Tengs River

Atlantic Salmon fishing is indeed a cruel mistress: protagonists are subject to the elements; variations in temperature, weather and air pressure, demanding wading and of course the ever-present challenge of water height.  Add to that the unpredictable salmon ‘mood’ and it is a wonder we fish at all!  We come to the Tengs though because when it is right (and sadly it isn’t always), it is one of the finest places to fish in Europe.

Each of the groups this summer had a very different experience over the WhereWiseMenFish 5 x 3 ½ day packages, covering mid-June, late July, August x 2 and September.  As is so often the case, attempting to pick the best opening proved elusive.  Traditionally the mid-late June slot has been considered one of the best.   For reasons probably known only to the salmon gods, the fishing in June across all of Norway proved to be unusually slow and heralded an environment agency shutdown over a great many rivers.   The Tengs despite a slow start was otherwise unaffected with the exception of a one fish/day rule on any salmon caught.

The conditions were stable for the first hosted team in late July, ably and conscientiously led by Colin, but more variable for his successors led expertly by Martin and Justin respectively.  It is therefore unsurprising that our July trip had 23 fish between the 7 rods and at least the same number lost.  One of Colin’s team had the biggest fish too (7.5 kg), which was caught by Johnny in the Sea Pool on the Team’s last day.    

Martin’s not inconsiderable experience in the Travel Industry and his competence as a fisher were to the benefit of his team in mid-August, but nothing could have prepared Justin’s group for the epic high water that faced us at the end of the month, making the river, nonetheless full of fish, difficult to navigate and significantly limiting our options.  Despite the fluctuating water height, a very creditable 14 were caught during Martin’s trip and several more were lost, including some big fish, the biggest (we think) being Angus’s under the road Bridge.  Justin’s team lost 10, but despite some agonizingly near misses, none of them reached the bank, partly because we were fighting a raging torrent as well as spirited fresh-run Atlantic Salmon!

Over the final session in September, fate once again played the cruellest of tricks. The river once again coming close to tripling in size on the day of arrival, and although falling from a high of 125 m3/sec was still above 80 m3/sec when we packed up at midday.  It is perhaps telling that of the 9 fish landed, 3 were over the final morning stint when the river was starting to resemble something we would recognise.

The Tengs has many similarities with other Norwegian rivers – it is a short, fast and bouldery glacial river, plunging out of the lake that feeds it.  It is no more challenging under foot than others, but for those who have better mobility, it does open up a wonderful mix of pots, runs and glides.  2024 has been a year of excess water, across the northern hemisphere in general, and that has certainly been the experience at the Tengs.   We were above normal summer levels throughout and that limited where we could fish this year, although it made it no less exciting.

What continues to separate the Tengs from other venues is the sheer quantity of fish and indeed their quality.  Some 8,000 had been through the Counter by the end of August; almost all between the beginning of June and the end of August.  That does not account for those which become residents in the lower river, or run the Falls.  By the close of the season on the 20th September, over 10,000 salmon had passed the counter.  These figures would be epic anywhere, but in Norway they make the Tengs extraordinary.

Salmon fishing anywhere demands the ability to cover the water and some ability to move about across ‘lumpy terrain’; the Ice Age left most, if not all, of Norway’s rivers at a similar level of difficulty.  On the Tengs, access is regulated by croys and other vantage points, which don’t allow you to ‘step down 3’ while you cover every inch of the river, but those ‘spots’ have been thought through and reinforced to ensure that a reasonably competent caster can get their fly where it needs to be.  

These fish can be difficult to catch. One theory advanced is that they may be feeding in the Baltic which has resulted in slightly different taking characteristics.  Another theory may be on account of the sheer numbers.  Salmon tend to ‘stack’ and jostle for position, the biggest commanding the prime positions.  It is therefore hard to tempt them when they are concentrating on keeping post and the conditions have to be ‘just right’ to really get them on the take.  Nothing unusual there perhaps, but the sheer numbers coming into the River remain close to an ecological aberration - truly amazing and it has been wonderful this year to see a river in such good health, despite all the challenges that face the Species and our sport.

You have to be prepared to try literally everything – small flies, big flies, sunrays, heavy flies and light flies.  With generally warm (above 13 degrees) and very clear water, the fish will come right up, even from the deepest holes.  It is sometimes sensible to put a sink tip on, but only to ensure that your fly is working properly below the surface; the flow nearly always prevents a sink tip putting the fly on their noses.  The ‘killer fly’ fly for us was the Gaula Green, but Icelandic Naglis and Haugurs (blue and black) were also very effective.  Diifferent sizes for different times of day and water height, as would be the norm, but black, blues and greens blend well with the riverbed here.   The likes of the legendary Francis, so effective elsewhere/everywhere, has yet to find its place in the top 5 Tengs flies.

The average size of a Tengs salmon is around the 5lb mark.   A big fish would be 20lbs but there are larger.  Each and every and fish that goes through the fish ladder is recorded, day and night.  You can see the results on the link below here.  With as many fast runs, boulders and other obstacles.  Lost good-sized fish are consequently more common and frequent than we would have preferred!

As ever there were tales of woe – big fish lost, involuntary swimming and sometimes downright bad luck, which prevented very competent fishers getting justice!  Notable amongst them, Alistair lost a big fish at the Stables Pool in July and a good fish on a hitch in mid-August, Angus lost a very good fish under the Bridge in August as did George at the end of the month from the Boat!  It would have been his first fish, and he had already lost 3 before then – exasperating!  Kim caught several fish from the Bridge in July, skilfully manoeuvring his fly across some absolutely classic lies to pick up five for his trip; his fishing perfectly exemplifying the importance of creativity in pursuit of these tricky customers! 

James is to be particularly congratulated for catching his first salmon and for increasingly competent casting as the trip progressed – unusual to see a father trying to catch up with his son, but Angus somewhat outstripped his Dad!  The same was true for Connor in September with a  first and second salmon, although the traditional consumption of the adipose fin did not come to pass.

It isn’t always easy, but if it was we wouldn’t come.  Get it right here and the rewards are magnificent.  While the fishing is definitely very Norwegian, in that it caters for the lowest common denominator and some of the scenery is ‘built up’ given the proximity to Egersund, the fishing makes up for any visual shortcomings.  It is a real fly-fishing challenge supported by a convivial and comfortable lodge which gives straightforward foot access to the whole river. 

Finally, it is absolutely worth reiterating that the Tengs was not impacted by any of the river closures that affected a great many salmon rivers across mainly central and Northern Norway in 2024.   No trips were affected and there was never any suggestion that the Tengs would be subject to a closure due to its very strong run of salmon.