Botten
clear oligotrophic forest lake · 59°N
clarity 6.4 mmax depth 2 mpH 6.7oligotrophicstatus goodforest track · 22 min for the last stretch
Character of the water
Botten 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.
Shallow throughout (max 2 m), with reeds and vegetation over large areas — water that warms fast in spring.
Permits & rules
Fishing permit required — Botten FVOF. Day permit ~100 kr · annual permit ~500 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 Botten
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.
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.
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.
Fishing Botten
perch and pike sit at the top of the food chain in Botten, carried by roach. The clearer water makes the fish wary — and rewards a careful presentation.
Whoever fishes Botten 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
- Clear water makes fish light-shy — dawn, dusk and night are usually best.
The catch board
- 1Wolfgang Åbergpike53 cm
- 2Stefan Falkpike49 cm
- 3Emil Petterssonperch18 cm
- 4Tomas Åströmroach15 cm
- 5Heike Korhonenroach15 cm
- 6Heike Dahlroach14 cm
Species records here
pike49 cmStefan Falk
perch18 cmEmil Pettersson
roach15 cmTomas Åström
The same water, for real
