Mellanström: Waters, fishing and historical connections

Mellanström’s character is shaped by its location on the water. The village lies on a narrow spit of land between Lake Mähkávrrie to the west and Veålbmá Bay in Lake Uddjaur to the east. Veålbmá is the bay in Uddjaur; Mähkávrrie is the western landmark. This precise geographical setting connects navigation with the waters that also feature in fishing opportunities and the history of boat traffic.

Fishing waters, rest areas and viewpoints

The Mellanström fisheries conservation area has numerous good fishing waters, offering the chance to catch species such as perch, pike, grayling, whitefish and trout. A downloadable map shows which waters are part of the fisheries conservation area. The map complements the information about possible catches with a geographical reference to the area. The map and species information therefore answer different questions: which waters are included and which catches are mentioned as possibilities.

The Mellanström Fishing Camp offers a specific fishing option: you can fish from the camp’s jetty or from the shore of Lake Maakaure. Maakaure is connected to Storavan. The camp’s offering thus names two starting points for fishing, while the general description of the fisheries conservation area provides broader context. This distinction helps put the options into perspective: a specific camp option sits alongside the waters of the conservation area.

Several rest areas in Mellanström are also used by passing tourists who are not fishing. This means the village is not described solely in terms of fishing. Nearby, Veälbmábuovđđa offers views of the lake landscape of Uddjaur, dotted with numerous islands. The viewpoint directs attention to the abundance of islands, while the rest areas are also used by passing visitors who are not fishing. These two features complement the fishing opportunities with places to rest and enjoy the landscape.

Historical connections to Kaskejaur and Kasker

Mellanström’s history begins with the former Lappskatteland of Kaskejaur, one of the oldest documented Lappskatteland areas in the parish of Arjeplog. The name marks a historical starting point for the village’s history.

When steamboat traffic on the lakes of Arjeplog began in the late 1880s, a steamboat landing was built at Kasker. Kasker was situated on the currents between Uddjaur and Storavan. This location brought abundant fish and made the village an important landing place for boat traffic. Together, these details show two different aspects of the waterways: the construction of a landing in connection with the start of steamboat traffic, and the importance of the currents for fish and boat traffic.

Historical accounts describe the Kaskersejte as having been venerated until the recent past. According to historical accounts, people in the local area, including Swedes, believed that the Kaskersejte influenced the annual harvest of the Kasker settlement. The two traditions concern different points: the veneration of the Kaskersejte and the influence attributed to it over the harvest.

Discover more destinations: Jutis, Arjeplog, Jäckvik, Slagnäs, Vuoggatjalme, Laisvall

Go to the main travel overview: Arjeplog.