Gaula 2006 — week 25

For the second year running we headed to a beat downstream of Gaulfossen, closer to the Borten and Losen stretch opposite Flå. Three of us made the trip: Thorkild, Jacob, and myself Carl. We pitched two tents right down by the river on the eastern bank.

The week started with a decent flow of around 200 m³/s, which fell steadily to around 75 m³/s by Friday. Fish were caught throughout the week at different points on the beat. The vast majority were taken on worm, with a few on spinners. Water temperature was around 12°C.

Results for the week: Thorkild landed his very first salmon ever — just under 3 kg on a Toby spinner in the bottom pool. I myself landed two: 4.7 and 6.8 kg, both taken on worm deep in the run. Jacob unfortunately drew a blank this time around. All three salmon still had sea lice and were in beautiful, fresh condition.

All three of us made a determined effort with the fly rod, but the only takers were smolts and small brown trout — none of the more experienced fishers managed to catch on fly either; some suggested the water was still too cold.

The weather was highly changeable — blazing sun for an hour, followed by a heavy downpour with gusts that sent everything flying, and then sunshine again five minutes later. That was the pattern all week.

Carl with salmon from the Gaula 2006 — Carl with a 4.7 kg salmon — taken on worm in the run

Thorkild with his first ever salmon — Thorkild with his very first salmon — just under 3 kg on a Toby spinner

Jacob playing cards — Jacob always won at three-man whist — on every front except fishing

Carl with second salmon — Carl with the second salmon taken late in the evening — 6.8 kg

Thorkild with new two-handed rod — Thorkild changing the line on his new two-handed rod

Thorkild at the run above the bottom pool (“B”) — the scenery is glorious when it is not raining

Salmon cooking over campfire — The first salmon became dinner — cooking over the campfire late in the evening

Beaver at the Gaula — As a bonus, one or two beaver families live in the area — active in the late evening hours

The Beat

We fished only the lower section of the beat. The map below shows the beat bounded by the two dashed lines.

At point “A” on the neighbouring beat, numerous salmon were caught where they come up through the rapid and rest briefly — some on fly. At “B” there is a large pool with a strong current along one bank. At “C” in the run, salmon were also taken. And at “D” tight to the bank, large numbers of salmon were sometimes caught — all on worm.

Map of the Borten and Losen beat — Gaula 2006 — Borten and Losen beat — the fished sections are marked with dashed lines

Another wonderful week on the Gaula — and certainly not the last. — Carl