Herstjärn
nutrient-rich lowland lake · 59°N
clarity 2.7 mmax depth 3 mpH 6.8eutrophicstatus unsatisfactorygravel road
Character of the water
Herstjärn lies in central Sweden — a nutrient-rich lowland lake.
The surroundings
The lake lies half-remote, a fair way from the nearest road, tucked into woodland.
Shallow throughout (max 3 m), with reeds and vegetation over large areas — water that warms fast in spring.
Permits & rules
Fishing permit required — Herstjärn FVOF. Day permit ~100 kr · annual permit ~500 kr.
- 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 Herstjärn
perch predatory fish
typically ~22 cm · can reach 45 cm
The nutrient-rich water keeps perch moving constantly between the feeding grounds.
ål fish
typically ~55 cm · can reach 110 cm
Down on the bottom ål sifts the soft ground — patience beats speed here.
elritsa fish
typically ~7 cm · can reach 12 cm
Elritsa grazes the rich water in schools — where there's one, there are more.
id fish
typically ~38 cm · can reach 75 cm
The nutrient-rich water keeps id moving constantly between the feeding grounds.
löja fish
typically ~12 cm · can reach 20 cm
The nutrient-rich water keeps löja moving constantly between the feeding grounds.
roach coarse fish
typically ~18 cm · can reach 32 cm
The nutrient-rich water keeps roach moving constantly between the feeding grounds.
trout salmonids
typically ~35 cm · can reach 70 cm
Trout hunts by feel more than sight in the stained water — short, hard strikes close to the bait.
Fishing Herstjärn
perch and trout sit at the top of the food chain in Herstjärn, carried by ål, elritsa and id. The nutrient-rich water means plenty of baitfish — and predators that grow fat on them.
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 Herstjärn are alike.
General rules of thumb for this kind of water
- Nutrient-rich lakes hold plenty of baitfish but often murky water.
The catch board
- 1Erik Holmål50 cm
- 2Henrik Forsbergål44 cm
- 3Gustav Viklundid39 cm
- 4Eva Falkid33 cm
- 5Karl Raskperch19 cm
- 6Per Bakkeperch18 cm
Species records here
ål44 cmHenrik Forsberg
id33 cmEva Falk
perch18 cmPer Bakke
The same water, for real
