Östersjön

Character of the water

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

The surroundings

The lake lies half-remote, a fair way from the nearest road, tucked into woodland.

Moderately deep (17 m) — shallow bays, the odd reef and a deeper channel through the middle.

Permits & rules

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

• Handheld tackle only. Respect the protected zones at the inlets and outlets.

Fishing Östersjön

The species list of Östersjön runs to 2. The predators — perch — hunt where the baitfish gather, and on a water this size you soon learn where it holds its fish.

Whoever fishes Östersjön 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.
• In deep, oxygenated lakes the predators seek cool depth in summer, shallower in spring and autumn.