Fishing season
Rod fishing is permitted all-year-round in the Trysil and Engeråa rivers as well as in the various lakes and tarns. It is prohibited to fish in other rivers and streams from 15 September to 1 November. Fly-fishing for grayling is permitted during the stated period in parts of the Ljøra river system.
Further information is available from permit sellers.
Fishing permits
If you are 16 or over, you must purchase a fishing permit.
Prices for Trysil’s largest licensing area, which includes Trysil River and Ljøra river system are as follows:
• 24-hour permit NOK 90
• Two-day permit NOK 180
• Three-day permit NOK 270
• Weekly permit NOK 325
• Season permit NOK 450
Fishing permits can be purchased in various locations, including at Trysil Tourist Office, Trysil Hyttegrend Øråneset and Sentrum Sport Trysil.
Boat hire
Rowing boats are available for hire at several of Trysil’s best fishing spots.
Booking and information: Sentrum Sport Trysil.
Fishing equipment hire
At Sentrum Sport Trysil you can hire fishing equipment and find out everything you need to know about fishing, equipment and fishing locations. You can talk to the fishing experts who are present in-store every day throughout the season.
Prices per day/evening: Full reel equipment excluding bait and spinning bait NOK 75.
Full single-handed fly-fishing equipment excluding flies NOK 75.
Company: Sentrum Sport Trysil.
Fishing spots for the disabled
Trysil offers fishing spots for the disabled at Eltsjøen Lake and Blanksjøen Lake.
The main river changes name several times on its journey from Femund in the north to Lake Vänern in the south. As it passes through Trysil the river is, logically, known as Trysil River.
The Femund/Trysil watercourse is the second largest in Hedmark County. Its source is located in the area around Femund and it flows into the Vänern basin in Sweden. Below we’ve described the 100 kilometres of the river that lie within the boundaries of Trysil municipality.
The northern parts of the river
Trysil River enters Trysil from Engerdal in the north where it is wide and flows at a moderately fast speed. The riverbed is flat and covered by even-sized rocks. There are few large rocks and large sections of this stretch of the river are wadeable. This stretch is mostly home to grayling but there are also trout and common whitefish. The fish are small to medium-sized, but the really large ones appear in times of flooding and when the Ephemera danicas hatch in early July. Due to the river’s accessibility and the beautiful surroundings, this area is nevertheless popular. More inaccessible, and hence less crowded, parts of the river can be reached by boat or canoe.
Sennsjøen Lake
The river flows into Sennsjøen Lake after a few kilometres. Sennsjøen is largely shallow with a silt bed, apart from the western side of the lake which is right up against the mountain. Here the lake drops precipitously and the bottom is covered in rocks. Common whitefish, some large pike, perch and trout are common catches on Sennsjøen. Grayling seem to stay in the lake in winter, but travel up the river in summer. A boat or canoe is recommended to be able to fully enjoy fishing here. As the lake is more or less a large, more tranquil section of the Trysil River, the relatively strong current makes the use of belly boats difficult.
Sennsjøen is best known for its great common whitefish fishing in spring when, during some hectic days at the end of April and beginning of May, exciting ice-fishing takes place here. This is an interesting fishing experience in a beautiful setting that we strongly recommend.
Having passed through Sennsjøen, the river flows into Elvdalen – an area of true wilderness. The river is wild here and the surrounding landscape is stunning. In between the rapids are some calmer streams. In this stretch of the river there’s mainly trout, but also some grayling. No one knows for sure how big the fish here are, but there are stories of some very large catches indeed. The river can be reached from the eastern shore, straight down from the road. With the exception of at Håen and Ørsjefloen, the current is so strong that only experienced fishermen who know the river well should use a boat here. Other well-known fishing spots in this stretch include Skorbekkfloen, Fiskfloen and E-hølen.
Engerneset
Engeråa stream flows into the Trysil River at Engerneset. The stream was cultivated a few years ago with rock additions and current-increasers. This has made Engeråa an exciting alternative for trout and grayling fishing. The minimum size requirements for fish are the same in Engeråa as in the Trysil River.
From Engerneset to Jordet the river flows in riffles . The classified road follows the river on its eastern side, whilst the west side is an alternative for those who would rather walk a bit further to find a less crowded spot. Most of those who fish here use spinning bait, natural bait or wet flies.
The riverbed is covered with large rocks and the current is very strong, so wading here is not advised. As at Sennsjøen, this stretch is also dominated by trout and a steady presence of grayling.
