🇳🇴 Fishing in Mjøsa

Norway's largest lake — 369 km² and home to the legendary Mjøsa trout

Fishing in Mjøsa is on every serious Norway fishing bucket list — the country's largest lake stretches 117 km through Innlandet and holds the famous Mjøsørret, a giant lake-run brown trout that can top 15 kg. Mjøsa also produces arctic char, pike, perch, grayling and the endemic Mjøsa vendace. Trolling from a boat and casting from shore both work well.

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Weather at Mjøsa

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Best fishing times today

Day length: 10h 56m
Dawn04:54
Sunrise05:37
Sunset16:33
Dusk17:15

Bite windows today

  • Dawn04:24 – 06:37Excellent
  • Morning06:37 – 11:05Good
  • Midday11:05 – 13:33Calm
  • Afternoon13:33 – 15:33Good
  • Dusk15:33 – 17:45Excellent
  • Night17:45 – 04:24Good
Moon: 14% · waning↑ 00:52
Area
369 km²
Max depth
468 m
Elevation
123 m.o.h.
Region
Innlandet

Geography & facts

Mjøsa lies in southern Norway between Hamar, Lillehammer and Gjøvik. At 369 km² and a maximum depth of 468 m, it's Norway's biggest and one of Europe's deepest lakes. Nutrient-rich water and late-season warmth make it unusually productive.

How to fish

Peak Mjøsa trout season runs May–September, mostly by trolling deep-diving lures. From shore, spoons, spinners and floating jerkbaits work along rocky drop-offs. Pike fishing is excellent in Furnesfjorden and Totenvika bays.

Photography and fishing go hand in hand

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Fish species

Species data comes from GBIF and is refreshed by donors.Support this →
Brown troutArctic charPikePerchGraylingVendace

Gear & tips for brown trout

Rod
4- to 6-weight fly rod, 2.7 m
Sage X
Loop Q
Vision Tane
Orvis Helios 3
Reel
5/6-weight fly reel
Loop Evotec
Vision XO
Hardy Ultralite
Mainline
WF-5 floating line
Leader
9–12 ft tapered leader, 0.14–0.20 mm tippet
Hook
#16 to #8
Lures / bait
  • Dry flies (Adams, Klinkhammer, CDC Caddis, Royal Wulff)
  • Nymphs (Hare's Ear, Pheasant Tail, Copper John, Perdigon)
  • Streamers (Wooly Bugger, Zonker, Muddler Minnow)
Find fly fishing gear at Sportfish
Season
April–September for river trout, Sept–Nov for sea-run fish
Time of day
Dawn, dusk; overcast days fish well all day
Tip

Dries during a hatch, nymphs sub-surface, streamers for bigger fish. Read the current — trout hold behind rocks and along seams. Stay low and quiet on the bank.

Full guide

Fishing license

A Mjøsa fishing license is sold online by Mjøsen Fiskeforening — one card covers the entire lake. Norway's national fishing fee doesn't apply to lake fishing, but respect the trout closed season (15 Sept – 15 Nov).

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