Gryttjen
acidified forest lake · 62°N
clarity 8.0 mmax depth 36 mpH 5.2oligotrophicstatus unsatisfactorygravel road
Character of the water
Gryttjen lies in central Sweden — a acidified forest lake. The water is crystal-clear and the fish skittish in the sharp light. Acidification has thinned life down to the hardiest few.
The surroundings
The lake lies half-remote, a fair way from the nearest road, tucked into woodland.
Large and deep (36 m): a central basin ringed by drop-offs and shallow bays around the edges — varied bottom with many spots to read.
Permits & rules
Fishing permit required — Gryttjen FVOF. Day permit ~60 kr · annual permit ~300 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 Gryttjen
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.
ål fish
typically ~55 cm · can reach 110 cm
Ål lives down in the cool — the deep is its home ground all year.
björkna fish
typically ~18 cm · can reach 35 cm
Björkna holds the bottom even in clear water — shade and depth are its cover.
bream coarse fish
typically ~38 cm · can reach 65 cm
Bream holds the bottom even in clear water — shade and depth are its cover.
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.
ruffe perch family
typically ~12 cm · can reach 22 cm
Ruffe holds the bottom even in clear water — shade and depth are its cover.
zander predatory fish
typically ~50 cm · can reach 95 cm
Zander is a sight-hunter here — the clear water means long follows before the take.
grayling fish
typically ~30 cm · can reach 50 cm
Here grayling lives on the small stuff — and rewards those who fish small and fine.
id fish
typically ~38 cm · can reach 75 cm
Here id lives on the small stuff — and rewards those who fish small and fine.
burbot bottom fish
typically ~45 cm · can reach 90 cm
Burbot lives down in the cool — the deep is its home ground all year.
salmon fish
typically ~65 cm · can reach 130 cm
In the clear water salmon picks its moments — wary, but relentless once committed.
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.
trout salmonids
typically ~35 cm · can reach 70 cm
Trout is a sight-hunter here — the clear water means long follows before the take.
regnbåge fish
typically ~35 cm · can reach 70 cm
In the clear water regnbåge picks its moments — wary, but relentless once committed.
Arctic char salmonids
typically ~35 cm · can reach 70 cm
Arctic char is a sight-hunter here — the clear water means long follows before the take.
ruda fish
typically ~18 cm · can reach 42 cm
Ruda holds the bottom even in clear water — shade and depth are its cover.
whitefish whitefish
typically ~30 cm · can reach 55 cm
Whitefish cruises the open water — the depth it picks follows the light through the day.
vendace whitefish
typically ~16 cm · can reach 28 cm
Vendace holds in the open water column where light and temperature set the day.
stäm fish
typically ~16 cm · can reach 30 cm
Stäm moves carefully in the clear water — small mouthfuls, many of them.
Fishing Gryttjen
perch, pike and zander sit at the top of the food chain in Gryttjen, carried by ål, björkna and bream. The clearer water makes the fish wary — and rewards a careful presentation.
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 Gryttjen are alike.
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.
- Acidified water yields few, hardy species.
The catch board
- 1Oskar Nilssonsalmon58 cm
- 2Maria Olofssonid31 cm
- 3Heike Nilssonbream30 cm
- 4Sören Dahlgrayling25 cm
- 5Oskar Vogelroach15 cm
- 6Elin Hedlundroach15 cm
Species records here
salmon58 cmOskar Nilsson
id31 cmMaria Olofsson
bream30 cmHeike Nilsson
grayling25 cmSören Dahl
roach15 cmElin Hedlund
The same water, for real