Jordet
Jordet marks the beginning of the stretch of the river that is perhaps the most interesting for fly fishers. Excellent fishing spots are lined up all the way down to Innbygda, Trysil town centre, some 15 kilometres further downstream. Well-known spots include Djupfloen, Trettkilen and Mosengfloen. There are too many great spots to mention them all. This area has around 30% trout and 70% common whitefish and several fish weighing in at over one kilo are caught here each year. At the end of this stretch of the river lies Øren, a very special spot. Here the river splits into many small streams which run between little islands.
The central parts of the river
Past Innbygda the river changes character altogether. It begins to flow more slowly and trout become harder to find. Instead fish such as the common whitefish and pike can be found. Almost all whitefish caught here are large, and fish weighing two-three kilos are not unusual. Grayling are also common in these calm stretches of the river, and can weigh up to two kilos. The riverbed is mainly covered with silt and there is plenty of underwater vegetation. There are some sections where the current is faster and the riverbed covered in rock, making it easier to wade, although generally a boat, canoe or belly boat is recommended for fishing in this part of the river. A belly boat is an excellent choice here. The current is mild enough to make drifting down the calm stretches fishing for sturdy grayling and large whitefish a relaxing experience.
The most well-known fishing spots along this stretch are Øråstryket and Gråa between Innbygda and Nybergsund, and Kolos a bit further south.
The southern parts of the river
Past Kolos and further south still the river begins to show a greater degree of variation again, although it is still much more placid than in the northern parts. It could almost be said that this stretch the river gives us a glimpse of the conditions further upstream, with everything from sharp rapids to still streams.
The liveliest rapids are found on the stretch between Grøtøya and Sagnfossen. The most popular fishing spots here are the ones at Grøtøybrua, Elgsfossen and Sagnmoen where you’re most likely to catch trout and grayling. The eastern side of the river is easily accessible whereas the western side is private land where no fishing is allowed.
South of Sagnfossen the river flows at an average pace, interrupted by calmer stretches here and there. The riverbed composition varies, but is mainly characterised by pebbles and gravel, and in the calmest parts silt. The shallowest sections are well-suited for wading. Here grayling is the dominant fish, whereas trout has become less common over the last decades. Local fishermen say that one trout is caught for every hundred grayling. There are also pike and whitefish to be found in the calmer streams. Rundfloen is something of an Eldorado for those fishing for whitefish, which are larger here than further upstream, but you’ll need a boat to get to them. Rundfloen is also a great spot for catching pike.
Most of the southern stretch of the river is very well-suited for fly-fishing. At Plassen there are many excellent, easy-to-reach spots. These are visible from the road, and the classified road crosses the river here.
Grøna River flows into the river on the eastern side about five kilometres south of Plassen. On the western shore lies Grønoset farm. The river can be reached from both sides, but the western shore is the easier option for those who are not familiar with the area. The western side of the river is also deep, while the eastern side is shallow. By the farms the water is so shallow that you can often wade to the other side. You can fish in the deep section and down towards the rapids where the Grøna river joins the Trysil river.
On the endmost stretch of the river downstream from Lutufallet power station we find the last fishing spots before the river continues into Sweden. There is a log pile on the eastern side of the river, right below the power station canal, from where the river can be easily accessed. It’s easy to fish here and the area is beautiful. The fish are of average size for the river and this stretch may just be home to some of the greatest numbers of grayling in the entire watercourse.
Accessibility to the river in Southern Trysil is good, although you may sometimes have to walk a few hundred metres from the road. In this area there is some farmed land by the river so care must be taken to not cross farmed fields.
In May and the first half of June water levels are high and air temperatures low. The first chironomids (non-biting midges) begin to hatch in May.
Chironomids are present on the river throughout the season and regardless of what else has hatched during the day, the fish here eat more of these insects than any other kind.
The beginning of June sees the arrival of the first Baetis rhodani mayflies (also known as large dark olives) and the start of the first period of fish activity. The water is still cold, so no large fish are active yet.
The mayfly Leptophlebia marginata – well-known to those who fish with live bait – hatches in mid-June. This insect tends to attract larger fish than the Baetis flies.
Large numbers of the yellow Heptagenia mayfly (H. sulphurea and H. dalecarlica, also known as flat-headed mayflies) arrive around 20 June. These have a long hatching period which can go on through the day and night, although they tend to hatch mainly during the daytime when the temperature is milder. June also sees the arrival of Ephemerella aurivilli mayflies, whose hatching tends to coincide with that of the Heptagenia. These two hatching periods are the first to result in major, large-fish activity.
In late evenings towards the end of June it is common to come across the mass deaths of mayfly spinners that occur once they have laid their eggs. They often include several species: Ephemerella, Leptophlebia and Baetis. In June the first caddis flies also appear. These flies are small and grey, ranging between 14 and 16 in size, and belong to the Apatania family. Fish tend not to be particularly interested in these insects.
