In the autumn of 2004 a representative of the Swedish Tourist Board came to Langley and gave Iver FF a presentation on fly fishing in Lapland, Sweden, for Char, Trout, Pike and Salmon. It was accompanied by some nice brochures with pictures of the waters, the fish, the accommodation, etc. Together with some Swedish delicacies (jams, cheeses, etc) it all looked good and provided the enthusiasm to go.

In early spring 2005 Ken sent various emails to the Swedish contacts regarding lodges, licences, flights, car hire etc and started the ball rolling.

6 Iver FF persons had decided to go and so Ken made all the appropriate bookings. Those going were Ken Williams, Stan King, Martin Tinald, David Blanchard, Frank Bayley and John Weaver. Allen Dixon had originally intended to go but when he discovered via email that there were no salmon in the higher reaches where they were going then he bowed out.

A hearty thanks goes out to Ken for the marvellous organisation.

The trip accommodation and weather :-

All was set and on Sunday 26^th June the six gathered at Heathrow for their flight to Stockholm and then an onward flight to Umea. On arrival at Umea they hired two cars for their onward drive to the lodges at Saxnas. Because the fishing was so poor at Saxnas that aftwer 4 days they decided to travel to the lower reaches of the river Byske near the sea where the salmon were located. However, accommodation at Byske was unavailable so they settled 28km upsteam

Accommodation at Sasnax was poor (someone sais a ‘shed’), so poor in fact that that they changed to the local hotel, ‘Saxnas Garden’. It was not much better when they moved nearer to the coast.

The weather at Saxnas was cold (6 degeees C) and cloudy. At Byske it was more acceptable being warm and sunny – with a little cloud.

The fishing :-

At Saxnas they fished 3 rivers and one lake. The river water was cold, perhaps because of ice-melt from the mountains. Fishing was very disappointing at Saxnas with several blanks. 3 very small grayling were caught and David managed a 3lb pike and a half pound perch

The largest, and only, trout was a small brown of half a pound, courtesy of Ken.

It had become apparent that it was unlikely that fishing would improve so after a mini conference it was decided to head downstream nearer to the coast and try their luck there.

On reaching their final destination upstream from Byske they prepared for hopefully better fishing there. There were some big salmon to be seen and hopes were high that someone might strike it lucky in the remaining n days fishing. However, it was not to be although Frank, with a weighted salmon fly, did get one very big take. Three of them also tried further downstream but fishing was difficult in the fast flowing river. Heads drooped, they returned to England.

Not to be completely outdone it was decided to have a match at Bushylease and the winner would be the person catching the SMALLEST fish. This match was on Thursday 7^th July and the winner was Frank with the smallest fish of around 2 lbs.

Fishing on the main lake was non-existent because the fish were all shoaled up in the small bay at the north end surrounded by trees. There was only one vantage point and it was taken in turns to limit.

Somehow I think that they might try another venue next year!!!!