Norway
Western Norway Lakes & Rivers Fishing Map
Find your stretch of water. Explore the lakes and rivers, get to know the species and plan your next day by the water.
Lakes and riversAll 66 grounds on the map
01 / Discover the waters
Western Norway Lakes & Rivers fishing spots 66
Choose a place, explore its details or go straight to its pin on the map.
A total of 66 grounds; the first 66 of them are below.
Matching grounds:
Show 60 more grounds
No matching grounds. Try another place or explore all grounds on the map.
02 / Species
What can you catch in the lakes and rivers of western Norway?
Meet the species recorded in these waters. Open a species for its techniques, bait and fishing grounds.
Atlantic salmon
Salmo salar
Brown trout
Salmo trutta
Rainbow trout
Oncorhynchus mykiss
Rudd
Scardinius erythrophthalmus
Common whitefish
Coregonus lavaretus
European perch
Perca fluviatilis
Northern pike
Esox lucius
Brook trout
Salvelinus fontinalis
Vendace
Coregonus albula
No matching species. Try another name or see every species in the catalog.
In season · October
Western Norway Lakes & Rivers fishing calendar
Species with a productive season this month. Seasonal data is a guide, not a guarantee of a catch.
Species counts peak in the lakes and rivers of western Norway in Aug, Sep, Jun — the strip shows how many species are productive in each month.
- 1 Jan
- 1 Feb
- 1 Mar
- 1 Apr
- 2 May
- 4 Jun
- 3 Jul
- 7 Aug
- 5 Sep
- 2 Oct
- 0 Nov
- 1 Dec
The height of the strip is the number of productive species in that month; it is not a guarantee of a catch. The turquoise column is the current month.
What is caught in the lakes and rivers of western Norway month by month
For each month, the species in season — the most seasonal ones first.
- Jan
- Rainbow trout
- Feb
- Rainbow trout
- Mar
- Rainbow trout
- Apr
- Rainbow trout
- May
- Rudd, Rainbow trout
- Jun
- Brook trout, Brown trout, Rudd, Rainbow trout
- Jul
- Atlantic salmon, Brown trout, Rudd
- Aug
- Vendace, Atlantic salmon, European perch, Common whitefish, Brown trout, Northern pike and 1 more species
- Nov
- No records
- Dec
- Rainbow trout
What bites in the lakes and rivers of western Norway this month
Ranked by this month’s research score at the lake and river spots of this region.
Good
Weak
A 0–100 score from season, water temperature, habitat and local records; a general trend, not a guarantee.
Before you cast
Rules specific to this region 36
The entries are summaries compiled from that country’s fishing legislation; each lists its legal basis and official source. The official text is binding, and rules can vary by state and by water. Check the rules on your permit before you fish.
Legal framework and permits
Salmon and Freshwater Fish Act (LOV-1992-05-15-47). Fishing for anadromous salmonids and freshwater fish: fishing rights (§16–17), children's fishing (§18), fiskeravgift (§30), prohibited methods and live bait ban (§37), fish passage protection (§15), river mouth regulation (§40). Permit: Fishing rights belong to the landowner (§16–17): a fiskekort from the rights holder is required for freshwater fishing. Children under 16 may fish for freshwater fish with rod and line free of charge from 1 January–20 August (except anadromous waters and artificial ponds, §18). Fiskekort mandatory on state land (§22). Competent authority: Klima- og miljødepartementet / Miljødirektoratet / Statsforvalteren.
Legal basis: Lov om laksefisk og innlandsfisk mv. (lakse- og innlandsfiskloven) communiqué text
Legal framework and permits
State fishing fee (fiskeravgift) (LOV-1992-05-15-47 §30). Everyone aged 18 or over who fishes for salmon, sea trout or sea char in rivers pays a fee to Statens fiskefond; rod fishing at sea is exempt. Permit: Amount shown on the fee website: adult 347 NOK, family 554 NOK (no year stated on the page; could not be verified as the 2026 amount). A local fiskekort is required in addition to the fee. Administrative fine for fishing without paying the fee: 3.000 NOK. Competent authority: Miljødirektoratet.
