Week 23, 01.06.2025 -
07.06.2025
We are all very excited to see how fishing will develop this season. At the moment, we are very optimistic about the coming season. The conditions on the Orkla are excellent and fish have already been recorded passing the bjorset dam at the end of May. The test fishing in the Trondheimsfjord is also extremely positive. We are very happy that we were able to register our first salmon on the first day of the season. Stephen caught this fantastic salmon of 103 cm and approx. 10.50 kg in our beat “Blasmo”. Well done Stephen.Our guest Mattias was a little unlucky and lost two salmon after a short fight. But on the last evening he was successful. He managed to land a nice salmon of 90 cm. Congratulations to Mattias. Never give up ! After the first week we can say that the fishing has been very good so far. Especially when you consider that in the first week over 50% fewer anglers were registered on the Orkla! So far 102 salmon have been registered that have already passed the björset dam in Meldal. Compared to previous years, this is a normal number of salmon ascending to the middle section of the river. Test fishing with a NINA net in the fjord also yielded very good catch figures. All very positive signs for the coming weeks. Let's look forward to the coming weeks on the Orkla.Week 24, 07.06.2025 - 14.06.2025
This week turned out to be very difficult. High water between 80 and 100 m3 and cold melt water. These are probably the main reasons for the slow fishing on Orkla and the surrounding waters. A normal number of fish have been registered passing the Björset dam again this week. Since saturday we have now had high air temperatures of up to 26 degrees. The water temperature has risen accordingly to around 10 degrees and the water level is falling. So good omens for the coming week. Let's see :-)Week 25, 14.06.2025 - 21.06.2025
We also had a lot of water in the river this week, but the conditions were actually very good. Sun, rain and clouds alternated almost every hour. Unfortunately, the salmon bite is still very slow. But we know, based on the information from Orkla Fellesvorwaltning, that a normal number of salmon are coming up. In the first two weeks, more than 300 large salmon were recorded passing the dam. So far, the statistics are as good as an average year on the Orkla. However, if you consider that over 50 % fewer anglers fish on the Orkla than in an average year, you can speak of a very good season so far. From the middle of the week there were more fish to be seen and our guests often had contact with salmon. I was lucky enough to land a nice salmon on Friday. Let's carry on like this.Week 25, 14.06.2025 - 21.06.2025
We also had a lot of water in the river this week, but the conditions were actually very good. Sun, rain and clouds alternated almost every hour. Unfortunately, the salmon bite is still very slow. But we know, based on the information from Orkla Fellesvorwaltning, that a normal number of salmon are coming up. In the first two weeks, more than 300 large salmon were recorded passing the dam. So far, the statistics are as good as an average year on the Orkla. However, if you consider that over 50 % fewer anglers fish on the Orkla than in an average year, you can speak of a very good season so far. From the middle of the week there were more fish to be seen and our guests often had contact with salmon. I was lucky enough to land a nice salmon on Friday. Let's carry on like this.Week 26, 21.06.2025 - 28.06.2025
Flood levels of 80 to 205 m3 also prevailed this week. Very good conditions for the salmon to ascend into the Orkla. And the figures at the video station at bjorset dam confirm this. The salmon seem to be less aggressive due to the very cool weather and the persistent high water. Accordingly, we had many contacts, but were only able to land a few salmon. Bernd and Jeppe caught the first two grilse. Thomas, our regular guest, landed a fantastic salmon of 106 cm and approx. 11.60 kg at the end of the week. His personally biggest salmon so far. Well done Thomas. I had bad luck on friday. Shortly after breakfast I lost the long competition against a nice salmon after a strong fight with several air jumps. But during my evening session i quickly forgot the lost battle from the morning. After 20 minutes of a real fight i was able to land and successfully release a great salmon of 110 cm and approx. 13.50 kg.Week 27, 28.06.2025 - 05.07.2025
At the beginning of this week we still had about 80 m2 of water in the Orkla. But it looks like the salmon are becoming more active. Now there were more jumping fish to be seen on all stretches. From the middle of this week we noticed a dramatic increase in contacts. Until the end of the week we had many fights with salmon but unfortunately we could only land a few. This also confirms the good numbers of rising salmon. Meanwhile, medium-sized salmon (5 - 7 kg) and also the grilse have arrived in the river in large numbers. This is of course very pleasing for the fish population in the orkla. In the middle of this week, the fisheries administration confirmed that the orkla can be fished normally until the end of the season So lots of good news and signs this week. Confirmation of good fishing came on the first evening for our new guests for the week that has just begun. 4 longline released salmon and two nice grilse caught and carefully released.Week 28, 05.07.2025 - 12.07.2025
Slowly but surely the orkla is getting a normal water level . Fish of all sizes are being spotted in all the pools. Now the grilse have definitely arrived. A good number of medium-sized salmon are also being registered. The fishing is improving day by day. Almost all of our guests have been able to land Salmon. The biggest salmon of the week was landed by Manuel, a great fish weighing around 6.00 kg. Well done Manuel. We had a lot of contacts this week, unfortunately René couldn't land any of his 7 fish! Yannik also had the same bad luck. But that's also part of salmon fishing.Week 29, 12.07.2025 - 19.07.2025
