Spate · Mixed · Rogaland (South Norway)

Bjerkreimselva

Bjerkreimselva venue image
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A strong southern Norway salmon river known for accessibility and dependable summer fly opportunities.

Prime · Atlantic Salmon
Sunray Shadow · tube medium to long
Primelive now
Prime conditions — go now
River steady at a fishable height. Settled and taking. Work it methodically.
75% confidence
What moved it
  • Level0.91 m
  • Water temp12.9°C
  • ClarityClear
Today’s fly
Sunray Shadow
Sunray Shadowtube medium to long
Almost indispensable on Trøndelag rivers.
Conditions on the water
Live gauge
Level
Steady
0.91 m
Water temp12.9°C
ClarityClear
Weather14°C
WindN 5 km/h
Pressure1021 hPa
Rain · recent0.0 mm
Rain · ahead30.3 mm

Live readings only. Trends shown where the gauge supports them.

Water temperature for atlantic salmon
Ideal
12.9°Cideal 10–14°C
0°14°28°
How to fish it · for atlantic salmon
When
All day is fishable. Peaks around mid-morning (10-12) and late afternoon (4-6pm). A change in light — cloud passing over the sun, or the first shadow reaching the water — can trigger a take.
Where
Fish the full pool systematically — start at the head, two steps between each cast, work through to the tail. Pay special attention to the classic taking lies: pool heads where current enters, tails where it shallows, and seams alongside faster water.
Method
Medium-paced swing, fly fishing just below the surface. Fish are willing to move — a steady broadside presentation across the current is ideal. Vary speed through the swing.. Floating line, possibly slow intermediate in deeper pools. Small-medium: size 8-12 doubles, small tubes. Fish are willing to move — let them come to the fly.
Kit
13 ft #8/9 double-hander in spate, 10 ft #8 single in low water. Floating line plus a fast-sink tip. 12–15 lb fluoro tippet.
Why this works
The signs are strong. Water starting to fall after a rise — early stages of coming into shape. Still coloured but fining — improving conditions. 12.9°C — in the ideal taking range for summer salmon. Conditions are moving in the right direction and should be fishable soon if not already.
Hatch timeline · todayQuiet day

Hatch predictions

Today's headline hatch shown — see all 8 active hatches hour by hour with Pro.

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Evidence
ModelledModerate confidence

Modelled from regional ecology — no survey or occurrence data for this water yet.

Through the year
0–3 scale · July highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Salmon runRun
1
2
2
1
March BrownHatch
2
3
2
GrannomHatch
2
2
Large StoneflyHatch
2
3
2
Yellow SallyHatch
2
3
2

Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.

Ranked for today
Atlantic Salmon fly box
Beats · 4 · 2 reaches

Bjerkreimselva is one of the more accessible Norwegian salmon rivers — productive south-west water with good permit availability — but it is not simple. To fish here you need the national fishing fee (fiskeravgift), which funds salmon management and grants no access on its own, plus a local zone card from Bjerkreim Elveeigarlag or a local outlet, plus the right zone. Equipment disinfection is compulsory. One rule catches out anglers used to UK or Icelandic norms: catch-and-release is NOT permitted in places here, so the optional-release reflex from other countries does not transfer — fish to the local rules. Special sub-rules also apply on the Storåna/Ørsdalen and Oreåna/Odland waters, including worm restrictions and release requirements. As elsewhere in Norway, daily quotas can be cut in-season during low water — confirm the current rules before travelling.

