Lilla Patan
nutrient-rich lowland lake · 62°N
Real lakesources & method →
clarity 2.2 mmax depth 5 mpH 7.4eutrophicstatus unsatisfactoryforest track · 22 min for the last stretch
Character of the water
Lilla Patan 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.
Moderately deep (5 m) — shallow bays, the odd reef and a deeper channel through the middle.
Permits & rules
Fishing permit required — Lilla Patan 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 Lilla Patan
perch predatory fish
typically ~22 cm · can reach 45 cm
Perch grazes the rich water in schools — where there's one, there are more.
pike predatory fish
typically ~62 cm · can reach 120 cm
In the murky light, pike shadows the baitfish and hits in short rushes.
roach coarse fish
typically ~18 cm · can reach 32 cm
Roach grazes the rich water in schools — where there's one, there are more.
zander predatory fish
typically ~50 cm · can reach 95 cm
In the murky light, zander shadows the baitfish and hits in short rushes.
bream coarse fish
typically ~38 cm · can reach 65 cm
Down on the bottom bream sifts the soft ground — patience beats speed here.
ruffe perch family
typically ~12 cm · can reach 22 cm
Down on the bottom ruffe sifts the soft ground — patience beats speed here.
Fishing Lilla Patan
The species list of Lilla Patan runs to 6. 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 Lilla Patan 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
- Nutrient-rich lakes hold plenty of baitfish but often murky water.
The catch board
- 1Ole Hedlundbream33 cm
- 2Gustav Nilssonperch20 cm
- 3Per Häggperch19 cm
- 4Sabine Krügerroach15 cm
- 5Gustav Karlssonroach14 cm
- 6Maria Olofssonruffe10 cm
Species records here
bream33 cmOle Hedlund
perch20 cmGustav Nilsson
roach15 cmSabine Krüger
ruffe10 cmMaria Olofsson
The same water, for real
