Nissan is a nationally significant river for salmon and sea trout, stretching from its mouth in Laholm Bay approximately 20 km upstream to Oskarström.
With a length of 186 km, the river is one of the longest in southern Sweden. The southern parts, just before the river flows into Laholm Bay, have a long tradition of excellent fishing opportunities. It was in the Nissan and in the sea outside Halmstad that the famous “Halmstad salmon” was caught and exported as early as the 17th century. Salmon fishing was once abundant in our rivers, but in the 1920s the last salmon were caught due to declining water quality. Today, the salmon have returned, much to the delight of sport fishermen.
The fishing area offers a wide variety of fishing for both experienced fly fishermen and enthusiastic amateurs. Spin fishing is the most common method, but the Nissan also provides several excellent stretches for fly fishing.
At the Slottsmöllan power station in Halmstad, there is a popular stretch for spin fishing. For fly fishermen, the stretches in Sennan and Sperlingsholm are particularly good. The taxi pool at Sennan Taxi is popular, as are Militärvadet and Helgarpsforsen. Brightly colored flies are recommended due to the dark, amber-colored water.
See PDF for further information:
https://www.ifiske.se/pdf/862/hotspot.pdf
The History of the Nissan
The U.S. Minister to Sweden in the late 19th century, William Widgery Thomas Jr., writes in his book “From Castle to Cottage” that there was “good salmon fishing during the summer” at Oskarström. He had a favorite spot by a rock in the Maredsfors rapids, which came to be known as Minister Thomas’s Rock. In the clear, almost amber-colored river water, he counted 100 salmon jumps in 12 minutes.
In the 1920s, water quality declined sharply, and the last salmon were caught at Slottsmöllan in 1921–22. The main causes of this negative development were the expansion of hydroelectric power plants and pulp mills. In recent years, active fishery management has been carried out in the Nissan, with significant liming efforts.
It was not until 1970 that a hatchery was built at Oskarström, and that same year 0.6 million fertilized eggs from 40 stripped females were introduced. In 1979, the first salmon smolts were experimentally released into the Nissan. Sea trout had already been caught in the river for several years at that time. The recapture rates have been very good. Today, salmon once again reproduce naturally in the Nissan and the Senneån. The first juvenile salmon were found in the summer of 1981. In the spring of 1988, an estimated 5,000 naturally produced smolts migrated out of the Nissan. Each year, more than 30,000 smolts are released.
