Östersjön
southern mesotrophic stratified lake · 59°N
Real lakereal shorelinemeasured max depth 29 m20 species on recordreal water chemistrysources & method →
clarity 2.0 mmax depth 29 mpH 6.6mesotrophicstatus moderateno road · 50 min for the last stretch
Character of the water
Östersjön lies in the south — a southern mesotrophic stratified lake. In summer a thermocline settles around 13 m and splits the lake into two worlds.
The surroundings
The lake lies remote, ringed by forest and bog far from any road. Few find their way here — the water is untouched and the stock undisturbed.
Large and deep (29 m): a central basin ringed by drop-offs and shallow bays around the edges — varied bottom with many spots to read.
Permits & rules
Fishing permit required — Östersjön 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.
- Trout & Arctic char: protected during the autumn spawn · catch-and-release on certain stretches.
- Handheld tackle only. Respect the protected zones at the inlets and outlets.
Species in Östersjön
perch predatory fish
typically ~22 cm · can reach 45 cm
Perch moves carefully in the clear water — small mouthfuls, many of them.
ål fish
typically ~55 cm · can reach 110 cm
Ål holds the bottom even in clear water — shade and depth are its cover.
björkna fish
typically ~18 cm · can reach 35 cm
Björkna lives down in the cool — the deep is its home ground all year.
bream coarse fish
typically ~38 cm · can reach 65 cm
Bream lives down in the cool — the deep is its home ground all year.
elritsa fish
typically ~7 cm · can reach 12 cm
Here elritsa lives on the small stuff — and rewards those who fish small and fine.
pike predatory fish
typically ~62 cm · can reach 120 cm
In the clear water pike picks its moments — wary, but relentless once committed.
ruffe perch family
typically ~12 cm · can reach 22 cm
Ruffe lives down in the cool — the deep is its home ground all year.
zander predatory fish
typically ~50 cm · can reach 95 cm
In the clear water zander picks its moments — wary, but relentless once committed.
id fish
typically ~38 cm · can reach 75 cm
Id moves carefully in the clear water — small mouthfuls, many of them.
burbot bottom fish
typically ~45 cm · can reach 90 cm
Burbot holds the bottom even in clear water — shade and depth are its cover.
löja fish
typically ~12 cm · can reach 20 cm
Löja moves carefully in the clear water — small mouthfuls, many of them.
roach coarse fish
typically ~18 cm · can reach 32 cm
Roach moves carefully in the clear water — small mouthfuls, many of them.
nors fish
typically ~12 cm · can reach 22 cm
Nors cruises the open water — the depth it picks follows the light through the day.
regnbåge fish
typically ~35 cm · can reach 70 cm
Regnbåge is a sight-hunter here — the clear water means long follows before the take.
Arctic char salmonids
typically ~35 cm · can reach 70 cm
In the clear water Arctic char picks its moments — wary, but relentless once committed.
ruda fish
typically ~18 cm · can reach 42 cm
Ruda lives down in the cool — the deep is its home ground all year.
sarv fish
typically ~18 cm · can reach 38 cm
Here sarv lives on the small stuff — and rewards those who fish small and fine.
whitefish whitefish
typically ~30 cm · can reach 55 cm
Whitefish holds in the open water column where light and temperature set the day.
vendace whitefish
typically ~16 cm · can reach 28 cm
Vendace cruises the open water — the depth it picks follows the light through the day.
sutare fish
typically ~35 cm · can reach 60 cm
Sutare lives down in the cool — the deep is its home ground all year.
Fishing Östersjön
perch, pike and zander sit at the top of the food chain in Östersjön, carried by ål, björkna and bream. The clearer water makes the fish wary — and rewards a careful presentation.
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
- Stratified, oxygen-poor lakes push the fish up above the thermocline in summer.
The catch board
- 1Emil Petterssonål45 cm
- 2Gustav Viklundid33 cm
- 3Wolfgang Åbergbream33 cm
- 4Maria Olofssonregnbåge32 cm
- 5Kjell Vogelruda15 cm
- 6Magnus Forsbergroach14 cm
Species records here
ål45 cmEmil Pettersson
id33 cmGustav Viklund
bream33 cmWolfgang Åberg
regnbåge32 cmMaria Olofsson
ruda15 cmKjell Vogel
roach14 cmMagnus Forsberg
The same water, for real
