Grann – not only the pike breed here
Timber at Håbol waiting to be floated across Grann towards the Steneby River's discharge.
Photo: Digitalarkivets samlingar
Grann is the name of the lake on whose shore our café and camp are located. And of course, as the name suggests, it is beautiful to look out over and see how the gently rolling forest landscape in the surroundings is reflected in its still water. The lake, which is located in both Bengtsfors municipality and Dals-Ed municipality, is renowned for its beautiful surroundings. Grann is 40.5 meters deep at its deepest. It has an area of 6.24 square meters and is located 101.3 meters above sea level. It is connected to Lake Iväg via the Noreby River. Grann is famous for its pike fishing, but not only the large pike nest here in all its glory.
Patron
Just as the forest has Skogsrået as its protector, lakes and waterways have Sjörået. Also Neighbor according to old stories. Sjörået is a beautiful woman with long golden hair. She is everyone's friend as long as you yourself are friendly. It is said that a fisherman who was out on the lake one cool autumn evening suddenly saw a long, narrow, red-frozen hand sticking out of the water and grabbing the boat's railing. The fisherman was of course at first frightened. But at the same moment he realized that it was Sjörået who made herself known. He then decided to take off one of his socks and put it over her hand. She disappeared with a wave back into the water.
Rewarded
Through his action, the fisherman showed both respect and a friendly disposition. For this he was richly rewarded. Since that day he always caught large catches of fish. A few miles west there once lived a man called Ekelundsgubben. He had a special relationship with Sjörået in Grann. He called her Kajsa. Once when he was floating timber south from Håbol towards the Noreby River, the following happened: When he got to the point where Grann flows in a bend, the wind died down so much that it became really difficult to get the timber to move. Then he talked to Kajsa and said: "Look, I'll get some wind so that it goes easier and I don't have to stick".
Regret
And when Kajsa was in a good mood, the Ekelundsgubben immediately got a tailwind so that the log went at a furious speed towards the entrance at Norebyälven. But instead of expressing gratitude, the Ekelundsgubben became clumsy and said: “No, now Kajsa I’ll give you the devil”. But he shouldn’t have said that. Because suddenly it started to blow very strongly from the side. The boom that was tightened around the log was torn apart and the logs drifted this way and that. Then the Ekelundsgubben deeply regretted it and had a rather difficult job of gathering the log again. Today it has been a long time since anyone reported that they had encountered Sjörået in Grann. But who knows – one day she might appear again? So keep your eyes open when you look out over the lake.
Writen by: Tommy Löfgren