QUOTAS

All anglers must register each year before fishing starts (Gaulakortet).

 

- The angler is obligated to familiarize themselves with all applicable fishing regulations.

- The angler shall pay extra attention to the recommended method for proper catch and release, §13, point 2.

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The fishery management in Gaula recommends barbless hooks for all gear as well as the use of circle hooks when fishing with bait.

 

§ 1. JOINT MANAGEMENT IN GAULA

The joint ownership Gaula River Owners' Association (elveierlaget) constitutes the joint management in the Gaula watercourse pursuant to the Salmon and Inland Fisheries Act § 25. The river owners' association establishes binding fishing rules on behalf of all rights holders in the watercourse.

 

§ 2. SCOPE

The fishing regulations apply to Gaula with tributaries. Everyone intending to fish in the watercourse enters into an agreement to follow the fishing regulations before the start of fishing.

 

§ 3. ENTRY INTO FORCE

The fishing regulations were adopted on May 3, 2025, with effect from and including the 2025 fishing season for the fishing period determined in § 4.

 

§ 4. FISHING SEASON

The fishing season for salmon in Gaula corresponds with the provision in the regulation on fishing for anadromous salmonids in rivers and runs from and including June 1 to and including August 31.

 

§ 5. FISHING PERMIT BEFORE FISHING STARTS

All individuals over 18 years of age who intend to fish in the Gaula watercourse must have paid the national fishing fee for the current calendar year before fishing starts.

All individuals who intend to fish in the Gaula watercourse must register and purchase the Gaulakortet for the current calendar year on Elveguiden (app or elveguiden.no) before fishing starts.

All individuals who intend to fish in the Gaula watercourse must purchase a fishing license or otherwise obtain permission from the rights holder for the specific beat, and for the time period during which fishing is conducted, before fishing starts.

Each angler is obliged to thoroughly familiarize themselves with the fishing regulations before fishing starts, and to follow the fishing regulations during the practice of fishing.

 

§ 6. REQUIREMENT FOR DISINFECTION OF FISHING EQUIPMENT

All fishing equipment and other gear (for example boats, nets, waders, etc.) that has been used in other watercourses during the current season must be disinfected at an approved disinfection station in Gauldalen before use in the Gaula watercourse. A disinfection certificate must be shown when buying/renting fishing, as well as during inspections by the river owners' association's fishing patrol, if fishing has taken place in other watercourses.

The cost of disinfection at the association's approved disinfection stations is included in the Gaulakortet.

 

§ 7. PROTECTION

1. The following national protection provisions, established in or pursuant to law, apply equally as part of these fishing regulations:

It is prohibited to catch fish in fish ladders, fish channels, or similar facilities, to increase or decrease the water flow, or to obstruct or attempt to obstruct fish from entering or passing through the facility. The prohibition also applies to a stretch from 50 meters above and 50 meters below the fish ladder, fish channel, or similar facility.

Protections:

• All salmon over 65 cm must be released alive.

• All salmon under 35 cm must be released alive.

• Kelts must be released alive.

• All sea trout and brown trout must be released alive.

 

2. Additional local protection provisions established by the river owners' association

Fishing from bridges and bridge constructions is prohibited.

3. Common to all protection provisions

In case of doubt about the sex, size, or species determination in relation to the protection provisions, the captured fish must be released alive. All release must be assessed and carried out in accordance with § 13.

 

§ 8. QUOTAS

Quota for killed salmon: Maximum one (1) per day and two (2) per season. The salmon must be under 65 cm.

• Quota for release of salmon/sea trout:

• 3 per day and a maximum 20 per season

•  

• There is no CR limit on seatrout below 35 cm

Daily quota: Defined as the number of salmon a person may kill and/or catch and release within a single calendar day (00:00-24:00). When the daily quota is reached, all fishing must cease immediately until the next day starts.

Season quota: Defined as the number of salmon a person may kill during a season.

When the season quota is reached, all fishing must cease for the rest of the season.

The quotas apply to the individual angler and cannot be transferred. It is the person who hooks the fish who is obliged to count it toward their quota.

 

§ 9. NON-NATIVE SPECIES

All catches of farmed salmon, pink salmon, and rainbow trout must be killed and never released. These species are not subject to quota, but must be reported.

 

§ 10. REQUIREMENT FOR CATCH REPORTING

The angler is obliged to report all catches, both killed and released fish, as soon as possible and no later than 6 hours after capture. The reporting requirement applies to all species.

 

Catch is reported in Elveguiden (app or elveguiden.no).

The catch report must be accurate and complete, and include date, beat, species, weight, sex, length, angler's full name, phone number, gear, and indication of whether the fish is killed or released.

The angler personally guarantees that the catch is reported with correct information within the prescribed deadline.

Incorrect reporting or incomplete reporting, including delayed reporting, is considered a breach of the fishing regulations.

All catch information will be published publicly on Elveguiden. The river owners' association reserves the right to further use of photos attached to the catch report.

