Österviken
nutrient-rich lowland lake · 59°N
clarity 1.8 mmax depth 5 mpH 7.4eutrophicstatus unsatisfactoryforest track · 22 min for the last stretch
Character of the water
Österviken lies in central Sweden — a nutrient-rich lowland lake.
The surroundings
The lake lies half-remote, a fair way from the nearest road, tucked into woodland.
Moderately deep (5 m) — shallow bays, the odd reef and a deeper channel through the middle.
Permits & rules
Fishing permit required — Österviken FVOF. Day permit ~140 kr · annual permit ~700 kr.
- Pike: keep at most one over 75 cm per day.
- Handheld tackle only. Respect the protected zones at the inlets and outlets.
Species in Österviken
perch predatory fish
typically ~22 cm · can reach 45 cm
The nutrient-rich water keeps perch moving constantly between the feeding grounds.
pike predatory fish
typically ~62 cm · can reach 120 cm
Pike hunts by feel more than sight in the stained water — short, hard strikes close to the bait.
roach coarse fish
typically ~18 cm · can reach 32 cm
The nutrient-rich water keeps roach moving constantly between the feeding grounds.
bream coarse fish
typically ~38 cm · can reach 65 cm
Bream works the bottom in the dark — smell and feel come before everything else.
ruffe perch family
typically ~12 cm · can reach 22 cm
Ruffe works the bottom in the dark — smell and feel come before everything else.
Fishing Österviken
perch and pike sit at the top of the food chain in Österviken, carried by roach, bream and ruffe. The nutrient-rich water means plenty of baitfish — and predators that grow fat on them.
Every session at Österviken is fished in whatever conditions hold right then — the same pressure, wind and light as over the real water. What bites today isn't what bit the day before, and those who return learn the water for real.
General rules of thumb for this kind of water
- Nutrient-rich lakes hold plenty of baitfish but often murky water.
The catch board
- 1Sabine Vainiopike59 cm
- 2Sabine Vogelbream31 cm
- 3Heike Brandtroach16 cm
- 4Stefan Korhonenroach14 cm
- 5Klaus Karlssonruffe11 cm
- 6Jukka Norénruffe11 cm
Species records here
pike59 cmSabine Vainio
bream31 cmSabine Vogel
roach14 cmStefan Korhonen
ruffe11 cmJukka Norén
The same water, for real
