v r B e n d
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Ivar Bend is the first broad resting water after the falls. From above, the reason is obvious: hard water from the bridge and waterfall gives way to a large, calm bend where salmon can recover before moving on.
The outside of the bend carries depth and security, while the open pebble shore gives room for controlled fly fishing. Fish it with short casts first, because resting salmon can lie closer than the size of the pool suggests.
T h e m a g i c l i e s i n h o w t h e d a y b e g i n s , h o w i t e n d , a n d i n t h e m e m r i e s m a d e a l o n g h e w y .
The day at Ivar Bend is about timing and confidence. Watch the bend before you step in. Read where the current softens, where depth begins, and where a fresh fish would choose to stop.
For guests who want classic Verdalselva fly fishing without losing the intimate Austnes feeling, this is one of the most inviting zones on the river.
Austnes Experience
h e C h a r c t r o f t h e B e a
The pebble shore on the eastern side gives excellent room for controlled casting and is especially friendly for anglers building rhythm with the fly rod.
On the farm side the vegetation sits close to the river, so spey casting and compact line control are the right tools. The bend itself is the prize: steady current, softer holding water and a natural salmon pause after the falls.
h y S a l m n o l d H e r e
Salmon hold here because the waterfall below has taken energy. Once they clear it, they need water that offers oxygen, cover and less pressure without leaving the upstream line.
Ivar Bend gives them exactly that. Fish can sit close, deep or slightly off the main push, which is why patient coverage often beats long casting.
e s t T i m t F i s h
Fish Ivar Bend whenever salmon are moving from the waterfall, especially after a rise, a fresh push of water or a quiet night.
Early morning and evening are prime periods, but this is also a zone where a fish can arrive during the day and settle quickly. Keep the beat in rotation rather than treating it as a one-pass pool.
e s t W a t r o n d i t i o n s
The bend fishes best when there is enough flow to bring salmon up from the waterfall and enough shape in the current to reveal the lies.
In low water, go lighter and quieter. In stronger water, concentrate on inside seams, softer edges and the cushion where the bend begins to slow the river.
o w t o F s h t h e B e a t
Start with the near water and fish it properly before adding distance. A salmon resting after the falls may lie closer than expected.
Use a calm swing, clean mends and small steps. On the farm side, keep the cast compact and let spey technique solve the vegetation rather than forcing an overhead cast.
e y H o l d n g W a t e r
The key water is the softening current in the bend, the resting lanes above the waterfall pressure and the water around Sereanna Rock.
Look for where pace changes by a small margin. On Verdalselva, those small margins often separate empty water from taking water.
o w t o F s h t h e B e a t
Cover the bend in layers. Fish short, then medium, then long, and let each cast complete its swing before you move.
If the fly begins to drag, change angle before changing fly. The best presentation here is one that looks easy for a resting salmon to intercept.
o c a l F e t u e s a n d H i s t o
Ivar Bend is deeply tied to the Austnes story. Sereanna Rock is named after the great-great-grandmother of today’s youngest at Austnes, remembered as strong, capable and a formidable angler.
The beat has a brand new gapahuk, and the place feels exactly as salmon fishing should: practical, local, personal and close to the river.
i g S a l m n o t e n t i a l
This zone has genuine big-fish credibility. Ivar once hooked the largest salmon he had ever seen here; after an hour of play, the fish went back out through the waterfall and was gone.
That is the truth of Verdalselva salmon fishing: the chance can be enormous, and the river decides how much of the story you get to keep.
i s h i n g u l s
Fish only the permitted Austnes water and respect other anglers in rotation. Give the bend enough room, especially when someone is working down through the main holding lane.
Wade carefully, keep the bank vegetation in mind and never sacrifice footing for a longer cast.
c c e s s , h e t e r a n d P r a c a C o m f o r t
Ivar Bend is one of the most comfortable and social zones at Austnes, with the gapahuk close enough to let anglers rest, watch and discuss the next pass.
It is ideal for guests who want real salmon water with a strong sense of place: good access, good shelter and a beat that still feels wonderfully alive.