Words are not enough to describe the unreal beauty Kautokeino possesses. Do not go to Kautokeino if you are expecting jagged fjords and beaches that look like the Mediterranean sea however. You certainly will not find either geographical features in Kauto. What you will find though, is excellent fishing and abundant spots to either cast your fishing pole or your fly fishing setup. Kautokeino is rather flat with many rolling hills that are breathtaking. The majority of the population are Sami. With few shops around, and no beer/alcohol sold on Sunday’s…. Make sure you are well prepared if you like your cider and beer!
Be prepared to fish
Just like any other fishing adventure that you have embarked on, come to Kautokeino well prepared. The fishing spots are abundant and without the proper fishing gear; flies, lures, fishing poles, etc. you will be hurting.
Whether you’re going for a week or two on vacation, or on a short business trip, make sure to bring a fishing pole along with you. My backpacking kit always includes a fishing pole and lures. I don’t want to miss out catching something on the fly, so I’m prepared for anything!
Harjus, abundant!
The harjus species (grayling) is an example of an excellent catch and a tasty shore lunch. It is no secret that the Pikefossen waterfall is a great fishing frenzy. Here, at Pikefossen the fishing was amazing. While I was able to real in everything from ahven’s to trout…. Harjus was my most common catch. By that, I mean it was like every cast that I would catch a harjus. I was very selective of the fish that I wanted to keep for a later snack so all the small little fish went back to their respective habitat.
I don’t want to come off like a parrot, but you should keep your rod close to you at all times while hiking and adventuring in Kautokeino, there are bodies of water scattered everywhere. Literally!
The more you hike, the more rewarding the fishing gets
Sure, I mentioned that at Pikefossen you can pretty much catch anything and have an unforgettable lunch. What will definitely be hard to find there is the arctic char. Good luck if your aim is to go to Pikefossen and real in some killer arctic chars. There just ain’t any there. Take my word for it. If you do happen to catch some arctic chars in Pikefossen, please drop me a comment or an email. I would love to hear such tales. As the subtitle mentions above “the more you hike, the more rewarding the fishing gets” – is all so true. First, you will want to download a topography map or buy a physical copy at a visitors centre or at one of the fishing stores in the centre. Be on the look out for little lakes that are hidden in the rolling hills of Kautokeino. Be aware though too, not every little lake will harvest you arctic chars. Drop me a comment though and I will lead you to a general location where there are plenty of little lakes where you will be guaranteed to fish for arctic chars. Bring along a flint, some salt and what ever else you would like to cook on the side for a memorable meal in the outdoors!
The best time to hit up Kuatokeino for some fishing is between June and August. Getting to Kautokeino is another story. I hiked into Kautokeino from Reisaelv.
I first learned that having a car is most beneficial. Even better, if you have the chance…. Rent some all terrain vehicles, there are plenty of offers.