Main river — numbered zones · 2 beatsMixed
Main river — zone cards, Zone 1 — accessible / facility water
The 2 beats
Main river — zone cardsMembers
Bjerkreim Elveeigarlag (river owners' association)
The main fishery is the broad, lake-fed main river — long holding pools and gravel runs fished from June into September, one of the few Norwegian salmon rivers open that late. Access is by zone card from Bjerkreim Elveeigarlag and local outlets; the river is divided into numbered zones rather than premium private beats, which makes it a practical option for visiting anglers. Good permit availability and facilities.
Fiskeravgift + local zone card required. Equipment disinfection compulsory. Catch-and-release is NOT permitted in places — follow the current Bjerkreimselva rules rather than assuming optional release. Catch reporting required. Daily quota can be reduced in-season during low water.
Zone 1 — accessible / facility waterDay tickets
Bjerkreim Elveeigarlag (local permit sellers)
The most accessible of Bjerkreimselva's numbered zones — the practical entry point for the ordinary angler, with day-card availability through local sellers and the Elveeigarlag and the better roadside/facility access. A good first choice on this productive, spate-responsive south-west river before exploring the special-rule sub-waters upstream.
Fiskeravgift + local Bjerkreim zone card. Disinfection compulsory; catch-and-release is NOT permitted on the main river (retain within quota). Main season 15 June–20 September (early window 1–15 June some years). Daily quota can be cut mid-season in low water — check current rules.
Special-rule sub-waters · 2 beatsMembers-only
Storåna / Ørsdalen — special-rule water, Oreåna / Odland — special-rule water
The 2 beats
Storåna / Ørsdalen — special-rule waterMembers
Bjerkreim Elveeigarlag (special sub-rules)
The Storåna / Ørsdalen water carries its own special rules layered on top of the main-river card, including worm restrictions and release requirements for all salmon in some stretches. Don't assume it follows the main-zone rules — check the sub-rule card for this water specifically.
Special sub-rules apply: worm fishing restricted; release of all salmon required in some areas. Fiskeravgift + zone card + disinfection still apply. Confirm the exact Storåna/Ørsdalen rules before fishing.
Oreåna / Odland — special-rule waterMembers
Bjerkreim Elveeigarlag (special sub-rules)
The Oreåna / Odland water is another special-rule sub-area with its own worm restrictions distinct from the main river. Surfaced so anglers know it does not simply inherit the main-zone rules.
Special sub-rules apply, including worm restrictions. Fiskeravgift + zone card + disinfection apply. Confirm the exact Oreåna/Odland rules before fishing.
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • Fiskeravgift plus local Bjerkreimselva beat permit required
  • Equipment disinfection and catch reporting are mandatory
  • Good availability of quality beats.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Gallery · 1
  1. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
About this water

A strong southern Norway salmon river known for accessibility and dependable summer fly opportunities. Productive wading water and good beat availability make it a practical option for visiting salmon anglers. Atlantic salmon are managed under national and river-specific regulations — daily and seasonal quotas, size limits and mid-season evaluations apply, and catch-and-release is widely practised; check current rules before fishing.

Under the surface

Bjerkreimselva is the longest watercourse in Rogaland, running off the lake-strewn uplands of south-west Norway down past the village of Bjerkreim to meet the Atlantic at Egersund. The riparian owners offer some fifty-four kilometres of fishable water, and it is a large, broad river — lake-fed and steady rather than flashy — winding through a wide, wildlife-rich valley of glaciated rock and forest. It is one of Norway's better salmon rivers, giving up more than seven thousand fish in a good season, the run building from midsummer. The character is generous, open water: long holding pools and gravel runs over hard south-Norwegian bedrock, fished from June into September. Wading is steady on firm rock and gravel, the broad pools asking more for distance and line control than for any battle with the current.

Wading: Broad, deep holding pools

  • Mixed
  • Partly confined
  • Pool riffle
Water quality (WFD)
  • Ecology: Unknown
  • Chemical: Unknown
The full read · show the working · for atlantic salmon · confidence 75%
How the river scores — hydrology factors
Water heightMedium Ideal+3.8
Recent riseNone0.0
Falling after liftFalling Slightly After Lift+3.4
Water temperatureCool To Moderate+2.5
Time in seasonSummer Peak Window+2.3
ClarityClearing+2.4
Hydrology base14.4
Rules that fired
Clearing After Spate Bonus+1
Will they take?Willingcaps the band

Fish should be willing to take — clearing, stained water.

Can you trust it?
Water temperaturelive gauge readinggauge
Level / flowon-river gaugeobserved
What would change the calculation
No prolonged stable spell before the current rise.
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
Seasons & zones
  • Salmon1 June → 20 September
  • TroutOpens June–September
Related guides
Atlantic Salmonsalmon tacticsEuro Nymphingsubsurface methods
Booking & contacts