Gäven
nutrient-rich lowland lake · 61°N
clarity 2.4 mmax depth 4 mpH 7.4eutrophicstatus unsatisfactorygravel road
Character of the water
Gäven lies in central Sweden — a nutrient-rich lowland lake.
The surroundings
The lake lies half-remote, a fair way from the nearest road, tucked into woodland.
Shallow throughout (max 4 m), with reeds and vegetation over large areas — water that warms fast in spring.
Permits & rules
Fishing permit required — Gäven FVOF. Day permit ~60 kr · annual permit ~300 kr.
- 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 Gäven
perch predatory fish
typically ~22 cm · can reach 45 cm
The nutrient-rich water keeps perch moving constantly between the feeding grounds.
ål fish
typically ~55 cm · can reach 110 cm
Down on the bottom ål sifts the soft ground — patience beats speed here.
bream coarse fish
typically ~38 cm · can reach 65 cm
Bream works the bottom in the dark — smell and feel come before everything else.
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.
id fish
typically ~38 cm · can reach 75 cm
The nutrient-rich water keeps id moving constantly between the feeding grounds.
burbot bottom fish
typically ~45 cm · can reach 90 cm
Down on the bottom burbot sifts the soft ground — patience beats speed here.
roach coarse fish
typically ~18 cm · can reach 32 cm
The nutrient-rich water keeps roach moving constantly between the feeding grounds.
trout salmonids
typically ~35 cm · can reach 70 cm
Trout hunts by feel more than sight in the stained water — short, hard strikes close to the bait.
regnbåge fish
typically ~35 cm · can reach 70 cm
In the murky light, regnbåge shadows the baitfish and hits in short rushes.
Arctic char salmonids
typically ~35 cm · can reach 70 cm
Arctic char hunts by feel more than sight in the stained water — short, hard strikes close to the bait.
ruda fish
typically ~18 cm · can reach 42 cm
Ruda works the bottom in the dark — smell and feel come before everything else.
whitefish whitefish
typically ~30 cm · can reach 55 cm
Whitefish roams the open water after the feed — a moving target.
sutare fish
typically ~35 cm · can reach 60 cm
Sutare works the bottom in the dark — smell and feel come before everything else.
Fishing Gäven
perch, pike and burbot sit at the top of the food chain in Gäven, carried by ål, bream and id. The nutrient-rich water means plenty of baitfish — and predators that grow fat on them.
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 Gäven 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
- 1Mats Bergål49 cm
- 2Ole Brandtburbot37 cm
- 3Mats Åbergwhitefish24 cm
- 4Magnus Johansenroach16 cm
- 5Mats Erikssonruda16 cm
- 6Erik Sandströmroach15 cm
Species records here
ål49 cmMats Berg
burbot37 cmOle Brandt
whitefish24 cmMats Åberg
ruda16 cmMats Eriksson
roach15 cmErik Sandström
The same water, for real