This week starts with real summer temperatures. 28 degrees. In the first few days of this week we have constant temperatures of up to 32 degrees. The water level is still around 35 m3 and the water temperature at Orkla has risen to 15 degrees. Great conditions for the floating line. Due to the high temperatures, we have moved the fishing to the evening and early morning hours. This was the right decision. Some good grilse and a nice salmon of 96 cm have been landed so far. Unfortunately, we received a message from our neighboring rivers that the Verdal and the Gaula were once again closed for fishing at short notice due to high water temperatures (20 degrees). According to weather forecasts, this warm period will last until the middle of next week. On the Orkla, the water doesn't get that warm, which is one of the advantages of the hydropower plants. They have to feed cool water from the large reservoirs into the Orkla. There is therefore hardly any danger of the Orkla being closed. The fishing is good, but tricky. There are lots of salmon in all the pools and they are interested in the flies but they bite very carefully. Steven had 7 salmon on the line, but unfortunately couldn't land a single one. Markus was very successful instead. During his salmon school he was able to land his first salmon with the fly. Well done Markus.Week 30, 19.07.2025 - 26.07.2025
Many different nations are here this week, Germany, England, Finland, South Tyrol (Italy), Scotland and Wales. However, the temperatures are more like those in Spain or Greece. 30 to 32 degrees for the whole week and not a drop of rain in sight. Nevertheless, we had good fishing again with some fresh silver salmon between 5 and 6 Kg and some nice grilse. The Orkla does not mind the heat, enough water (40 m3) and water temperatures around 13 degrees allow for good fishing. Unfortunately Gaula, Forra and Verdal are still closed for fishing due to low water and water temperatures above 20 degrees. This week, the Finnish couple Anne and Mikko visited my salmon school. Unfortunately, Anne lost her first salmon after a short drill. Mikko, on the other hand, landed the biggest salmon (102 cm, approx. 10.50 kg) of the week. great job Mikko !Week 31, 26.07.2025 - 02.08.2025
The weather has definitely changed now. Cooler temperatures, cloudy skies and the occasional rain shower. So good conditions for fishing. On monday, the gaula also reopened for fishing, although the forecast heavy rain has not yet materialized. Our biggest salmon so far was caught by our regular guest Andy. Approx. 7.5 kg. Well done Andy. The water level on the Orkla was briefly at the minimum ( 22 m3 ). I had a fantastic day on the 29th. Not much fishing and still caught 4 fresh grilse in 3 different pools in one day ! It's raining here at the moment. Let's see what this change in the weather means for the second half of the week.Week 29, 12.07.2025 - 19.07.2025
This week starts with real summer temperatures. 28 degrees. In the first few days of this week we have constant temperatures of up to 32 degrees. The water level is still around 35 m3 and the water temperature at Orkla has risen to 15 degrees. Great conditions for the floating line. Due to the high temperatures, we have moved the fishing to the evening and early morning hours. This was the right decision. Some good grilse and a nice salmon of 96 cm have been landed so far. Unfortunately, we received a message from our neighboring rivers that the Verdal and the Gaula were once again closed for fishing at short notice due to high water temperatures (20 degrees). According to weather forecasts, this warm period will last until the middle of next week. On the Orkla, the water doesn't get that warm, which is one of the advantages of the hydropower plants. They have to feed cool water from the large reservoirs into the Orkla. There is therefore hardly any danger of the Orkla being closed. The fishing is good, but tricky. There are lots of salmon in all the pools and they are interested in the flies but they bite very carefully. Steven had 7 salmon on the line, but unfortunately couldn't land a single one. Markus was very successful instead. During his salmon school he was able to land his first salmon with the fly. Well done Markus.Week 32, 02.08.2025 - 09.08.2025
"The water remained unusually low this week, yet the pools were teeming with fish. They weren’t particularly active, but that didn’t dampen our spirits. With our four rods, we managed to land some fine grilse – and enjoyed plenty of exciting encounters."Week 33, 09.08.2025 - 16.08.2025
"Beautiful weather and steady water levels shaped this week on the river. Fresh grilse continued to make their way up the Orkla in good numbers. For my two Salmon School participants from South Tyrol, the week was especially rewarding: both managed to land their very first Atlantic salmon during the course – well done, Rene and Michele! Our other guests also enjoyed some exciting action, with several strong August fish putting up memorable fights."Week 34, 16.08.2025 - 23.08.2025
"The weather has now taken a turn: rain and a two-day storm gave us a tough time. The water level rose to around 100 cubic meters per second, and we had to wait a while until conditions became fishable again. Once the river settled, the fishing quickly picked up – several grilse were landed. Björn hooked into a stunning salmon weighing around 10 kg, followed shortly by another fresh-run fish of about 9 kg, successfully landed by Uli. As is often the case at the end of the season, the big salmon made their presence known – some were landed, others at least hooked."Week 35 and 36, 23.08.2025 -
31.08.2025
"Suddenly, it was as if someone had flipped a switch – the fishing came to a standstill. Despite good conditions and plenty of salmon visible in the pools, we were only able to land a few fish over the past few days. Even the number of takes dropped noticeably. Why the salmon became so inactive all of a sudden remained a mystery. But that's part of salmon fishing – unpredictable and full of surprises."
