Season

The fishing season starts on 1 June and ends on  September 1st. The Årgård River is a typical grilse river where most of the salmon weigh an average of 1.2–1.6 kilos. During the first two weeks of the season – before the grilse run starts – most fish weigh 3–6 kilos.

From Midsummer and onwards, there is a steady run of grilse with peaks when the river rises because of rainfall.

Methods

It can be said that only during the first weeks of the season is traditional salmon fishing the most efficient way of catching fish.

When the grilse arrive, the water temperature is rising (+ 12-18°C) and it is up to the angler to use his/her imagination and find flies and techniques that awaken the interest of the salmon. Sun Ray Shadow, dry flies, nymphs, streamers, micro-flies, traditional salmon flies – anything is worth trying.

One of the favourite methods used on the river is dry fly. Here we are talking about true dry fly fishing – that is to say, a dry fly on a dead drift. Striping the fly, hitching and poppers can also result in fish but sometimes it is the dead drift that really makes a difference.

However, it must be said that this method does not work every year. Nobody knows why this is so but it seems that in certain years, the fish just do not care about insects on the surface.