River Laisan has its source by the foot of Mount Nasa and initially flows through a mountain landscape. The natural scenery is spectacular, with mountains like Gavatjakke, Skuortatjakke, Svaipa and Ertektjakke found looming by the side of the water. The water in this river is so clear that it's hard to beleive.
If we start our trip at the Lais cabin where Aksojokk one of River Laisans tributaries enters the river some 20 kilometres east of Mount Nasa, the river valley changes character slightly and becomes wider and greener.
One of the first long and calm stretches of the river is Blassa, in this calm part of the river there’s always a possibility to get in touch with the rivers more prominent inhabitants, the large trout.
Another 5 kilometres east, past the tributary Hurasjokk, 5 kilometres of diverse water changing from calm and deep parts to small rapids, and we’re at Mountain Rapids, too fast flowing to fish in but beautiful to watch.
Yet another rapid, the Cat owl Rapids, and we’re at the first major lake, Lake Yraft. Slightly upstream of the Cat owl Rapids we have the tributary Badasjokk. Also at the Cat owl Rapids the Kings Path, Sweden’s longest hiking path, crosses the river with a rope bridge.
Yraft is the first of three large lakes in a row, where Lake Mittisjon and Lake Gauto are the other two. Flowing into Lake Gauto is another tributary, Vieje Creek. The outlet of Lake Gauto forms an impressive canyon including a waterfall, the Mark Fall. This waterfall is the upper limit for grayling in River Laisan.
After this waterfall there’s Lake Laisan, almost 40 Kilometres long with a small mining community, Laisvall, at the middle. With the outflow of Lake Laisan, called Laisluspen, one might say that the lower part of River Laisan begins. Lusp is Sami language for the outlet of a lake.
The Acker Rapids and Horseshoe Rapids are the first rapids of several in a 5 kilometre long part of the river where brown trout and grayling is numerous to a degree that makes this stretch one of the best. A small bridge crosses the river so it is possible to fish from both sides. From the bridge it is about 1 kilometre to the tributary Dellikjokk.
The following stretch from the outflow of Dellikjokk down to the village Bjorkliden is also a known part of the river that every year produces many big trout. This stretch consists of alternating short rapids and slow stretches.
The Sade Rapids is one of several rapids in a 15 kilometre long stretch from Bjorkliden down to Lake Granselet. Also on this stretch are the Deppis Rapids, the Lanning Rapids and the Holmsel Rapids. Above Lake Granselet the road crosses the river at a place called Strycka and it’s possible to reach both sides of the river for a couple of kilometres upstream and the rest of the river downstream.
From the outlet of Lake Granselet a 2 kilometre long stretch begins, that consists of several rapids, the Lusp Rapid and the Per-Jons Rapid, a calm stretch and finally the Agots Rapid.
At this point the Lais River has fallen from an altitude of 850 metres near mount Nasa to an altitude 450 metres in a 170 kilometre long journey and finally meets with River Vindeln 10 kilometres west of Sorsele.
The first two weeks after midsummer usually provide excellent fishing in River Laisan. Melt water from the mountains generally hamper fishing for another week or so after that. The second half of July and the whole of August are usually the best period for fishing in this river.
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