The Evjen beat lies by the village of Lundamo, some 25 kilometers upstream from the river Gaula’s inlet. Here, the river flows strong through this fruitful agricultural district that dominates this part of the valley. On its way down to the ocean, the powerful water shapes slightly new gravel banks and bottom pits every year, especially interesting for us salmon fishers... Evjen is truly a majestic beat, offering some of the best fishing hat you can find in Gaula for really BIG SALMON!
Evjen is an approximately 1300 metres long one-sided beat and presents a variation of rapids, fast flowing water and good holding spots for the salmon. The beat starts at the top with some shallower gravel banks that speed up the water before ”the grand finale”; a very visible, strong S-shaped rapid over rocks and gravel.
After the rapids the beat changes its character quite dramatically and becomes deeper and calmer, yet with a very strong current. This lower part of Evjen, that always holds BIG salmon in the deep, is a hard challenge for any experienced salmon fisher. But the chance of catching is always very near!
The first week in the season of 2008, some 30 big salmon were cought on Evjen with an average weight of 10 kgs!
Down by the riverside you have the ”gapahauk”, the typical Norwegian wooden wind shelter, at your disposal. This gapahauk is actually placed in one of the most interesting spots i the Gaula valley; there’s no better place to sit and scout for rising/running salmon at dawn or dusk. When yo see the first fish showing themselves in the rapids right outside the shelter, then you know it’s time to grab the tackle and go for it!
Evjen has many great spots to fish from on its entire length, all with different characteristics, challenges and benefits. The beat is long and gives plenty of room for 6 fishermen.
How to fish gaula Evjen
POOL #1
”The upper border of the Evjen beat is drawn at the lower part the bigger pool upstream. This gives you good chances to catch a salmon that’s just entered this big main pool, after swimming up through the rapids. Here you have several big stones that serve as natural resting spots for the salmon. The current here is quite strong and I recommend you to go for a sinking line and maybe also heavier flies like copper or brass tubes.
A combined line with a floating/intermediate back end and a fast sinking tip/front end is a good choice here.
The middle part of the beat is characterized by a rather strong current and fast flow. On our side, however, we get a slightly more gentle stream and also some bigger stones underneath the surface – good resting spots for the fish! Since the current is still quite strong here, you should choose heavier tackle, sinking/intermediate lines, fast sinking leaders and so on, to press through the water. A combined float/sink line is perfect here.”
POOL #2
”The most exciting part of the beat in my own opinion and also the pool where we’ve had most success over the years. Here, the river forms a ”canal” with deeper water, right below our bank. Especially at high water levels, the salmon swim only a meter or two from land here, and often decides to stop for a while. This part should also be fished with sinking/intermediate or float/sink combination lines, to be able to present the fly deep enough.
At early June fishing we recommend sinking lines i class 3-4 or even heavier. The leader should be short (no more than 50 cm) and of flour carbon. Pick a short and heavy brass/copper tube in colour patterns red/orange, red/black, green/black or blue/black. In early season, some flash material in the fly is always recommended.
Though being a very hot spot at hig water levels, this pool doesn’t loose any of its attraction value as we move into later season conditions. Fish Gaula early on a July morning here, can give you the thrill of your life!
This is the very best part of Evjen for those fishermen who like to change between fly fishing, spinning or maybe even traditional worming the Norwegian style.”
POOL #3
”The last and longest of the Evjen pools is a challenge with the fly. The current can at times be very strong here, which is why most of our guests prefer to try this part of the beat with spinning tackle. On slightly low water levels, however, it can be worth while to try this pool with the fly rod.
We know that big salmon choose to swim on this side before they reach the first rapids at Evjen, and often they’re very close to the bank. Heavier lines are of course a must here and it takes some skill to steer the line through the sometimes tough back-currents at certain places. But the skilled and stubborn fly fisher will eventually be rewarded!”
