How to become a salmon fisher
In this blog I want to tell you about my story of becoming a salmon fisher.
I hope it will give you some tips and tricks you can use on your way to become a salmon fisher.
First of all; I still learn every time I put my waders on and swing a fly in the river. Sometimes about casting, how the fish move and much more.
First a little background story;
“I started salmon fishing in the Danish river Skjern å. Nothing like a “normal” salmon river, but the chance of a danish salmon kept me going. Difficult river, shitty gear and bad casting. Then on to Norway. Same feeling as in Denmark and in 2015 i stood in the Onka homepool, Lainio river up north in Sweden. I was a little better and so was my gear and it happened. I landed my first salmon. The year after in Russia with better fishing, but still difficult in some elements. In 2017 I had my first year at Kengis Bruk. I had still not really cracked to code with salmon fishing, but after the first season I kind of knew what I was doing. And I have learned so much from all my years at Kengis Bruk. Now looking into my 9th season.”
So how did I learn to fish salmon?
1. I got a great mentor that could help me get started. Showed me the gear, took me on trips and taught me how to cast. I will forever be grateful for you help René Gerken.
2. I learned how to cast. I started as a single hand caster, but converted my casting into doublehanded. And here I can say; Get yourself a good teacher. One that can help you get all the basic skills into your arms and help you put together a good setup.
3. Find the right gear: There are so much good gear on the market nowadays and all make good rods, lines and reels, but you have to go out and try different setups to find the one that fits your style. The right gear is really important for the experience. In the end a good setup gives you more time in the river swinging flies.
4. Watch and learn; We all have different styles when we are fishing and I have learned from the best. That really helped me to develop my own style of fishing. And how I want to be a salmon fisher.
Ask when you don't know and look at what other fishermen are doing. You can always learn something new.
In 2017 when I had my first season at Kengis Bruk I only had my salmon gear from Denmark, flies that I never had fished in a “real” river, but it worked and I caught my first Kengis salmon. Fast Forward to 2025. The bag full of lines, flies has developed and so has the gear, but it does not make a huge difference. The ground setup is still the same and I fish the same line as I caught my first salmon with.
5. Gaining knowledge: In 2019 we had a fantastic start at Kengis Bruk. Dream fishing. We all caught fish and big ones. Most of the guys fished sinking lines and I still fished my favorite float / sink 3 line. And I caught as many and almost as big as the other ones. So remember to trust your instincts and believe in the things you are doing, but don't be too stubborn and not change if any one around you catches fish with another setup and you don't catch anything.
And fish! Accept the 0 trips and look at them as a step on the learning curve. If you have caught your first salmon, turn back to what worked for you, when you hit the salmon depression and are changing the line for the 963st time. If you still have your first salmon waiting for you. Keep asking and trying and be around other fishermen that can help you.
6. And have fun! The most important thing about fishing salmon. Remember to look up, enjoy nature, look for the wildlife, smell the fire and have some good snacks. As my good friend Lars Munk said “A bad day in the river is better than a normal day at work”
I am now looking into my 9th season at Kengis Bruk and I am still looking forward to all the aspects of salmon fishing. And most of all to learn new things from all the great people i meet on the riverbank.
I hope this inspired you to look at your own fishing and be open minded to taking in new knowledge from the like minded friends you meet on the riverbank.
Tight lines!
Aslak Lund
Photo: Ted Logart, Focus on fly media, Nikolaj Korsholm & guests