 

§ 11. REQUIREMENT FOR SHELL SAMPLES

The angler must take shell samples of all killed catches, including any killed protected fish and non-native species. The sample is placed in a shell envelope where all requested information must be registered.

By writing a mobile phone number on the shell envelope, the angler consents to receiving an SMS from the Veterinary Institute with the result of the shell sample. The mobile number is not used for other purposes and is deleted after the fishing season.

The shell envelope must be delivered to an approved collection point in Gauldalen within two days of capture.

 

§ 12. MID-SEASON EVALUATION WITH PRE-AGREED MEASURES

The river owners' association conducts a mid-season evaluation of the salmon fishing in accordance with the regulations. The association enters into an agreement with the County Governor before the fishing season regarding measures to be implemented if the mid-season evaluation shows that it is likely that the spawning target in the watercourse will not be met. The pre-agreed measures shall ensure that exploitation is adjusted so that the spawning target can be met or that negative deviation is minimized.

The mid-season point is defined in relation to historical catch volume, when 50% of the season's catch is registered, and is set at the beginning of July. Catch statistics up to the evaluation point are an important part of the decision-making basis.

 

Any measures to increase or reduce exploitation for the remainder of the season will be announced on Elveguiden as well as the Gaula River Owners' Association's website. Measures may include changes in fishing time, quotas, and/or the size of protected salmon. The angler is obliged to stay informed of the outcome of the mid-season evaluation.

 

§ 13. ANIMAL WELFARE

Fishing shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of the Animal Welfare Act. Fish shall not be subjected to unnecessary stress.

 

1. Killing

Assess whether the fish should be killed instead of being released. If the fish should not be released after assessment, it shall be killed. Kill the fish quickly if it has external or internal injuries, has swallowed the hook, if it will take a long time to remove the hook, or there are other reasons it should not be released.

Killing shall be done in an animal welfare-friendly manner. Stun the fish with a hard, well-aimed blow between the eyes. Then use a sharp knife to bleed the fish with a deep cut over the gill arches so that the blood flows out. Remove the hook after the fish is killed.

The fish shall also be killed even if it was caught in violation of quotas, protection provisions, or other private or public fishing regulations. If a protected salmon must be killed, it shall be submitted and will not be counted toward the angler’s personal season quota. Fishing may resume the next day.

Fish species: If in doubt about the fish species, it shall be released alive. It is recommended to release all spawning-colored salmon. If there is doubt whether a protected fish will survive a release, the fish shall be killed and submitted.

 

2. Catch and Release

Bring the fish to a place where it will not be injured against rocks, branches, etc. 

Do not use a gaff or tailer.

Do not lift the fish unnecessarily out of the water – it should preferably remain in the water at all times.

• Keep it as horizontal as possible with good support under the body and a firm grip around the tail. Do not hold the fish by the gill covers, and do not hold it in the air for more than a few seconds. Do not lift it by the tail only.

• Only touch the fish with wet hands. Handle the fish as little as possible.

• Examine the fish without lifting it out of the water, for example with one hand around the tail and one gently under the belly.

• Carefully remove the hook with a hook remover tool (long straight-nosed pliers).

• Do not stroke or pat the fish. Handle fish that have just come from the sea especially carefully. Early in the season, the fish is particularly vulnerable to heavy scale loss, which can lead to fungal infection.

• Avoid weighing the fish. Estimate the size by eye or measure its length. You can, for example, mark measurements on your fishing rod. You can later estimate the weight from a length-to-weight table.

• Turn the fish upright in the water once the hook is removed.

• Hold the fish with the snout facing the current, preferably with one hand gently around the tail and one under the belly.

• Hold the fish still while it recovers, do not move it back and forth in the water. Do not release the fish until the gill covers are pumping well and the fish maintains balance. Be especially careful at water temperatures above 18°C.

Remember that released fish must also be reported.

 

3. Submission Requirement

Fish caught in violation of quotas, protection rules, or other regulations, but killed for animal welfare reasons, shall be submitted to the river owners' association at an approved submission point.

 

Submission of fish:

• Fishing must stop immediately upon submission of a salmon. The angler may resume fishing the next day.

• Submitted salmon that is protected and not subject to quota (over 65 cm) does not count toward the angler's personal season quota.

• Submitted salmon that is subject to quota (under 65 cm) counts toward the angler's personal season quota.

• Max number of submitted protected fish: 3

When 3 fish have been submitted, fishing must stop immediately.

See information here

 

Guidelines for the angler's handling and submission of fish:

-Fish must be reported in the usual way as killed.

-Landed fish shall be bled as quickly as possible.

-Avoid direct contact with soil as much as possible.

-All direct handling of fish shall be done with good hand hygiene.

-Fish must be wrapped in clean packaging suitable for contact with food.

-Packaging must be clearly marked with catch ID and frozen as soon as possible at/near the beat.

-Cooling storage requirement is max 4°C. Frozen storage must be at -18°C or colder.

