Southern Norway’s El Dorado

The river
Otra, with a total length of about 245km, is Norway’s 8th longest river. The River follows Southern Norway’s main road North Rv 9 where it eventually flows out into the sea in the heart of Southern Norway’s capital, Kristiansand.

Along its course, Otra has a lot to offer, and it often changes from torrent white water to wider slower flowing areas, to small and large lakes.

Otra is an exciting river, with the lower 16km housing migratory Atlantic salmon, sea trout, as well as wild brown trout and European freshwater eel. In 2014, 6537 kg of fish were caught in the lower parts. 94% was wild Atlantic Salmon.

As we move upstream from where the migratory fish meet their artificial stop in Vennesla, the Otra takes form as multiple joined lakes and small rivers. Large quantities of wild brown trout, with a small average size, live here but in such a number, one is almost guaranteed a catch!

Beautiful scenery
Beautiful scenery
Otra Fishing Association (Otra Fiskelag)
In June 2023, Otra Fishing Assoiation will launch a “smart Fishing license”, together with Fishby, to develop a sustainable future for angling tourism in the valley. With a Fishby fishing licese, you get access to the whole upper 180 kilometers of the Otra river system in Setesdallen Valley. From Hartevatn at Hovden in the north to Kilefjorden in the south. Note that the Fishby license does not include fishing after migratory species.

The most common trout here is the wild brown trout, but some wild American brook trout can be caught too. Common are average-sized fish of around 300g (3/4lb) but hidden amongst them are some leviathans reaching 8kg (17.5lbs). There is a unique salmon species living in Byglandsfjorden, called Bleka. The fish is often no larger than 250 grams, but its distinctiveness makes it a sought-after fish.

South of Fennefossen, in Evje, you can find perch, whereas, in the higher reaches of the river, you will find minnows.

General rules
Physical (paper) fishing licenses can be purchased at various campsites and tourist points along the river, however, digital licenses can be purchased on Fishby.no
Youths under 16 can fish for free
Day - NOK 75.- Week - NOK 200,- Season - NOK 500,-
Whether on land or from a boat, all hand equipment is allowed, including otter boards
AFTMA 3 to 6 is recommended, with float and intermediate lines
After gutting fish, the entrails must be buried to avoid the spread of parasites
Show consideration for grazing livestock. Do not cross innland.
Keep dogs on a leash
The use of live fish as bait is strictly prohibited! A report to the police and the National Nature Inspectorate will follow. Important safety note; during rainy seasons, those that are fishing near dams and power stations, please beware of possible sudden rising water levels!

Two treasures: marble trout and Bleka
The upper Otra river system hosts two internationally unique species that can only be found here:

Southern Norways’ Marble trout
Its distinctive lines resembles the Salmo Marmorata, which is Native to Northern Italy and Slovenia, and some parts of Croatia. However, studies have shown that the fish is a hybrid between a common Broun Trout (Salmo Trutta), and American Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis). Specimens up to 500g have been caught in Evje municipality.

Marble trout with its unique colors
Marble trout with its unique colors
Bleka
Byglandsbleka (also called “bleka”, from the Norwegian word for “pale”), is a dwarf salmon (Salmo Salar), that spends its entire life landlocked in the upper parts of the Otra River system. 

Bleka, often mistaken for brown trout, is a dwarf salmon
Bleka, often mistaken for brown trout, is a dwarf salmon
When ocean levels rose after the last ice age, Atlantic salmon entered the lake, but as the climate changed, the Byglandsfjord became cut off from the sea. Now the adult bleka lives in the lake, which is at 33km2 and has a maximum depth of 167m.

The bleke formed a regular part of the diet for locals until two environmental threats nearly wiped the whole population out. First, a hydroelectric dam, built in 1905, made many of the spawning grounds inaccessible; then, from the 1950s onwards, acid rain from the industries of northern Europe wreaked further havoc. By the early 1970s, it was estimated that only around 200 breeding adults were left. 

Today, 50 years after the population collapse, the continuous and ongoing rescue efforts have taken us a long way towards the goal to restore a self-reproducing and harvestable bleke population. If this goal is achieved, the bleke may regain its previous position as an important part of local culinary culture, with positive implications for recreation, tourism, and business development.