The wilderness tamed

The area around Knäred is often called the southern most wilderness of Sweden. Yet, civilisation has entered here as well in the form of Sunnedamms Sportfiske, a trout fishery where the quality of the water and of the fish that can be caught come first.

There used to be a small lake on the terrain some seven kilometers east of Knäred, an artificial stream that twists and turns was added to this when Sunnedamms Sportfiske was opened in 2009. The water for the creek comes from a pipeline of several hundreds of meters in length that takes its water from the river Vänneån which runs alongside the terrain and which guarantees a constant supply of cold, clear water. The artificial creek runs into the lake, on the other side of which the water is taken out again. Via a pipeline the water first runs through a small pond, where the trout are held that will later be planted to the lake and river, before the water flows back into the river.

Rivier The river Vänneån runs alongside the terrain.
The river Vänneån runs alongside the terrain.

 

Both the creek and the lake can be fished with the flyrod and artificial flies, next to that licenses are available for the stretch of the river Vänneån which runs alongside the trout fishery and which holds a natural stock of brown trout with bright coloured sides. Martin Ahlström of Sunnedamms Sportfiske can also supply licenses for other stretches of the Vänneån.


Tour

When I made a visit to this area in early November a few years ago, together with Kenneth Svensson and Joakim Karlsson, there was already a closed season in place on the river Vänneån, so we restricted ourselves to fishing Sunnedamm itself. After two days with fresh, sunny weather we now got a dark, overcast day with several rain showers up our sleeves, with temperatures between five and nine degrees Celsius. Martin first took us on a tour around the terrain. He showed us the house where up to eight people can spend the night, he told us about the history and building of Sunnedamms Sportfiske, showed us where the pipeline is to be found which supplies the creek with water etc.The level of the river Vänneån was about half a meter above normal, but the fast flowing, dark water looked most interesting. I sure hope to spend a few hours there some other year!

Martin and Kenneth Martin Ahlström (left) explains to Kenneth Svensson the history of Sunnedamm.
Martin Ahlström (left) explains to Kenneth Svensson the history of Sunnedamm.

 

After drinking a cup of coffee, we collected our warm and water proof clothing, put up our flyrods and walked to the waterside. Hotel Freden in Knäred expected us for lunch around half past twelve, Martin closely works with this simple, but comfortable and friendly priced hotel; a good place to spend the night for those who prefer not to stay on the terrain of Sunnedamms Sportfiske after fishing, but prefer to be pampered in a cosy hotel. The hotel holds a bar, a party hall or conference room and a fine kitchen.

 

Buzzers

Eventhough there was no real surface activity visible, I decided to still start with a floating line, a long leader with a fluorocarbon tippet and two buzzers. A small black one I knotted to the dropper, a slightly larger, olive fly came on the point. The wind blew towards the corner where the creek entered the lake, which is why I decided to fish this area first. After about ten minutes I changed the Olive Buzzer for a Red Buzzer and I fished on in the same slow manor: very, very slowly I stripped in line, a short pause and than a new strip. It looked more like keeping in contact with my flies than with stripping in the team of buzzers.

Nice catch A Red Buzzer fished close to the surface brought up this nice trout.
A Red Buzzer fished close to the surface brought up this nice trout.

 

I tried different depths and when, on one of my casts, I started fishing right away after casting the flies, the line suddenly tightened. When I brought the rod up in an effort to set the hook, I felt a solid resistance right away. A resistance that took of with high speed as well. The fish turned towards the main lake and just before the knot between flyline and backing would leave the top ring, the fish moved of to one side. The fish swam of to the left and to the right, but I managed to regain line back on the reel. The fish made several more short runs, especially when it came close to the landing-net, but finally it had to surrender. A fish with a weight of between three and four kilograms in an excellent condition; after I made some quick pictures she regained her freedom.

In a good condition The trout on the lake were even in November still in an excellent condition.
The trout on the lake were even in November still in an excellent condition.

 

Quality

Martin is aiming to put trout of the best possible quality out in the water, if possible fish with an excellent condition and large, full fins. This is in contradictory with the activities of a great many fish-farms that try to produce as many fish on a small surface and as fast as possible. Martin has new contacts now with other fish-farms and he is sure that top-quality trout will be delivered this coming year. It is possible to take fish from Sunnedamm for the table, fish for which you have to pay extra in that case; but you can fish according to the catch and release principle too. For the latest prizes of fishing the lake and river, staying at the house, arrangements, renting an outfit etc., you need to look at the website of Sunnedamm.

The water of Sunnedamms Sportfiske is beautifully clear and it has a pretty constant temperature.
The water of Sunnedamms Sportfiske is beautifully clear and it has a pretty constant temperature.

 

Buzzers produced several more nice rainbows for us this day, fish that gave an excellent account of themselves on our light outfits. The fact that even large trout took our buzzers, indicated that they had started feeding on these. You can of course start fishing a streamer on this water too, but when the trout take a fly carefully, than a nymph will often be more effective. In the summer months, when a lot of insects are to be found on the surface of the water, you can – I am sure – enjoy a fantastic fishing here with dry flies as well!

Powerful fight A hard fight on a light outfit.
A hard fight on a light outfit.

 

Information

Sunnedamms Sportfiske
– Martin Ahlström
Trälshult, Svensgård
310 20 Knäred
Sweden
Tel: +46 (0)430-520 29
Mobile: +46 (0)707-928 258
Alt. mobile: +46 (0)707-912 372
Website: www.sunnedamm.se
E-mail: martin@sunnedamm.se

Powerful fight Some last powerfull swirls.
Some last powerfull swirls.

 

Other trout lakes in the area:

Kronobergs Sportfiske, Klavreström
Email: kronobergssportfiske@gmail.com
Website: www.kronobergslax.se

Harasjömåla Fiskekamp
Gillesnäsvägen 39, 29391 Olofström
Website: www.harasjomala.com
Email: harasjomala@oktv.se

Nearly ready to be landed
A big trout is almost ready to be landed.

 

A big rainbow that will soon swim again.
A big rainbow that will soon swim again.

 

Hotel Freden in Knäred, Martin Ahlström works closely together with it.
Hotel Freden in Knäred, Martin Ahlström works closely together with it.

 

Kenneth with a nice trout which also took a buzzer pattern.
Kenneth with a nice trout which also took a buzzer pattern.

 

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