The Salmon Lords or Lakse Lorder in Norwegian were Lords, Princes, men of wealth with disposable income who were inspired to embark on epic journeys to Norway’s untamed landscape to fish for the mighty Atlantic Salmon. The title of Lakse Lorder was given to them by the local Norwegians who helped them out in their quest for Salmon.
The first English anglers looking for new salmon fishing began arriving in Norway around 1830. It was these anglers who brought fly fishing to Norwegian rivers and where called "Lakse Lorder" by the Norwegians, they belonged to the British upper classes. Some were bona fide members of the nobility, some were just wealthy businessmen and military officers. Common to all of them was a certain level of wealth that freed them from the cares of making a living. At this time the British Empire was at the peak of its power so affording the these gentlemen and ladies the ability to travel with freedom although the journey to the rivers was often long and difficult hence why the "Salmon Lords" would take residence in farms (with some cultural clash) and later building their own lodgings as they returned each summer up until the end of the 1920's when they disappeared into folk legend.
Two summers in Norway vol 1
I had great difficulty to reach Hougsund. The floods, which are usual in the early part of the summer, in consequence of the melting snows, had carried away most of the bridges, and torn up some of the road: so that we frequently obliged to make our way, as best we could across fields and through intricate places, which nothing but the lightness of our vehicles joined to great labour and perseverance, enable us to surmount. At some spots, I must confess, the thought of involuntarily came into my mind, How is it probable that I shall be able to accomplish 1200 or 1500 miles in the wilder parts of this country, when I have already experienced such difficulties, and some extraordinary escapes in two days travelling within forty or fifty miles of the capital?
Despite these challenges of the interior, these lords pushed on northward and are best know for settling and fishing the Gaula River, Namsen River (Queen of all rivers), Rauma River, Aory River, Lærdal River, Suldalslågen to name a few.
The impact of the "Salmon Lords" on Norway and Europe can not be underestimated as it was the first "Active tourism" as we know it in Europe and the salmon Lorders showed the Norwegians another way of looking at their great rivers, as well as the English climbers who introduced Norwegians to a new way of thinking about and exploring their mountains as they had done in the Scottish highlands back home to the Himalayas during this time of imperialistic growth in India.
My personal connection to this his was my grandfather, who being a native Norwegian, but living in Britain returned each summer to fish and work in Norway when taking time off while serving in the British army in Norway and Manila at the outbreak of world war two, before returning to the lumber firm he then ran with his father my great grandfather, providing Norwegian timber for the rest of the world. This very personal connection excites me to discover more and to trace back my history and heritage being part Norwegian and listening to my grandfathers stories as a child of Norway.
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