We are now entering the final week of August, which also means my last working week at Kvennan for this season.
Over the past week, the river has risen considerably following heavy rainfall before and during the weekend. Water levels are now stabilising, and I expect the river to be getting into good shape again.
Looking at the forecast for the next few days, things are looking very promising! Warm temperatures and very little wind are expected, which should provide some excellent conditions for fly fishing.
With the river still running a little higher, I would definitely keep an eye on the water close to the banks. Fish can often be found rising surprisingly close to shore under these conditions. Combined with the warm and calm weather ahead, there is also a good chance of seeing some insect hatches and hopefully plenty of surface activity.
To everyone heading to Kvennan over the coming days, I wish you a fantastic trip and some great fishing!
Enjoy your time on the river, and tight lines!
Actual water level (m.a.s.l.) : 587.63
Average water level 2005 - 2023 : 587.45
Water in Glomma is : Clear, but a bit brown
Water temperature : 11.88 °C
Air temperature min - max : 5 - 21 °C
Wind speed and direction : 2 (7)m/s , Changing
First of all, apologies for the lack of updates over the past week. I've been a little under the weather, but I'm coming back and here is a new update from the river.
We have received some much-needed rainfall, which has brought the river level up. As of today (17.08), the water level is around average for this time of year, and conditions are looking okay.
During the past week, under the right conditions, there have been a few hatches of Baetis rhodani, which have brought fish to the surface. Apart from these periods, however, surface activity has been fairly limited. This means it may be worth focusing more on nymph fishing rather than waiting for rising fish and dry-fly opportunities.
That said, we're certainly not finished with the dry-fly fishing yet. With the right combination of temperature, wind and weather, we can still get some decent hatches. Looking at the forecast for the next few days, conditions don't look too bad at all, and I definitely think there will be opportunities to find rising fish.
So keep both the nymphs and dry flies ready!
Good luck on the river, and I hope to see you by the water.
Actual water level (m.a.s.l.) : 587.44
Average water level 2005 - 2023 : 587.43
Water in Glomma is : Clear, but a bit brown
Water temperature : 13.723 °C
Air temperature min - max : 4 - 14 °C
Wind speed and direction : 2 (7)m/s , Changing
Photo: Didier LOZANO
We are now into the first week of August, and the river is still running at a low level. The weather has been quite changeable, and the forecast predicts around 14 mm of rain tomorrow. This will most likely affect the river, although it's difficult to say exactly how. After such a long dry period, the rain will certainly be welcome.
I expect the river to become slightly coloured as the rainfall washes material into the water, but we'll have to wait and see how much the conditions change. I'll keep you updated as things develop.
Interestingly, the rain itself may also improve the fishing. It can often trigger insect hatches, and if that happens, we could see increased fish activity during the rainfall.
The past week has been a little slower, with fewer insect hatches and less surface activity than earlier in the season. Even so, anglers are still catching fish. One thing seems to be consistent for both myself and the visitors I speak with: small flies and fine tippets have made the biggest difference.
I'd also like to share another report from a happy group of anglers who visited Kvennan in July:
As promised during our conversations on the banks of the Glomma (and in the shops), here is some information about the stay my friends and I enjoyed at Mette and Erling's place in Telstad from July 9th to 22nd.
There were three of us: for one, it was his first visit; for another, his second; and for me, the umpteenth.
We fish exclusively with dry flies.
During our stay, we once again observed a decline in hatches, even under ideal conditions. We had to target fish rising to extremely small flies (1–2 mm), most often spent insects. We mainly fished with size 20 and 24 flies in the slower sections of the river. Fortunately, this wasn't a major challenge for us, as we're used to fishing with very small patterns.
In faster runs and broken water, we had success using slightly larger flies, though rarely bigger than size 14 or 16.
Despite these conditions, we caught fish every single day. Some days produced 15–20 fish, with many grayling between 25 and 35 cm, several in the 40–45 cm range, and my friends each landed grayling over 50 cm. I also caught two brown trout, one of them measuring more than 45 cm.
Best regards
Didier LOZANO
Many thanks for sharing your observations and experiences. Reports like these are always valuable, as they provide useful insights into the current conditions while also showing that persistence and adapting to the circumstances continue to produce great fishing.
