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Hjälmaren

nutrient-rich lowland lake · 59°N
Real lakereal shorelinemeasured max depth 18 m13 species on recordsizes from survey fishingreal water chemistrysources & method →
clarity 1.4 mmax depth 18 mpH 7.6eutrophicstatus poorpaved road
Fish Hjälmaren Buy forecast

Character of the water

Hjälmaren lies in central Sweden — a nutrient-rich lowland lake. In summer a thermocline settles around 25 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.

Moderately deep (18 m) — shallow bays, the odd reef and a deeper channel through the middle.

Permits & rules

Fishing permit required — Hjälmaren FVOF. Day permit ~140 kr · annual permit ~700 kr.

  • Zander: minimum size 45 cm · protected during the spawn (Apr–May).
  • Pike: keep at most one over 75 cm per day.
  • Handheld tackle only. Respect the protected zones at the inlets and outlets.

Species in Hjälmaren

perch predatory fish
typically ~17 cm · can reach 38 cm
Perch grazes the rich water in schools — where there's one, there are more.
asp fish
typically ~26 cm · can reach 29 cm
In the murky light, asp shadows the baitfish and hits in short rushes.
björkna fish
typically ~17 cm · can reach 30 cm
Down on the bottom björkna sifts the soft ground — patience beats speed here.
bream coarse fish
typically ~27 cm · can reach 48 cm
Down on the bottom bream sifts the soft ground — patience beats speed here.
pike predatory fish
typically ~63 cm · can reach 91 cm
In the murky light, pike shadows the baitfish and hits in short rushes.
ruffe perch family
typically ~9 cm · can reach 19 cm
Down on the bottom ruffe sifts the soft ground — patience beats speed here.
zander predatory fish
typically ~34 cm · can reach 86 cm
In the murky light, zander shadows the baitfish and hits in short rushes.
burbot bottom fish
typically ~62 cm · can reach 62 cm
Burbot works the bottom in the dark — smell and feel come before everything else.
roach coarse fish
typically ~18 cm · can reach 33 cm
Roach grazes the rich water in schools — where there's one, there are more.
nors fish
typically ~8 cm · can reach 13 cm
Nors roams the open water after the feed — a moving target.
ruda fish
typically ~34 cm · can reach 34 cm
Down on the bottom ruda sifts the soft ground — patience beats speed here.
sarv fish
typically ~22 cm · can reach 26 cm
The nutrient-rich water keeps sarv moving constantly between the feeding grounds.
sutare fish
typically ~49 cm · can reach 51 cm
Down on the bottom sutare sifts the soft ground — patience beats speed here.

Fishing Hjälmaren

The species list of Hjälmaren runs to 13. The predators — perch, pike and zander — hunt where the baitfish gather, and on a water this size every bay becomes its own fishery.

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 Hjälmaren 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.
  • Nutrient-rich lakes hold plenty of baitfish but often murky water.
Tournaments here
All tournaments →

The catch board

6 anglers · 12 catches
  1. 1Kjell Björkpike53 cm
  2. 2Axel Nieminenzander30 cm
  3. 3Stefan Wikströmbream22 cm
  4. 4Nils Nieminenasp19 cm
  5. 5Anna Lundnors7 cm
  6. 6Lars Sandströmnors7 cm
Species records here
pike53 cmKjell Björk
zander30 cmAxel Nieminen
bream22 cmStefan Wikström
asp19 cmNils Nieminen
nors7 cmLars Sandström
The same water, for real
This water's real catch reports — and the logbook for your own.Fångstrapport.sein SwedishThe real bite table for this water — for your next real session.Huggtabell.sein Swedish