Cod was the only fish today
Monday, August 22nd: Grong, Norway
After breakfast we planned to meet our guide at 8:15 AM, but no one showed up. Strike 2. Hans was in school and Kjell finally arrived at 8:45 AM, not expecting us to be ready and waiting. We learned that the harling wasn’t included in our package and Kjell was an independent guide. The lack of organization and coordination between the broker (Where Wise Men Fish), the lodge, the guides and the sales manager (the phantom, Vetle) was unbearable.
Kjell was apparently our guide for the morning. It rained overnight and the river came up quite a bit, but we were excited to fish at Fiskumfoss, since it was known as the best pool in the beat. Kjell hadn’t been there in years, didn’t have waders, didn’t have any gear and didn’t have a plan or a clue. But he did bring the net… after we asked him. Though he had no intentions of netting any fish in his trousers and Muck boots.
We went to Fiskumfoss and fished for several hours at the upper and lower section. Kjell just watched us, didn’t help us re-tie, didn’t offer any recommendations. The wind picked up severely, making it impossible to cast and get a good drift. We were more than agitated and wanted to get back to camp for lunch to ditch the old guy.
We complained about the day over lunch and then took a nap until Hans was out of class and ready for the afternoon session. We went back to a Fiskumfoss and thankfully the wind had died down. Matt caught a smolt and that was our only contact for the day. While we were at the lower part of the Fiskumfoss beat, it started raining and a double rainbow appeared.
We had a delicious cod dinner with a mixed potatoe mash topped with almonds, tomatoes and capers. They served crème brûlée for dessert with the perfect burnt sugar crust on top.
Even though we were full, we went to the Grong supermarket to test out the snacks Hans recommended: creme fraiche Sorlands chips and Smash (which were essentially chocolate covered Bugles)
Meanwhile Oslo was still up north with grandma and grandpa - he had his first trip to the groomers and was clean and shiny.
Accommodations: Namsentunet Lodge