As always, if you'd like to share photos or a fishing story from your visit to Kvennan, I'd be delighted to hear from you.
Actual water level (m.a.s.l.) : 587.28
Average water level 2005 - 2023 : 587.46
Water in Glomma is : Clear, but a bit brown
Water temperature : 13.75 °C
Air temperature min - max : 6 - 16 °C
Wind speed and direction : 3 (7)m/s , Changing
Fishing has been consistently good lately, with typical summer conditions throughout the river. There have been occasional hatches of small mayflies, plenty of caddis in a wide range of sizes, and lots of terrestrial insects blowing onto the water.
At times, large numbers of Daddy Longlegs drift across the surface, creating exciting feeding opportunities. When this happens, it's not unusual to see trout and grayling launching themselves out of the water to take advantage of the abundance of food.
The river is still running a little low at the moment, but there is finally some rain in the forecast. Over the next few days we are expecting some rainfall, which should be beneficial after this prolonged dry spell. The river may become slightly coloured as a result, since we haven't had any significant rain for quite some time. Depending on how much rain falls and how long it lasts, the water will usually clear again within a day or two.
I'll continue to monitor conditions closely and keep you updated on how the river develops over the coming days.
Actual water level (m.a.s.l.) : 587.26
Average water level 2005 - 2023 : 587.44
Water in Glomma is : Clear
Water temperature : 12.69 °C
Air temperature min - max : 10 - 20 °C
Wind speed and direction : 3 (10)m/s , Changing
Photo: Christian Elsilä & Johan Voxberg
We are now well into the second half of July, and it is clear that we have had very little rainfall recently. Water levels are now quite low, making it a bit more challenging to locate fish. However, if you spend some time exploring the river, you can still find stretches holding several quality grayling and trout.
With the combination of low water and warm temperatures, I recommend focusing on areas with good current. The flowing water contains more oxygen, and fish often gather there. Don't overlook the shallow water either—some surprisingly good fish are holding in very skinny water, especially where there is a bit of current.
These conditions also make it especially important to handle fish with extra care. Fish are more vulnerable in warmer water, and prolonged fights can place them under considerable stress. Try to land the fish as quickly as possible, keep it in the water whenever you can, and handle it gently before releasing it.
I'd also like to share another wonderful report from one of our returning visitors:
We have been fishing this part of the Glomma for the last 16 years. This is the second time I've brought my 14-year-old son, and this was where he caught his very first grayling on a fly.
I just wanted to share a few photos from our trip. Most of my time was spent guiding my son, so I hardly fished myself. I have never fished so little, but it was worth every second watching him take his first steps on the fly-fishing journey.
He caught plenty of fish, including several beautiful grayling between 42 and 44 cm.
Photos: Christian Elsilä & Johan Voxberg
Best regards,
Christian Elsilä, Liam Elsilä & Johan Voxberg
A big thank you to Christian, Liam and Johan for sharing both their story and their photos. Moments like these are what fly fishing is all about—passing on knowledge, creating lasting memories, and enjoying time together on the river.
As always, if you have photos or a fishing story from your visit to Kvennan, I'd be delighted to receive them and share them in a future river report.
Good luck to everyone fishing the Kvennan Fly Fishing Zone, and I hope to see you by the river.
Actual water level (m.a.s.l.) : 587.33
Average water level 2005 - 2023 : 587.56
Water in Glomma is : Clear
Water temperature : 13.59 °C
Air temperature min - max : 10 - 20 °C
Wind speed and direction : 3 (10)m/s , Changing
Following the weekend's rainfall, the river has now dropped and stabilised once again. Water levels are back to normal, the river is running clear, and fishing conditions are once again very good.
The warm summer weather has also arrived, and this is starting to influence the fishing. I've found that the best action is early in the morning, before the sun has had time to warm too much. Fishing tends to slow down during the hottest part of the day, before picking up again later in the afternoon and into the evening. If you're planning a day on the river, it's well worth getting an early start.
Once again, I've received a wonderful report from one of our returning guests, who was kind enough to share his experience:
A Family Trip to Remember
My name is Peter Persson, and I've fished the Kvennan Fly Fishing Zone around 15 times, usually making the trip with my good friend Håkan Leo. This year was something special, though—I brought my own son (14) and one of his friends along. It felt incredibly rewarding to pass on the knowledge I've gathered over the years about dry fly fishing.