Aunemo Lodge statistic 2025
Review Orkla 2025 – A Season of
Hope and Water
The 2025 season at the Orkla River has
come to an end — and with it, another
chapter filled with anticipation,
challenges, and quiet moments by the
water.
After the abrupt closure of the fishery in
the summer of 2024 — when fishing
had to stop after just three weeks due
to poor salmon runs — the longing for a
fresh start this year was stronger than
ever. The hope was tangible, felt by
everyone connected to the river.
But right from the start, nature showed
its full force. Persistent high water
throughout June made fishing difficult.
The fish were there — in good numbers,
in fact — but they moved upriver
quickly, hardly showing themselves,
almost impossible to catch. Patience
was needed. And trust.
Despite the challenging conditions, the
Orkla Fishery Management decided in
early July to keep the season open — a
decision that showed both courage and
a sense of responsibility. The
regulations remained strict, with a focus
on protecting the future of the river.
Then came the heat. By mid-July,
temperatures soared above 30°C. No
rain, no wind — just sun, dust, and a
river slowly warming. But the Orkla
endured. Thanks to regulation and
guaranteed minimum water flow from
the hydropower plants, fishing
remained possible — while other rivers,
like the nearby Gaula, had to close for
two weeks due to water temperatures
reaching 21°C and critically low levels.
And yet, the Orkla was alive. In July
and August, salmon continued to run —
and how! Particularly impressive were
the numbers of grilse (1.5–3.5 kg). For
many of us, this was a hopeful sign that
the river still has strength for the years
to come. Perhaps 2026 will bring a
strong return of medium-sized salmon
— we allow ourselves to dream.
Another positive surprise: the sea trout.
Their runs were strong this year — a
quiet gift for those who see more than
just the catch.
Of course, this season wasn't like the
old ones. Fewer anglers were present
along the river — for many different
reasons. This is also reflected in the
statistics. But sometimes, silence
speaks louder than numbers. You could
feel it: those who came to the Orkla in
2025 didn’t just come to fish. They
came to recharge, to observe, to listen.
In total, 84 salmon were caught on
our beats, with an average weight of
3.74 kg (compared to the Orkla-wide
average of 3.90 kg).Among them, five
dream fish between 9.00 and 11.80
kg were landed by our guests —
unforgettable moments for all
involved.The largest salmon of our
2025 season measured 106 cm and
weighed approximately 11.80 kg.
We are especially proud that over 90%
of all salmon caught were safely
released. In a few unfortunate cases,
some fish were mortally injured by the
hooks and could not survive. Out of
respect for the fish and the community,
these salmon were donated by our
guests to the local retirement home —
bringing a welcome and rare treat to
the menu for the elderly residents.
Across the entire Orkla River, the total
registered catch in 2025 was:3,913
fish weighing a combined 13,406.50
kg.The largest salmon of the season
measured an impressive 122 cm,
estimated at around 18.50 kg.
To all our guests: we sincerely thank
you for your exemplary attitude toward
Catch & Release and for helping to
protect this exceptional salmon
population for the future.