Legal basis: Lov om laksefisk og innlandsfisk mv. §30 – fiskeravgift communiqué text
Legal framework and permits
Regulation on fishing for anadromous salmonids in watercourses (FOR-2021-03-15-798). In anadromous watercourses (main stem, tributaries and lakes up to the anadromous limit) only rod and hand line; fishing permitted only in the rivers, species, periods and bag limits listed in Vedlegg I; those in Vedlegg II and every river not on the list are closed. Tana, Neidenelva, Grense Jakobselv, Pasvikelva, Enningdalselva are outside the scope (separate regime). Permit: Fiskeravgift + fiskekort from the rights holder. Competent authority: Miljødirektoratet / Statsforvalteren.
Legal basis: Forskrift om fiske etter anadrome laksefisk i vassdrag communiqué text
Legal framework and permits
Regulation on fishing for anadromous salmonids in the sea (FOR-2021-03-15-797 (amendment of 2026-01-01)). §3: fishing for anadromous species and saltwater fish is prohibited in the zone extending 100 m seaward from the river–sea boundary of anadromous rivers (regional regulations may grant exceptions). Competent authority: Miljødirektoratet / Statsforvalteren.
Legal basis: Forskrift om fiske etter anadrome laksefisk i sjøen communiqué text
Legal framework and permits
Regulation on fishing for inland fish and crayfish (FOR-2009-06-26-851 (last amended 2021-10-08 nr. 2958)). §2: only listed species may be fished; §3: zander (gjørs), asp, flire, edelkreps only with Statsforvalteren permission; §4: fishing times and gear are set by Statsforvalteren/fylkeskommune. No national closed season. Permit: fiskekort from the rights holder. Competent authority: Statsforvalteren / fylkeskommune / kommune.
Legal basis: Forskrift om fiske etter innlandsfisk mv. og fangst av kreps (innlandsfiskefors… communiqué text
Legal framework and permits
Animal health regulation (FOR-2022-04-06-631). §17 (according to a secondary source): fishing gear, boats and equipment used in one water must be dried or disinfected before moving to other waters or another part of the same water; crayfish gear must be dried and disinfected before the new season. Competent authority: Mattilsynet.
Legal basis: Forskrift om dyrehelse (dyrehelseforskriften) communiqué text
Legal framework and permits
Regulation on fishing for anadromous salmonids – Annex I/II full list (FOR-2021-03-15-798 (last amended 2026-04-13 nr. 589)). Vedlegg I: 499 vassdrag, open season and bag limit per species (L/Ø/R); Vedlegg II: 784 closed vassdrag. §2: anadromous vassdrag not on the list are closed. 'NO Anadrom Vassdrag' page. Permit: Fiskeravgift + fiskekort. Competent authority: Miljødirektoratet.
Legal basis: Forskrift om fiske etter anadrome laksefisk i vassdrag — Vedlegg I/II (full list… communiqué text
Legal framework and permits
2026 emergency measures (FOR-2026-07-09-1544 (10.07–31.12.2026; endr. 2026-07-16 nr. 1567)). Orkla, Gaula (Trøndelag), Verdalsvassdraget will not open in 2026; seasons for Vigda, Skjenaldelva, Steinkjervassdraget, Bævra, Vågsbøelva, Vassgårdselva were shortened. Competent authority: Miljødirektoratet.
Legal basis: Forskrift om ekstraordinære tiltak i fisket etter anadrome laksefisk i vassdrag… communiqué text
Legal framework and permits
Øyeren: Fishing regulations for Øyeren and its tributaries (FOR-2012-11-30-1304 (01.01.2013)). Nets/fixed gear 15.06–31.03; gjørs minimum 42 cm, asp 30 cm. Competent authority: Fylkesmannen i Oslo og Akershus / Østfold.
