I'm 70 now and have done a fair bit of travelling over my life. USA, many European countries, Nepal, NZ etc
I've only fished in 4 though; UK, Norway, Spain and NZ. My fishing in Norway was very limited and pretty much the same as at home. My NZ fishing needs no more said about it and Spain was great, catching carp and barbel on the fly.
What's been your own fishing experiences abroad?
I caught a (small) tuna in Costa Rica :)
A small tuna? What, about 150lb ? ;D
Quote from: admin on January 12, 2023, 02:49:48 PM
A small tuna? What, about 150lb ? ;D
About 3lb.... ;D
Been to Slovenia twice, amazing scenery. Totally different to fishing here. Mostly sight fishing but also very expensive. Been to Czech Republic 3 times and booked again for this year. Good fishing and fairly cheap. Nice beer aswell 🍻🤪
Really fancy Sweden or Finland fishing the rovers for trout/ grayling
I always fancied Norway for the grayling but never got round to it
I have sea fished in Namibia, Kenya and Dom Rep. Mostly getting bored shitless trawling with the occasional hectic period. Fly fished the flats in the Keys and west Florida a few times. Great fun but too hot for me.
Been to Norway several times sea angling and salmon fishing. I really like it there apart from the mozzies. There is fantastic, cheap and abundant trout, grayling and char fishing especially for people prepared to walk.
There was a Dutch chap used to post on here years ago who really rated the grayling fishing in Norway and reckoned it was not too expensive as long as you stayed off the beer!
Good thing about Norway is it's easy to get to from here.
The member was Hans, but he has not been on here since 2011! He was a great fly tier and fished the Gaula and Glomma in Norway.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8e-7AD7l7M
Quote from: admin on January 13, 2023, 12:56:35 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8e-7AD7l7M
The travel companies that used to fleece punters in Russia are trying to move in to Norway, but for the most part they are struggling to get fishing rights owners to buy in to their robbing ways.
Iceland, however, is welcoming the new refugee anglers and has increased prices accordingly.
eg, I seen an advert earlier today for two September weeks fishing for black sea trout (world class fishing apparently ;D) at a mere £9.8K per angler per week. Most of the fishing was on Tungaflot (sp) which used to be very cheap by Icelandic standards.
https://www.inatur.no/sok/innlandsfisketilbud
These "packages" do tend to be very expensive especially if there is a fancy lodge involved. But prices post-covid have gone through the roof everywhere. In 2018 our return flights to NZ were about £1500 each and had been around that for 10 years. This time they are £2500 each. In total I reckon this trip will cost me at least £6000 and we won't be hiring guides. That's for 5 weeks though, staying in hotels and rented accommodation and per week it's probably less than a weeks sprat hunting at the likes of Scourie.
I fished quite a bit in Tassie highlands size of fish was unreal first day I had 3 fish over 3 lb with some little traditional Scottish patterns moved up a couple of sizes and result was a lot of nervousness sometimes I thought someone had throw a washing machine in behind my flies best fish was 11 lb but turned a few bigger beasts all wild fish and so beautiful fished a lot in nz as well but no where like tassie my opinion
Quote from: Laxdale on January 13, 2023, 07:00:18 PM
https://www.inatur.no/sok/innlandsfisketilbud
Looks interesting as does Iceland. That said Scandinavian prices have always been high, although post-NC500 Scotland does appear to be catching up! The thing that always put me off Iceland was the atrocious weather. Scotland is on the shit weather side of the jet stream a lot but not as often as Iceland. I remember 10 years or so ago Bruce Sandison had a great trip there catching big sea run char
Quote from: Scozzie on January 13, 2023, 07:54:34 PM
I fished quite a bit in Tassie highlands size of fish was unreal first day I had 3 fish over 3 lb with some little traditional Scottish patterns moved up a couple of sizes and result was a lot of nervousness sometimes I thought someone had throw a washing machine in behind my flies best fish was 11 lb but turned a few bigger beasts all wild fish and so beautiful fished a lot in nz as well but no where like tassie my opinion
Yes, have read great things about it. NZ's original trout came from Tasmania, so it's been an established fishery for a long time.
QuoteIceland, however, is welcoming the new refugee anglers and has increased prices accordingly.
eg, I seen an advert earlier today for two September weeks fishing for black sea trout (world class fishing apparently ;D) at a mere £9.8K per angler per week. Most of the fishing was on Tungaflot (sp) which used to be very cheap by Icelandic standards.
