Angler Legend
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Balsjön

northern humic brown tarn · 64°N
Real lakereal shoreline5 species on recordsources & method
clarity 2.3 mmax depth 5 mpH 5.8oligotrophic · humicstatus moderateforest track · 22 min for the last stretch

Character of the water

Balsjön lies in the cold north — a northern humic brown tarn. The tea-stained, humic water hides the bottom within an arm's length.

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.

Moderately deep (5 m) — shallow bays, the odd reef and a deeper channel through the middle.

Permits & rules

Fishing permit required — Balsjön FVOF. Day permit ~140 kr · annual permit ~700 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 Balsjön

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.
ruffe perch family
typically ~12 cm · can reach 22 cm
Down on the bottom ruffe sifts the soft ground — patience beats speed here.
burbot bottom fish
typically ~45 cm · can reach 90 cm
Burbot works the bottom in the dark — smell and feel come before everything else.
roach coarse fish
typically ~18 cm · can reach 32 cm
Roach grazes the rich water in schools — where there's one, there are more.

Fishing Balsjön

The species list of Balsjön runs to 5. The predators — perch, pike and burbot — 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 Balsjön are alike.

General rules of thumb for this kind of water

  • Brown, humic water dampens the light — fishing can be good even in the middle of the day.

The catch board

6 anglers · 12 catches
  1. 1Jukka Erikssonburbot41 cm
  2. 2Emil Weberburbot37 cm
  3. 3Magnus Brandtburbot36 cm
  4. 4Kjell Björkburbot36 cm
  5. 5Karl Norénroach15 cm
  6. 6Astrid Vainioruffe10 cm
Species records here
burbot41 cmJukka Eriksson
roach15 cmKarl Norén
ruffe10 cmAstrid Vainio
The same water, for real