The grayling is Härjedalen’s regional fish—and grayling fishing in Vemdalen is famous. The main attraction is the Ljusnan River, the region’s blue lifeline. But there are many other waters teeming with grayling. Gunnar Ekberg in Vemdalen knows where the best spots are. Here, he shares ten of his favorites.
There’s hardly anything worth knowing about fishing in our 13 fisheries conservation areas that Gunnar Ekberg doesn’t already know. He’s been fishing here his whole life. His passion was sparked when he and his grandfather rowed out onto Lake Klövsjön to fish for perch. Ekberg is also one of the many volunteers working to make Destination Vemdalen an easily accessible fishing paradise for families. He and other enthusiasts in the local fisheries conservation associations devote many hours of work to making fishing accessible to everyone. Trails and lakeshores are cleared, rest shelters are built, and windbreaks and fire pits are set up.
For Gunnar Ekberg, fishing is also his profession. For many years, he has run the Ekbergs Fiske & Fritid stores in Vemdalen and Vemdalsskalet. There, fishing is the topic of conversation from morning to night, and beginners are welcome to learn the noble art of fly fishing. During the summer, he holds fly fishing courses; for times and dates, call Ekbergs Fiske at 0684-30036.
Gunnar Ekberg's Top 10 List for Grayling Fishing:
Börtnan
Ljungan is one of my absolute favorites, and I think it’s at its best in the Börtna area. There are plenty of great, easily accessible spots there.
The river is a wild and untamed waterway in a beautiful mountain valley. It is easily accessible and a pleasure to fish. Here, you’ll often catch some truly large grayling, and the trout are also of a good size.
Heath
Hede offers game fishing in some thirty bodies of water, including the Ljusnan River, which is known for its excellent grayling fishing. The best spot is just downstream from Hede Camping. The road leads all the way to the best fishing spots.
Hedeviken
Here, the Ljusnan River flows through Lake Vikarsjön. Beyond the lake lie classic grayling stretches, including the renowned Strömmen. The stretch upstream from Lake Vikarsjön toward Hede also offers excellent grayling fishing.
Vemhån-Vemdalen
The Aloppan is a wilderness river that winds its way through the mountain heaths at the very top of the Hån/Vemdalen Fishing Management Area and can only be reached after a fairly strenuous mountain hike. The large grayling waiting there are well worth the effort.
Veman is, of course, the classic grayling river and a magnet for many skilled fly fishermen. It is unregulated and thus fishable along virtually its entire length. Sometimes it’s just a few steps from the road; other times, a longer hike into the wilderness is required. Two truly convenient fishing spots in Veman are at Vålkojan and Sälströmmen. From Midsummer and for a few weeks afterward, the fishing here can be extraordinary.
Långå
The Anån River flows through a beautiful mountain landscape and attracts grayling weighing several pounds. The river empties into Lake Grundsjön, famous for its unique and wild population of char. The lower section of the Anån River leading to the lake is one of several excellent fly-fishing stretches.
The Ljusnan is a fantastic grayling river that flows through a number of different fisheries conservation areas. In Långå, it offers several excellent stretches for grayling enthusiasts. One example is the stretch just west of the village, which is a first-class grayling spot.
The Mittån is an excellent stretch of river for fly fishing for grayling in running water. Långåfisket offers a total of 47 different fishing spots, with 45 km of running water. For serious grayling anglers, a visit here is a must.
Rätan
The Nästel streams are a favorite among discerning anglers. When the large mayflies (rock) hatch from Midsummer onward for a few weeks, the grayling fishing here is top-notch.