Öljaren

humic brown tarn · 59°N

Real lakereal shoreline14 species on recordreal water chemistrysources & method →

clarity 0.8 mmax depth 2 mpH 8.2eutrophic · humicstatus poorpaved road

Character of the water

Öljaren lies in central Sweden — a humic brown tarn. The tea-stained, humic water hides the bottom within an arm's length.

The surroundings

The lake sits close to town with a road right up to it — easy to reach, but hard-fished and exposed to nutrient runoff from the buildings and fields all around.

Shallow throughout (max 2 m), with reeds and vegetation over large areas — water that warms fast in spring.

Permits & rules

Fishing permit required — Öljaren FVOF. Day permit ~140 kr · annual permit ~700 kr.

Zander: minimum size 45 cm · protected during the spawn (Apr–May).
Pike: keep at most one over 75 cm per day.
Handheld tackle only. Respect the protected zones at the inlets and outlets.

Species in Öljaren

perch predatory fish

typically ~22 cm · can reach 45 cm

Perch grazes the rich water in schools — where there's one, there are more.

ål fish

typically ~55 cm · can reach 110 cm

Ål works the bottom in the dark — smell and feel come before everything else.

björkna fish

typically ~18 cm · can reach 35 cm

Down on the bottom björkna sifts the soft ground — patience beats speed here.

bream coarse fish

typically ~38 cm · can reach 65 cm

Down on the bottom bream sifts the soft ground — patience beats speed here.

pike predatory fish

typically ~62 cm · can reach 120 cm

In the murky light, pike shadows the baitfish and hits in short rushes.

ruffe perch family

typically ~12 cm · can reach 22 cm

Down on the bottom ruffe sifts the soft ground — patience beats speed here.

zander predatory fish

typically ~50 cm · can reach 95 cm

In the murky light, zander shadows the baitfish and hits in short rushes.

burbot bottom fish

typically ~45 cm · can reach 90 cm

Burbot works the bottom in the dark — smell and feel come before everything else.

löja fish

typically ~12 cm · can reach 20 cm

Löja grazes the rich water in schools — where there's one, there are more.

roach coarse fish

typically ~18 cm · can reach 32 cm

Roach grazes the rich water in schools — where there's one, there are more.

nors fish

typically ~12 cm · can reach 22 cm

Nors roams the open water after the feed — a moving target.

ruda fish

typically ~18 cm · can reach 42 cm

Down on the bottom ruda sifts the soft ground — patience beats speed here.

whitefish whitefish

typically ~30 cm · can reach 55 cm

Whitefish follows the schools through open water — here today, gone tomorrow.

stensimpa fish

typically ~8 cm · can reach 15 cm

Down on the bottom stensimpa sifts the soft ground — patience beats speed here.

Fishing Öljaren

perch, pike and zander sit at the top of the food chain in Öljaren, carried by ål, björkna and bream. The brown, humic water keeps visibility short — the fishing is more about vibration than sight.

Whoever fishes Öljaren regularly builds something of their own: a log of what took, where and when. That's how the water gives up its patterns — cast by cast, never all at once.

General rules of thumb for this kind of water

Brown, humic water dampens the light — fishing can be good even in the middle of the day.
Nutrient-rich lakes hold plenty of baitfish but often murky water.

The catch board

6 anglers · 12 catches

1Stefan Olofssonzander49 cm
2Mats Vainioburbot36 cm
3Heike Sundinbream30 cm
4Heike Dahlroach14 cm
5Sabine Vainionors9 cm
6Björn Falkstensimpa6 cm

Species records here

zander49 cmStefan Olofsson

burbot36 cmMats Vainio

bream30 cmHeike Sundin

roach14 cmHeike Dahl

nors9 cmSabine Vainio

stensimpa6 cmBjörn Falk

The same water, for real

This water's real catch reports — and the logbook for your own.Fångstrapport.sein Swedish

The real bite table for this water — for your next real session.Huggtabell.sein Swedish