Fishing in the Vefsna waterways

The Vefsna waterways are the largest river system in Nordland, consisting of a network of rivers and tributaries from Børgefjell, Majavatn, and Lomsdal-Visten National Park, which converge in the Vefsna and Svenningelva rivers. They flow from Hattfjelldal in the east and Majavatn in the southwest, emptying into the Vefsnfjord in Mosjøen in the north. The river system is known for excellent fishing and is a popular salmon river.

To ensure a healthy and sustainable fish population in the Vefsna watershed, there are certain rules that you as an angler must follow. This helps prevent overfishing and the spread of diseases and parasites that could harm the fish. If you break these rules or fish without the proper permits, you risk substantial fines. You can avoid this by familiarizing yourself with and adhering to the regulations provided below.

Overview

To fish in the Vefsna waterways, you must pay a fishing fee and purchase a fishing license for the specific fishing area you want to fish in. You must disinfect the equipment you bring, and you must register and report your catch to the Norwegian Environment Agency. More information on this is provided below. Please note that each fishing area may have its own rules regarding fishing start times, minimum fish sizes, catch quotas, and similar regulations.

Fishing license and fishing fee
Disinfection of fishing and paddling equipment
Recommended fishing valds
Reporting catches
Fishing in inland waters

Fishing license and fishing fee

To fish in the “salmon-bearing section” of the Vefsna waterways, which includes the areas of the rivers where salmon and sea trout can be found, you need two fishing licenses: the Norwegian Environment Agency’s fishing fee and a fishing license for the specific zone of the river you are fishing in. The different fishing zones in the river are called “valds.”

You can view a map of the salmon-bearing sections of the waterways here.
You can view an overview of the different vald’s further down.

The Norwegian Environment Agency’s fishing fee

Who needs it?
People over the age of 18 who are fishing in the Vefsna river.

Where do you need it?
In the entire part of the Vefsna water way, where there’s salmon and sea trout, no matter what kind of fish you’re fishing for.
You can view a map of the salmon-bearing sections of the waterways here.

How to pay the Norwegian Environment Agency’s fishing fee?
You can pay the Norwegian Environment Agency’s fishing fee on their website. The fee is valid for an entire season, and you can pay for individuals or for the whole family if you or your children are between 18 and 20 years old. Children under 18 do not need to pay the fishing fee.

Fishing license from iNatur

Who needs it?
Everyone who fishes in freshwater in Norway, regardless of what they are fishing for.

Where do you need it?
This applies to all freshwater bodies in Norway, including rivers and waterways, lakes, and mountain waters. In the Vefsna waterways, there are different fishing licenses for specific zones of the river. These zones are called “valds.”

Where do you buy a fishing license?
On iNatur.no, you can find an overview of the different valds in the Vefsna waterways and fishing licenses for each one. Prices, duration, and age limits vary from vald to vald.

Recommended fishing valds

There are many fishing valds in the Vefsna waterways. Below are some that are often recommended to tourists due to their good location and easy access to fishing licenses.

Be aware that Vefsna is an “unregulated waterway.” This means no dams are holding back the water and releasing it in a steady flow. Instead, the rivers flow freely, with a lot of water and strong currents (“high water flow”) when there is a lot of rain and snowmelt in the mountains, and less water and calmer currents when there is little rain and snowmelt (“low water flow”). Since salmon and sea trout swim up the river from the sea, the water flow affects where they are in the river at different times, and various parts of the river will have good fishing at different times of the season. You can find more information about this on the pages for each fishing license and in the information boxes above.

Disinfection of fishing and paddling equipment

Due to the salmon parasite Gyrodactylus salaris, commonly referred to as “gyro,” all equipment taken from one waterway to another must be disinfected before it can be used in a new waterway. This means that all equipment in contact with the water, and which has been in water in another river, must be disinfected before use. This applies to fishing gear such as nets, waders, and boats, as well as paddling equipment like river kayaks, packrafts, paddles, life jackets, and other clothing.

Disinfection for fishermen

If you are fishing, you need a disinfection certificate from VeFi that shows you have disinfected your fishing gear. You can get this at VeFi’s disinfection stations in Mosjøen, Trofors, and Hattfjelldal.

Find VeFi’s disinfection station in Trofors on Google Maps
Find VeFi’s disinfection station in Hattfjelldal on Google Maps
Find VeFi’s disinfection station in Mosjøen on Google Maps

Disinfection for paddlers and other river users

Paddlers and others using the river, who bring equipment that has been in another waterway, must also disinfect it or wait until the equipment is completely dry before using it in the Vefsna waterways. You can disinfect the equipment with disinfectant from, for example, Felleskjøpet, but these are potent and hazardous substances in concentrated form, so we recommend using disinfection stations. In Trofors, equipment can be disinfected for free at RiverNorth Rafting.

Read more about disinfection at RiverNorth Rafting here

You can read more about disinfection and fighting gyro on Mattilsynet.no

Reporting your catches

All those fishing for salmon, sea trout, and/or Arctic char must report their catch to the Norwegian Environment Agency. This applies whether the fish is released (“catch and release”) or killed. This provides important knowledge about the salmon population in the river and is crucial for maintaining a strong and sustainable salmon stock.

Please note that some valds may have different reporting solutions. You will be informed about this when you purchase the fishing license for the vald.

Read more about reporting and report your catch on Miljødirektoratet.no

Other freshwater fishing in the area

If you are not set on fishing specifically for salmon or sea trout, it might be easier to fish in some of the many lakes managed by Statsskog in the area, and in rivers and streams without salmon and sea trout. The mountainous areas around the Vefsna waterways are full of excellent fishing lakes and rivers without salmon and sea trout, where you can catch brown trout, Arctic char, and grayling.

For this, all you need is Statsskog’s Norgeskort for inland fishing and to disinfect your equipment when moving between different waters and waterways. There are no additional fishing fees, no reporting requirements, and no valds to adhere to. Just practice leave-no-trace principles, respect the local environment, nature, and wildlife, and enjoy yourself.

Read more about and purchase Statsskog’s Norgeskort for inland fishing here

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