Gårdsjön

clear oligotrophic forest lake · 61°N

Real lakereal shorelinemeasured max depth 17 m15 species on recordsizes from survey fishingsources & method →

clarity 8.8 mmax depth 17 mpH 5.6oligotrophicstatus moderateforest track · 22 min for the last stretch

Character of the water

Gårdsjön 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 remote, ringed by forest and bog far from any road. Few find their way here — the water is untouched and the stock undisturbed.

A small but surprisingly deep pocket (17 m) with steep drops straight down from shore — the bottom falls away fast.

Permits & rules

Fishing permit required — Gårdsjön 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.
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 Gårdsjön

perch predatory fish

typically ~12 cm · can reach 25 cm

Perch moves carefully in the clear water — small mouthfuls, many of them.

ål fish

typically ~55 cm · can reach 110 cm

Ål holds the bottom even in clear water — shade and depth are its cover.

björkna fish

typically ~18 cm · can reach 35 cm

Björkna lives down in the cool — the deep is its home ground all year.

bream coarse fish

typically ~38 cm · can reach 65 cm

Bream lives down in the cool — the deep is its home ground all year.

pike predatory fish

typically ~49 cm · can reach 49 cm

In the clear water pike picks its moments — wary, but relentless once committed.

ruffe perch family

typically ~12 cm · can reach 22 cm

Ruffe lives down in the cool — the deep is its home ground all year.

zander predatory fish

typically ~50 cm · can reach 95 cm

In the clear water zander picks its moments — wary, but relentless once committed.

id fish

typically ~38 cm · can reach 75 cm

Id moves carefully in the clear water — small mouthfuls, many of them.

burbot bottom fish

typically ~45 cm · can reach 90 cm

Burbot holds the bottom even in clear water — shade and depth are its cover.

roach coarse fish

typically ~23 cm · can reach 27 cm

Roach moves carefully in the clear water — small mouthfuls, many of them.

trout salmonids

typically ~35 cm · can reach 70 cm

In the clear water trout picks its moments — wary, but relentless once committed.

regnbåge fish

typically ~35 cm · can reach 70 cm

Regnbåge is a sight-hunter here — the clear water means long follows before the take.

sarv fish

typically ~18 cm · can reach 38 cm

Here sarv lives on the small stuff — and rewards those who fish small and fine.

vendace whitefish

typically ~19 cm · can reach 29 cm

Vendace cruises the open water — the depth it picks follows the light through the day.

sutare fish

typically ~35 cm · can reach 60 cm

Sutare lives down in the cool — the deep is its home ground all year.

Fishing Gårdsjön

perch, pike and zander sit at the top of the food chain in Gårdsjön, carried by ål, björkna and bream. The clearer water makes the fish wary — and rewards a careful presentation.

Every session at Gårdsjön is fished in whatever conditions hold right then — the same pressure, wind and light as over the real water. What bites today isn't what bit the day before, and those who return learn the water for real.

General rules of thumb for this kind of water

Clear water makes fish light-shy — dawn, dusk and night are usually best.
In deep, oxygenated lakes the predators seek cool depth in summer, shallower in spring and autumn.

The catch board

6 anglers · 12 catches

1Axel Nyströmburbot42 cm
2Anna Nieminenburbot37 cm
3Stefan Korhonenbream32 cm
4Oskar Lehmannbream30 cm
5Bjørn Boströmtrout30 cm
6Henrik Forsbergvendace16 cm

Species records here

burbot42 cmAxel Nyström

bream32 cmStefan Korhonen

trout30 cmBjørn Boström

vendace16 cmHenrik Forsberg

The same water, for real

This water's real catch reports — and the logbook for your own.Fångstrapport.sein Swedish

The real bite table for this water — for your next real session.Huggtabell.sein Swedish