As part of National Fishing Week and for the module 3 for 4 young people within Get Hooked on Fishing we decided that we would travel abroad to perform some sea fishing of a different nature to our usual. Through talking with Ian Peacock from DinTurs we decided this trip would be to Trondheim, Norway!
 After months of planning, preparation, training and countless meetings the trip to Norway was upon us. It was an early morning flight and after having only a couple of hours sleep, I was picked up by Tony Hall (Teacher at Ashington High School) at 4.30am and off we went to Newcastle Airport. I could see by Tony’s face that although we both we on our first international trip with young people the excitement well outweighed any nervousness. On arriving at the airport we met the young lads who we were taking away. Jamie Prime and Jonathan Boulton (Trainees with GHOF), Adam West and Andrew Young (pupils at Ashington High School). You couldn’t even tell that they had as little sleep as us (if not less!) as their faces were telling the story of exactly what this trip meant to them.
 Around 3 flights, a train and a taxi and around 12 hours later we arrived at Skarnsundet Fjordsentre and were kindly greeted by Ian Peacock from DinTurs. He explained exactly what the plan was for the next day when we would be on the ‘Fisk for Alle’ and guided by Ian himself and Klaas Jan Jonkman (renowned fishing guide and owner of the fjordsentre). The lads were buzzing by this time and even though it had been a very long day we dumped our gear into our very nice apartment and headed straight down to the harbour for some fishing. This resulted in us catching a few small fish (Haddock, Granny fish and Pollock). After a few hours we called it a night and got some well needed sleep before our adventure really started the next day. We woke about 8am and after a hardy breakfast we headed down to the harbour where we met Klass who’s enthusiasm had an immediate effect on the lads. Although we all took our own equipment to the boat none of it was used as Klass had very kindly already kitted out the boat and supplied us with everything we would need for the day.
 The heavens opened as we headed off but the sky had cleared by the time we stopped. On route Klass and Ian gave the lads a little lesson on how the GPS and fishfinders worked to their amazement as this was the first time they’d even seen them. He also explained that we were looking for shoals of herring, how we would fish for them and what we done once they bit. Sure enough we were soon on to shoals of herring which then resulted in herring, a whiting, a haddock a few nice cod up to 5 1/2lbs being caught (the first some of the lads had ever caught). Their faces were a pure picture as they battled with good sized fish on light braided line. We had a couple of drifts over these shoals, caught a few fish and were circled by Barney and the other TSF guys as they took pictures of the catches.
 We then headed to a place which we soon nicknamed ‘coaley hole’. Klass and Ian changed our equipment and tactics and surely enough Andrew and Adam were soon in to good strings of coaleys to 5lb. It was then Jamie and Jonathan’s turn and again the same happened. Then it was mine and Tony’s turn and no surprise, same again. Exactly as Klass and Ian had described the coaleys were feeding on shrimps and the tactics we used mimicked this which resulted in the good catches. After a while the bites faded so we headed homeward but again had to keep up with the fishing on the harbour as there was no stopping everyone by now.
For the next 2 days we had our self drive boats and used the same methods as what we had been shown. Although we really struggled to sometimes find and then keep on the shoals of herring (being novices driving our own boats) we still had a great time which resulted in more codling, pollock and a lovely grey gurnard. We went back to Coaley Hole both days and again had some great catches with coaleys up to 8lb, Pollock up to 6lb and haddock up to about 4lb.
This was a fantastic trip and we all have to thank GHOF, TSF and DinTurs for their very kind sponsorship and hospitality which made this trip possible and also such a success for us all. The whole experience from the venue to the fishing and also the breathtaking scenery will no doubt will be etched in our minds for the rest of our lives.
Written by Darren McGlen, Project Co-ordinator, Get Hooked on Fishing Wansbeck
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