Up-to-date, live info on Gaula River water height and flow
Norwegian Water Resources
and Energy Directorate
Local Information: The Gaula River, Sør-Trøndelag
Officially ranked as Europe’s number one Salmon River, the Gaula offers both quantity and quality of salmon. One of the few rivers in the world where your next cast might result in a forty-pound salmon, Gaula has fish that average between fourteen and sixteen pounds in weight. In 2005 the Gaula became the best salmon fishing river in Norway with a catch of 37.5 tons.
Rising in the mountains near to Roros, salmon run the river up to the Eggfossen waterfall just above Haltdalen. It reaches the sea at Trondheim, emptying into the vast Trondheim fjord along with its sister rivers the Sjtordal, Verdal, Orkla and Nidelve.
One of the most astonishing things about Gaula is the fact that it offers good fly fishing water for salmon for a considerable length. Throughout its journey to the fjord, the Gaula maintains a fairly consistent width and flow, interspersing deep, inviting pools with fast shallow runs. It is an accessible river with, for the most part, gently shelving banks that provide good wading and access to the water.
One of the most appealing features of the river are the consistent, even flows that create long glides, fishable over several hundred metres. Though some pools are undoubtedly better than others, Gaula is not a river that confines the angler to fishing short ‘hotspots’ Many of the pools offer good fishing over several hundred metres with big boulders littered around the pool providing many hidden ‘lies’ for salmon.
The Winsnes section of the river, widely recognised as one of the best sections of Gaula, is prime fly water and it is located in the middle reaches between the towns of Storen and Singsaas. Fishing on the river is from June 1st to August 31st inclusive.