The first few days were challenging, with a strong northerly wind and rising water levels. The grayling were feeding, but the conditions made the fishing difficult. One of the biggest lessons for the boys was that presenting the fly properly is far more important than making long casts.
We also visited the Hodalen Lakes and enjoyed fantastic fishing on Lake Drengen, catching several grayling over 40 cm. I was lucky enough to land a beautiful grayling measuring 49 cm.
As the wind finally settled, we were rewarded with two outstanding days on the river. Both boys landed grayling of 45 cm, and more importantly, they went home with memories and experiences that will stay with them for the rest of their lives.
Fly fishing is a sport for gentlemen.
Pictures of fish caught in Drengen - Hodalen and Kvennan - Glomma
A big thank you to Peter for sharing this wonderful story. It's always a pleasure to hear about memorable experiences like these, especially when the next generation discovers the joy of fly fishing.
As always, if you have photos or a fishing story you'd like to share, I'd be delighted to hear from you.
Good luck to everyone visiting Kvennan, and I hope to see you by the river.
Actual water level (m.a.s.l.) : 587.75
Average water level 2005 - 2023 : 587.62
Water in Glomma is : Clear
Water temperature : 13.22 °C
Air temperature min - max : 10 - 28 °C
Wind speed and direction : 3 (5)m/s , North
A quick update following yesterday's report.
I have to admit that I underestimated the amount of rainfall we received. Overnight, the river has risen significantly and is now carrying much more colour than it was yesterday. These conditions will likely make fishing in the main river more challenging over the next day or two.
With that in mind, I would once again like to recommend exploring some of our tributaries, as well as the Hodal Lakes. These waters can offer excellent fishing when the Glomma is running high and coloured, and they are well worth a visit while waiting for the river to settle.
We'll continue to monitor conditions closely and provide another update as soon as the water levels begin to drop again.
Good luck to everyone on the water, and I hope to see you around the river soon.
Actual water level (m.a.s.l.) : 587.97
Average water level 2005 - 2023 : 587.66
Water in Glomma is : Brown
Water temperature : 14.12 °C
Air temperature min - max : 10 - 28 °C
Wind speed and direction : 3 (5)m/s , South
Typical summer conditions have now settled in at Kvennan, and the warm summer weather has finally arrived. Temperatures are expected to remain high over the coming days, making for some great days on the river.
During the past week, the river rose slightly, but water levels have now stabilised and are slowly dropping again. There is a chance of some rain over the weekend, but nothing significant enough to have much impact on the river, i think.
Fishing has been excellent lately. Fish are rising throughout the Kvennan zone, insect activity is strong, and both mayflies, caddisflies and different kinds of land insects are keeping the fish actively feeding. The anglers I speak with are very happy with the conditions and are reporting plenty of grayling and trout.
Don't forget about our tributaries, either. Yesterday (09.07), I spent another day on the Grimsa Fly Fishing Zone and enjoyed a fantastic day's fishing. I landed five brown trout actually, with the fish pictured below being the largest. It was rising consistently and took a size #18 Black Gnat.
Everything points towards continued excellent fishing in the days ahead. We wish everyone visiting Kvennan the best of luck, and as always, I hope to see you by the river.
Actual water level (m.a.s.l.) : 587.71
Average water level 2005 - 2023 : 587.71
Water in Glomma is : Clear
Water temperature : 11.47 °C
Air temperature min - max : 10 - 28 °C
Wind speed and direction : 3 (5)m/s , South
Fishing at Kvennan has now been underway for one month, and with that, I have also completed my first month as River Keeper.
What an incredible first month it has been! We've enjoyed consistently good fishing for both grayling and trout, excellent insect hatches, and I've had the pleasure of meeting so many friendly anglers from all over.
The river has now settled into typical summer conditions, with slightly lower water levels and more selective fish. One thing that has worked well for me, and for many of the anglers I've spoken to, is to keep changing flies throughout the day. Sometimes the fish prefer small patterns, while at other times larger flies are the key. There doesn't seem to be a simple answer, so don't be afraid to experiment.
Yesterday I spent a day fishing the Grimsa Fly Fishing Zone in Folldal. If you're looking for crystal-clear water and incredibly strong grayling, I can highly recommend paying Grimsa a visit.
