Beiarelva

Beiarelva is a salmon river in Nordland, northern Norway. It is managed by Beiarelva SA and divided into 23 fishing zones.

Salmon fishing runs from 15 June to 31 August. Sea trout has the same main season, with an extra lower-river window from 1 to 14 September below Storjord bridge. Arctic char is closed and must be released.

Beiarelva carries cold glacier water from the mountains toward the fjord. Snowmelt, rain and strong heat can add silt and reduce visibility. In practice, warm weather can make the river harder to fish, not easier.

• country: Norway
• region: Nordland
• river type: cold glacier-fed salmon and sea-trout river
• main species: Atlantic salmon
• other anadromous species: sea trout
• protected species: Arctic char
• management: Beiarelva SA
• fishing structure: 23 fishing zones
• salmon season: 15 June to 31 August
• sea-trout season: 15 June to 31 August; below Storjord bridge also 1–14 September
• salmon minimum size: 40 cm
• salmon release rule: all salmon over 65 cm must be released
• sea-trout minimum size: 40 cm
• sea-trout release rule: all sea trout over 60 cm must be released
• water-level check: NVE measurement at Selfors bridge
• disinfection: mandatory before fishing
• catch reporting: killed fish, released fish and no-catch must be registered

Salmon fishing runs from 15 June to 31 August. Sea-trout fishing runs from 15 June to 31 August throughout the river, with an extra 1–14 September window below Storjord bridge. Arctic char fishing is not allowed.

Opening day runs from 12:00 on 15 June to 06:00 on 16 June. For the rest of the season, fishing is allowed from 06:00 to 24:00 from the powerline crossing at the Kvæl beat upstream to the ladders at Tollåga and Hauforsen. Downstream from that powerline crossing to the fjord at Tvervik, fishing is allowed throughout the day.

If the water level drops below 7 m³/s, restrictions or closure may be introduced. Beiarelva provides NVE water-level data from Selfors bridge.

Beiarelva carries cold glacier water from the mountains toward the fjord. Local information describes it as suitable for both lures and fly fishing.

Snowmelt, rain and strong heat can add silt and reduce visibility. In the 2021 Nordland pink-salmon survey, visibility in Beiarelva was about 2 m during drift counting.

Beiarelva is divided into 23 fishing zones. Licence, access and practical fishing depend on the zone.

Beiarelva is divided into 23 fishing zones. The official zone list includes Tvervika, Arstad Dokmo, Navjord, Vold, Kvæl, Selfors, Molid, Storjord, Osbakk, Trones, Haugmo Israelsbakk, Tollånes / Statskog and Sørbygda.

Before fishing, anglers need the Norwegian state fishing fee and a local fishing licence. Local licences are sold through Scanatura, the Salmon Office at Storjord and local card sellers, depending on the zone.

Fishing equipment must be disinfected before use. Anglers must carry the disinfection certificate while fishing.

Large salmon must be released

All salmon over 65 cm must be released. The salmon minimum size is 40 cm.

Salmon quota is limited

The daily salmon quota is 3 salmon, but only one salmon under 65 cm may be killed per angler per day. The season quota is two salmon under 65 cm per angler.

Sea trout has a size window

Sea trout minimum size is 40 cm. All sea trout over 60 cm must be released. The daily quota is three sea trout under 60 cm, and the season quota is 10 sea trout under 60 cm per angler.

Arctic char is closed

Arctic char fishing is not allowed. Any Arctic char caught must be released.

Disinfection is mandatory

All fishing equipment, including boots, waders, canoes, boats and other water-contact equipment, must be disinfected before use. A disinfection certificate from another river is not valid.

No floating-vessel fishing

Fishing from canoes, boats, packrafts and other floating vessels is not allowed.

Rotation fishing applies

Downstream movable fishing based on rotation is required.

Catch reporting is mandatory

Killed fish, released fish and no-catch must be registered within 1 day after fishing stops.

Pink salmon / pukkellaks

Pink salmon has been recorded and removed in Beiarelva. In the 2021 Nordland survey, 40 pink salmon were registered during drift counting, and 170 were removed in total.

Atlantic salmon is the main species. Beiarelva’s rules set salmon quotas, a 40 cm minimum size and mandatory release of salmon over 65 cm.

Sea trout shares the main season and has an extra lower-river window below Storjord bridge from 1 to 14 September.

Arctic char must be released.

Pink salmon / pukkellaks is a management issue, not a target species.

• Snowmelt and heat — can add silt and reduce visibility.
• Rain — can also reduce visibility.
• Selfors bridge water level — NVE data show current water level.
• Low-water trigger — restrictions or closure may be considered below 7 m³/s.
• 23 zones — the right licence depends on the zone.
• Large salmon rule — salmon over 65 cm must be released.
• Sea-trout September window — only below Storjord bridge from 1–14 September.
• Arctic char — closed and must be released.
• Disinfection — Beiarelva certificate required.
• Catch reporting — killed fish, released fish and no-catch must be registered.
• Pink salmon — recorded and removed in Beiarelva.

• You expect clear water after warm weather, but meltwater brings silt.
• You ignore Selfors bridge water-level data.
• You buy a licence for the wrong zone.
• You keep a salmon over 65 cm.
• You plan sea-trout fishing in September outside the lower-river window.
• You treat Arctic char as a target species.
• You arrive with a disinfection certificate from another river.
• You fish from a canoe, boat or packraft.
• You miss the daily closed period upstream of the Kvæl powerline crossing.
• You forget to report killed fish, released fish or no-catch.