The north is praying for rain.

ill photo Glenn

After a great start to the season the fishing has slowed down due to an unusually dry summer. The locals in North-Tronderlag are praying for a good rain.

Give us a weeks rain! That is a clear message from the local fisheries officer, Anton Rikstad. He explained that after a great start to the season the number of salmon catches has reduced dramatically. In fact the entire shire of North Tronderlag has been below average. With a good week of rain the fish will begin to run the river again.

Namsen’s catchments have an average of 13 ton during the early summer but this year it is currently 6.5 ton. In fact the average weight of the fish is 6.5 kilo. This calculates to be an average of 6.5 kilo per fish. The largest fish caught this year was taken on opening day and it weighed in at a whopping 21 kilo.

Despite the rain in late June we still need a solid weeks rain for the fishing to improve that is Anton Rikstad conclusion.

Namsen is not the only river in the north that is struggling with a lack of rain. Stjørdalselva and Levangerelva (rivers) and some rivers are almost dry. Årgårdselva and Steindalselva have been turned into small streams.

The good news is the forecast for the first week of July is rain, rain and more rain.

Skot.