Rob Hampson 04/04/2018
Me and my friend John, have just returned from Norway after a wonderful week with Guided Fishing Norway. We were met at Bodo Airport by Phil (Badger) Hambrook and taken to our accommodation in Saltstraumen and immediately I was blown away by the breathtaking scenery. Badger did explain that the fishing had not been as good as usually expected for the time of year, so we didn’t really know what to expect. Badger had prepared us a wonderful meal for our dinner on our first night.
I am a keen angler with very little experience and as the week progressed I was educated in the art of Shore fishing. Badger was our main guide, but due to the fact that John Strange (his business partner) was in the UK, he was assisted by Wayne Hill who is a very experienced angler, with a 50lb halibut to his name. What a lovely chap, he was superb, sharing his wealth of knowledge of shore fishing the Salstraumen area with us all.
As the week progressed we were taken to a wide variety of marks, and we were educated in different disciplines, including deep water mark fishing, which was a real eye-opener!
We were also taught different casting techniques and my casting improved as the week progressed. I caught my first ever haddock, but it wasn’t my week as regards number of fish caught. My friend John caught his first ever Halibut (14lb 8oz) and broke his PB for cod a few times during the week. Our fellow guests, Stu and Mark, from Aberdeen, were great company and the banter flowed throughout the week.
Badger’s cooking skills almost matched his fishing skills and the food he prepared was always first class! I would like to thank both Badger and Wayne for their patience and the tremendous determination they showed in making sure we all had a good time. If anyone is considering Shore Fishing in Northern Norway, Look no further than “GUIDED FISHING NORWAY”
Good luck this week Phil, hope it goes well,
Cheers,
Robby
Greg Simpson 12/03/2018
I can’t recommend these guys highly enough they are beyond helpful make you feel like your part of a family not just a client food is top notch house is very comfortable will definitely be back!!
Cameron Wyllie 17/04/2018
As a non shore angler I went on the trip purely for the craic as it was my mates 40th. I was blown away by how much I learnt that I could apply to my boat and kayak fishing. John,Phil and Dave couldn’t have tried any harder to put us on the fish. There were many pbs caught in the party. The food was awesome and
I learnt how to cast twice as far as I could on arrival, a great trip from being picked up at the airport to being dropped off. I’d recommend it to anyone.
Ps the kit the guys supply is top drawer, from tackle to clothing it is spot on.
Paul Fenech 18/02/2018
Guided Fishing Norway is such a professional, fantastic operation and, if you’re seriously considering a shore trip to the Saltstraumen region of the country, then it’s definitely worth booking with the guys.
John and Phill are the perfect guides and hosts where in a week of fishing, we were continuously taken to marks that not only produced some super fish, we never saw another angler…and that’s when the region was being visited by several other groups from the UK!
The amount of knowledge these guys have is unrivalled in Bodo, so, if you want to make that shore fishing dream a reality, then check out Guided Fishing Norway…you won’t regret it!
…oh, and your face will ache for ages with the amount of laughing you and your pals will do #SimplyTheBest
Paul Fenech
Features Editor
Sea Angler magazine
Rob Batten 17/11/2017
Recommend to anybody! Phill and John are top blokes who instantly make you feel welcome, top food, great anglers with all the knowledge of some truly incredible marks. The scenery and wildlife is magical! Such a wonderful place and physically can’t wait to go back already!
Ben Jones 16/11/2018
I Reccomend it to anyone, the fishing is intense the guides are brilliant teachers and top chefs and the scenery is to die for…. an experience every angler need to have
Peter Hersey 14/10/2018
I would go guided again and again, fantastic week with everything you could want from a fishing holiday. Brilliant guides who are instantly your friends
Couldnt recommend enough!!
Liam Warder 14/10/2018
What an amazing week!! John and phill were fantastic. Always on form trying to put us on the fish. We had some fantastic species and visited some mind blowing marks. Thank you lads. Definitely see you two again.
Sean Start 06/04/2017
Any recommend John and Phill enough for our holiday this past week. Can’t do enough for you and help you in every way needed. A lot of hard work is put in by these guys and it really shows when it’s hard work we were always put on the fish. Will be back next year, can’t wait!
Adam Johnson 06/04/2017
If anyone is thinking of trying a trip to Norway shore fishing then this the place to go, guides John and Phil work hard to get you on to the fish you wish to catch with a boat load of knowledge of the surrounding area that money can’t buy tides, baits, rigs, Rods down to the finest detail have all been thought of. I had a brilliant time and will 100% be returning. Thanks again!
Tony Sputh 03/03/2017
Just want to say a huge thank you to john and Phil for a fantastic weeks fishing in Norway, there hospitality is second to none, there knowledge of the area and vast experience on how to fish the marks again could not be more comprehensive, over all a very cost effective way to take a fishing holiday to this amazing place. It’s a full on fishing holiday make no mistake you eat, sleep and fish for the full week. On a final note these guys cater for every customer on a personal one to one basis nothing is to much trouble for them. Thanks again for the most amazing holiday I have been on to date, keep up the good work and hope to join you again in the near future.
Steve Davis 23/02/2017
What more can you say?From being picked up from the airport to being dropped off a week later john and phill couldn’t be any more helpful.Their knowledge of fishing skills and marks couldn’t be beaten. They go out of their way to make you feel at home and try their upmost best to try and get you to catch. 1st time sea fishing but can’t wait to get back next year!!..Loads of laughs along the way,you’ll love every minute of this pairs company!!..Thanks lads,see you next year
John Gibson 09/02/2017
Big thanks to john for our week away fishing. Advice was great and cant advise people enough to book on with him. Looking forward to coming back…..
Jansen Teakle 04/11/2016
John Strange of GFN is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to the fjords around Bodo. Time again, he put us on the fish and worked tirelessly to ensure we had a great trip. The food was also first class which is a bonus!
EDITED 2/11/2017-
Having just returned from another week with GFN, I felt compelled to add to my previous review.
Both John and partner Phil worked relentlessly the week through and during this trip it became even more evident that their extreme attention to detail, passion and enthusiasm for putting their guests on the fish is only growing. Every single session (twice a day) was planned down to the finest detail with Johns meticulous attention to end tackle and in particular his execution of some innovative methods going a long way in helping our group put fish on the ground. Fishing over some seriously rough ground on many occasions saw minimal tackle loss and tackling these marks became a pleasure rather than a chore.
I really cannot hesitate to recommend GFN enough- their sheer enthusiasm and drive helped along with plenty of humour made for an exceptional weeks fishing all round! If you’re thinking of a trip to Norway, save yourself a lot of time and expense and let John and Phil show you the way. You won’t regret it.
Tom Ascott 01/11/2016
Quite literally the best there is.. Every trip they have put me bang on the money and my European record cod is testiment to the quality of the fishing these guys provide… Hooked for life!!!
