Istesjön

clear oligotrophic forest lake · 62°N

Real lakereal shorelinemeasured max depth 17 m9 species on recordsizes from survey fishingsources & method →

clarity 8.4 mmax depth 17 mpH 6.7oligotrophicstatus goodgravel road

Character of the water

Istesjön 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 (17 m) — shallow bays, the odd reef and a deeper channel through the middle.

Permits & rules

Fishing permit required — Istesjön 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 Istesjön

perch predatory fish

typically ~12 cm · can reach 33 cm

Here perch lives on the small stuff — and rewards those who fish small and fine.

bream coarse fish

typically ~19 cm · can reach 33 cm

Bream holds the bottom even in clear water — shade and depth are its cover.

pike predatory fish

typically ~45 cm · can reach 45 cm

Pike is a sight-hunter here — the clear water means long follows before the take.

ruffe perch family

typically ~9 cm · can reach 12 cm

Ruffe holds the bottom even in clear water — shade and depth are its cover.

zander predatory fish

typically ~39 cm · can reach 56 cm

Zander is a sight-hunter here — the clear water means long follows before the take.

burbot bottom fish

typically ~37 cm · can reach 38 cm

Burbot lives down in the cool — the deep is its home ground all year.

roach coarse fish

typically ~13 cm · can reach 18 cm

Here roach lives on the small stuff — and rewards those who fish small and fine.

nors fish

typically ~10 cm · can reach 10 cm

Nors holds in the open water column where light and temperature set the day.

vendace whitefish

typically ~14 cm · can reach 15 cm

Vendace holds in the open water column where light and temperature set the day.

Fishing Istesjön

The species list of Istesjön runs to 9. The predators — perch, pike and zander — hunt where the baitfish gather, and on a water this size you soon learn where it holds its fish.

Every session at Istesjön is fished in whatever conditions hold right then — the same pressure, wind and light as over the real water. What bites today isn't what bit the day before, and those who return learn the water for real.

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.

The catch board

6 anglers · 12 catches

1Sara Johansenpike35 cm
2Jukka Fischerzander30 cm
3Stefan Olofssonbream16 cm
4Karl Petterssonbream16 cm
5Kjell Olofssonperch10 cm
6Lars Strandperch10 cm

Species records here

pike35 cmSara Johansen

zander30 cmJukka Fischer

bream16 cmStefan Olofsson

perch10 cmLars Strand

The same water, for real

This water's real catch reports — and the logbook for your own.Fångstrapport.sein Swedish

The real bite table for this water — for your next real session.Huggtabell.sein Swedish