Fig. 10

A typical modern smelt fisher in Forshaga. The traditional fishing at the river’s shore at Klarälven is done with a handheld net on a long wooden pole. The fisher moves downstream holding the net by the river’s bottom where the migrating spawning smelt are. This method has been adopted by foreign fishers, and modern equipment including wader trousers, and telescoping aluminum pole nets can be bought in local retail stores for less than 100 Euros. In most years, the best area for Klarälven smelt fishing is a few hundred meters below the hydro power station in Forshaga, and coincides with one of best spots for salmon fishing using rods in Sweden. The salmon fishing is highly regulated, and its fishing permits are limited and pricey (photo Armas Jäppinen, 2019)