The art of inspiring others to discover and become better anglers - Let’s meet Asgeir Alvestad

Dear friends,

Today we would like to tell you about a man dedicated to his hobby, a man whose work is of significant importance to the younger generation, an excellent role model, who knows how to inspire others to discover and become better anglers! Let’s meet Asgeir Alvestad!

Fishing as a lifestyle

Born in 1968 and living the beautiful Lillesand, Asgeir Alvestad is one of the most famous sport fishermen in Norway.

He started his fishing career at the age of 4 and continues to hold the rod. When he is 20 years old, he had aleready had over 20,000 hours with it.
Just only in Norwegian waters, Asgeir has caught more than 150 different species and tops the ranking. 70 of them he took in the depths around Lillesand, a municipality with about 300 islands.

Ranking most fish species caught on rod in Norway

Asgeir Alvestad also has several records. Among his remarkable successes is actually the largest fish caught on a rod in Norway and Europe ever and second largest fish recorded on rod ever in the world – 1.1 tonnes Greenland shark, hooked in the Nedstrandsfjord. Here is a nice video as well!

And a few can boast, but he is among them, with his smallest fish caught, a crystal goby 0.5 g, one of the smallest fish species in Norway.

Asgeir Alvestad fishes in both salt and fresh water. Fishing is the greatest fun and excitement in his life. As a teenager, he began with competitive fishing. Not long after, his successes came. In diverse Norwegian tournaments he has set several fishing records and already had over 500 trophies!

The art to inspire

Alvestad spends a lot of time trying to help and inspire many to become better anglers.. He also teaches teenagers from an early age how to cast their line. As well as participates in the creation of several fishing films. : “The hunt for the big fish” with Team Mustad, also “Become a better angler” with Pure Fishing.

And a few years ago he wrote a guide ” The sea fishing handbook” with Kroglund. Very useful reading for both experienced anglers and for beginners. The book gives information about most popular fishing arts and their specifics and behaviours, relevant fishing methods, fishing tackles, as well as mini guide to the best fishing spots in Norway.

He regularly participates with articles in various specialized publications.

Without borders

Permit record Cuba 2015

But that’s not all. Asgeir travels around the world to practice his favourite hobby. From Africa to Greenland and the Caribbean, Cuba where he won the prestigious title of IGFAs ” Inshore Super Grand Slam” fly fishing with the participation of over 80 fishermen from around the world. He is also an experienced deep-sea angler, winning a number of titles as we said, including Norgescup and NM – deep-sea fishing.

Underwater photos

Asgеir is a man of many talents. He is a real artist with the camera. A whole new world comes to life when fishing experiences are captured by the photographer. It is about both over and under water. With his amazing underwater photos, he reveals the true beauty of the deep-sea kingdom. Skillfully using the camera and special lighting, his photos below the water surface are a true masterpiece.

Fishing guide

Asgeir is an experienced fishing guide. At any time of the year, he can offer you guides and lectures in sea trout, species fishing, boat and deep sea fishing. Works both with small and large groups. According to the request can organize tailor-made fishing schools.

Fishing is my passion

Fishing is the great passion of Asgeir Alvestad. Evidence of this are his numerous tattoos. He is very proud of them, and they are a real art. They celebrate his best achievements, remarkable moments from fishing, as well as motifs with salty and freshwater character. Аmong these amazing works can be seen a big tattoo on the rig, which shows his three best fly catches from the year before it was made. We can see here one of the largest permits taken in Cuba ever and a lemonshark of 2m +, both taken on the same day. Also the world’s fastest fish, a sailfish he caught on a fly in Malaysia the same year.

A remarkable fly fishing year that was worth to remember!

It took 37 hours to complete the work. The tattoo artist was the legendary Jari Kajaste from Helsinki.

Asgeir also tattooed his “super grand slam” and his record shark – 1100kg Greenland shark, which is the world’s second largest fish ever caught on a rod. Among the tattoos is also a species fishing related tattoo- a small Dragonet, Leptagonus decagonus, Prickleback and Greater pipefish.

There is no way not to be impressed!

Important mission of public importance- No to fish farming

Other big problem is salmon that has escaped from farming, and thus mix with wild salmon during spawning. Wild salmon have special genes that are adapted to each individual watercourse, and they are now affected in a negative direction.

Asgeir Alvestad is passionately committed about nature preserving, so that future generations can continue to enjoy this incredible Norwegian treasure. He draws public attention to growing fishing farms and warns of the consequences of the ruthless exploitation of natural resources.

Alarm for salmon

Salmon lice, pollution, and huge amounts of nutrients that cause over-fertilization are just some of the consequences of such a plant. The salmon lice spread from the overcrowded facilities. That way the next generations of salmon that are on their way out to sea become infected by lice. They eat the fish’s skin and mucus layer as it gets wounds, and eventually gets infections and dies.

Sea trout

For sea trout, the situation is much more critical. It can not escape at sea, and must live its entire life in the area close to facilities if it is there. Thus, the mortality rate is very high and the population decreases or becomes extinct.

In Southern Norway, the sea trout’s living conditions really need focus and improvement. Asgeir Alvestad is actively involved in the Sjøørret Sørlandet Project med aim to better these conditions. Municipalities in Southern Norway, tourism and innovation Norway are a part of this project as well. So far, more than 9 schools and over 500 rivers are involved to adopt a stream. In this way the younger generation is inspired and drew in the care for the protection of the sea trout living environment.

Asgeir Alvestad is really important role model with his contribution and dedication with which he works. Always open and always smiling, he is a person who devote a lot of time to children. With fishing trips and exciting stories that make children’s eyes shine whenever.

Over the years I have learned a lot from this living legend of Norway. He is always ready to help, to show and even make a fishing day a holiday for the people. I have the honor of knowing Asgeir Alvestad personally. To live not so far to him gives me opportunity to ask 🙂 for a fishing tour.

Whether in the beautiful nature of Norway or at sea and I know I will always learn something new!

Here are some useful links

Fiskeher app

We strongly recommend you use the fiskher® app for a valuable experience with your favourite hobby. Asgeir is one of its founders and developers. Very useful fiskher® app shows the way to 50,000 good fishing spots for 16 species in Norway, and has been launched for Sweden and Denmark as well (Germany is coming soon). You can choose between different languages also.

Sosial media

Blog

Asgeir Alvestad also runs its own blog and website named after him.

There you can learn a lot about all kinds of fishing, tips and tricks, accompanied by movies on You Tube. You will also find information about courses and hot topics.