A final note: unlike in many parts of
Northern Norway, the Orkla was largely
spared from the massive invasion of
pink salmon. Only 23 were recorded —
a fact we consider very fortunate
You can read the full official report
from the Orkla River Management
here (in Norwegian):�� Orkla 2025
– Official Report
Week 26, 21.06.2025 - 28.06.2025
Flood levels of 80 to 205 m3 also prevailed this week. Very good conditions for the salmon to ascend into the Orkla. And the figures at the video station at bjorset dam confirm this. The salmon seem to be less aggressive due to the very cool weather and the persistent high water. Accordingly, we had many contacts, but were only able to land a few salmon. Bernd and Jeppe caught the first two grilse. Thomas, our regular guest, landed a fantastic salmon of 106 cm and approx. 11.60 kg at the end of the week. His personally biggest salmon so far. Well done Thomas. I had bad luck on friday. Shortly after breakfast I lost the long competition against a nice salmon after a strong fight with several air jumps. But during my evening session i quickly forgot the lost battle from the morning. After 20 minutes of a real fight i was able to land and successfully release a great salmon of 110 cm and approx. 13.50 kg.Week 25, 14.06.2025 - 21.06.2025
We also had a lot of water in the river this week, but the conditions were actually very good. Sun, rain and clouds alternated almost every hour. Unfortunately, the salmon bite is still very slow. But we know, based on the information from Orkla Fellesvorwaltning, that a normal number of salmon are coming up. In the first two weeks, more than 300 large salmon were recorded passing the dam. So far, the statistics are as good as an average year on the Orkla. However, if you consider that over 50 % fewer anglers fish on the Orkla than in an average year, you can speak of a very good season so far. From the middle of the week there were more fish to be seen and our guests often had contact with salmon. I was lucky enough to land a nice salmon on Friday. Let's carry on like this.
Aunemo Lodge review 2025
Aunemo Lodge statistic 2025
Week 23, 01.06.2025 - 07.06.2025
We are all very excited to see how fishing will develop this season. At the moment, we are very optimistic about the coming season. The conditions on the Orkla are excellent and fish have already been recorded passing the bjorset dam at the end of May. The test fishing in the Trondheimsfjord is also extremely positive. We are very happy that we were able to register our first salmon on the first day of the season. Stephen caught this fantastic salmon of 103 cm and approx. 10.50 kg in our beat “Blasmo”. Well done Stephen. Our guest Mattias was a little unlucky and lost two salmon after a short fight. But on the last evening he was successful. He managed to land a nice salmon of 90 cm. Congratulations to Mattias. Never give up ! After the first week we can say that the fishing has been very good so far. Especially when you consider that in the first week over 50% fewer anglers were registered on the Orkla! So far 102 salmon have been registered that have already passed the björset dam in Meldal. Compared to previous years, this is a normal number of salmon ascending to the middle section of the river. Test fishing with a NINA net in the fjord also yielded very good catch figures. All very positive signs for the coming weeks. Let's look forward to the coming weeks on the Orkla.Week 24, 07.06.2025 - 14.06.2025
This week turned out to be very difficult. High water between 80 and 100 m3 and cold melt water. These are probably the main reasons for the slow fishing on Orkla and the surrounding waters. A normal number of fish have been registered passing the Björset dam again this week. Since saturday we have now had high air temperatures of up to 26 degrees. The water temperature has risen accordingly to around 10 degrees and the water level is falling. So good omens for the coming week. Let's see :-)
copyright by spinnler flyfishing AS
Mail: spinnler@spinnler-fliegenfischen.ch
Phone: ++41 (0)79 322 25 87
www.spinnler-fliegenfischen.ch
www.laksefiske-orkla.com
ADRESS
Spinnler Flyfishing AS
℅ Hans Spinnler
Bachtalenstrasse 2
CH - 4313 Möhlin
Switzerland
Week 27, 28.06.2025 - 05.07.2025
At the beginning of this week we still had about 80 m2 of water in the Orkla. But it looks like the salmon are becoming more active. Now there were more jumping fish to be seen on all stretches. From the middle of this week we noticed a dramatic increase in contacts. Until the end of the week we had many fights with salmon but unfortunately we could only land a few. This also confirms the good numbers of rising salmon. Meanwhile, medium-sized salmon (5 - 7 kg) and also the grilse have arrived in the river in large numbers. This is of course very pleasing for the fish population in the orkla. In the middle of this week, the fisheries administration confirmed that the orkla can be fished normally until the end of the season So lots of good news and signs this week. Confirmation of good fishing came on the first evening for our new guests for the week that has just begun. 4 longline released salmon and two nice grilse caught and carefully released.Week 28, 05.07.2025 - 12.07.2025
Slowly but surely the Orkla is getting a normal water level . Fish of all sizes are being spotted in all the pools. Now the grilse have definitely arrived. A good number of medium-sized salmon are also being registered. The fishing is improving day by day. Almost all of our guests have been able to land Salmon. The biggest salmon of the week was landed by Manuel, a great fish weighing around 6.00 kg. Well done Manuel. We had a lot of contacts this week, unfortunately René couldn't land any of his 7 fish! Yannik also had the same bad luck. But that's also part of salmon fishing.
