FISHING IN THE REISA RIVER 2004 (Nordreisa Municipality, Troms County, Norway)

The Reisa River figures at the top in Norway regarding total catch of the exclusive Arctic Char, (about 1200 kg, with an average 0,75 kgs). Sea Trout: among the 10-15 best Norwegian rivers. The catches of salmon in Reisa were considerably reduced during 1990-ies, due to various reasons. That is why rather strict regulations of salmon fishing have been introduced, see below. Salmon catches are now increasing.

Reisa River is one of the most spectacular river systems in the Nordic Countries, running from the Finnish Border to the Atlantic, having a runoff area of abot 2700 square km, being available for salmonides (and traditional narrow river boats!) until about 80 km from sea, close to the famous Imo waterfall. Another famous waterfall is the Mollis, 261 m. (River boat transport the rapid streaming river is to be ordered at the Elvebåtsenteret, 9151 Storslett). The valley bottom in the northern part of Reisa is undulating terraces with pine forests, with small clusters of farmland. Upstream is the mountain part of the National Park of Reisa, including Reisa National park, about 700 square kms. The region is famous for its arctic alpine vegetation, its varied animal life, geology, gorges and canyons as well as for its reindeer husbandry. The river rights to salmon fishery is owned and administered by the Reisa Elvelag (Reisa River Association).

You get to Reisa by air to the city of Tromsoe (1 hour 45 min from Oslo) and hence by the corresponding Wideroe Air (20 min) to Soerkjosen Airport, Nordreisa, 5 km from river. Another route is the E6 (car/bus) or the famous Hurtigruta coastal ship route to Skjervøy (from Trondheim, Bodø, Tromsoe, Alta or Kirkenes). Nice hotels, hostels as well as several tourist farms at Storslett, Sørkjosen, Sappen, close to river. Sport and fishing equipment shops, supermarkets, district hospital etc. in the Nordreisa Municipality Center of Storslett, (Munic.: 5000 inhab./3000 in Storslett Center).

CODE OF CONDUCT We encourage all visitors to the Reisa River, both anglers and other outdoor use, to conduct in such a manner that everybody can fully enjoy their stay in Nordreisa. Take care when travelling by boat or canoeing. Slow down when passing anglers on the riverbank.

Be a gentleman angler by moving downstream as you fish. You then give room for as many as possible to get access to the best fishing spots. Start fishing upstream at the higher end of the pool, never downstream of a fellow angler. And of course; anglers and outdoor people do not litter!

Show consideration for private property; do not cut trees when making your camp-fire (beware of forest-fire!!), trample down fences or walk on cultivated land. Let’s keep the good relationship between anglers and the farmers / land-owners along the river.

Licence expeditions Halti Tourist information, Storslett, Nordreisa, from July 1st: • July 1st-14th: mon-friday 08.00-19, sat. 10.00-16.00 sund. 12.00-16.00. • July 15th-August 15th mon-friday 08.00-19, sat. 10.00-14.00, sundays 12.00- 18.00. • August 16.th-Sept.30.th: mon-wed. 08.00-18.00, tuesd 08.00-16.00, frid 08.00- 20.00. • From Oct. 1st-15th: mon-frid 08.00-1600.

Licences also at Harald-Erik Rognmo, Rognmo farm in the Reisa valley, 25 km from Storslett, and at Jan Tørfoss, head of Reisa River Ass. (Reisa Elvelag) Tørfoss farm, 20 km.

Licences and prices 2004

24 hours period (per zone 1-10 and total stretch 11- NOK. 100,- 19) 2004 season,tourists (sorry,no family price NOK. 2.000,- reduction) (just 50 licences allowed)

Season Reisa inhab. NOK. 400,- Children 12-16 years (season, no depositum): NOK. 25,-

1 week: (zone 1-5; 24 lic/day; zone 6-10; 20 NOK. 1000,- lic./day, - except free zones) “

NB: Deposit Nkr. 200,- for all licences, ex. for children. This will be refunded in cash by personal delivering your ultimate catch report and before Oct. 15th. After Aug.16th: if the door is locked, please in stead put your catch report and your address into the box outside the building. Ordered licences not paid at once, must be fought within 18.00 the fishing start day, or they may be sold to others.

Zones and rotation of landowners` fishing The Reisa River is divided into fishing zones. The landowners have exclusive rights to special zones at special times. (se table “Rotation of zones”, below). In these zones the landowners are periodically allowed to sell parts of their licences (ask for adresses). Property borders should be visibly marked at riverbeds. During the period Sept.1st – 30th, no zone rotation in zone 1-9, and no time reservations during 24-hours periods.

Riverside access and outdoor recreation moments The existing tracks should be used, some of them marked with “a wooden fish” arrow at the roadside.

Please shut the farmland fence openings, and protect fences from trotting. Ask landowner before eventual farmland crossing, and be aware of the landowner`s right to forbid motor traffic on private roads. The common outdoor recreation rights of Norway is a valuable resource for us all and should be used to the best for a sustainable nature. Open fire is generally forbidden Aprile 15th – Sept. 15th, so eventual fire should be restricted to landowners`fixed places (with deposits of firewood) at riverbeds. Camping at houses/cottages should be avoided or be according to permits. Leave the place as you want to find it. Waste should be handled properly. Riverboats should keep good distance to fishers. Fishing may start at upstream of pool, gradually moving downstream, with local rotation among fishers, opening also for others.

Fishing rules - Reisa River

1. Study the fishing rules before fishing

2. Control and desinfection of equipments, boots etc. (kr 50), (see special description) should be done when licence is bought.

