Spate · Mixed · Bohuslän, SE

Örekilsälven

Photo of Örekilsälven

örekilsälven is one of southern Sweden's best-known salmon rivers on the west coast in Bohuslän.

Poor · Atlantic Salmon
Cascade · size 8–12 doubles
Poorlive now
Slow going — better windows ahead
River temperature is the limiting factor today, not the flow. The thermal advice above stands. Rest this water for the species today.
90% confidence
What moved it
  • LevelDry recentlyNo gauge reading
  • Water temp21.3°C
  • ClarityClear
Today's fly
Cascade
Cascadesize 8–12 doubles
Standard all-rounder for southern Swedish salmon rivers. Works throughout the season across a wide range of conditions.
Conditions on the water
Estimate
Level
Dry recently
No gauge reading
Water temp21.3°C
ClarityClear
Weather22°C
WindW 12 km/h
Pressure1009 hPa
Rain · recent0.0 mm
Rain · ahead0.0 mm

No gauge on this water — readings are regional estimates from weather, not a live gauge.

Water temperature for Atlantic Salmon
Warm — slow
21°C est.ideal 1014°C
0°14°28°
How to fish it · for Atlantic Salmon
When
Morning into early afternoon.
Where
Pool tails, steadier runs, and any water with pace.
Method
Fish a sensible line-and-fly combination for the height and pace of water.
Kit
13 ft #8/9 double-hander in spate, 10 ft #8 single in low water. Floating line plus a fast-sink tip. 12–15 lb fluoro tippet.
Why this works
Water at 21.3°C. This is the line where catch-and-release kills atlantic salmon. Do not fish for them today.
Hatch timeline · todayPeak at 6pm

Hatch predictions

Today's headline hatch shown — see all 8 active hatches hour by hour with Pro.

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Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey

Hatch predictions

Top prey shown — see all 2 with Pro.

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Evidence
Survey-backed · regionalModerate confidence

Backed by regional invertebrate surveys; no sampling on this exact reach yet.

Through the year
0–3 scale · August highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Salmon runRun
1
2
1
March BrownHatch
2
3
2
GrannomHatch
2
2
Large StoneflyHatch
2
3
2
Yellow SallyHatch
2
3
2

Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.

Ranked for today
Atlantic Salmon fly box
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • Salmon fee and local iFiske permit required.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Water here around 21°C. Nothing cooler within range — carry a thermometer.
Gallery · 2
  1. Photo of Örekilsälven
    Örekilsälven
  2. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
About this water

örekilsälven is one of southern Sweden's best-known salmon rivers on the west coast in Bohuslän. Strong Atlantic salmon and sea trout runs characterize this productive system. Responsive spate river with excellent fly fishing June–August. Classic patterns effective. Mix of private and public beats. Fiskekort from iFiske or local sellers. Atlantic salmon are managed under national rules (Havs- och vattenmyndigheten) — quotas, size limits and catch-and-release apply and differ between Baltic and west-coast rivers; check current rules before fishing.

Under the surface

The Orekilsalven drains the lake country of Dalsland and runs down through Lake Karnsjon and past Munkedal to spill into the Gullmarn — Sweden's only true threshold fjord — in Bohuslan on the west coast. Some twenty-five kilometres of its lower river hold salmon and sea trout, and it is the most important salmon river of the region, accounting for a large share of the west coast's wild smolt production and providing nearly all the freshwater that feeds the Gullmarn. The water is soft and lightly stained off the granite-and-forest catchment, running over hard west-Swedish bedrock on a moderate gradient. It gives up to three hundred salmon in a season, some past ten kilos. The character is steady, rocky freestone with defined holding pools through wooded valley. Wading is secure on firm rock and gravel, with the usual care in the heavier runs and below the falls.

Wading: Heavier runs and water below the falls

Sea trout here

Bohuslän cluster sea-trout-first river — coastal-freshwater connectivity and spawning protection

  • Mixed
  • Partly confined
  • Pool riffle
Water quality (WFD)
  • EcologyUnknown
  • ChemicalUnknown
Why this score · for Atlantic Salmon
  • Temperature130% weight
  • Flow4525% weight
  • Clarity9520% weight
  • Feeding Time9515% weight
  • Pressure8510% weight
Directions
Seasons & zones
  • Salmon 1 June31 August

Sea trout: Variable seasonal (2026)

Related guides
Booking & contacts