§ 1. Fishing season and scope

Sameiet Gaula Elveierlag sets binding fishing regulations for the Gaula river and its tributaries pursuant to the Norwegian Salmon and Inland Fish Act § 25. The fishing season for salmon runs from 1 June to 31 August inclusive.

§ 2. Fishing permit

All anglers over 18 years of age must have paid the national fishing fee for the current calendar year. Everyone fishing in the Gaula river system must register and purchase the Gaulakortet on Elveguiden (app or elveguiden.no) before starting to fish, and must obtain a permit from the rights holder on the relevant beat.

All anglers are required to watch the catch & release video and familiarise themselves with the fishing regulations before fishing.

§ 3. Disinfection

All fishing equipment and other gear (e.g. boats, nets, waders) used in other watercourses during the current season must be disinfected at an approved disinfection station in Gauldalen before use in the Gaula river system. A disinfection certificate must be presented when purchasing or renting fishing rights and during inspections. The cost of disinfection at the river association’s approved stations is included in the Gaulakortet.

§ 4. Protected species and sizes

The following fish must be returned to the water alive:

• All salmon over 65 cm
• All salmon under 35 cm
• Winter kelts
• All sea trout and brown trout

If there is any doubt about the sex, size or species of a fish, it must be released. We strongly encourage the release of all coloured spawning salmon. Fishing from bridges and bridge structures is prohibited.

It is prohibited to catch fish in fish ladders, fish passes or similar structures, to increase or decrease water flow, or to obstruct or attempt to obstruct fish from entering or passing through such structures. This prohibition also applies within 50 metres above and 50 metres below any fish ladder, fish pass or similar structure.

§ 5. Quotas

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

Catch & release (C&R) quota: maximum 3 salmon/sea trout per day and 20 per season. Trout under 35 cm do not count towards the C&R quota.

A «day» is defined as one calendar day (00:00–24:00). Quotas apply to each individual angler and cannot be transferred. Once the quota is reached, all fishing must cease.

§ 6. Non-native species

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

§ 7. Catch reporting and scale samples

Scale samples must be taken from all killed fish and delivered to an approved collection point in Gauldalen within 2 days. Collection points: Coop Melhus, Kvål, Ler, Lundamo, Hovin, Bjørgen, Haltdalen and Gauldalsporten at Støren. Killed salmon must be possible to document with a photo upon inspection.

§ 8. Mid-season evaluation

The river association carries out a mid-season evaluation in accordance with current regulations, defined as the beginning of July (when 50% of the season’s historical catch volume has been recorded). Pre-agreed measures with the County Governor may result in changes to the fishing season, quotas, the size of protected salmon or permitted tackle. Each angler is obliged to stay informed of any changes on Elveguiden and gaulaelveierlag.no.

§ 9. Animal welfare and catch & release

Fishing must be conducted in accordance with the Norwegian Animal Welfare Act. Kill the fish quickly if it has swallowed the hook, has internal or external injuries, or if there are other reasons why it should not be released.

Release must be carried out carefully:

• The fish must not be lifted above the water surface unless strictly necessary to remove the hook
• Keep the fish in the water at all times – do not use a gaff or tailer
• Handle the fish only with wet hands
• Remove the hook carefully with forceps/hook remover
• Do not stroke or pat the fish. Avoid weighing the fish – estimate size by eye or measure the length
• Hold the fish facing into the current until it has recovered
• Take extra care when water temperatures are high – the fish is particularly vulnerable to stress and infection

Early in the season, salmon are especially susceptible to scale loss and subsequent fungal infection (Saprolegniasis).

Fish that must be killed for animal welfare reasons must be surrendered. Surrendered protected fish (over 65 cm) do not count towards the angler’s personal season quota. Maximum 3 surrenders per angler per season. Once 3 fish have been surrendered, fishing must cease immediately. Fishing may not resume until the surrender has been confirmed and a new calendar day has begun.

Guidelines for surrendering fish: bleed the fish as quickly as possible, pack in clean food-grade packaging, label with catch ID and freeze promptly. The fish must be surrendered within 24 hours to an approved collection point.