Once again, I've received a wonderful report from one of our returning guests, sharing his experiences from the first days of his trip to Kvennan:
Another Great Start to the Season in Kvennan
I've been coming to Kvennan every year since 2014, and every trip is different. You never know exactly what the conditions will be like or how the fishing will turn out. That's one of the things that makes Kvennan such a special place.
I've fished for two days so far, and both days have been very successful. At times, the fishing was quite challenging, but overall it was really good. Success depended heavily on both location and timing. The grayling were rising in specific areas and often only during relatively short feeding windows, so moving around and carefully observing the river really paid off.
One thing I've learned over the years is that dry flies are certainly not always the answer. Being flexible is the key to success. During these two days, I caught grayling on nymphs, streamers and dry flies. The F-Fly, Klinkhåmer and Mosquito all produced fish, but changing tactics throughout the day made the biggest difference.
After just two days, I've already caught plenty of fish, including both grayling and trout, and I'm looking forward to spending a few more days on this beautiful river.
Twan Croonen with one of his fish at Kvennan.
Thank you for sharing your experience!
I wish everyone continued success on the river, and as always, if you have photos or fishing stories from your trip, I would love to receive them and share them in future river reports.
See you by the river!
Actual water level (m.a.s.l.) : 587.39
Average water level 2005 - 2023 : 587.75
Water in Glomma is : Clear
Water temperature : 14.90 °C
Air temperature min - max : 10 - 20 °C
Wind speed and direction : 3 (5)m/s , South
Unknown photographer.
Johnny Boonserm with a beautiful Kvennan trout, caught on a Griffith's Gnat the other day. Congratulations on a great catch!
The warm summer weather has finally arrived at Kvennan. We are expecting a few warm days before some rain returns later in the week.
Despite the slightly lower water levels, river conditions remain very good. There is still plenty of fishable water, and finding productive spots is no problem. Interestingly, many fish are holding surprisingly close to the bank and in shallow water, so it is worth approaching the river carefully.
Insect activity is outstanding at the moment, with several species of mayflies and caddisflies hatching throughout the day. The fish are feeding actively, and I continue to receive reports of excellent fishing, with both quality grayling and trout being caught.
The season is in full swing, and the coming days should offer plenty of exciting opportunities on the river.
If you have photos from your trip or would like to share a fishing story, I would be delighted to hear from you. Feel free to send me your pictures and experiences—they may be featured in a future river report 🙂
Good luck to everyone visiting Kvennan, and I hope to see you by the river.
Actual water level (m.a.s.l.) : 587.40
Average water level 2005 - 2023 : 587.84
Water in Glomma is : Clear
Water temperature : 13.06 °C
Air temperature min - max : 10 - 25 °C
Wind speed and direction : 3 (5)m/s , Changing
Photo: Anis Babajiic
Got this pictures send to me from Anis, an angler who have visited Kvennan for many years. This time also with first time visitors to Kvennan, here with their first Kvennan graylings, Senad and Emir (father and son)
The season is now truly underway
Fishing has been productive throughout the Kvennan zone, and we continue to receive reports of good catches. Grayling over 50 cm are being landed every week, and the anglers I meet are generally very pleased with both the quality and quantity of fish.
Last week, I had the pleasure of meeting a wonderful group of anglers from Sweden and Bosnia. Anis have been visiting Kvennan for many years and were kind enough to share a few thoughts about their experience:
“We learned about Kvennan about 10 years ago and have been visiting since 2016/2017. Prior to that we fished many well-known waters in Sweden, including Stöten, Görälven, Ammarnäs, Hede, Ammerån and Sysslebäck, as well as rivers in Bosnia & Herzegovina and Montenegro.
What makes Kvennan different is that you can find fish almost everywhere. We have also never experienced grayling as aggressive on dry flies as they are here. They come up from the depths like torpedoes and attack the fly with incredible determination. It is an amazing sight.
Friends who visited Kvennan for the first time this year only came because of the high water conditions in Görälven. At first they did not believe our stories about the fishing, but once they experienced it themselves, the expressions on their faces said it all.
This year I also tried nymph fishing seriously for the first time and landed my personal best grayling – a fish measuring 53 cm.”
