Inspired by the 'small streams' thread, I thought I'd be so bold as to start my very own from my very fishy home of Norway. After moving here som nine years ago from the UK, I found an eldorado of trout fishing in very close proximity.

One of my favourite small streams is a stream that runs between to lakes that eventually runs out to the larger, well renowned Mandalselva or Mandal river.

This stream has given me many a fine moment. Absolutely the finest stream I know of that's not a day's outing away. The first trip of the year happened a couple of days ago, and result in a few fish and my largest from this stream.

I start first where the stream runs out into the lake



The river was higher than normal due to the recent rains, but this can often be very positive. No fish were rising, but I was determined to get the year's first dry fly caught trout. On with a daddy and explore the flow.....



After many fruitless casts I finally got the above fish. Then this pool was next. It normally delivers, though not many larger fish. The largest come from the head of the pool where I sit on the rocks and fish czech style into the flow. I lost a couple of nicer sized trout....



I had a couple of these, were silver and battered. Sea trout/salmon smolt?



This pool is only visable if there's a slight spate. Lucky for me the spate was on.



It provided a few nice fish on a czech nymph.



Then it was to the beginning of the stream where it runs out of the top lake.



It manage to pick out a few smaller fish on a size 18 f-fly until I saw something of more interest head and tailing in the stillwater.



A gentle and thank god, perfect cast out to the fish. BANG....it nearly pulled the rod out of my hand! After a few minutes spirited fight, this beauty, 17" in length came to hand.



Hot, satisified and well chuffed, I returned home to the painting that awaited me

NB no fish were killed nor injured in the making of these pictures

__________________
Life is like a box of choclates. Ya never know what ya gonna get.

Forrest Gump 1994

In December I moved house roughly 10 miles up the Mandal valley. Not only have I a larger house but a stream a stone's throw away. Due to this stream being a spawning ground for sea trout and salmon in the autumn, fishing is only permitted in the salmon fishing season; 1st June to 1st September.

Here's some pictures from my first trip in the rain.

As you can see, it's real jungle fishing



But a careful cast trying to avoid all the branches can be rewarding



The stream is pretty small, though there are some interesting pools and streches here and there.



They deliver too...the picture is a little out of focus due to dark conditons, and unsteady hand and a bad mobile camera.



But overall I feel pretty lucky to have a stream almost on my doorstep

__________________
Life is like a box of choclates. Ya never know what ya gonna get.

Forrest Gump 1994

During the late 80's early 90's, Southern Norway was given a somewhat unwanted gift from the UK.......acid rain. This obviously decreased pH levels to such an extent that most of the proflic aquatic life that Norway was so famed for died out.

In the years after, schemes were started to chalk waterways and increase pH levels and then re-stocking. As American Brook Trout could tolerate lower pH, they were widely stocked though not native to Norway. Relative few waterways housing brookies remain, due to them being positively pushed out by the indigenious Salmo Trutta which was later stocked when pH levels reached a satisfactory level. But there are a few golden nuggets left, and some of these really do have nice fish and unusually have healthy breeding stocks.

The nearest stream to me is about 10-15mins drive, but by goodness it's worth it





The average size is around this size, but the fish a real fighters and fin perfect. It's always a pleasure to fish for them.



But every now and then I get lucky and a real belter turns up. This one is my largest wild brookie of roughly 1 3/4lbs



I think I might even have to have a trip next week, time permitting

__________________
Life is like a box of choclates. Ya never know what ya gonna get.

Forrest Gump 1994

Absolutely gorgeous!

You can always incorporate your fishing and small streams on our small stream thread! Most of the European anglers use the same thread!

But I do love the photos of your small rivers; and envy your variety of game fish!

Regards

Mostyn

Cool, I was a little unsure, but sounds great I shall do that in the future. It's a shame I can't move this thread.....

Thanks for the kind comments too

__________________
Life is like a box of choclates. Ya never know what ya gonna get.

Forrest Gump 1994

Wouldn't you know it! Boy it has been some time since I caught a brook trout here as hefty as that male you are holding Wiggy! Brown trout introduced here did a number on the brook trout which were in trouble from the use of our rivers and streams in the Industrial Revolution. Brook trout are prized here and I am glad you are enjoying them also.

Bobby

P.S. Wiggy can you find out where the brook trout stock came from please? I have seen pictures of other male brook trout with that shape from Sabago stock fish from Maine where the greates number of remaining wild brook trout are located in the USA.

__________________
"Tight lines from Vermont where the winters are long the fish are wild and the women are good looking."

I'll try. It's very interesting to hear about the possible origins of these brook trout

__________________
Life is like a box of choclates. Ya never know what ya gonna get.

Forrest Gump 1994

Wiggy

If in fact they came from the USA and not Canada then it is likely they came from Maine hatchery stock which to the best of my knowledge is of Sebago Lake origin. I know they work with that stock in their programs. I may even know a biologist involved with the fish you received. It would be cool to find this out. Since they are no longer stocking the brook trout there and what you have are wild these fish could be of biologic value at some point! Have you gotten tiger trout cross bred fish from the brook trout stocking? It happens from time to time in the wild.

Bobby

__________________
"Tight lines from Vermont where the winters are long the fish are wild and the women are good looking."

I've never caught a wild tiger, though the possibility is there in many waterways I fish. This particular stream ends in a very large lake that has got a healthy population of both browns and brookies. So somewhere in there, there must be a tiger I'm active on the three largest fishing forums over here, and have yet to see anything about tiger trout.

Though I think I'll have a little search

__________________
Life is like a box of choclates. Ya never know what ya gonna get.

Forrest Gump 1994

Wiggy

Check this link for photos of wild tiger trout.

Wild Trout Photography Tiger Trout 2

Bobby

__________________
"Tight lines from Vermont where the winters are long the fish are wild and the women are good looking."