§ 10. Tackle and fishing methods

Only rod fishing is permitted for the capture of anadromous salmonids. Only one piece of tackle per person, one line per piece of tackle and one bait per line may be used. Tackle must not be left unattended while fishing. It is never permitted to fish in a manner likely to foul-hook a fish.

Permitted baits: natural worm (biological worm, e.g. earthworm), spoon, spinner, fly and wobbler with a maximum of one treble hook. Fishing with shrimp/prawn or artificial worm is prohibited.

Hook regulations:

• Barbs must be crimped flat on all hooks used in the Gaula river system Required
• Maximum one single hook, double hook or treble hook per bait
• Hook gap: max 13 mm for treble/double hooks, max 15 mm for single hooks
• When fishing with natural worm, the use of a circle hook is strongly recommended Recommended

Landing net and handling equipment:

• Only knotless landing nets are permitted – knotted nets are prohibited Required
• All anglers must carry forceps/hook removers when fishing in the river Required
• Gaffs and tailers are prohibited

When using fly as bait, a floating float or fly line must provide the casting weight. The use of a sinker is only permitted when fishing with worm. When using a float, it must sit on the surface at all times.

All other equipment, technology and fishing methods intended to locate, capture or find fish that are not expressly permitted under these regulations are prohibited.

§ 11. Special restrictions on specific stretches

In the deep pool (Storhølen) below Gaulfossen, only worm fishing without sinker and fly fishing are permitted during June.

From Eggafossen and down to the end of the pool approximately 100 metres below, only light fishing is permitted.

In the tributary river Sokna, only worm with sinker, spinner (max 15 g) and fly are permitted. If the water flow at the gauge at Hugdal bridge is at least 15 m³/s, spoon and wobbler with a maximum of one treble hook are also permitted.

Light fishing requirements at low water flow: If the flow at the Gaulfossen gauge is 20 m³/s or lower, only light fishing is permitted in the Gaula and its tributaries Fora and Bua. This restriction is lifted when the flow rises to 25 m³/s or higher. This does not apply downstream of the flood mark at Varmbubekken (Hølbekken) in Melhus.

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

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

§ 12. Extraordinary measures and river closures

In the event of incidents or circumstances that may have a significant impact on the fish stock – including disease outbreaks, extremely high water temperatures or other acute situations – the board may choose to close fishing in all or part of the river system, or introduce changes to quotas, permitted tackle and/or fishing methods.

The board’s decisions on measures will be announced on Elveguiden and the association’s website. Each angler is obliged to stay continuously informed of any rule changes or special measures in the river.

§ 13. River wardens and inspection

The river association employs wardens to ensure compliance with the fishing regulations. Anglers are required to identify themselves, present their catch and fishing equipment, and confirm that their Gaulakortet, disinfection certificate and forceps/hook remover are in order. The river association reserves the right to report potential breaches of statutory obligations to the authorities. Owners, lessors and permit sellers are obliged to inform anglers of the current fishing regulations, the requirement to purchase the Gaulakortet and to disinfect equipment, and to verify that the angler has paid the national fishing fee and holds a valid disinfection certificate.

§ 14. Penalties for breach of regulations

Breach of these fishing regulations may result in a fine, expulsion and/or a ban. By purchasing a Gaulakortet, a fishing permit or renting fishing rights, the angler accepts these regulations and the river association’s enforcement of them.

Type of breach	Fine
Missing Gaulakortet, scale samples or photo of killed fish	Up to NOK 1,000
Missing disinfection certificate, breach of tackle regulations (including requirements for crimped barbs, knotless net and forceps), missing catch report	Up to NOK 3,000 + ban for the season
Quota breach and aiding a quota breach	Up to NOK 8,000 + ban for up to 2 years

Fishing may not resume until any imposed fine has been paid. Fishing in a closed section of the river or in protected zones is regarded as a quota breach. Aiding a breach is treated the same as committing a breach. Venue for disputes: Trondheim Conciliation Board and/or Sør-Trøndelag District Court.

§ 15. Entry into force

These fishing regulations have been adopted by the board of Gaula Elveierlag and take effect from the 2026 fishing season.