Helgasjön
southern mesotrophic lake · 57°N
Real lakereal shorelinemeasured max depth 25 m19 species on recordsizes from survey fishingreal water chemistrysources & method →
clarity 2.5 mmax depth 25 mpH 7.1mesotrophicstatus goodforest track · 22 min for the last stretch
Character of the water
Helgasjön lies in the south — a southern mesotrophic lake.
The surroundings
The lake lies half-remote, a fair way from the nearest road, tucked into woodland.
Large and deep (25 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 — Helgasjön FVOF. Day permit ~100 kr · annual permit ~500 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 Helgasjön
perch predatory fish
typically ~13 cm · can reach 41 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 ~17 cm · can reach 28 cm
Björkna holds the bottom even in clear water — shade and depth are its cover.
bream coarse fish
typically ~36 cm · can reach 42 cm
Bream holds the bottom even in clear water — shade and depth are its cover.
elritsa fish
typically ~7 cm · can reach 12 cm
Elritsa moves carefully in the clear water — small mouthfuls, many of them.
pike predatory fish
typically ~65 cm · can reach 65 cm
Pike is a sight-hunter here — the clear water means long follows before the take.
ruffe perch family
typically ~9 cm · can reach 17 cm
Ruffe holds the bottom even in clear water — shade and depth are its cover.
zander predatory fish
typically ~41 cm · can reach 68 cm
Zander is a sight-hunter here — the clear water means long follows before the take.
karp fish
typically ~45 cm · can reach 95 cm
Karp holds the bottom even in clear water — shade and depth are its cover.
burbot bottom fish
typically ~58 cm · can reach 58 cm
Burbot lives down in the cool — the deep is its home ground all year.
löja fish
typically ~16 cm · can reach 19 cm
Here löja lives on the small stuff — and rewards those who fish small and fine.
roach coarse fish
typically ~16 cm · can reach 24 cm
Here roach lives on the small stuff — and rewards those who fish small and fine.
nors fish
typically ~12 cm · can reach 16 cm
Nors holds in the open water column where light and temperature set the day.
trout salmonids
typically ~35 cm · can reach 70 cm
Trout is a sight-hunter here — the clear water means long follows before the take.
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.
sarv fish
typically ~21 cm · can reach 33 cm
Sarv moves carefully in the clear water — small mouthfuls, many of them.
whitefish whitefish
typically ~24 cm · can reach 24 cm
Whitefish cruises the open water — the depth it picks follows the light through the day.
vendace whitefish
typically ~19 cm · can reach 26 cm
Vendace holds in the open water column where light and temperature set the day.
sutare fish
typically ~35 cm · can reach 60 cm
Sutare holds the bottom even in clear water — shade and depth are its cover.
Fishing Helgasjön
perch, pike and zander sit at the top of the food chain in Helgasjön, 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 Helgasjön are alike.
General rules of thumb for this kind of water
- In deep, oxygenated lakes the predators seek cool depth in summer, shallower in spring and autumn.
The catch board
- 1Axel Raskzander40 cm
- 2Stefan Ekzander32 cm
- 3Petra Ektrout29 cm
- 4Mats Bergvendace15 cm
- 5Per Sundinvendace15 cm
- 6Heike Korhonenroach13 cm
Species records here
zander32 cmStefan Ek
trout29 cmPetra Ek
vendace15 cmMats Berg
roach13 cmHeike Korhonen
The same water, for real