-Fish must be submitted within 24 hours to an approved submission station.

 

§ 14. REQUIREMENTS FOR GEAR AND FISHING METHODS

1. General

Only rod fishing is allowed for catching anadromous salmonids. Only one rod per person, one line per rod, and one bait per line may be used. The equipment must not be left unattended during fishing. Fishing methods likely to foul-hook fish are prohibited.

Permitted bait includes natural worm (i.e., biological worm, such as earthworm), spoon, spinner, fly, and wobbler with a maximum of one treble hook.

Only one single hook, double hook, or treble hook per bait is allowed. The distance between the shank and the hook point shall not exceed 13 mm, and 15 mm for single hooks.

Fishery management encourages pressing down the barbs on hooks. When using natural worm, the use of circle hooks is recommended.

When using a fly as bait, the casting weight must be the float or fly line, not the hook, tube, or any other part of the gear.

Sinkers are only allowed when fishing with worm.

When using a float, it must always remain on the surface.

 

2. Specific restrictions for designated sections

In the deep pool below Gaulfossen from June 1–30, only worm without sinker and fly are permitted.

From Eggafossen down to the pool outlet about 100 meters below, only light fishing is allowed, cf. definition in point 3.

In the tributary Sokna, only worm with sinker, spinner up to 15g, and fly are allowed. If the flow rate at the Hugdal bridge is at least 15 m³/s, spoons and wobblers with a maximum of one treble hook are also permitted.

 

3. Light fishing requirements at low water flow

If the flow rate at the Gaulfossen gauge is 20 m³/s or lower, only light fishing is allowed in Gaula with the tributaries Fora and Bua. This restriction ends when the flow rises to 25 m³/s or higher.

Light fishing is defined as: a) fly with floating float or floating fly line as casting weight, b) worm with or without float. Sinkers are prohibited.

This regulation does not apply downstream of the flood mark at the outlet of Varmbubekken (Hølbekken) in Melhus.

If the flow at Hugdal bridge is 8 m³/s or lower, only light fishing is allowed in Sokna. At 4 m³/s or lower, all fishing in Sokna must cease.

 

4. Other

All other equipment, technology, and fishing methods aimed at detecting, catching, or locating fish not expressly permitted by this regulation are prohibited.

In the event of incidents or conditions that may significantly impact the fish population, the association may choose to close fishing in all or parts of the watercourse or implement changes to quotas, permitted gear, and/or methods. Decisions will be announced on Elveguiden and the association's website. Each angler is required to stay informed of rule changes or special measures in the watercourse.

 

§ 15. INSPECTION AND SUPERVISION

Rights holders or their representatives (license sellers/lessors/fishing supervisors) must be able to verify all prerequisites before fishing starts, cf. §§ 5 and 6.

The river owners' association employs fishing supervisors in the Gaula watercourse to ensure compliance with the fishing regulations. Supervisors have the authority to act on behalf of the association and report violations.

The river owners' association reserves the right to report possible violations of publicly sanctioned duties, regardless of whether the incident also involves a breach of the association’s rules.

Each angler is required to contribute to a quick and effective inspection of compliance with the rules, including identification, presentation of catch and gear, and verification of required conditions, cf. §§ 5 and 6.

 

§ 16. REACTIONS TO VIOLATIONS OF FISHING REGULATIONS

Violations may result in fines, expulsion, and/or suspension. In severe or exceptional cases, stricter or more lenient reactions may be applied at the discretion of the board.

Reactions for violations (per incident and per angler):

- Fishing without permit, missing Gaulakortet, shell samples, or photo of killed fish: NOK 1 000

- Quota violations: NOK 8 000 and suspension up to 2 years

- Other violations: NOK 3,000

Violation of the fishing rules may result in exclusion for the remainder of the season.

Assisting a violation is treated as a violation. Fishing in closed periods or protected zones counts as a quota violation.

Fishing may not resume until the fine is paid. Suspended anglers must refrain from fishing. If not, the suspension will be extended.

License sellers/lessors are required to inform about rules and verify license and disinfection certificate. Jurisdiction for disputes: Trondheim Conciliation Board and/or Sør-Trøndelag District Court.

 

§ 17. ANGLER’S ACCEPTANCE OF THE RULES AND SUPERVISION

By fishing, obtaining the Gaulakortet, fishing license, or rental access, the angler accepts these regulations and the associated enforcement. The angler agrees that violations may be handled by the association's board. Relevant information may be shared with rights holders or license sellers.

Disputes may be brought before Trøndelag District Court.

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Shell sample collection points (§11)

Shell samples are submitted in collection boxes at Coop stores in Melhus, Kvål, Ler, Lundamo, Hovin, Bjørgen, and Haltdalen, or at Gauldalsporten in Støren.

 

Tips? Send email to:

 

oppsynet@gaulaelveierlag.no 

styret@gaulaelveierlag.no 

support@elveguiden.no