The summer salmon season is well under way and what a start it has been for all Atlantic and Baltic rivers. The Loop Sweden crew have been out in full force for the arrival of the Baltic’s in the Arctic Circle and we proudly hosted the fantastic crew of fly-fishing film makers Hooké from Canada!

 An all out 24/7 road trip over two weeks ensued, taking the crew to 5 of the best Baltic salmon rivers Sweden has to offer, Byske, Torne, Lainio, Kalix and Ängesån.

View Our Midnight Salmon Adventure Blog Post »

 

 

Originally from Denmark, you have had quite a journey before settling in Northern Sweden, where did you travel and work with fly fishing before working with Baltic Salmon in Swedish Lapland?

Lars: I lived in Iceland for three years, worked for two years in Scotland on the river Tweed, then two more seasons with Trout and Arctic Char fishing in the Swedish highlands.

Baltic Salmon genetically are the same as Atlantic Salmon, but many say they are unique in particular ways, what differences have you found there to be?

Lars: At times they are pretty difficult to catch, even when they are coming in really big numbers. I gained a personal fascination for the really big Salmon who’s spawning grounds are some 300 km from the sea.

If there were one fly you would instantly go for in your box as your favourite all rounder in any size, which would it be?

Lars: I’ve always loved a variant of the Willie Gunn. Tied in small sizes, with just a cone as the body, free swinging hook and a slim wing, they do wonders in low and warm water. A 10-12 cm fat Willie Gunn during the cold spring season is always a great choice too.

With many great hours on the river, what is your most special or memorable moment in fly fishing?

Lars: Hard one, but I have so many great memories. Newbees landing their first salmon, seeing my buddy Kristian with a 128 cm / 43.7lbs Salmon, catching a 117 cm cock fish on full floater myself, those memories never fade.

As an avid Salmon angler, other than the Baltic rivers, where else in the world would you like explore?

Lars: I’m interested in all types of salmonid fish, as long as we are talking in the northern hemisphere, I love that salmon fishing is hard work, quite often cold, wet and tough going. Catching salmon in sunny weather and a t-shirt can be cool, but it isn’t salmon fishing the way I love it!

Where would you like to focus your design skills next, are there any specific fly fishing products you would like to improve on or see advances in their technology or functionality?

Lars: Versi-tip shooting heads, harder wearing and more durable waders and wading shoes, bag systems compatible with the new Loop cargo system.

If there was one tackle set up you could not live without for Baltic Salmon what would it be?

Lars: The 15′ #10 Cross S1 together with the Opti Megaloop reel and GDC heads are still my favourite combo.

 

This months fly of the month is the Kinermony Thriller, a rubber legged variant on the classic Kinermony Killer colours with the addition of Fiery Brown, tied Templedog style and with an extra slim profile for the clear running waters of the Arctic Circle rivers in northern Sweden. This months fly has been designed and tied by Baltic Salmon enthusiast Jay Bartlett.

– LOOP 3mm fl. orange outer plastic tube
– LOOP 1.8mm clear inner plastic tube
– Medium mirage tinsel butt
– LOOP sea blue fluoro fibre tail
– LOOP black flatbraid
– Medium gold oval rrench tinsel
– Tanuki Finn Racoon banana yellow under wing
– LOOP kola gold angel hair
– Orange grizzly medium soft hackle
– Tanuki Finn Racoon hot orange middle wing
– LOOP kola gold angel hair
– Blue grizzly large soft hackle
– Tanuki Finn Racoon fiery brown top wing
– LOOP tri colour / black thunder angel hair
– Silver Fox Black Over wing
– Long Jungle Cock Cheeks
– LOOP Red & Black barred rubber legs short
– LOOP Blue & Black barred rubber legs long
– Red disc head

 

 

Loop’s mailing address is:
Loop Tackle Design
Sjöängsvägen 15
Sollentuna SE-192 72
Sweden