Åby Älvs Nedre FVOF

If the water temperatures are too high, we will close the water. For more information, see our website https://www.abyalven.se/

Åbyälven is a 175km long forest river with its source in Arvidsjaur municipality, Norrbotten. The last 43km are within Västerbotten County. Åbyälven's catchment area lies entirely in forest land and is therefore not significantly affected by snowmelt in the mountain range. The catchment area consists of a moraine landscape consisting of coniferous forest and bogs with a few large tributaries.

After the county border to the outlet, the river is surrounded by an increasing proportion of stretches of agricultural land. The lower stretches fall steeper than any other river in Norrland and offer a large number of pleasant streams and rapids. The river is classified as a Natura 2000 area and is considered to have high species richness, key species such as salmon, otter and freshwater pearl mussel are found in the area. You can also find many rare plant species along the river, such as Västerbotten's national flower, King Charles's scepter.

The Lower Åbyälven FVO extends from the fresh and salt water boundary at Renholmen quay up to the suspension bridge in Blåfors. It also includes the lakes Bastusjön, Åbyträsket and Djupsjön. In addition to salmon, there are fine stocks of trout, grayling, perch and pike in the river. Pike, perch and roach are common species in the lakes. The main migration of salmon in the river takes place during spring and early summer.

The lower Åbyälven FVO has an active board with an operational plan that includes fisheries management and work to maintain accessible and pleasant fishing.

The Åbyälvsalk is a naturally self-reproducing salmon strain that is unique by Swedish standards. It has not been exposed to the same extent as many other rivers in Norrland to the introduction of other foreign salmon strains. This means that the salmon in the river are almost genetically identical to the original Åbyälvsalk.

In the 1990s, great hopes were placed on a salmon ladder that was built at Hednäs power plant. The idea was that the salmon would reach fine spawning grounds and nursery grounds upstream of the power plant and also fine areas in Norrbotten County. Unfortunately, there have been problems with the solutions that were made for the up and down migration of fish, with the result that the population increase of the salmon stock in the Åbyälven has not occurred. This is the reason why the FVO has introduced stricter rules for fishing for salmon than the authorities' general requirements for salmon-bearing waters. We are afraid for our unique salmon stock.