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: NOTE! A reorganization of the Otra fishing permit system will take place. Until further notice there are no permits available for sale. Children below age 16 are allowed to fish for free with a rod or hand line from January 1 to August 20.
Hartevatn: The license covers the lake to the dam at the southern end of Hartevatn and up to the channel towards Breivevatnet. Upstream in the Otra river, the license is valid to the dam at Lislevatn. Fishing with otter-board and net is allowed, but only with a certain mesh size (max. 20–22 "omfar"), max. 3 nets and no trammel nets. Licenses are sold at www.inatur.no.
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.