Days in Falkenberg

Back to where it all began – salmon fishing on the River Ätran

Falkenberg – a small, charming town on Sweden’s west coast where the famous salmon river Ätran flows right through the center. The river is one of the best-known destinations for salmon fishing in Sweden, attracting anglers from across Scandinavia every season.

Walking along the riverside promenade you’ll see joggers, people walking their dogs, and bright green trees glowing with the energy of early summer. Old fishermen sit on benches telling stories about legendary catches (“mine was biiig, yes it was”), while dedicated anglers stand wading in the current, casting again and again, convinced that the next swing of the fly could bring a strike.

It was here in Falkenberg, on the River Ätran, that I caught my very first salmon when I was 14 years old. A dark 6.5-kg male that took my shrimp. It was the only salmon caught that day, and I lived on that feeling for months — maybe even years. That fish truly ignited my passion for salmon fishing and fly fishing for Atlantic salmon, even though it would take another 6–7 years before I landed my next Salmo salar. Many of my best fishing memories come from this river.

Since this is the absolute high season for my company (adrenalin.nu) right now, I didn’t make it to Norway for the salmon season opening this year. Instead, Amanda and I booked a short two-day trip to fish the Ätran and try our luck in the new and exciting Herting Rapids, which opened this season.

The new Herting stretch has already created a lot of excitement among anglers interested in fly fishing for salmon in Sweden, and we were eager to experience it ourselves.

If you would like to book a salmon fishing permit for the River Ätran in Falkenberg, you can do so here: Falkenbergslaxfiske.se

The River Ätran flows gracefully through the town of Falkenberg.

Salmon right away!

Viggo, our dog, Amanda and I arrived in Falkenberg the evening before our fishing trip began and checked in at the lovely Hamngatan 27. Beautifully located in an old warehouse building along the lower stretch of the River Ätran, just below Tullbron bridge, this carefully designed boutique hotel is a perfect base for anglers visiting Falkenberg for salmon fishing on the River Ätran. Amanda described it as “the kind of place where my mother wouldn’t find anything to complain about,” which I interpret as the highest possible rating.

We took a walk along the river to give Viggo some exercise while, of course, being curious about the water conditions and whether we might spot any fish. As we walked upstream we saw two beautiful salmon show themselves while Viggo cooled off by one of the sandy banks. At Fajans Bridge we turned around and continued downstream on the opposite side of the river.

As we approached Tullbron we spotted a wading angler with a fish on the line on the opposite bank. I quickly ran across the bridge, and it turned out to be none other than local fishing guide Jesper Ljungberg. Just a few meters upstream from the second pool at Tullbron the salmon had taken the fly, and after a short but exciting fight the fish came in nicely.

I filmed the moment with my phone, and you can see the result in the video below.

Up at dawn – early morning salmon fishing on the River Ätran

Amanda became sick during the night leading into Tuesday, but she still managed to get up early and head out for a couple of hours of salmon fishing on the River Ätran in the morning. After returning home for breakfast she decided to conserve her energy and go back to bed to recover, but of course I wanted to get back to the river.

I walked across the salmon bridge and immediately saw a fish show itself about 50 meters upstream. It felt incredibly promising! I invited Jesper to join me, and he gladly came along to fish Amanda’s rod with me at Herting Rapids in Falkenberg. It was perfect to have a local guide along who could show me the stretch while also fishing himself.

We drew lots for two hotspots along the river, and Jesper got the one furthest downstream. Just five minutes later I saw his line suddenly tighten — “FISH!”

I quickly started the camera.

Unfortunately the camera stabilizer had somehow been turned off, which made the video a bit shaky, as you can see below.

Jesper with beautiful salmon

Viggo joined us in the morning.

28 Degrees – Salmon fishing on the River Ätran

After Jesper's catch I walked another stretch of the river, but soon the air turned extremely warm so I returned to Amanda, who was starting to feel a bit better. We enjoyed some well-brewed coffee in the lovely garden at Hamngatan 27 and chatted with the girls working there. They were fascinated that we had come to Falkenberg mainly for the fishing. It's interesting how salmon fishing on the River Ätran, something that defines the town so much for anglers, can still feel unfamiliar to people who grew up there.

It was now time to change hotels and check in at Falkenberg Strandbad, a fantastic seaside hotel located directly on the beach promenade. We dropped our bags and drove a few hundred meters to the dog beach where we went for a swim and relaxed, gathering energy for the evening fishing session.

Once we were fully recharged by the sun, evening arrived and we headed back to the river. I fished the Herting stretch of the River Ätran, while Amanda fished downstream from the bridge, which is also included when purchasing a fishing permit for Herting Rapids.

I carefully worked my way across the spots Jesper had pointed out. Exactly at the best holding spot the line suddenly tightened. Slightly unprepared, I released a loop of line, lifted the rod — and the fish was on! After a few heavy head shakes the salmon came loose and I felt an immediate emptiness. I saw a few more fish after that, but none of them took my fly.