— Anis
The weather forecast looks favourable over the coming days with kind wind and good temperatures, before warmer temperatures arrive later in the week. It will be interesting to see how the warmer weather affects insect activity and fishing conditions.
For now, the river is fishing very well, and there are plenty of opportunities for both grayling and trout anglers.
Actual water level : 587.45
Average water level 2005 - 2023 : 587.90
Water in Glomma is : Clear
Water temperature : 13.35 °C
Air temperature min - max : 10 - 20 °C
Wind speed and direction : 3 (5)m/s , Changing
Photo: Ian
Got this picture send to me from a fisher that caught 8 very nice graylings the other day.
It is great to see more anglers arriving on our rivers. Every day I meet friendly and enthusiastic people, and most of them are delighted to have caught fish during their stay.
Conditions are currently very good. Water levels are excellent, and we are seeing strong hatches of both mayflies and caddisflies. Yesterday (18.06), mayflies started hatching around 10:00 in the morning, and the hatch continued steadily throughout the day. The fish were highly active and feeding confidently on nymphs, duns, and emergers of both mayflies and caddis.
Surface activity was impressive at times, making for some exciting fishing. For me, the Super Pupa proved particularly effective.
The weather forecast for the coming days looks promising as well (some rain will come on saturday), with good fishing conditions expected to continue.
Actual water level : 587.57
Average water level 2005 - 2023 : 587.93
Water in Glomma is :Light brown
Water temperature : 12.97 °C
Air temperature min - max : 6 - 20 °C
Wind speed and direction : 3 (5)m/s , From the South
Following the heavy rainfall before last weekend, the river rose significantly and was quite difficult to fish for a couple of days. Fortunately, water levels have now dropped back to a more normal level, and the river is once again in good fishing condition.
One of the reasons for this is the increasing insect activity. Several species of mayflies are currently hatching, ranging in size from #18 to #14. We are also seeing good numbers of caddisflies in various sizes. The fish have clearly noticed the abundance of insects, and at times there has been excellent surface activity.
The weather forecast for the coming days looks promising. Temperatures are expected to rise slightly, and the wind is forecast to turn southerly, which should create favourable conditions along the river.
Look forward to seeing many of you on the water in the days ahead.
Actual water level : 587.74
Average water level 2005 - 2023 : 588.01
Water in Glomma is : Light brown
Water temperature : 11.20 °C
Air temperature min - max : 4 - 16 °C
Wind speed and direction : 3 (5)m/s , From the South
Second River Report of the 2026 Season
The 2026 fishing season has now been underway for just over a week.
The river is still running slightly high and carries some colour, while the weather has been quite changeable. Windy conditions have made fishing challenging on certain days. Over the past two days we have also experienced a fair amount of rain. However, the forecast looks promising for Thursday and Friday. Some rain is expected again over the weekend, but don't let that discourage you from getting out on the river.
Today (10.06), despite heavy rain showers, I witnessed an excellent hatch of Baetis rhodani, along with smaller numbers of a larger and slightly more yellow mayfly specie. The fish responded well, and I enjoyed some exciting fishing. A few grayling came to hand, and unfortunately I lost a very nice trout after a memorable fight.
Overall, there are definitely fish to be caught, and conditions are gradually moving in the right direction.
Good luck on the river, and I hope to see many of you by the water in the coming days.
Actual water level : 587.73
Average water level 2005 - 2023 : 588.06
Water in Glomma is : Light brown
Water temperature : 12.6 °C
Air temperature min - max : 8 - 15 °C
Wind speed and direction : 3 (5)m/s , From the South
First River Report of the 2026 Season
The fishing season is now underway, and there are definitely opportunities out there.
The river is still running a bit high and carries some colour, but conditions are gradually improving. Over the last few days, I have observed rising fish and periods with a fair amount of insect activity.
I was out fishing yesterday (02.06), and saw a modest hatch of Baetis rhodani, along with some midges and other terrestrial insects on the water. Fish were caught both on nymphs and dry flies, which is always encouraging this early in the season.
Things are starting to happen, so now is the time to dust off your fishing gear and i will see you by the river.
Actual water level : 587.87
Average water level 2005 - 2023 : 588.15
Water in Glomma is : Light brown
Water temperature : 11 °C
Air temperature min - max : 15 - 20 °C
Wind speed and direction : 4 (10)m/s , South-East