In this episode of Loop Fly Fishing Adventures with Emilie Björkman, Emilie travels through Norway, exploring the deep connection between Atlantic salmon, people and place – and the complex challenges facing the species today.
She begins her season fishing the popular Trøndelag rivers of Stjørdalselva and Verdalselva, where she meets scientist and conservationist Anders Foldvik from NINA and Pål Mugaas from Norske Lakseelver to discuss the changing fortunes of Norway’s wild salmon.
From there, Emilie heads north to Finnmark. At the Alta River, she catches up with her old friend, documentary filmmaker Nina Belika, revisiting memories of a river that has played such an important role in Norway’s salmon story. She then shares a rod with Jens-Olav Flekke, chairman of Redd Villaksen, to explore what Atlantic salmon means to Norway – culturally, historically and today.
Her final stop is Vadsø on the Varanger Peninsula, where Emilie embarks on a multi-day hike with Raymond Jørgensen and Vidar Isaksen. Despite the many challenges facing wild salmon, the journey that unfolds becomes one of the most memorable fly-fishing experiences of her life.
It’s an emotional rollercoaster of a journey through Norway, its wild salmon and the people working to understand and protect them.