Hang the fly

When fishing the Herting current, Jesper taught me that you should wade out as far as possible, to the edge of the deeper channel, and let the fly hang in the pockets by using several mends in the line. The line Jesper and I used was a floating line with an S4–5 tip and a relatively large fly, about 6–8 cm long — a common setup when fly fishing for Atlantic salmon in Sweden.

When we felt satisfied with the evening session we returned to the hotel where we enjoyed a GT each in the tropical spa bar before later having dinner in the cozy New England–inspired restaurant. During our evening walk, Viggo got to run along the shoreline and swim as much as he wanted. He would have made a great Falkenberg local.

A few days after we returned home I received a message from Jesper. He wrote:

A nice message arrived today along with some fun photos from the guys who visited Herting Rapids yesterday.
Great to hear they had such good fishing.
As I've told several people before, the rapids fish best when the water level is low.
Here is the message from Robin:

While writing this, I received a text message from none other than Calle Ohlsson — see the photo below:

We had wonderful days in Falkenberg and it was actually nice not having all the focus on fishing for once. We also had time for walks, beach relaxation, and great restaurant visits. We will definitely return to the River Ätran soon, and it will be exciting to see how the fishing develops at Herting Rapids this summer.

If you would like to book a permit for salmon fishing on the River Ätran in Falkenberg, you can do so here:
Falkenbergslaxfiske.se

If you want professional guiding on the river, contact:
Fiskeguideifalkenberg.se

*Days in Falkenberg is a book written by W.M. Wilkinson in 1886

Amanda kept going despite feeling unwell

A unique project – restoring the Herting Rapids

At Herting, on the River Ätran in Falkenberg, one of the most ambitious river restoration projects for wild Atlantic salmon in Europe was carried out between 2013 and 2014. The original river channel was recreated by clearing forest, adding spawning gravel and large holding stones, and constructing angled guide arms to ensure a minimum water flow of eleven cubic meters per second.

A fish counter and a live fish camera were also installed to monitor the migration of salmon and other species. The old dam was removed and an angled grid was installed in front of the hydropower turbine to safely guide migrating fish downstream.

Although the main restoration project has been completed, work continues to improve free migration routes for all species in the river. The project is managed by Falkenberg Energi, which produces climate-smart and renewable electricity at the Herting hydropower plant while also supporting conservation of the River Ätran ecosystem.

More and bigger Atlantic salmon

The restoration project has significantly improved migration for all species moving through the river, and the salmon population has increased strongly since the rapids were reopened. Survival rates for migrating salmon have improved, and anglers are now beginning to see larger Atlantic salmon – fish that have spent more than one winter at sea – returning to the River Ätran.

The number of salmon is increasing, and the average size of the fish is also growing. The new rapids have become an important nursery area for juvenile salmon, producing approximately 27,000 salmon fry every year. This strengthens the entire salmon population and increases the number of returning fish.

The Herting restoration project is now considered a model example for similar river restoration efforts across Europe.

In 2024 the Herting Rapids were finally opened for fly fishing and salmon fishing on the River Ätran, creating an exciting new opportunity for anglers visiting Falkenberg.

If you would like to book a fishing permit for salmon fishing on the River Ätran, you can do so here: Falkenbergslaxfiske.se

Salmon fishing on the River Ätran – Falkenberg, Sweden

The River Ätran in Falkenberg is one of the most well-known rivers for salmon fishing in Sweden. Every year anglers from Sweden and across Europe travel here to fish for Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) in the lower parts of the river near the town center.

The river flows directly through Falkenberg, making it one of the few places in Europe where you can enjoy urban salmon fishing within walking distance of hotels, restaurants, and shops.

Popular salmon fishing areas in Falkenberg include:

• Tullbron
• Fajans
• Herting Rapids
• The lower pools near the harbor

The fishing season normally runs from spring through late summer, with peak salmon runs typically arriving in early summer depending on water levels and conditions.

Many anglers choose to fish the river using fly fishing techniques for Atlantic salmon, although spinning gear is also common in certain stretches.

Because of its accessibility and strong salmon runs, the River Ätran has become a classic destination for anglers looking for salmon fishing in southern Sweden.

Fly fishing in Sweden

If you are planning a fly fishing trip to Sweden, the River Ätran is one of the most accessible salmon rivers in the country. Located on the west coast, Falkenberg offers excellent salmon fishing opportunities combined with easy access to accommodation, restaurants, and guides.

Many international anglers visit the area every year to experience classic Scandinavian salmon fishing.

Fishing information – River Ätran

Location: Falkenberg, Sweden
Target species: Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)
Fishing methods: Fly fishing, spinning
Best time to fish: Early summer through late summer depending on water conditions
Popular pools: Tullbron, Fajans, Herting Rapids
Nearest town: Falkenberg
Fishing permits: Available online

The River Ätran is one of the most accessible destinations for salmon fishing in Sweden. The river flows directly through the town of Falkenberg, allowing anglers to fish for Atlantic salmon within walking distance of accommodation and restaurants.

Because of its healthy salmon runs and easy access, Ätran has become a popular destination for anglers interested in fly fishing for Atlantic salmon in Scandinavia.