05 Altaelva/Laksefiske

01 Salmon Lords of Alta

In the early 1900s, Hardy and Farlow were the leading producers of salmon fishing equipment. Most notably is the limited edition Hardy Perfect Alta. The pair of reels in the center was special ordered from Farlow by the Earl of Dalhousie in 1913. He fished in Alta for two years when the Duke of Roxburghe was unable to. The fly boxes belong to the Duke of Roxburghe and contain salmon flies from the 1970-80s.

02 The equipment of Fly fishing

Throughout the years, fly fishing equipment has evolved considerably. The first specialized salmon rods were made of heavy solid wood (Greenheart) and with equally heavy reels in wood or brass. Split and glued bamboo (Splitcane) made lighter and more flexible rods. Today, fishing rods are made of carbon, strong and light, and stiff or flexible according to preference. Reels are often made of aluminum or titanium.

03 To fish the Alta

The Alta salmon is heavy, and the Alta River is strong, making powerful equipment necessary. The rods are usually 14 feet long (4,2 meters) and the reels have good brakes. Choosing the right fly takes knowledge and experience. Water, vegetation, and weather are followed closely, and friends discuss what worked the year before. Green Highlander, Sunray Shadow and Phatakorva are considered good flies in Alta at various points in the season.

04 Lure fishing and poaching in Alta

Fly fishing is a type of recreational fishing where the experience is central. But salmon is also food, and fishing as a food supply requires more effective equipment. Lures with multiple hooks and bait that imitate shrimp are illegal today but caught a lot of salmon in the past. The rod, made of non-breakable steel short enough to be hidden underneath a coat, was used in poaching.

05 The River Boat

Like the salmon, the river boat is adapted to the river to which it belongs. From the 1960s, outboard motors were customary. The knowledge of traditional boat building passes from generation to generation. The boats are clinker built (the edges of hull planks overlap and are secured with nails) and the tradition is at least 2000 years old. The Viking ships are also clinker built. In 2021, the Nordic clinker boat tradition was included in the UNESCO’s World Heritage List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.