This August, I spent a week in the small village of Gargnäs in Västerbotten County. It’s a county of vast wilderness and very few people, especially in the municipality of Sorsele, to which Gargnäs belongs. The municipality covers nearly 8000 square kilometers but has only 0.33 people per square kilometer! However, as I’ve learned, the fishing is absolutely world-class! The national river Vindelälven runs through Sorsele from Ammarnäs in the north to Gargnäs in the south and further down to the Baltic Sea. There are not many preserved, unregulated mountain rivers in Sweden, so Vindelälven is pretty unique. And also the one located farthest south. The river varies between calm streams, large seals, and wild rapids, and I really fell in love with it! Not just because I caught a few fish! It is pretty beyond belief and I met some wonderful people.

I went to Garngäs in hope of a relaxing time away from the hustle and bustle of Stockholm, and I found it. I sincerely hope to return to fishing, sleeping, drinking wine and coffee, and hanging out with unpretentious people someday. If all else fails, I might even relocate there.