Week 29, 12.07.2025 - 19.07.2025
This week starts with real summer temperatures. 28 degrees. In the first few days of this week we have constant temperatures of up to 32 degrees. The water level is still around 35 m3 and the water temperature at Orkla has risen to 15 degrees. Great conditions for the floating line. Due to the high temperatures, we have moved the fishing to the evening and early morning hours. This was the right decision. Some good grilse and a nice salmon of 96 cm have been landed so far. Unfortunately, we received a message from our neighboring rivers that the Verdal and the Gaula were once again closed for fishing at short notice due to high water temperatures (20 degrees). According to weather forecasts, this warm period will last until the middle of next week. On the Orkla, the water doesn't get that warm, which is one of the advantages of the hydropower plants. They have to feed cool water from the large reservoirs into the Orkla. There is therefore hardly any danger of the Orkla being closed. The fishing is good, but tricky. There are lots of salmon in all the pools and they are interested in the flies but they bite very carefully. Steven had 7 salmon on the line, but unfortunately couldn't land a single one. Markus was very successful instead. During his salmon school he was able to land his first salmon with the fly. Well done Markus.
Week 30, 19.07.2025 - 26.07.2025
Many different nations are here this week, Germany, England, Finland, South Tyrol (Italy), Scotland and Wales. However, the temperatures are more like those in Spain or Greece. 30 to 32 degrees for the whole week and not a drop of rain in sight. Nevertheless, we had good fishing again with some fresh silver salmon between 5 and 6 Kg and some nice grilse. The Orkla does not mind the heat, enough water (40 m3) and water temperatures around 13 degrees allow for good fishing. Unfortunately Gaula, Forra and Verdal are still closed for fishing due to low water and water temperatures above 20 degrees. This week, the Finnish couple Anne and Mikko visited my salmon school. Unfortunately, Anne lost her first salmon after a short drill. Mikko, on the other hand, landed the biggest salmon (102 cm, approx. 10.50 kg) of the week. great job Mikko !
Week 31, 26.07.2025 - 02.08.2025
The weather has definitely changed now. Cooler temperatures, cloudy skies and the occasional rain shower. So good conditions for fishing. On monday, the gaula also reopened for fishing, although the forecast heavy rain has not yet materialized. Our biggest salmon so far was caught by our regular guest Andy. Approx. 7.5 kg. Well done Andy. The water level on the Orkla was briefly at the minimum ( 22 m3 ). I had a fantastic day on the 29th. Not much fishing and still caught 4 fresh grilse in 3 different pools in one day ! It's raining here at the moment. Let's see what this change in the weather means for the second half of the week.
Week 33, 09.08.2025 - 16.08.2025
"Beautiful weather and steady water levels shaped this week on the river. Fresh grilse continued to make their way up the Orkla in good numbers. For my two Salmon School participants from South Tyrol, the week was especially rewarding: both managed to land their very first Atlantic salmon during the course – well done, Rene and Michele! Our other guests also enjoyed some exciting action, with several strong August fish putting up memorable fights."Week 32, 02.08.2025 - 09.08.2025
"The water remained unusually low this week, yet the pools were teeming with fish. They weren’t particularly active, but that didn’t dampen our spirits. With our four rods, we managed to land some fine grilse – and enjoyed plenty of exciting encounters."Week 35 and 36, 23.08.2025 - 31.08.2025
"Suddenly, it was as if someone had flipped a switch – the fishing came to a standstill. Despite good conditions and plenty of salmon visible in the pools, we were only able to land a few fish over the past few days. Even the number of takes dropped noticeably. Why the salmon became so inactive all of a sudden remained a mystery. But that's part of salmon fishing – unpredictable and full of surprises."Week 34, 16.08.2025 - 23.08.2025
"The weather has now taken a turn: rain and a two-day storm gave us a tough time. The water level rose to around 100 cubic meters per second, and we had to wait a while until conditions became fishable again. Once the river settled, the fishing quickly picked up – several grilse were landed. Björn hooked into a stunning salmon weighing around 10 kg, followed shortly by another fresh-run fish of about 9 kg, successfully landed by Uli. As is often the case at the end of the season, the big salmon made their presence known – some were landed, others at least hooked."
Rewiew Orkla 2025 – A Season of Hope and Water
The 2025 season at the Orkla River has come to an end — and with it, another chapter filled with anticipation, challenges, and quiet moments by the
water.
After the abrupt closure of the fishery in the summer of 2024 — when fishing had to stop after just three weeks due to poor salmon runs — the longing
for a fresh start this year was stronger than ever. The hope was tangible, felt by everyone connected to the river.
But right from the start, nature showed its full force. Persistent high water throughout June made fishing difficult. The fish were there — in good
numbers, in fact — but they moved upriver quickly, hardly showing themselves, almost impossible to catch. Patience was needed. And trust.
Despite the challenging conditions, the Orkla Fishery Management decided in early July to keep the season open — a decision that showed both courage
and a sense of responsibility. The regulations remained strict, with a focus on protecting the future of the river.