Legal basis: Øyeren: Forskrift for fisket i Øyeren med innfallende elver, Akershus og Østfold communiqué text
General provision
Poison, explosives, firearms (except for pike), electricity, artificial diversion of water, spear-type devices not intended to be swallowed by the fish (except landing-net assistance) and artificial light (except for eel and crayfish fishing) are prohibited. Period: All year.
Legal basis: Lakse- og innlandsfiskloven §37 communiqué text
General provision
Fish may not be used as bait in rivers/lakes; only dead fish from the same water system may be used as bait. Period: All year.
Legal basis: Lakse- og innlandsfiskloven §37 paragraph 3 no. 8 communiqué text
General provision
Transporting live fish within or near water systems requires ministry permission; organisms not from the local stock may not be released again and must be killed immediately; fish not released must be killed without delay. Period: All year.
Legal basis: Lakse- og innlandsfiskloven §37 paragraphs 5 and 7 communiqué text
General provision
In anadromous watercourses only rod (stang) and hand line (håndsnøre) are permitted; only within the river/species/period/bag limit in Vedlegg I. If salmon, sea trout or sea-run Arctic char is open, pink salmon and rainbow trout may also be fished. Period: All year.
Legal basis: FOR-2021-03-15-798 §2 communiqué text
General provision
Fishing for spawned (overwintering) salmon, sea trout and sea-run char is prohibited; any caught must be carefully released. Period: All year.
Legal basis: FOR-2021-03-15-798 §3 communiqué text
General provision
In the rivers specified in Vedlegg I, fishing is reduced (50–90%) or stopped (<50%) according to the spawning target estimate; in 2026 Gaula, Orkla and Verdalselva were closed to salmon fishing from 1 August. Period: In season.
Legal basis: FOR-2021-03-15-798 §6; Miljødirektoratet announcement 16.07.2026 communiqué text
General provision
Everyone over 18 fishing for salmon/sea trout/sea char in rivers pays a fee; if unpaid, an administrative fine of 3.000 NOK. Period: All year.
Legal basis: Lakse- og innlandsfiskloven §30 communiqué text
General provision
Fishing gear, boats etc. used in one body of water must be dried or disinfected before moving to another water system (Mattilsynet recommendation: 1% Virkon S for 15 min or drying for at least 2 days at ≥20 °C). In Gyrodactylus and crayfish plague restriction zones, complete drying + disinfection is mandatory before leaving the zone. Period: All year.
Legal basis: Dyrehelseforskriften §17 (secondary source); regional regulations communiqué text
General provision
In inland waters only the species listed in innlandsfiskeforskriften §2 may be fished (abbor, bekkerøye, brasme, gjedde, harr, karpe, lake, regnbueørret, røye, sik, suter, vederbuk, ørret, etc.). Zander (gjørs), asp, flire and edelkreps only where Statsforvalteren permits. Period: All year.
Legal basis: FOR-2009-06-26-851 §2–3 communiqué text
General provision
There is no national fredningstid or minimum size for inland fish; periods and gear are determined by regional regulations of Statsforvalteren/fylkeskommune and local rules of rights holders.
Legal basis: FOR-2009-06-26-851 §4 communiqué text
General provision
Fishing closer than 200 m to fixed gear for anadromous species, and 50 m for other fish, is restricted. Period: All year.
Legal basis: Lakse- og innlandsfiskloven §39 communiqué text
The first 20 of 36 entries are listed.
Frequently asked
What can you catch in the lakes and rivers of western Norway?
9 species are on record in the lakes and rivers of western Norway: Atlantic salmon, Brown trout, Rainbow trout, Rudd, Common whitefish, European perch, Northern pike, Brook trout and others.
What can you catch in the lakes and rivers of western Norway in each month?
The month with the most species in season is August (7 species). By season: winter: Rainbow trout; spring: Rudd; summer: Brown trout and Atlantic salmon; autumn: Northern pike and European perch.
How many fishing grounds are there in the lakes and rivers of western Norway?
There are 66 fishing grounds on record in the lakes and rivers of western Norway; each has its own page with the location, the species caught and the conditions that suit it.
