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Gammalvalltjärnen

northern clear oligotrophic forest lake · 64°N
Real lakereal shorelinesources & method
clarity 8.9 mmax depth 15 mpH 6.7oligotrophicstatus goodpaved road

Character of the water

Gammalvalltjärnen lies in the cold north — a northern clear oligotrophic forest lake. The water is crystal-clear and the fish skittish in the sharp light. In summer a thermocline settles around 6 m and splits the lake into two worlds.

The surroundings

The lake sits close to town with a road right up to it — easy to reach, but hard-fished and exposed to nutrient runoff from the buildings and fields all around.

A small but surprisingly deep pocket (15 m) with steep drops straight down from shore — the bottom falls away fast.

Permits & rules

Fishing permit required — Gammalvalltjärnen FVOF. Day permit ~60 kr · annual permit ~300 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 Gammalvalltjärnen

perch predatory fish
typically ~22 cm · can reach 45 cm
Perch moves carefully in the clear water — small mouthfuls, many of them.
pike predatory fish
typically ~62 cm · can reach 120 cm
In the clear water pike picks its moments — wary, but relentless once committed.
roach coarse fish
typically ~18 cm · can reach 32 cm
Roach moves carefully in the clear water — small mouthfuls, many of them.
whitefish whitefish
typically ~30 cm · can reach 55 cm
Whitefish holds in the open water column where light and temperature set the day.
burbot bottom fish
typically ~45 cm · can reach 90 cm
Burbot holds the bottom even in clear water — shade and depth are its cover.

Fishing Gammalvalltjärnen

The species list of Gammalvalltjärnen 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.

Every session at Gammalvalltjärnen 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.

The catch board

6 anglers · 12 catches
  1. 1Tomas Åströmpike58 cm
  2. 2Mats Åbergburbot37 cm
  3. 3Emil Nieminenburbot37 cm
  4. 4Anna Nieminenburbot36 cm
  5. 5Johan Nieminenwhitefish28 cm
  6. 6Mikko Norénroach15 cm
Species records here
pike58 cmTomas Åström
burbot36 cmAnna Nieminen
whitefish28 cmJohan Nieminen
roach15 cmMikko Norén
The same water, for real