Edward Briggs Kennedy (1842-1914)

Edward Briggs Kennedy (1842-1914). Occupation: Diplomat

Author of the book “30 seasons in Scandinavia”, published in 1903. 1903 was the 31st consecutive year that Kennedy visited Scandinavia. He himself says in the foreword to the book that what inspired him to travel to Norway for the first time in 1872 was another book: “Through Norway With A Knapsack”.

When he came to Norway in 1872, it was still possible to find protected idylls where he could rule the land alone. When he put away his rod and reel for good in 1903, a new era had come to the country. His time in Norway represented the era from sketchbooks and paraffin lamps, to cameras and electric lights. On his many trips to Scandinavia, Kennedy fished for trout, char, whitefish, grayling, sea trout and salmon – in addition to hunting.

In 1872, Kennedy tried his luck in the Drammenselva River near Vikersund.

Later that year he came to Stubben, along with what he referred to as a friend from the colonies: " Mr. Archer from Larvik" .

This was probably Archibald Archer (1820-1902), who lived in Australia, but spent the summer at home at Tollerodden. Archibald was the brother of the famous boat builder Colin, who hardly needs any introduction. After what must have been a bumpy and tiring journey in a cart from Larvik, the gentlemen finally reached the river. At that time there was a mill at Stubben, in Vestfossen, and the small party was welcomed by the man who was responsible for the mill's operation. " He told me that the salmon in the river would only take flies with dull colors, preferably in slightly sad brown tones, an opinion my companion shared. I had fished little for salmon, and knew nothing about the sport," Kennedy said in the book.

But even local tips can turn out not to work. The fishing was quite slow to begin with, he continued:

"My friend equipped me with a grayish-brown fly of the appropriate size, before tying a similar fly on his line. We "whipped" the river from the mill to the waterfall, one by one, without result. Then we crossed the river and fished on the other side, all in all two hours of intensive casting. The rods were heavier in those days, and finally we went back to the mill, exhausted, and had a cup of coffee."

Then Kennedy took out a leather folder containing a selection of new and flashy Irish salmon flies. He picked out a colorful creation and tied it on.

"The others looked at me with sympathetic eyes, and as I stood up I could read their thoughts: 'That thing won't work.' To my surprise, I hadn't even made half a dozen casts when I made contact with a salmon. I roared with joy, and two men rushed out of the mill."

The hook set well and after just a few minutes, an astonished Archer was able to hook the five-kilo salmon. A triumphant Kennedy watched as his friend and miller practically threw himself at the fly.

"The two sat down and talked excitedly in Norwegian. In my ignorance I had broken all the sacred rules of the river, which was of course unheard of. The miller ran back and got his glasses, before the two examined the fly thoroughly. Every bit of the body, the wing and the materials were carefully inspected, it was laid on its side, smelled, held up to the light, and then I was asked who had made it. "Pat Hearns", I said."

Pat Hearns belonged to a group of highly skilled and innovative fly tyers in Ireland, who were particularly active in the 1830s and 40s. More about them in the chapter on salmon flies.

The gentlemen caught four more salmon on this unforgettable day at Stubben. The largest weighed a whopping 27 pounds or just over 12 kilograms.

No wonder Edward Briggs Kennedy returned to Lågen and Stubben a few years later. But then together with Sir Henry Fairfax. However, the two were unlucky with the conditions. The water level was very low after a hot summer, and they did not catch any salmon.

Since it was James Elphinstone Erskine who owned the "Salmon Castle" and Stubben at the time, the visits of Kennedy and Archer, and later Kennedy and Fairfax, must have occurred with Erskine's blessing.