Then came the heat. By mid-July, temperatures soared above 30°C. No rain, no wind — just sun, dust, and a river slowly warming. But the Orkla
endured. Thanks to regulation and guaranteed minimum water flow from the hydropower plants, fishing remained possible — while other rivers, like the
nearby Gaula, had to close for two weeks due to water temperatures reaching 21°C and critically low levels.
And yet, the Orkla was alive. In July and August, salmon continued to run — and how! Particularly impressive were the numbers of grilse (1.5–3.5 kg).
For many of us, this was a hopeful sign that the river still has strength for the years to come. Perhaps 2026 will bring a strong return of medium-sized
salmon — we allow ourselves to dream.
Another positive surprise: the sea trout. Their runs were strong this year — a quiet gift for those who see more than just the catch.
Of course, this season wasn't like the old ones. Fewer anglers were present along the river — for many different reasons. This is also reflected in the
statistics. But sometimes, silence speaks louder than numbers. You could feel it: those who came to the Orkla in 2025 didn’t just come to fish. They came
to recharge, to observe, to listen.
In total, 84 salmon were caught on our beats, with an average weight of 3.74 kg (compared to the Orkla-wide average of 3.90 kg).Among them,
five dream fish between 9.00 and 11.80 kg were landed by our guests — unforgettable moments for all involved.The largest salmon of our 2025
season measured 106 cm and weighed approximately 11.80 kg.
We are especially proud that over 90% of all salmon caught were safely released. In a few unfortunate cases, some fish were mortally injured by
the hooks and could not survive. Out of respect for the fish and the community, these salmon were donated by our guests to the local retirement home —
bringing a welcome and rare treat to the menu for the elderly residents.
Across the entire Orkla River, the total registered catch in 2025 was:3,913 fish weighing a combined 13,406.50 kg.The largest salmon of the
season measured an impressive 122 cm, estimated at around 18.50 kg.
To all our guests: we sincerely thank you for your exemplary attitude toward Catch & Release and for helping to protect this exceptional salmon
population for the future.
A final note: unlike in many parts of Northern Norway, the Orkla was largely spared from the massive invasion of pink salmon. Only 23 were recorded —
a fact we consider very fortunate
You can read the full official report from the Orkla River Management here (in Norwegian):�� Orkla 2025 – Official Report
Aunemo Lodge 2025
Aunemo Lodge statistic 2025
Hans Spinnler
Bachtalenstrasse 2
CH - 4313 Möhlin
Switzerland
Mail:
spinnler@spinnler-fliegenfischen.ch
Phone: ++41 (0)79 322 25 87
www.spinnler-fliegenfischen.ch
www.laksefiske-orkla.com
Week 23, 01.06.2025 - 07.06.2025
We are all very excited to see how fishing will develop this season. At the moment, we are very optimistic about the coming season. The conditions on the Orkla are excellent and fish have already been recorded passing the bjorset dam at the end of May. The test fishing in the Trondheimsfjord is also extremely positive. We are very happy that we were able to register our first salmon on the first day of the season. Stephen caught this fantastic salmon of 103 cm and approx. 10.50 kg in our beat “Blasmo”. Well done Stephen. Our guest Mattias was a little unlucky and lost two salmon after a short fight. But on the last evening he was successful. He managed to land a nice salmon of 90 cm. Congratulations to Mattias. Never give up ! After the first week we can say that the fishing has been very good so far. Especially when you consider that in the first week over 50% fewer anglers were registered on the Orkla! So far 102 salmon have been registered that have already passed the björset dam in Meldal. Compared to previous years, this is a normal number of salmon ascending to the middle section of the river. Test fishing with a NINA net in the fjord also yielded very good catch figures. All very positive signs for the coming weeks. Let's look forward to the coming weeks on the Orkla.
Week 24, 07.06.2025 - 14.06.2025
This week turned out to be very difficult. High water between 80 and 100 m3 and cold melt water. These are probably the main reasons for the slow fishing on Orkla and the surrounding waters. A normal number of fish have been registered passing the Björset dam again this week. Since saturday we have now had high air temperatures of up to 26 degrees. The water temperature has risen accordingly to around 10 degrees and the water level is falling. So good omens for the coming week. Let's see :-)Week 25, 14.06.2025 - 21.06.2025
We also had a lot of water in the river this week, but the conditions were actually very good. Sun, rain and clouds alternated almost every hour. Unfortunately, the salmon bite is still very slow. But we know, based on the information from Orkla Fellesvorwaltning, that a normal number of salmon are coming up. In the first two weeks, more than 300 large salmon were recorded passing the dam. So far, the statistics are as good as an average year on the Orkla. However, if you consider that over 50 % fewer anglers fish on the Orkla than in an average year, you can speak of a very good season so far. From the middle of the week there were more fish to be seen and our guests often had contact with salmon. I was lucky enough to land a nice salmon on Friday. Let's carry on like this.