3. These documents should be carried when fishing: Licences, desinfection bill, personal legitimation.

4. Fishing time: Fishing in Reisa River starts July 15.th –for salmon, sea trout and arctic char. The salmon fishing runs until Sept 1st. Daily fishing period is from 1000 to 0200. No fishing daily; 0200-1000 except for July 15th. From Sept 1st to 30th you are allowed to fish other species than wild salmon (included river individuals of farmed salmon ) from the Reisa outlet to Bilto. One licence for the whole stretch, without special restrictions on catch amount.

5. Protection of salmon Due to protection schemes for the Atlantic wild salmon stocks, salmon individuals from Reisa bigger than 5 kg or 80 cm must be protected and are to be released if angled. Fishing and equipment should be adjusted to grills (smaller salmons), sea trout and arctic char. Eventual big individuals should be rather rapidly run towards shore, under tight pressure, and then be released carefully. Avoid lifts from water, and especially – avoid lifts by tailor. Keep head upstream, move fish for airing the gills and release it. However, a heavy hurt – or a very exhausted fish should not be released. A summary of angling restrictions: • All salmons above 5 kg / 80 cm are protected, (releasing, se above). • From Sept.1st to Oct 1st all wild salmons must be released, also grills. • Bag limit 3 salmons per fisher per 24 hours period.

You may be asked to take shell tests of your catch, put into envelopes for this purpose.

6. Equipment. From July 15th to Aug. 31st worm angling is not allowed. During Sept. worm tackle is permitted in zone 1 and 2. Fishing from anchored boat in river is not allowed. This equipment is allowed: • Rod: 1 per fisher • Line with max 3 hooks, or equipment with a treble hook. • Wobbler, fly, spinning bait, spoon/lures, fly (cast weight by line or float) • Landing net (for landing according to allowed procedures only)

7. Catch reporting Fill in zone, number of week, fish species, number of fishes caught, kg weight and totals. 0 catch should also be reported. Individual catches will not be published. Please use the table for separating data on released big salmons, evt. hurt/dead big salmons. Fish farming individuals should also be noted.

8. Rotation of zones For 2004, the farmers will have exclusive rights to specific zones according to this rotation:

Date Start Date End Zones lower upper Reisa Reisa Thursd. 15 July kl. 00:00 Tuesd. 20 July kl. 02:00 8 - 9 18- 19 Tuesd. 20 July kl. 10:00 Sund. 25 July kl. 02:00 1a-1b 10 - 11 Sund. 25 July kl. 10:00 Frid. 30 July kl. 02:00 2 - 3 12 - 13 Frid. 30 July kl. 10:00 Wed. 4 Aug. kl. 02:00 4 - 5 14 - 15 Wed. 4 Aug. kl. 10:00 Mond. 9 august kl. 02:00 6 - 7 16 - 17 Mond. 9 Aug. kl. 10:00 Sat. 14 Aug. kl. 02:00 8 - 9 18 - 19 Sat. 14 Aug. kl. 10:00 Thursd. 19 Aug. kl. 02:00 1a-1b 10 - 11 Thursd.19 Aug. kl. 10:00 Tuesd. 24 Aug. kl. 02:00 2 - 3 12 - 13 Tuesd. 24 Aug. kl. 10:00 Sund. 29 Aug. kl. 02:00 4 - 5 14 – 15 Sund. 29 Aug. kl. 10:00 Frid. 3 Sept. kl. 02:00 6 - 7 16 - 17

From Sept.1st to Oct 1st you can use one and only card from zone 1 up to zone 10 (include 9) for Nkr. 100,- for trout and arctic char fishing only.

Zoning for fishers from outside Reisa municip.:

Zone Names; from - to Number nr of rods 1 Sea – Røyel river outlet (Røyelelva) 8 2 Røyelelva- Mosko river outlet 4 3 Mosko river outlet – Nybrua (the new bridge) at Einevoll 4 4 Nybrua at Einevoll – Geira river 4 5 Geira river – Vanka riverlet (Vinnelys sawmill) 4 6 Vanka riverlet – Lower part of Veraniva 4 7 Lower part of Veraniva – Avtima pool 4 8 Avtima pool – Svartfoss bridge 4 9 Svartfoss bridge – brook north of Bilto 4 10 Brook north of Bilto - Hedamukka 4 11 Hedamukka – south part of Forra-holmen (-island) 4 12 South part Forraholmen – Hovenkivi rapid 4 13 Hovenkivi rapid – South part of Sieima pool 4 14 South Sieima pool – Altari brook 4 15 Altari brook – South end Rautosoanto pool 4 16 S. Rautosoanto pool – Mollis river outlet 4 (lower outlet) 17 Mollis river outlet – lower part of Vuomatakka pool 4 18 Vuomatakka pool - Nausti 4 19 Nausti – Imo waterfalls 4

The zones are marked along the roads along river Reisa, and at the riverbeds and on tourist map (Reisa Valley Scale 1: 90 000, to be bought at Halti).

Phones: Tourist information, Halti, Storslett: phone 0047 77770556 Project coord. (Ø. Dalland, Prosjekt Reisavassdraget, Halti, Storslett): 0047 77770590 Head of Reisa Elvelag (J. Tørfoss): 0047 77765446 Harald E. Rognmo: 0047 77765455 Head of river guards at Reisa 2004: (Rune Sundelin / Harry Olaussen), phones 95855506 / 97042999 Police: 0047 77764300 Mountain guards, Fjelltjenesten, Halti, Storslett: 0047 77836700

Have a nice season at Reisa ! Reisa River Association, Reisa Elvelag