As June turns to July the first micro-caddis flies appear. They belong to the Hydroptilidae family. Their numbers are increasing and according to Olof Jakobsson from “Fluefiske i Norden” it’s uncertain whether the fish eat them at all. There tends to be no fish activity around the micro caddis-flies, but fish may eat them as they move under water to lay their eggs.
In the first half of July, sometimes earlier, the Ephemerella ignita, also known as the Blue-winged olive, hatches. Just like its larger relative, the hatching patterns for this species can vary but this fly often hatches throughout July. These flies hatch in separate parts of the river depending on their sex, resulting in only males/females being present in certain areas. The males and females are slightly different, but an imitation will do the trick for any fly-fisher.
During the first half of July we begin to spot Norway’s most common mayfly, the Baetis rhodani. This fly appears more grey than olive-coloured, but in terms of catches it doesn’t really matter which imitation you choose. This fly’s hatching period is often drowned out by that of another, larger mayfly species.
And this is the one that all fly-fishers have been waiting for. Ephemera danica – the green drake. And it is really green! This hatching generally begins around week 27 and lasts for about seven days. The hatching starts furthest south in the river, and begins in Sennsjøen about a week later. In still water areas you might also come across the Ephemera vulgata – “the drake mackerel”. The latter is also common in lakes and tarns in southern Trysil.
The brown relative of the yellow mayfly, the Heptagenia fuscugrisea, also hatches in July. This fly can be found in somewhat calmer streams than its yellow relation and are numerous in certain local areas. However, these flies hatch in smaller numbers and over a longer period of time.
Another large mayfly also hatches in the second half of July – the Siphlonurus alternatus. It is about size 10 and has brown and olive-green markings on the back part of its body. It does not hatch in large numbers, but can create great fish activity. The small Caenis mayfly, known as “the angler’s curse” is another fly that hatches here in July. Despite being numerous, they don’t generate fish activity.
Immediately after the large mayfly hatchings, the caddis flies take over as the fishes’ primary food source. Due to the varying currents and depth of the river, many species have their biotope here, and most of the mayfly family is represented. We can’t be sure how many species there are, but Olof Jakobsson believes there may be more than 100.
Free-living caddis flies (Rhyacophila nubila), net-spinning caddis flies (Arctopsyche, Hydropsyche) and many small case-building caddis flies (Brachycentrus) can be found in the more lively parts of the river. These flies are generally grey or olive green. Some species have yellow bodies and the wings are brown or grey.
There is much more variety in terms of species in the more placid parts of the river. Some of the afore-mentioned species can also be found here, although those who thrive in still water tend to dominate, for example the case-building species from the Limnephilidae family. They are generally larger, size 12 and above, and vary in colour from reddish brown and orange to beige and pale olive-green. Their wings range in colour from cinnamon-brown to beige. The large Phryganea caddis flies are also present, and their size certainly makes up for their limited number. With their chrysalis shell still attached, they can be between seven and eight centimetres long.
At some point in the middle of July the small stoneflies from the Isoperla, Xanthoperla and Siphonoperla families hatch. These flies range from size 14 to 16 and hatch freely on the water like the mayflies, and may at first glance be mistaken for them. They can generate mid-day fish activity.
In addition to the afore-mentioned insects, beetles and ants always go down a treat. Ants feature in the fish’s diet throughout the summer, and local fisherman Arve Tangen never sets foot near the river without ants in his fly-box.
As autumn fishing is relatively new in Trysil, we do not have much knowledge of what type of insects hatch during this season. However, we can assume that it may be a new generation of Baetis and Ephemerella ignita mayflies. That has been the case in other rivers in the region, for example the Rena River.
October tends to be cold and it’s only a matter of time before the watercourses freeze over. If you’re lucky you may still experience some great days fishing for grayling if the weather is good. There are always some non-biting midges, and there are still some caddis flies about.
Monday 30.8
17:00
Fishers' social
Get free tips from the fishing guides from Call of the Wild. You'll hear all about the best spots, techniques, hatching, weather forecasts and water levels. Meet at Trysil Hyttegrend, Øråneset.
fishing guides
Wednesday 1.9
17:00
Fishers' social
Get free tips from the fishing guides from Call of the Wild. You'll hear all about the best spots, techniques, hatching, weather forecasts and water levels. Meet at Trysil Hyttegrend, Øråneset.
fishing guides
Friday 3.9
17:00
Fishers' social
Get free tips from the fishing guides from Call of the Wild. You'll hear all about the best spots, techniques, hatching, weather forecasts and water levels. Meet at Trysil Hyttegrend, Øråneset.
fishing guides