About
Vindelälven, which is a tributary to the river Umeälven, is the largest river holding wild salmon in the province of Västerbotten. In order for the salmon to be able to migrate up Vindelälven, they have to navigate the fish pass at Stornorrfors power station. The fish production is bountiful when it comes both to migratory and non migratory fish. Even though the salmon and sea trout populations are affected to some extent by the Stornorrfors power station, they are highly prized throughout the country.
Vindelälven is the most southern of our four protected rivers and is the only remaining fjall-river similar to the southern and now developed fjall-rivers concerning ecology and landscape development. The river also has a very large population of grayling and white fish, and you can still find the rare large skulled white fish in Storvindeln. Furthermore Vindelälven is also important as an education- and research demonstration project.
Mikael Lindström is testing his fishing luck in Renforsen.
Fishing
The big salmon awaits out in the depths of Vindeln, and Micke is trying to tempt one with one of his flies.
The sport fishing in Vindelälven is very well organized with nearly 40 different fishing administration organizations. Sport fishing opportunities are therefore excellent and the river has varied fishing from grayling to salmon. The rise of salmon has shown a positive trend during the past few years, which has brought an upswing for sport fishing, where in recent years around 200 salmon were caught per year. In addition to this there is high class fishing for big trout in the upper parts of Vindelälven. Most of the salmon fishing is done by boat, with a dragging wobbler or spoon.
Fly fishing for salmon has increased in recent years and has good potential. The hot spots for salmon are the area around Gargnäs, Vindelgransele and Vindeln. The Renforsen and the rapids of Vindeln are excellent and frequently visited areas. Hemselforsen a bit downstream from Vindeln is also producing some fish. The majority of the salmon that are being caught in Vindelälven are caught in the area of Gargnäs and Vindelgransele. Popular places in the Gargnäs area are Krokforsen, Laxselet, Mårten-Abrahamsedan, Torparselet och Beukaforsen. Gargnäs-Råstrands FVO rents out boats to those who want to try out salmon fishing by boat. In the area of Vindelgransele the most productive stretches are Storgrässelet, Åtjärnselet, Kvarnforsen/Kvarnselet and Lappstrykan. The area of Vindelgransele is well suited for fly fishing from the shore.
More about fishing
Text to the picture: A fine Ammarnäs trout caught by Daniel Holmqvist. Picture: Erik Rehäll The large wandering trout which you will find upstream Storvindeln in Vindelälven is one of the few remaining stocks of wild large trout in the country and offers high class fishing. The wandering trout is a resource well worth protecting, so the fishing is done under biologically sustainable, strictly controlled manners. Popular large trout stretches are Kraddsele SFF and Ammarnäs FVO, where places like Sjöforsen, Järnforsen, Övreforsen och Harabacken produce the most fish. Catch statistics: Salmon and trout about 0.8 tons each.
Fine Ammarnäs trout taken by Daniel Holmqvist. Photo: Erik Rehäll
Fish Vindelälven. Statistics, the fish ladder at Stornorrfors Sorsele Fvo Lappland.
Salmon: June 19. – August 31. Local regulations concerning other species.
Gargnäs- Råstrands FVO: year license 300 SEK, year license spouse 100 SEK, day license 70 SEK, three-day license 150 SEK, week license 200 SEK. P-O Jonssons Lanthandel, Gargnäs, Phone: +46 95221034 or Trollforsens Inn, Gargnäs, Phone: +46 952-21142. See also: www.vindelalven.se/fiske/vindelalven
Salmon, trout, grayling, white fish, etc.