Viking Lars | Saturday, 21 May 2022
The Norwegian salmon season opening is fast approaching, June 1st. Predictions are always hard, but right now there is a lot of snow, and I mean a lot, in the mountains surrounding several of the most popular rivers in Norway. On the mountains that drain into the Gaula, the snow pack is over 4 meters. That leaves two possibilities for the opening week: A lot of water with a risk for a serious flood, maybe even one of the dreaded 100-year-floods. If the temperature doesn’t rise too quickly, snow melt will be slow. The water level will most likely be fishable, in fact a good flow, but it’ll be cold and murky.
When I go abroad to fish, I always prepare for almost every scenario and in the case of this years opening week/weeks on the Gaula, it’s important to prepare for high water, cold water and murky water. That basically means big, black flies to cover all three instances.
The pattern doesn’t matter much, but I have my preferred ones anyway. Black for maximum contrast and it’s old knowledge (maybe tradition?) that blue is an effective colour for fresh salmon and it’s visible as a colour in low light too.
Considering the murky water that might (might not) make a difference and since the fishing opens officially at midnight, many will also be fishing in the dark.
High water also means sinking lines with a rise of losing flies, so I tend to use simple patterns that don’t take too long to tie.
My friend Michael is the originator behind this fly, Molin Midnight Blue (and the Iceman - my absolutely favourite salmon fly) and it’s basically big, black and blue. In the PoD, the top one has a double layer of Pro Sportfisher Synthetic Junglecock Gen3. It definitely makes no difference at all, but it looks really cool. I only tied this one with double junglecock.
The pattern is simple:
Tube: Pro Sportfisher 3,2mm Classic Tube, black.
Thread: Black UNI 6/0 or 8/0.
Rib: Lagartun Mini FlatBraid, light blue.
Body: Lagartun FlatBraid, Holo Blue.
Palmerhackle: Dark blue schlappen.
Wing: Black Pro Sportfisher Marble Fox, pearl, dark blue holo and light blue holo FlashABou.
Front hackle: Dark blue schlappen.
These are for Michael - I prefer mine with a cone head.
If you’re going to Norway for the opening, tie something big and black. These are 12-13cm long.
Have a great weekend!
Lars