Just got back from our trip up at Loppa (19th to 26th) in the far North of Norway. Our trip started comically with 7 out of 9 cases going missing at amsterdam airport, which contained rods, reels, food etc
At Oslo airport we were informed the cases had been found, and would catch us up the next day.
After a overnight stay in Alta we were picked up by the "cowboy" for our 2hr taxi journey to Osksfjord. The "cowboy" is one of nicest guys you could meet, and soon the conversation turned to moonshine! So a detour to the cowboys ranch was in order to sample some of his 95% rocket fuel.
Once at Oksfjord there was no sign of any ferries And after a phonecall, the cowboy informed us is wasnt due for 4hrs
We were dressed in shorts and t shirts and it was quite cold and windy, so the cowboy got one of his mates to open up his pub in his back garden!
result!
We finally caught the ferry, and arrived at our house in Sor Tyvverfjord at 5pm, the lost bags came on the later ferry at 8pm. We had a couple of hours on the boats close by due to the strong winds and managed a few bits and pieces but nothing exciting.
our house.
the boats
The next day the wind was still up, so we fished the inner fjords for shelter and took good numbers of cod to 20lb drifting close to the salmon farms.
The next day the wind eased, so we fished the entrance to Frakfjord in 100m, an area we have done well at in previous years, but all we got were haddock to 8lb and cod to 10lb. We also fished around kalven island but still had little to shout about. However, we tried close in east of Loppa island for halibut and managed 3 to 25lb
The next day the wind was forecast to drop away at about 4pm with sun all night! This was gonna be our chance to really hit some marks way off, after doing quite poorly so far. We steamed way out to the Kvanangsgrunnen about 25km from base, and although slow we did take some cod to 35lb
We still weren't seeing the best from the area so our boat moved to a small bank at 100m surrounded by deeper water west of loppa island.
The next 3 hours was the best fishing I have ever encounted in Norway. Within 20 mins of our 1st drop we had fish of 51lb, 42lb, 41lb a few in the 30s and loads of high 20s!
What made it more special were the light and conditions, it was about 2am, eerie bright sunlight, a full moon, not a breath of wind and flat seas! We left this area for home whilst still catching really good fish, due to aching bodies and tiredness.
We were now on a backshift for the fishing going out at around 4pm returning about 2am - 4am. We returned to the same mark the next night only to find it swarming with coalies, altough there were still some nice cod to 30lb if you could get to the bottom.
The scenery up there is really stunning and one morning I had a wander into the mountains to a small crystal clear lake.
oksfjord glacier
later on we decided to fish north and northwest of loppa island, the area again was full of coalies to about 15lb, I would love to find some really big coalies as these must be one of the hardest fighters out there!
We also had some good cod to 38lb fishing a small hump in 100m.
Heading towards the end of our trip, we had a bbq and a good drink well into the early hours, and this along with sheer tiredness and aching bodies, only 2 of us nipped out for a few hours on our last full day, we fished inbetween loppa and silda in search of some halibut. We managed 3 to 45lb.
So that was our week over, great fishing with great company! Species caught were :- cod, coalie, halibut, tusk, wolf fish, haddock, ling, red fish. Already looking forward to next year!
midnight sun
Tight lines and thanks for reading.
At Oslo airport we were informed the cases had been found, and would catch us up the next day.After a overnight stay in Alta we were picked up by the "cowboy" for our 2hr taxi journey to Osksfjord. The "cowboy" is one of nicest guys you could meet, and soon the conversation turned to moonshine! So a detour to the cowboys ranch was in order to sample some of his 95% rocket fuel.
Once at Oksfjord there was no sign of any ferries
And after a phonecall, the cowboy informed us is wasnt due for 4hrs We were dressed in shorts and t shirts and it was quite cold and windy, so the cowboy got one of his mates to open up his pub in his back garden! result!We finally caught the ferry, and arrived at our house in Sor Tyvverfjord at 5pm, the lost bags came on the later ferry at 8pm. We had a couple of hours on the boats close by due to the strong winds and managed a few bits and pieces but nothing exciting.
our house.
the boats
The next day the wind was still up, so we fished the inner fjords for shelter and took good numbers of cod to 20lb drifting close to the salmon farms.
The next day the wind eased, so we fished the entrance to Frakfjord in 100m, an area we have done well at in previous years, but all we got were haddock to 8lb and cod to 10lb. We also fished around kalven island but still had little to shout about. However, we tried close in east of Loppa island for halibut and managed 3 to 25lb
The next day the wind was forecast to drop away at about 4pm with sun all night! This was gonna be our chance to really hit some marks way off, after doing quite poorly so far. We steamed way out to the Kvanangsgrunnen about 25km from base, and although slow we did take some cod to 35lb
We still weren't seeing the best from the area so our boat moved to a small bank at 100m surrounded by deeper water west of loppa island.
The next 3 hours was the best fishing I have ever encounted in Norway. Within 20 mins of our 1st drop we had fish of 51lb, 42lb, 41lb a few in the 30s and loads of high 20s!
What made it more special were the light and conditions, it was about 2am, eerie bright sunlight, a full moon, not a breath of wind and flat seas! We left this area for home whilst still catching really good fish, due to aching bodies and tiredness.
We were now on a backshift for the fishing going out at around 4pm returning about 2am - 4am. We returned to the same mark the next night only to find it swarming with coalies, altough there were still some nice cod to 30lb if you could get to the bottom.
The scenery up there is really stunning and one morning I had a wander into the mountains to a small crystal clear lake.
oksfjord glacier
later on we decided to fish north and northwest of loppa island, the area again was full of coalies to about 15lb, I would love to find some really big coalies as these must be one of the hardest fighters out there!
We also had some good cod to 38lb fishing a small hump in 100m.
Heading towards the end of our trip, we had a bbq and a good drink well into the early hours, and this along with sheer tiredness and aching bodies, only 2 of us nipped out for a few hours on our last full day, we fished inbetween loppa and silda in search of some halibut. We managed 3 to 45lb.
So that was our week over, great fishing with great company! Species caught were :- cod, coalie, halibut, tusk, wolf fish, haddock, ling, red fish. Already looking forward to next year!
midnight sun
Tight lines and thanks for reading.
