Aspen
southern mesotrophic stratified lake · 58°N
Real lakereal shorelinemeasured max depth 32 m21 species on recordreal water chemistrysources & method →
clarity 3.4 mmax depth 32 mpH 6.9mesotrophicstatus goodforest track · 22 min for the last stretch
Character of the water
Aspen lies in the south — a southern mesotrophic stratified lake. In summer a thermocline settles around 27 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 (32 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 — Aspen 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 Aspen
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.
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.
sutare fish
typically ~35 cm · can reach 60 cm
Sutare holds the bottom even in clear water — shade and depth are its cover.
Fishing Aspen
Aspen holds 21 species, with perch, pike and zander at the top of the chain and ål, björkna and bream schooling beneath them. The depth gives the water two storeys — and the fish move between them with the season.
Whoever fishes Aspen 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
- In deep, oxygenated lakes the predators seek cool depth in summer, shallower in spring and autumn.
The catch board
- 1Heike Wikströmid35 cm
- 2Andreas Olofssonroach17 cm
- 3Ole Nyströmvendace15 cm
- 4Maria Åbergnors10 cm
- 5Heike Lindqvistelritsa6 cm
- 6Wolfgang Lindqvistelritsa6 cm
Species records here
id35 cmHeike Wikström
roach17 cmAndreas Olofsson
vendace15 cmOle Nyström
nors10 cmMaria Åberg
elritsa6 cmHeike Lindqvist
The same water, for real
