Fishing
The Otra river, one of Southern Norway's longest waterways, starts just north of Hovden. It is home to a significant population of trout.
This also applies to the mountain lakes around Hovden. You may purchase a fishing licence for use in the permitted areas.
Description
The various fishing areas:
Otra: To fish in the River Otra, you need either a Hartevatn fishing permit or a VAFA fishing permit for Valle. The Hartevatn fishing permit allows you to fish from 1 km south of the Hartevatn dam and upstream to the dam at the outlet of Lislevatn.
Children under the age of 16 can fish for free in freshwater using a rod or hand line from 1 January to 20 August.
Hartevatn: Hartevatn: The fishing permit covers Hartevatn to the channel towards Breivevatnet. It also covers the River Otra for 1 km south of the Hartevatn dam and northwards to the dam at the outlet of Lislevatn.
Fishing with an otter board and nets is also permitted. Only nets with a mesh size of 29–31 mm (20-22 "omfar") are allowed, with a maximum of three nets. Trammel nets are not permitted.
Fishing permits are available at www.inatur.no.
During the summer season, rowing boats are available for hire at Hegni Recreation Area.
Lislevatn: The license covers the entire lake, from the northern inlet of river Otra to to dam in the south. Licenses are sold at www.inatur.no.
Veringsdalen: The license covers the lakes Øvre Væringsvatn and Væringsvatn, Fisketjønn and Tormodstjønn. On the northern bank of the lake Store Førsvatn, it applies from the middle of the outlet to the long headland. Licenses are sold at www.inatur.no.
Myrkvævområdet: (in the Sloaros area). The license covers the lakes Fisketjønn, Den lange tjønni, Sloarosvatnet, Langevatn, Øydeskyvatn and Gravevotni. It also covers parts of the lakes Einarshyttvatn and Kaldsvatn within Agder county, as well as the eastern part of the lake Skyvatn. Licenses are sold at www.inatur.no.
Mjåvatn: The same license as the Myrkvævområdet. Licenses are sold at www.inatur.no.
Under 16 years old?
If a fishing license is required for the area, children under 16 years old are entitled to a free license. If no fishing license is required, children can fish without a license. The right to fish applies regardless of the child's nationality and residence, but is limited to the period from January 1 to August 20.
Permitted fishing gear
In the Otra river and the various lakes around Hovden, fishing with bait, flies, lure and otter-board is allowed. Some lakes also hav permits for fishing nets. Live bait is not allowed. Introducing fish to a lake or moving fish from one lake to another is prohibited.