Fast water now, fresh water coming
The latest reports from Kvennan confirms it: trout and grayling have moved into the fast, oxygen-rich water — right where we hoped you would be looking for them. Better still, there is finally rain on the horizon.
It is always nice when the river agrees with you. Last week we advised you to fish the necks, the riffles and the streamy water while the heat lasted. In his latest fishing report from Kvennan river keeper Eirik Sætren describes exactly that pattern on the upper Glomma: the water is low after weeks without rain, and the quality grayling and trout are being found where the current runs strong.
"The flowing water contains more oxygen, and fish often gather there," Sætren writes.
The water temperature at Kvennan, meanwhile, reads a comfortable 13.6 degrees — a useful reminder that low water is not the same as warm water this far up the valley.
Rain at last?
After a long dry spell, the weather maps have finally turned blue. The forecasts suggest up to 20 millimetres of rain over Østerdalen between Saturday and Tuesday, with daytime highs slipping from the low twenties into the high teens. That is good news for everyone. The small rivers and tributaries respond first — a pulse of cool, fresh water is often all it takes to put every fish in the neighbourhood back on the feed — and the big rivers will follow as the water rises and cools.
And should a main river climb enough to take on colour for a day or two, borrow a page from Sætren's book: earlier this month he recommended "exploring some of our tributaries" while the big water settles. That logic travels well across the whole region.
Glomma: the night shift is paying off
The Glomma itself has been fishing well right through the warm spell — for those who picked their hours. Evening, night and early morning have been the productive shifts, while the middle of the day has mostly been for swimming and siestas. With cooler days and fresh water on the way, expect that pattern to loosen and the daytime windows to open up again.
Before you go
Until the rain has done its job, the warm-water rules still apply: land fish quickly, keep them in the water, and give them time to recover before release. As Sætren reminds his guests, fish are more vulnerable in warm water, and prolonged fights are costly.
So bring the rain jacket this weekend. Few garments will have been pulled on more cheerfully.
