Betlehemssjön
southern nutrient-rich lowland lake · 59°N
clarity 2.1 mmax depth 12 mpH 6.6eutrophicstatus poorgravel road
Character of the water
Betlehemssjön 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 (12 m) — shallow bays, the odd reef and a deeper channel through the middle.
Permits & rules
Fishing permit required — Betlehemssjön FVOF. Day permit ~140 kr · annual permit ~700 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 Betlehemssjön
perch predatory fish
typically ~22 cm · can reach 45 cm
The nutrient-rich water keeps perch moving constantly between the feeding grounds.
pike predatory fish
typically ~62 cm · can reach 120 cm
Pike hunts by feel more than sight in the stained water — short, hard strikes close to the bait.
roach coarse fish
typically ~18 cm · can reach 32 cm
The nutrient-rich water keeps roach moving constantly between the feeding grounds.
zander predatory fish
typically ~50 cm · can reach 95 cm
Zander hunts by feel more than sight in the stained water — short, hard strikes close to the bait.
bream coarse fish
typically ~38 cm · can reach 65 cm
Bream works the bottom in the dark — smell and feel come before everything else.
ruffe perch family
typically ~12 cm · can reach 22 cm
Ruffe works the bottom in the dark — smell and feel come before everything else.
burbot bottom fish
typically ~45 cm · can reach 90 cm
Down on the bottom burbot sifts the soft ground — patience beats speed here.
Fishing Betlehemssjön
Betlehemssjön holds 7 species, with perch, pike and zander at the top of the chain and roach, bream and ruffe schooling beneath them. The modest depth keeps most of the fishing within reach of the bank.
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 Betlehemssjön are alike.
General rules of thumb for this kind of water
- Nutrient-rich lakes hold plenty of baitfish but often murky water.
The catch board
- 1Lars Nilssonpike50 cm
- 2Jonas Krügerzander46 cm
- 3Astrid Häggzander44 cm
- 4Per Schmidtbream30 cm
- 5Roland Lundruffe11 cm
- 6Mats Lindqvistruffe10 cm
Species records here
pike50 cmLars Nilsson
zander46 cmJonas Krüger
bream30 cmPer Schmidt
ruffe11 cmRoland Lund
The same water, for real
