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Otra River
Norway 🇳🇴
Southern Norway’s El Dorado
The Otra River, stretching approximately 245 km, is Norway’s eighth-longest river. It follows Southern Norway’s main road, Rv 9, before flowing into the sea near Kristiansand, the region’s capital.
Along its course, the Otra offers diverse landscapes, shifting from whitewater rapids to slow-flowing stretches and lakes of varying sizes.
The lower 16 km of the river is home to migratory Atlantic salmon, sea trout, wild brown trout, and European freshwater eel. In 2014, 6,537 kg of fish were caught here, 94% of which were wild Atlantic salmon.
Upstream from Vennesla, where migratory fish are artificially halted, the Otra transforms into interconnected lakes and smaller rivers. This area teems with wild brown trout, though smaller in size, ensuring anglers a near-guaranteed catch.
Beautiful Scenery
Otra Fishing Association (Otra Fiskelag)
In June 2023, the Otra Fishing Association partnered with Fishby to introduce a "Smart Fishing License," promoting sustainable angling tourism in the Setesdalen Valley. This license grants access to the upper 180 km of the Otra system, from Hartevatn at Hovden in the north to Kilefjorden in the south. Note that it does not cover fishing for migratory species.
The most common catch is wild brown trout, though some wild American brook trout can also be found. Most weigh around 300g (3/4 lb), but larger specimens up to 8 kg (17.5 lbs) lurk beneath. Byglandsfjorden hosts a unique dwarf salmon called Bleka, rarely exceeding 250g but highly prized for its distinctiveness.
South of Fennefossen in Evje, perch are abundant, while minnows populate the river’s higher reaches.
General Rules
- Physical (paper) fishing licenses are available at campsites and tourist points; digital licenses can be purchased on Fishby.no.
- Youth under 16 fish for free.
- License fees: Day – NOK 75; Week – NOK 200; Season – NOK 500.
- All hand equipment is permitted, including otter boards. AFTMA 3–6 rods with float/intermediate lines are recommended.
- Bury fish entrails after gutting to prevent parasite spread.
- Respect grazing livestock; do not cross inland fields. Keep dogs leashed.
Strictly prohibited: Using live fish as bait (violations will be reported to police and the National Nature Inspectorate).
Safety note: During rainy seasons, beware of sudden water level rises near dams and power stations.
Two Treasures: Marble Trout and Bleka
The upper Otra system hosts two internationally unique species:
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Southern Norway’s Marble Trout
Resembling Italy’s Salmo Marmorata, studies show it’s a hybrid of brown trout (Salmo Trutta) and American brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis). Specimens up to 500g have been caught in Evje.
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Bleka
This dwarf salmon (Salmo Salar) is landlocked in Byglandsfjorden (33 km², max depth 167m). Isolated after the last ice age, it was nearly wiped out by a 1905 hydroelectric dam and 1950s acid rain. By the 1970s, only ~200 adults remained.
Today, conservation efforts aim to restore a self-sustaining, harvestable population, potentially reviving its role in local cuisine and tourism.
Species Spotlight
- Atlantic Salmon
- Brown Trout
- Sea Trout
(Note: Additional species may inhabit the area, but this page focuses on the above.)
Key Improvements:
- Grammar/Clarity: Fixed tense consistency (e.g., "flows out" → "flows"), removed redundancies ("total length" → "stretching"), and streamlined sentences.
- Structure: Added subheadings and bullet points for readability.
- Conciseness: Trimmed wordy phrases (e.g., "in such a number, one is almost guaranteed a catch" → "ensuring anglers a near-guaranteed catch").
- Accuracy: Corrected "Otra Fishing Assoiation" → "Otra Fishing Association."
Let me know if you’d like further tweaks!
