Linaälven

Linaälven is a river in Norrbotten County, northern Sweden. It joins Ängesån at Linafallet, and Ängesån is part of the Kalix River system.

If salmon is your main target, Linaälven is usually better viewed as part of a wider Kalix / Ängesån plan than as the first river to choose. Grayling and brown trout are important parts of the fishery, while salmon may also be present depending on the section, passage, and conditions.

For most trips, the first question is whether Linaälven fits into a wider salmon plan or works better as a mixed-fishing option.

Linaälven offers fishing along an approximately 20 km continuous stretch in the Dokkas area, together with tributaries. Species listed for this water include grayling, brown trout, salmon, whitefish, pike, burbot, perch, and rare sea trout.

The river is also linked with fisheries conservation work. In 2018–2019, work was carried out on the salmon ladder at Linafallet, and spawning beds were restored. Local fishery information notes that salmon migration increased in 2020 compared with previous years.

Fishing on Linaälven depends on the exact permit area and local rules. In the Dokkas section, fishing is listed along an approximately 20 km stretch, and only hand-held tackle is allowed. Children and young people up to 16 are listed as fishing free there, but age rules should always be checked for the exact permit area.

In the wider Gällivare FVO, separate rules apply. These include specific restrictions for Lina River and Vassara River trout: only one trout per angler per day in the 35–45 cm size range may be kept, and trout outside that size must be released. Grayling is protected from 15 April to 31 May, salmon is protected from 1 September to 31 December, and natural bait is prohibited in flowing waters.

To understand Linaälven in practice, start with the permit area and the target species.

Lina älv inom Dokkas

This is the main area to check first. It offers about 20 km of continuous fishing on the south side of the river, together with tributaries. Grayling, brown trout, and salmon are the key species to consider here.

If salmon is your main target, use this area to check access, rules, water conditions, and whether the river fits into a wider salmon plan.

Linafallet and passage context

Linafallet is important because of the salmon ladder and the restoration work carried out in 2018–2019. The area also marks where Linaälven and Ängesån meet, and Linafallet itself is described as Norrbotten’s highest waterfall, with a drop of 16 m.

For salmon-focused planning, this is mainly important for understanding fish passage and the river’s role in the wider system, rather than as a simple place-to-fish recommendation.

Grayling and trout water

Grayling and brown trout are central to the fishing profile of Linaälven. If salmon conditions are weak or salmon is not the main focus of the day, these species can make the river worth including in a wider trip.

This should still be planned carefully because trout and grayling rules can be specific and seasonal.

Tributaries and connected waters

The Dokkas fishing area includes tributaries as part of the broader fishing opportunity. These waters are more relevant if your trip includes grayling or trout alongside the salmon plan.

For a salmon-focused user, tributaries should be treated as supporting context rather than the main reason to choose Linaälven.

Linaälven stands out because it is not a primary salmon destination in the same way as Kalixälven or Ängesån, but it still has a clear salmon connection. The salmon ladder at Linafallet and the restoration of spawning beds make the river important when looking at the wider salmon system.

For salmon anglers, Linaälven is worth checking as part of a broader Kalix / Ängesån plan. If you are already looking at Ängesån or the upper Kalix system, it can add useful tributary options, especially when conditions on the main river are not ideal.

In practice, Linaälven should be planned by section and target species. Grayling and brown trout are important here, while salmon should be treated as possible, but dependent on passage, section, and conditions.

If salmon is the main goal, start with the parts of the river linked with passage, deeper holding water, and current conditions. If the day is more flexible, grayling and trout can make Linaälven more useful as part of a wider trip.

Linaälven makes the most sense if you are already looking at the Kalix / Ängesån system and want to understand nearby tributary options. It usually works better as part of a wider salmon plan than as the first river to choose.

Dokkas is the first area to look at for the known Linaälven fishing stretch. Linafallet and the meeting point with Ängesån are useful reference points when understanding the river’s role in the wider system.