(2023-)
It is well known that Norway is ranking among the largest producers and exporters of farmed atlantic salmon in the world. However, despite salmon now being quite common because of this, wild salmon has always been, and is still considered, the only true gold for most, maybe even more so as it is getting more rare in some areas, being threatened by the increasing amount and influence of farmed salmon.
Lågen, the local name for the lower part of Numedalslågen, one of Norways longest and largest salmon rivers, is the only place in the world where wild salmon is also fished using a unique, traditional method; raft fishing. The raft fishing is limited to a relatively small stretch of the river between the villages Hvarnes and Kvelde and the mouth of the river in Larvik.
Traditionally, the farmers and landowners along the river Lågen used raft fishing along their own stretch of the river because this was the most efficient way to harvest the gold of the river. This tradition goes back at least to the 14th century, probably even longer. The raft is equipped with a net along the side of the raft, facing downstream, and ending in a net bag at the outer end. Salmon swimming up the river will meet the net and bend to the side to avoid it, thereby swimming into the net trap. The net bag is equipped with strings connected to a set of bells inside the raft hut, which will ring when the salmon
touches the netbag. The fishermen – and women - who also spend the nights in the hut, will then close the bag entrance and start retrieving the salmon by lifting the net bag out of the water.
Today, the tradition is still upheld by the landowners along the river, although the salmon fishing in the river is now strictly regulated. The raft season is restricted to three days – and nights – a week, for six weeks only, starting the week after midsummer. Depending on the amount of fish in the river halfway through the period, this can be restricted even more if considered necessary. Only 25-30 rafts are still licensed and operating today, and no more licenses are likely to be given in the future.
Despite the long tradition of raft fishing in Lågen, it is not well known outside of the lower Lågen valley. I was fascinated by the lifestyle connected with the spending of summer days and nights on the river while waiting for salmon, and started photographing the rafts, one by one, after the season ended in 2023. I continued by visiting some of the rafts during the seasons of 2024 and 2025.
© Anette Nordskog