Week 26, 21.06.2025 - 28.06.2025
Flood levels of 80 to 205 m3 also prevailed this week. Very good conditions for the salmon to ascend into the Orkla. And the figures at the video station at bjorset dam confirm this. The salmon seem to be less aggressive due to the very cool weather and the persistent high water. Accordingly, we had many contacts, but were only able to land a few salmon. Bernd and Jeppe caught the first two grilse. Thomas, our regular guest, landed a fantastic salmon of 106 cm and approx. 11.60 kg at the end of the week. His personally biggest salmon so far. Well done Thomas. I had bad luck on friday. Shortly after breakfast I lost the long competition against a nice salmon after a strong fight with several air jumps. But during my evening session i quickly forgot the lost battle from the morning. After 20 minutes of a real fight i was able to land and successfully release a great salmon of 110 cm and approx. 13.50 kg.Week 27, 28.06.2025 - 05.07.2025
At the beginning of this week we still had about 80 m2 of water in the Orkla. But it looks like the salmon are becoming more active. Now there were more jumping fish to be seen on all stretches. From the middle of this week we noticed a dramatic increase in contacts. Until the end of the week we had many fights with salmon but unfortunately we could only land a few. This also confirms the good numbers of rising salmon. Meanwhile, medium-sized salmon (5 - 7 kg) and also the grilse have arrived in the river in large numbers. This is of course very pleasing for the fish population in the orkla. In the middle of this week, the fisheries administration confirmed that the orkla can be fished normally until the end of the season So lots of good news and signs this week. Confirmation of good fishing came on the first evening for our new guests for the week that has just begun. 4 longline released salmon and two nice grilse caught and carefully released.
Week 28, 05.07.2025 - 12.07.2025
Slowly but surely the orkla is getting a normal water level . Fish of all sizes are being spotted in all the pools. Now the grilse have definitely arrived. A good number of medium-sized salmon are also being registered. The fishing is improving day by day. Almost all of our guests have been able to land Salmon. The biggest salmon of the week was landed by Manuel, a great fish weighing around 6.00 kg. Well done Manuel. We had a lot of contacts this week, unfortunately René couldn't land any of his 7 fish! Yannik also had the same bad luck. But that's also part of salmon fishing.
Week 29, 12.07.2025 - 19.07.2025
This week starts with real summer temperatures. 28 degrees. In the first few days of this week we have constant temperatures of up to 32 degrees. The water level is still around 35 m3 and the water temperature at Orkla has risen to 15 degrees. Great conditions for the floating line. Due to the high temperatures, we have moved the fishing to the evening and early morning hours. This was the right decision. Some good grilse and a nice salmon of 96 cm have been landed so far. Unfortunately, we received a message from our neighboring rivers that the Verdal and the Gaula were once again closed for fishing at short notice due to high water temperatures (20 degrees). According to weather forecasts, this warm period will last until the middle of next week. On the Orkla, the water doesn't get that warm, which is one of the advantages of the hydropower plants. They have to feed cool water from the large reservoirs into the Orkla. There is therefore hardly any danger of the Orkla being closed. The fishing is good, but tricky. There are lots of salmon in all the pools and they are interested in the flies but they bite very carefully. Steven had 7 salmon on the line, but unfortunately couldn't land a single one. Markus was very successful instead. During his salmon school he was able to land his first salmon with the fly. Well done Markus.Week 30, 19.07.2025 - 26.07.2025
Many different nations are here this week, Germany, England, Finland, South Tyrol (Italy), Scotland and Wales. However, the temperatures are more like those in Spain or Greece. 30 to 32 degrees for the whole week and not a drop of rain in sight. Nevertheless, we had good fishing again with some fresh silver salmon between 5 and 6 Kg and some nice grilse. The Orkla does not mind the heat, enough water (40 m3) and water temperatures around 13 degrees allow for good fishing. Unfortunately Gaula, Forra and Verdal are still closed for fishing due to low water and water temperatures above 20 degrees. This week, the Finnish couple Anne and Mikko visited my salmon school. Unfortunately, Anne lost her first salmon after a short drill. Mikko, on the other hand, landed the biggest salmon (102 cm, approx. 10.50 kg) of the week. great job Mikko !
Week 31, 26.07.2025 - 02.08.2025
The weather has definitely changed now. Cooler temperatures, cloudy skies and the occasional rain shower. So good conditions for fishing. On monday, the gaula also reopened for fishing, although the forecast heavy rain has not yet materialized. Our biggest salmon so far was caught by our regular guest Andy. Approx. 7.5 kg. Well done Andy. The water level on the Orkla was briefly at the minimum ( 22 m3 ). I had a fantastic day on the 29th. Not much fishing and still caught 4 fresh grilse in 3 different pools in one day ! It's raining here at the moment. Let's see what this change in the weather means for the second half of the week.
