Ara
nutrient-rich lowland lake · 59°N
clarity 2.5 mmax depth 4 mpH 7.4eutrophicstatus unsatisfactorypaved road
Character of the water
Ara lies in central Sweden — a nutrient-rich lowland lake.
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 4 m), with reeds and vegetation over large areas — water that warms fast in spring.
Permits & rules
Fishing permit required — Ara 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.
- Handheld tackle only. Respect the protected zones at the inlets and outlets.
Species in Ara
perch predatory fish
typically ~22 cm · can reach 45 cm
Perch grazes the rich water in schools — where there's one, there are more.
pike predatory fish
typically ~62 cm · can reach 120 cm
In the murky light, pike shadows the baitfish and hits in short rushes.
roach coarse fish
typically ~18 cm · can reach 32 cm
Roach grazes the rich water in schools — where there's one, there are more.
zander predatory fish
typically ~50 cm · can reach 95 cm
In the murky light, zander shadows the baitfish and hits in short rushes.
bream coarse fish
typically ~38 cm · can reach 65 cm
Down on the bottom bream sifts the soft ground — patience beats speed here.
ruffe perch family
typically ~12 cm · can reach 22 cm
Down on the bottom ruffe sifts the soft ground — patience beats speed here.
Fishing Ara
The species list of Ara runs to 6. The predators — perch, pike and zander — hunt where the baitfish gather, and on a water this size you soon learn where it holds its fish.
Whoever fishes Ara 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
- Nutrient-rich lakes hold plenty of baitfish but often murky water.
The catch board
- 1Jürgen Falkpike55 cm
- 2Karl Månssonzander54 cm
- 3Maria Lundpike52 cm
- 4Jürgen Dahlperch18 cm
- 5Torbjörn Karlssonroach15 cm
- 6Lars Strandroach15 cm
Species records here
zander54 cmKarl Månsson
pike52 cmMaria Lund
perch18 cmJürgen Dahl
roach15 cmLars Strand
The same water, for real
