The “central artery” of Gauja National Park is the River Gauja with many tributaries. Many of these are rapid and swift, with clean, unpolluted water enriched with water coming from many springs, and therefore they are suitable for spawning of salmon-like fish — the Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), brown trout (Salmo trutta), and stream trout (Salmo trutta fario).
After a longer trip, the salmon-like fish travel in autumn to their birth places, and thus this is the time best suitable not only to watch the fish, but also enjoy what is happening on the riverside. A salmon watcher is a sort of a ranger, who has come to study the natural environment and create a positive effect from the presence of a human being.
Best time to go – late October, beginning of November. We recommend picking one or two of the listed places, and create your own sequence.
Worth to know! The places to watch salmon-like fish are mostly individual sites except for the River Strīķupe (Vaidava), where a section of several kilometres can be covered. If you travel by car, you can get to several sites during one trip, since each place might result in different success level in watching the fish.
Worth knowing! Follow the news of Nature Preservation Agency (www.daba.gov.lv), since environmental guides from this authority tend to organise salmon watching events! The activity is at one’s own risk. Emergency services: 112.