Winter fishing in Norway

Summertime may be travel time, but for the biggest fish, you should visit Norway in the winter, when there is more space for you and less fighting with others for the best fishing spots.

For a fishing adventure like no other, go to Northern Norway between January and April, where you can take part in the famous skrei (migrating cod) fishing in picture-postcard scenery.

Thanks to the Gulf Stream and warm air currents, the coastal areas and fjords remain virtually ice-free even in winter, and the waters are brimming with big fish just waiting for something to bite into.

Ice fishing is also one of Norway’s most popular winter activities, as the country is dotted with thousands of lakes. Every year, enthusiasts of all ages bring their fishing rods and set off to find their own lake full of trout or char. At the end of a cold but eventful day outdoors, it is common to wind down in a steaming sauna or snuggle up in front of an open fire.

To increase your chances of maximising your catch, join a guided fishing trip or consider to hire an experienced local guide or professional fisherman. It is also safer, especially if you want to go sea fishing.

Apart from the obvious advantages of fishing, winters in Norway also mean good chances of spotting whales and experiencing spectacular natural phenomena like the northern lights.

You can also go skiing, snowmobiling and dog sledging – and come face to face with the red king crab on a king crab fishing expedition. And speaking of a big catch – the tasty beasts can measure up to two metres from claw to claw and weigh up to 15 kilograms!

Think reasons, not seasons

Spring awakening

Norway connoisseurs already know that there are many fishing and outdoor adventures on offer in March and April, both in the fjords and by the coast.

Especially in Norway's central and northern parts, you can experience true fishing magic, as the coast fills up with spawning cod. If you dream about catching a real whopper of a fish, this is the time to try.

Southern Norway also has excellent fishing possibilities in the spring – especially for everyone who enjoys looking for ling and sea trout in the fjords or the sea. Fishing tourists rarely return from a fishing excursion empty-handed.

The Norwegian spring weather is usually fairly mild, stable and dry. In many regions, the months of March, April and May are even the driest of the year. Since the direct distance between the southernmost and northernmost point of Norway is almost 1,700 kilometres, the weather varies a great deal in different parts of the country.

Golden autumn

The autumn months of September and October are also great for a fishing holiday in Norway, as the water is teeming with all the saltwater fish species you may wish for.

Even summer guests like mackerel and hake hang around in some places well into October. In Central Norway (Trøndelag) and Northern Norway, the autumn months offer good chances of catching giant saithe and halibut. In the middle of Norway and down south you have ample opportunities to catch some handsome ling.

Quiet, sunny autumn weather with double-digit temperatures is not rare – and you can sometimes experience the phenomenon called Indian summer, both in the south and in the north.

The first snow usually falls sometime in October in Northern Norway and at high altitudes, but in many parts of the country, winter does not start until November. The change from autumn to winter lasts for a few weeks in the south and the middle of the country, whereas this transition often takes only a few days in the north.

The transformation from the warm and sparkling colours in the autumn to a magic winter wonderland is bound to make a long-lasting impression on visitors to the area.