is normally around 10-11 degrees. The air temperature can vary a lot, and sometimes get close to freezing during nighttime early in June. Make sure you bring enough clothes. It is reasonably light all night through.

June can be a challenging month for salmon fishing but it can also be very rewarding. It is the period when the large 2 & 3 sea-winter fish run the river, and the first fresh salmon arrive at Grindal Salmon Lodge pools during the last half of May. June is not prime time for numbers of fish, but if you are after both bright silver salmon, and perhaps the catch of your lifetime, this is definitely a good time to visit.

This is warmest month of the season, but as mentioned above, you don`t have to worry about the river running short of water thanks to tne deep mountain reservoirs and the hydro which enters Grindal just above the lodge in the upper 1/3 of the Grindal fishing. The grilse normally come in July, and this is the month with the highest average catch numbers. If its warm and bright it is very sensible to put in the fishing efforts when the sun is off the water. Fishing stealthily becomes important.

Although the weather can be very warm in July, the water remains at a fishable temperature and unlike some rivers there is very little chance of a state imposed cessation on fishing due to the water temperature.

This is the time to use stealthy fishing tacticts with hitched and very small flies although if the salmon are reluctant to take fishing deep can wake things up.

Over August the higher proportion of salmon that run the have entered tne sytemm in June & July so realtively few silver fish are still caught.   With fluctuations in the river height, salmon that may have become resident lower down the Orkla, over the warmer months do start moving around as they start to look for spawning lies.   With cooler weather cock salmon get aggressive and territorial and this is the period when the large deeper-holding salmon of 20-30 lbs start to resurface.   

Although fishing can become more technical in August due to lower water levels and cautious fish, the potential to land a trophy salmon keeps dedicated anglers returning year after year.

• Frances (especially black or red variants)
• Sunray Shadow for triggering aggressive takes
• Willie Gunn
• Small doubles in darker colours 

• Fish Early and Late: The salmon are most active at dawn and dusk when the water cools.
• Stay Stealthy: Low, clear water means salmon are easily spooked—wade carefully and cast quietly.
• Be Patient: August salmon can be stubborn, but persistence often pays off with a memorable catch.