Övre Fryken
mesotrophic stratified lake · 60°N
Real lakereal shorelinemeasured max depth 110 m22 species on recordreal water chemistrysources & method →
clarity 2.5 mmax depth 110 mpH 6.2mesotrophicstatus goodgravel road
Character of the water
Övre Fryken lies in central Sweden — a mesotrophic stratified lake. In summer a thermocline settles around 1 m and splits the lake into two worlds.
The surroundings
The lake lies half-remote, a fair way from the nearest road, tucked into woodland.
Large and deep (110 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 — Övre Fryken FVOF. Day permit ~100 kr · annual permit ~500 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 Övre Fryken
perch predatory fish
typically ~22 cm · can reach 45 cm
Here perch lives on the small stuff — and rewards those who fish small and fine.
ål fish
typically ~55 cm · can reach 110 cm
Ål lives down in the cool — the deep is its home ground all year.
björkna fish
typically ~18 cm · can reach 35 cm
Björkna holds the bottom even in clear water — shade and depth are its cover.
bream coarse fish
typically ~38 cm · can reach 65 cm
Bream holds the bottom even in clear water — shade and depth are its cover.
elritsa fish
typically ~7 cm · can reach 12 cm
Elritsa moves carefully in the clear water — small mouthfuls, many of them.
pike predatory fish
typically ~62 cm · can reach 120 cm
Pike is a sight-hunter here — the clear water means long follows before the take.
ruffe perch family
typically ~12 cm · can reach 22 cm
Ruffe holds the bottom even in clear water — shade and depth are its cover.
zander predatory fish
typically ~50 cm · can reach 95 cm
Zander is a sight-hunter here — the clear water means long follows before the take.
id fish
typically ~38 cm · can reach 75 cm
Here id lives on the small stuff — and rewards those who fish small and fine.
burbot bottom fish
typically ~45 cm · can reach 90 cm
Burbot lives down in the cool — the deep is its home ground all year.
salmon fish
typically ~65 cm · can reach 130 cm
In the clear water salmon picks its moments — wary, but relentless once committed.
löja fish
typically ~12 cm · can reach 20 cm
Here löja lives on the small stuff — and rewards those who fish small and fine.
roach coarse fish
typically ~18 cm · can reach 32 cm
Here roach lives on the small stuff — and rewards those who fish small and fine.
nors fish
typically ~12 cm · can reach 22 cm
Nors holds in the open water column where light and temperature set the day.
trout salmonids
typically ~35 cm · can reach 70 cm
Trout is a sight-hunter here — the clear water means long follows before the take.
regnbåge fish
typically ~35 cm · can reach 70 cm
In the clear water regnbåge picks its moments — wary, but relentless once committed.
ruda fish
typically ~18 cm · can reach 42 cm
Ruda holds the bottom even in clear water — shade and depth are its cover.
sarv fish
typically ~18 cm · can reach 38 cm
Sarv moves carefully in the clear water — small mouthfuls, many of them.
whitefish whitefish
typically ~30 cm · can reach 55 cm
Whitefish cruises the open water — the depth it picks follows the light through the day.
vendace whitefish
typically ~16 cm · can reach 28 cm
Vendace holds in the open water column where light and temperature set the day.
stäm fish
typically ~16 cm · can reach 30 cm
Stäm moves carefully in the clear water — small mouthfuls, many of them.
stensimpa fish
typically ~8 cm · can reach 15 cm
Stensimpa holds the bottom even in clear water — shade and depth are its cover.
Fishing Övre Fryken
perch, pike and zander sit at the top of the food chain in Övre Fryken, carried by ål, björkna and bream. The clearer water makes the fish wary — and rewards a careful presentation.
The fishing here follows the water's own rhythm: dawn and dusk have their windows, fronts close and open them, and the season moves the fish. No two sessions at Övre Fryken are alike.
General rules of thumb for this kind of water
- In deep, oxygenated lakes the predators seek cool depth in summer, shallower in spring and autumn.
The catch board
- 1Maria Webersalmon54 cm
- 2Astrid Häggål45 cm
- 3Erik Sjöbergwhitefish29 cm
- 4Fredrik Boströmvendace15 cm
- 5Uwe Sundinstäm13 cm
- 6Gustav Blomnors11 cm
Species records here
salmon54 cmMaria Weber
ål45 cmAstrid Hägg
whitefish29 cmErik Sjöberg
vendace15 cmFredrik Boström
stäm13 cmUwe Sundin
nors11 cmGustav Blom
The same water, for real