Logged
We had a family holiday booked for Iceland the summer Covid hit, I had managed to book a car to roam around looking for Char and Trout, was given some great tips here so was keeping fishing costs to a minimum.
Not managed to rearrange it yet, some day maybe 🤔
That's a real shame John, covid destroyed so much. You will get there if you really want to.
Where can you fly from in Scotland to reach Iceland?
Glasgow for under £200 pounds it seems :)
That's not bad at all Sandy
Quote from: admin on January 15, 2023, 04:47:20 PM
That's not bad at all Sandy
A (non-fishing) friend who spent some time in Iceland said he thought Norway was expensive until he visited Iceland ::)
Yeah, I heard Iceland was outrageously expensive David. Another reason I'll likely never go. A holiday on the dark side of the Jetstream with coffee @ £10 a cup.
To be honest I'm happy enough fishing mainly at home - and by home I mean here on the east coast. I go to NZ as much to escape the Scottish winter with its perpetual darkness as I do for the fishing. Were I to take another summer fishing holiday I think Alberta in Canada would be my 1st choice.
Iceland prices?
https://www.discover-the-world.com/destinations/iceland-holidays/how-much-things-cost-in-iceland/
Quote from: Fishtales on January 15, 2023, 06:54:37 PM
Iceland prices?
https://www.discover-the-world.com/destinations/iceland-holidays/how-much-things-cost-in-iceland/
Funny enough I'm going next January unfortunately not for fishing though. I'll have to report back on the prices.
Quote from: SoldierPmr on January 18, 2023, 04:32:34 PM
Funny enough I'm going next January unfortunately not for fishing though. I'll have to report back on the prices.
Good luck! I was there for 2 days one January and the snowfall was so heavy I saw absolutely nothing!
Good pubs, good food, sensible prices, friendly folk, good lough fishing and fine rivers ... try Ireland.
We based ourselves near Ballinrobe on the east side of lough Mask for six or seven years. Stayed at a self catering place with a chap who had five or six boats at different locations. Had a great time.
Colorado could be next years destination. Was speaking to a few guys at the weekend who have been going for a few years. Sounds great
I'm off to Iceland again this June/July for a week. Targeted the char mainly last year and had them to just under 7lbs, although I hooked something big on Thingvallavatn that screamed off and unhooked itself at distance. I'm going to target bigger trout in Villingavatn and a couple of highland rivers this time. It's expensive but it's also a nice week away with my brother, uncle and cousin.
Quote from: Sean Freeman on January 20, 2023, 12:14:48 PM
a nice week away with my brother, uncle and cousin.
Good on you. Family trips are special. :)
Quote from: admin on January 20, 2023, 12:17:44 PM
Good on you. Family trips are special. :)
And, in my experience, VERY VERY competitive ;D ;D
Err
Apart from Scotland
Epic troots of various types in Wyoming USA. The best trout fishing I have ever had the pleasure of. rainbow, brown and cutthroat. I did a little salt water fishing in Texas which is supposed to have excellent "sea trout" and redfish but all I got was catfish and a flounder.
Couple of casts in Singapore but not really with any hope.
Here in SW Norway where the trout fishing is excellent and some good salmon fishing.
Quote from: zeolite on January 20, 2023, 11:51:40 PMErr
Apart from Scotland
Epic troots of various types in Wyoming USA. The best trout fishing I have ever had the pleasure of. rainbow, brown and cutthroat. I did a little salt water fishing in Texas which is supposed to have excellent "sea trout" and redfish but all I got was catfish and a flounder.
Couple of casts in Singapore but not really with any hope.
Here in SW Norway where the trout fishing is excellent and some good salmon fishing.
Hardhead catfish (Arius felis) by any chance? I've probably caught 350 to 400 of these things over the years. They're the most annoying fish species on earth. The first one I ever caught thrashed about a lot when I went to unhook it. As a result it's dorsal spine stuck in my finger. Shortly afterwards I started to feel sick and I knew there was something wrong.
A quick google search confirmed my suspicions. These catfish have a toxic slime on their dorsal and pectoral spines and I realised I'd been envenomated.
The spotted 'sea trout' you mention are a lot of fun on the fly and make really good eating too. I've caught a few reds but only when using live shrimp, never on the fly. :)