Northern Sweden · 24–27 July 2026
Net Fish and Chill
Net Fish and Chill is a four-day, small-group experience in northern Sweden, centred on net fishing as a living cultural and ecological practice, rather than sport, instruction, or performance.
The focus is simple and exact: how food is gathered from water, how it is processed and preserved, and how people live in relationship with lake, river, forest, animals, and season. The experience is practical and grounded, but never framed as a course.
Participants are based beside a lake at a working husky kennel in a private setting, hosted by the kennel owners, Ben and Naomi, alongside their husky pack. This is not a venue but an active, lived landscape. Accommodation is intentionally flexible and located on site, with options that include indoor beds, lakeside camping, or forest hammocks. These options exist within a shared daily rhythm, allowing individuals to choose their level of engagement without hierarchy or expectation.
A typical location
Net Fish and Chill - Northern Sweden
$2500
Thursday 24 July – Arrival and Watershed Orientation
Participants arrive in Luleå, with accommodation and an evening meal included. The experience begins with an orientation focused on regional topography, river systems, lakes, and watersheds. Discussion covers seasonal water movement and how topography influences fish behavior, net placement, and nearby foraging areas. This provides a shared understanding of the landscape before moving north.
Friday 25 July – River Systems and Base Setup
The group departs Luleå in the morning and travels north. A stop at Storforsen is used to observe river gradient, flow volume, and force, with discussion around fish behavior in fast versus still water and river–lake fisheries. Lunch is taken at a riverside fire pit.
In the afternoon, the group travels to the husky kennel base beside the lake. After site orientation with the hosts, participants settle into accommodation (indoor beds, lakeside camping, or forest hammocks). The afternoon and evening focus on nets and boats, including net placement based on depth, shoreline structure, and bottom contours. First nets are set. Fish preservation methods such as cold smoking, pickling, and dry and wet brining are demonstrated. Evening meal and informal time by the fire.
Saturday 26 July – Net Checks, Processing, and Preservation
The day begins with an early net check before breakfast. Fish are processed as appropriate, including gutting, cleaning, and filleting. Skins are dried for dog use, and offal is retained for bait and tracking applications. Preservation work continues throughout the day, including hot and cold smoking, salting, brining, and air-drying as conditions allow.
Additional activities may include shoreline tracking, observation of scavenger movement, and identification of track and sign near water. Foraging for berries and edible greens takes place as available. Lunch is cooked over an open fire. The afternoon rotates between preservation work, foraging, tracking, and storage and spoilage prevention. Dinner follows. Optional rod-and-reel fishing or lake observation in the evening.
Sunday 27 July – Cultural Context and Applied Skills
A final net check and removal takes place in the morning, with optional fish trap use. After breakfast, the group travels to Jokkmokk. During the drive, there may be time for net repair or making. The Arctic Circle is crossed without ceremony. Time in Jokkmokk includes a museum visit, local shops, and a shared lunch.
Returning to the kennel, the afternoon focuses on applied plant use with Mike, including identification and preparation of simple salves, poultices, and tinctures for common cuts, abrasions, insect bites, and inflammation, as well as storage and transport considerations. Final food preparation and packing of preserved fish follows. Departure from the kennel is mid-afternoon, returning to Luleå Airport.
Want to play some more?
Monday 28 July and Tuesday 29 July
We have more fun planned if you wish to stay longer. More intense and stunning Storforsen and Jokkmokk guided by the team. The full programme for this is adaptable and in response to the group’s interests. Very cool! Please contact Mike or Arthur Haines if you wish to be included in this additional opportunity.
Stockholm is a good place to spend a few extra days before or after time in the north. You’ll see Mike around the city in our gallery.
For those interested in Sweden’s longer traditions around plants, medicine, and craft, one optional stop is Pharmarium in Gamla Stan. The bar sits near the site of Sweden’s first public pharmacy, established in 1575, and takes direct inspiration from that history. Its interior reflects traditional apothecary design, with old-style medicine drawers and bottles behind the bar, offering a quiet nod to how botanical knowledge has historically shaped food, drink, and medicine in Scandinavia.
Who This Trip Is For?
This experience is suited to people who:
Are interested in net fishing as a cultural and ecological practice, not a sport
Are comfortable learning through presence, observation, and optional participation
Value food gathered from land and water, and the processes behind it
Are at ease spending time outdoors without constant structure or entertainment
Prefer small groups, privacy, and calm, capable hosting
Are comfortable moving between active involvement and stepping back
Are interested in northern Sweden’s landscape, seasons, and local ways of living
Are comfortable around working animals and rural environment
Appreciate having the option for solitude or quiet time away from the group
Who This Trip Is NOT for people who are:
Are looking for a course, training programme, or certification
Expect constant instruction or a tightly scheduled agenda
Are motivated by trophies, performance, or measurable outcomes
Are seeking luxury accommodation or resort-style service
Prefer fast-paced itineraries or frequent changes of location
Are uncomfortable with changing weather, conditions, or daily rhythm
Need reassurance, entertainment, or clearly defined outcomes
Are seeking a party-focused, highly social, or adrenaline-driven experience
Are uncomfortable with animals, smoke from fires, or food processing
The Experts hosts.
Dates
24–27 July 2026
(Arrival in Luleå on Thursday, departure Sunday afternoon)
Location:
Northern Sweden, with arrival and departure via Luleå
Group Size:
Small group, limited places
Cost:
$2,500 USD per person
What’s Included
Accommodation in Luleå on arrival night
All on-site accommodation at the husky kennel (indoor beds, lakeside camping, or forest hammocks)
All meals during the experience
Local transport during the programme
Equipment related to net fishing, food processing, and preservation
Hosting and facilitation by Toby Cowern, Michael Douglas and Arthur Haines.
What’s Not Included
Flights to and from Sweden
Personal travel insurance
Additional accommodation in Stockholm or elsewhere before or after the experience
Personal expenses
