Axen
clear oligotrophic forest lake · 60°N
clarity 7.4 mmax depth 6 mpH 6.7oligotrophicstatus goodforest track · 22 min for the last stretch
Character of the water
Axen lies in central Sweden — a clear oligotrophic forest lake. The water is crystal-clear and the fish skittish in the sharp light.
The surroundings
The lake lies half-remote, a fair way from the nearest road, tucked into woodland.
Moderately deep (6 m) — shallow bays, the odd reef and a deeper channel through the middle.
Permits & rules
Fishing permit required — Axen FVOF. Day permit ~60 kr · annual permit ~300 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 Axen
perch predatory fish
typically ~22 cm · can reach 45 cm
Perch moves carefully in the clear water — small mouthfuls, many of them.
asp fish
typically ~48 cm · can reach 90 cm
In the clear water asp picks its moments — wary, but relentless once committed.
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.
pike predatory fish
typically ~62 cm · can reach 120 cm
In the clear water pike picks its moments — wary, but relentless once committed.
zander predatory fish
typically ~50 cm · can reach 95 cm
In the clear water zander picks its moments — wary, but relentless once committed.
grayling fish
typically ~30 cm · can reach 50 cm
Grayling moves carefully in the clear water — small mouthfuls, many of them.
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.
roach coarse fish
typically ~18 cm · can reach 32 cm
Roach moves carefully in the clear water — small mouthfuls, many of them.
trout salmonids
typically ~35 cm · can reach 70 cm
In the clear water trout picks its moments — wary, but relentless once committed.
regnbåge fish
typically ~35 cm · can reach 70 cm
Regnbåge is a sight-hunter here — the clear water means long follows before the take.
Fishing Axen
The species list of Axen runs to 12. 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.
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 Axen are alike.
General rules of thumb for this kind of water
- Clear water makes fish light-shy — dawn, dusk and night are usually best.
The catch board
- 1Elin Åbergzander44 cm
- 2Sabine Sjöbergzander40 cm
- 3Maria Holmburbot36 cm
- 4Kjell Krügerregnbåge30 cm
- 5Stefan Strandregnbåge29 cm
- 6Jukka Norénperch18 cm
Species records here
zander44 cmElin Åberg
burbot36 cmMaria Holm
regnbåge30 cmKjell Krüger
perch18 cmJukka Norén
The same water, for real
