Can you go ice fishing in Sälen?

Ice fishing in Sälen is winter’s quietest experience – and the most underrated. Whilst the slopes buzz with ski lifts and skiers, the mountain lakes lie still beneath a blanket of snow, and a morning spent with an ice fishing rod, a flask and a view of the white mountains does something to your pace that no ski run can match. This guide explains how to get started: where to go ice fishing, what you need to know about fishing licences in winter, what equipment you’ll need and – most importantly – how to stay safe on the ice. If you’d like someone who knows the waters and the ice, guided tours and nature experiences the easiest way to enjoy your first day of ice fishing.

Short answer: yes – here’s how to get started with ice fishing

The area around Sälen is home to plenty of lakes and ponds, and once the ice has set, ice fishing is open to everyone – it requires neither a boat, nor experience, nor expensive equipment. There are three things you need to have in place before you set out: a valid fishing licence for the waters you intend to fish, the right equipment for the day, and a reliable assessment of the ice. The last point is the one that determines everything else, and it’s not something you can just guess at. If you’re new to ice fishing in Sälen, the wisest first step is to go with a guide or someone who knows the area well – that way, you’ll have the right waters, the right equipment and an assessment of the ice conditions from someone who knows the area. In your second year, you can go on your own, armed with considerably better judgement.

Where can you go ice fishing? Lakes and ponds around Sälen

The mountain landscape surrounding the valley is rich in water – from larger lakes in the valleys to small woodland pools and high-altitude mountain lakes. The larger, easily accessible waters are often reached by car and a short walk, making them the first choice when travelling with children, whilst the smaller pools further in require skis, a snowmobile or a substantial walk, but in return offer seclusion. Which waters are open for fishing, which species are present and which rules apply vary between areas and fisheries conservation areas – always check the latest information for the specific water you plan to fish in before setting out. A general overview of fishing in the area can be found in our guide to how fishing in Sälen works, which covers the whole year; this article focuses on the winter months and ice fishing.

Fishing licences and regulations in winter

A fishing licence is required for virtually all fishing in the area, and this applies both on the ice and in open water. Permits are usually sold digitally via fishing permit services or locally at shops and tourist information centres, and they are linked to a specific body of water or fishing area – so a permit for one lake is not valid in another. Read the terms and conditions before you buy: many waters have specific rules for winter fishing, such as which tackle is permitted, how many rods a person may use, catch limits and minimum sizes. Furthermore, some waters are completely off-limits during parts of the year, and special regulations may apply to game fish. Children under a certain age often fish for free or on a parent’s or guardian’s licence – another detail worth checking in advance. The rules are in place to ensure the waters remain sustainable for the next season, and they are easy to follow once you’ve read them.

Equipment: hire, buy or go with a guide

The basic kit is modest: an ice-fishing rod, a selection of jigs and mormyshkas, an ice drill and something to sit on. Added to that is what really makes or breaks the day – the clothing. Ice fishing involves standing or sitting still in the cold, often in the wind, for several hours; it places entirely different demands on you than skiing. Layer upon layer, proper winter boots with plenty of room to spare, mittens you can fish in and an extra pair in your pocket, a hat, a buff and, ideally, a seat pad to insulate you from the ice. A flask with something hot and a packed lunch aren’t luxuries but essential kit. If you don’t have your own, equipment can often be hired locally, and anyone booking a guided tour usually has everything included. If you’re heading further out onto the water, a snowmobile is the fastest means of transport – we’ve compiled everything you need to know about this in the guide on to ride a snowmobile to the fishing spots.

Safety on the ice – these rules always apply

No article can tell you whether the ice is safe to walk on. Ice conditions vary from one spot to another, from one week to the next, and even between different parts of the same lake – currents, tributaries, straits, reeds and snow cover mean that the ice’s load-bearing capacity can vary by just a few metres. You should therefore always rely on local, up-to-date knowledge: ask the fishing licence seller, a local organiser or a guide about the conditions before you set out, and never go out alone. Take ice picks to wear around your neck, a throw line with you, and an ice pick to test the ice ahead of you. Tell someone where you’re going and when you’re expected back, and keep your mobile phone charged and within easy reach – but don’t count on having mobile coverage everywhere in the mountains. If you’re in the slightest doubt about the ice: don’t go out. The only completely risk-free ice is the ice you leave alone, and the best first-time experience is one shared with someone who knows the area. You’ll find more winter experiences that work whatever the ice conditions are like among winter activities in Sälen.

Ice fishing with children – make it a full day out

Children love ice fishing for about twenty minutes – and then they love everything else around them. Plan the day around that: choose an easily accessible stretch of water near the car, bring a sledge, sausages and something to light a fire with if it’s allowed where you are, and treat the fishing as a bonus rather than the main event. Let the children drill the holes, bait the lines and run about between attempts; two rods and a patient adult go a longer way than a perfectly organised fishing trip. Keep an eye on the cold – children get cold more quickly than adults and rarely say so in time – and it’s better to finish half an hour early than half an hour late. If you return home to a warm cottage with a sauna, the day will be complete; anyone who has already booked a a cottage for the winter week I know that it’s the journey home that makes the trip.

Summary – the most peaceful winter mountain experience

Here’s how to get started with ice fishing in Sälen:

• Buy a fishing licence for the relevant waters and read the winter regulations before you set off.
• Choose easily accessible lakes for your first time – the small ponds can wait.
• Dress for standing still in the cold, not for moving about: layers, an extra pair of gloves and a thermos flask.
• Take ice picks, an ice axe and a rescue line; never go out alone and let someone know where you’re going.
• As a visitor, never assess the ice on your own – ask someone familiar with the area or go with a guide.
• With children: short distances, a sledge, sausages and low expectations of the catch.

A day’s ice fishing rarely yields the biggest catch, but it almost always provides the quietest hours of the week – and a story that lasts longer than the ski pass.