Bälgen
southern nutrient-rich lowland lake · 58°N
clarity 2.1 mmax depth 5 mpH 7.4eutrophicstatus unsatisfactorygravel road
Character of the water
Bälgen lies in the south — a southern 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 — Bälgen FVOF. Day permit ~60 kr · annual permit ~300 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 Bälgen
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.
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 Bälgen
The species list of Bälgen runs to 5. The predators — perch and pike — hunt where the baitfish gather, and on a water this size you soon learn where it holds its fish.
Whoever fishes Bälgen 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
- 1Maria Ekpike51 cm
- 2Bjørn Johansenbream30 cm
- 3Klaus Karlssonperch18 cm
- 4Uwe Nilssonroach14 cm
- 5Emil Wagnerruffe9 cm
- 6Eva Sandströmruffe9 cm
Species records here
pike51 cmMaria Ek
bream30 cmBjørn Johansen
perch18 cmKlaus Karlsson
roach14 cmUwe Nilsson
ruffe9 cmEva Sandström
The same water, for real
