Höljen
clear oligotrophic forest lake · 59°N
clarity 6.2 mmax depth 8 mpH 6.7oligotrophicstatus goodgravel road
Character of the water
Höljen 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.
Moderately deep (8 m) — shallow bays, the odd reef and a deeper channel through the middle.
Permits & rules
Fishing permit required — Höljen FVOF. Day permit ~140 kr · annual permit ~700 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 Höljen
perch predatory fish
typically ~22 cm · can reach 45 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.
bream coarse fish
typically ~38 cm · can reach 65 cm
Bream lives down in the cool — the deep is its home ground all year.
elritsa fish
typically ~7 cm · can reach 12 cm
Here elritsa lives on the small stuff — and rewards those who fish small and fine.
pike predatory fish
typically ~62 cm · can reach 120 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.
burbot bottom fish
typically ~45 cm · can reach 90 cm
Burbot holds the bottom even in clear water — shade and depth are its cover.
löja fish
typically ~12 cm · can reach 20 cm
Löja moves carefully in the clear water — small mouthfuls, many of them.
roach coarse fish
typically ~18 cm · can reach 32 cm
Roach moves carefully in the clear water — small mouthfuls, many of them.
nors fish
typically ~12 cm · can reach 22 cm
Nors cruises the open water — the depth it picks follows the light through the day.
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.
whitefish whitefish
typically ~30 cm · can reach 55 cm
Whitefish holds in the open water column where light and temperature set the day.
stensimpa fish
typically ~8 cm · can reach 15 cm
Stensimpa lives down in the cool — the deep is its home ground all year.
sutare fish
typically ~35 cm · can reach 60 cm
Sutare lives down in the cool — the deep is its home ground all year.
Fishing Höljen
The species list of Höljen runs to 15. 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.
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 Höljen are alike.
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
- 1Emil Åströmpike54 cm
- 2Stefan Korhonenburbot37 cm
- 3Sabine Vainionors10 cm
- 4Heike Korhonenruffe10 cm
- 5Wolfgang Krügerruffe9 cm
- 6Oskar Vogelelritsa5 cm
Species records here
pike54 cmEmil Åström
burbot37 cmStefan Korhonen
ruffe10 cmHeike Korhonen
nors10 cmSabine Vainio
elritsa5 cmOskar Vogel
The same water, for real
