Salmon fishing in Falkenberg

Most people propbably associate Falkenberg Salmon Fishing with a beautiful mending fly fisher in Garvareforsen, and it is a truly classic fly fishing water. But, for those who has never tried fly fishing, it may seem like a complicated and time consuming thing to learn. Luckily, there are other ways to experience salmon fishing! Here are some practical tips. Good to know In the lower parts of Ätran, there is a stable salmon run during the whole season and you can catch salmon coming in from the sea with sea lice in April as well sa in September. Your biting odds will improve if you are active in your fishing. Switch spots often, begin in the upper parts and move downwards between every cast in order to cover the full water area. The fish is often parked in a certain spot and if you stay in the same spot, you might miss the fish lingering further down. You want to surprise the salmon and if it sees the bait too many times, it will not bite. Continuous movement is the most effecient way of fishing in both fly fishing and spin fishing, and it provides everyone the opportunity to reach the most popular spots. Fly fishing Most fly fishers choose a two-handed rod that measures 12-15 feet for fishing in Ätran. Two-handed rods are particularly advantageous in high water conditions and are easier to cast in spots with obsticles in the background. Most of the times a single-hand rod measuring 9-10 feet, class AFTM 7-8, is enough. Fish deeper with an intermediate or sinking line at the beginning and end of the season. A floating line or sinking line is good for low water conditions and for temperatures over 16 degrees C. The water is often humus colored and popular fly colors are therefore red, brown, black and orange with a fluorescent element in hook size 2-8. Spin fishing Most recreational anglers already have a spin equipment at home that is excellent for spin fishing in Ätran. A rod measuring about 8,5-10 feet with a medium sized spinning reel, or a baitcast reel, is great to start with. A moderate-action rod will create the right feeling in the fishing. The line should be 0,35-0,45 mm, nylon or equivalent braided line. Choose a heavier spoon lure, between 20-40 grams, to maximise casting length and to get the lure into the stream. Falkfish Böx, BX-lure, Toby and Koster are popular lures. You can also use a sharp-colored wobbler. At warmer water temperatures it may be wise to try a Hallandian spinner, for example an ant spinner or tuna spinner, of 20-25 grams. For, trout fishing, which is popular in Hålan, the lucky lure is the jewel lure or the Falkfish ghost lure. Spin fishing with tube fly is also popular and efficient, either using a narrow weight or the popular Korken – a weight inserted in a cork that will soar in the water. The length of the tippet should be about 1,5-3m. Fishing with shrimp from Laxbron To ledger fish from Laxbron you should use your regular spin fishing equipment. A rod measuring about 8,5–10 feet, a medium sized spinning reel, or a baitcast reel, and a 0,40 mm nylon line or equivalent braided line. Bind a tackle. The tackle can be made in different ways, but will most often look like the one in the picture. At the tip of the tackle is a treble hook, size 2-6, depending on the size of the shrimp and the water temperature. Thereafter, about 40 cm line tied to a 3-way swiwel with a sinker in the lower loop. A swiwel between the hook and the 3-way swiwel may also be good, to prevent the line from getting tangled when the shrimp spins. The bait needs to get down into midwater, and the weight of the sinker may vary from 10-30 grams depending on the strength of the stream. Boiled prawns has the right color and size, but more often fresh shrimp from the fish dealer is used. It is good to remove the head of the shrimp, so that the bait is not too big. But the fish might bite even on a full sized shrimp. Attach the shrimp on the hook in a way that makes the shrimp rotate in a luring way in the water. It is great to try other typers of baits too, like smaller spoon lures, spinners or flies.

The fishing area extends from the upper limit of the rapids Hertingforsen to the lower bound of Hålan and it is devided into three stretches. The fishing area is only two kilometers long. It could hardly be any easier to find your spot, and moreover, you can easily walk between different spots if you want to vary your fishing.

In the spring, the water is normally cold and high. The fish is not really swimming around, but will rather stay still in depressions on the bottom. When the temperature rises, the fish become more active and when it is over 10 degrees C. in the water, most often some time into May, the last kelts and most of the sea trouts will leave the river. Left in Ätran are now big, shiny salmon and this is an exciting time. The bites may be far apart, but if it bites and everything goes according to plan, you will be rewarded with a silver shiny salmon in top condition. Ätran in spring time The salmon start their run up Ätran already in Mars, before the fishing season begins. During the spring, the largest share of salmon that have spent more than a year at sea will arrive. The newly arrived salmon are big and fat and have not yet changed into their spawning array. They are characterised by its shiny silver scales and are locally known as “glossy salmon”. In the spring, the kelts will also swim back out to sea again after the autumn salmon run, which is why you may even get a kelt hooked. If you catch a kelt, you must immediately release it back into the the water. It is not a very good food fish and if it is released it may contribute to the stock by spawning once again. During the month of April, there are also a good stock of sea trout in the river, both post-spawned and glossy ones. Learn to identify what you got hooked Tips for spring fishing In the spring time, when the water is still cold, it is better to fish deep and slowly. At really high water it might be hard to get the bait down deep enough towards the bottom. Try to catch fish in slightly calmer and deeper spots, but do not forget to fish in the current as well, which is where the glossy salmon likes to hide out. Later in the spring, the water temperature will rise and you can fish closer to the surface. At this time of year, the glossy salmon will bite right after the bait break the water surface. Fishing tends to be best midday, if your looking to catch a spawning salmon. Fishing at dusk may also increase your chances of success, since that is when the sea trout usually is extra active. Fly fishing For fly fishing, heavy sinking lines are normally used with big flies and slightly longer two-handed rods, 13-15 feet in the 9-10 classes. Cast the fly near the bottom and fish slowly. Big flies in strong colors, like orange or yellow, are usually good choices. Black works all year round. When May comes, and the water tempretaure rises, you can fish shallower. Switch to an intermidate or a floating/sinking line and use slightly smaller flies. The big colorful flies may still work, but now is the time to try, for example, brown flies. Spin fishing For spin fishing, you can basically follow the same basic principles as for fly fishing. Colorfol heavy lures with weights of about 30 grams to get the bait down to the bottom of the river. When the water temperature rises, use slightly lighter weights and try to bring the bait back in a little faster.