Week 32, 02.08.2025 - 09.08.2025
"The water remained unusually low this week, yet the pools were teeming with fish. They weren’t particularly active, but that didn’t dampen our spirits. With our four rods, we managed to land some fine grilse – and enjoyed plenty of exciting encounters."
Week 33, 09.08.2025 - 16.08.2025
"Beautiful weather and steady water levels shaped this week on the river. Fresh grilse continued to make their way up the Orkla in good numbers. For my two Salmon School participants from South Tyrol, the week was especially rewarding: both managed to land their very first Atlantic salmon during the course – well done, Rene and Michele! Our other guests also enjoyed some exciting action, with several strong August fish putting up memorable fights."Week 34, 16.08.2025 - 23.08.2025
"The weather has now taken a turn: rain and a two-day storm gave us a tough time. The water level rose to around 100 cubic meters per second, and we had to wait a while until conditions became fishable again. Once the river settled, the fishing quickly picked up – several grilse were landed. Björn hooked into a stunning salmon weighing around 10 kg, followed shortly by another fresh-run fish of about 9 kg, successfully landed by Uli. As is often the case at the end of the season, the big salmon made their presence known – some were landed, others at least hooked."Week 35 and 36, 23.08.2025 - 31.08.2025
"Suddenly, it was as if someone had flipped a switch – the fishing came to a standstill. Despite good conditions and plenty of salmon visible in the pools, we were only able to land a few fish over the past few days. Even the number of takes dropped noticeably. Why the salmon became so inactive all of a sudden remained a mystery. But that's part of salmon fishing – unpredictable and full of surprises."
Review Orkla 2025 – A Season of Hope and Water
The 2025 season at the Orkla River has come to an end — and with it, another
chapter filled with anticipation, challenges, and quiet moments by the water.
After the abrupt closure of the fishery in the summer of 2024 — when fishing
had to stop after just three weeks due to poor salmon runs — the longing for a
fresh start this year was stronger than ever. The hope was tangible, felt by
everyone connected to the river.
But right from the start, nature showed its full force. Persistent high water
throughout June made fishing difficult. The fish were there — in good
numbers, in fact — but they moved upriver quickly, hardly showing
themselves, almost impossible to catch. Patience was needed. And trust.
Despite the challenging conditions, the Orkla Fishery Management decided in
early July to keep the season open — a decision that showed both courage and
a sense of responsibility. The regulations remained strict, with a focus on
protecting the future of the river.
Then came the heat. By mid-July, temperatures soared above 30°C. No rain,
no wind — just sun, dust, and a river slowly warming. But the Orkla endured.
Thanks to regulation and guaranteed minimum water flow from the
hydropower plants, fishing remained possible — while other rivers, like the
nearby Gaula, had to close for two weeks due to water temperatures reaching
21°C and critically low levels.
And yet, the Orkla was alive. In July and August, salmon continued to run —
and how! Particularly impressive were the numbers of grilse (1.5–3.5 kg). For
many of us, this was a hopeful sign that the river still has strength for the
years to come. Perhaps 2026 will bring a strong return of medium-sized
salmon — we allow ourselves to dream.
Another positive surprise: the sea trout. Their runs were strong this year — a
quiet gift for those who see more than just the catch.
Of course, this season wasn't like the old ones. Fewer anglers were present
along the river — for many different reasons. This is also reflected in the
statistics. But sometimes, silence speaks louder than numbers. You could feel
it: those who came to the Orkla in 2025 didn’t just come to fish. They came to
recharge, to observe, to listen.
In total, 84 salmon were caught on our beats, with an average weight of
3.74 kg (compared to the Orkla-wide average of 3.90 kg).Among them, five
dream fish between 9.00 and 11.80 kg were landed by our guests —
unforgettable moments for all involved.The largest salmon of our 2025
season measured 106 cm and weighed approximately 11.80 kg.
We are especially proud that over 90% of all salmon caught were safely
released. In a few unfortunate cases, some fish were mortally injured by the
hooks and could not survive. Out of respect for the fish and the community,
these salmon were donated by our guests to the local retirement home —
bringing a welcome and rare treat to the menu for the elderly residents.
Across the entire Orkla River, the total registered catch in 2025 was:3,913
fish weighing a combined 13,406.50 kg.The largest salmon of the season
measured an impressive 122 cm, estimated at around 18.50 kg.
To all our guests: we sincerely thank you for your exemplary attitude
toward Catch & Release and for helping to protect this exceptional salmon
population for the future.
A final note: unlike in many parts of Northern Norway, the Orkla was largely
spared from the massive invasion of pink salmon. Only 23 were recorded — a
fact we consider very fortunate
You can read the full official report from the Orkla River Management
here (in Norwegian):�� Orkla 2025 – Official Report
