Mörttjärn

acidified forest lake · 60°N

Real lakereal shoreline9 species on recordsources & method →

clarity 4.7 mmax depth 4 mpH 5.2mesotrophicstatus unsatisfactorypaved road

Character of the water

Mörttjärn lies in central Sweden — a acidified forest lake. Acidification has thinned life down to the hardiest few.

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

Permits & rules

Fishing permit required — Mörttjärn 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 Mörttjärn

perch predatory fish

typically ~22 cm · can reach 45 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.

bream coarse fish

typically ~38 cm · can reach 65 cm

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

pike predatory fish

typically ~62 cm · can reach 120 cm

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

zander predatory fish

typically ~50 cm · can reach 95 cm

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

salmon fish

typically ~65 cm · can reach 130 cm

In the clear water salmon picks its moments — wary, but relentless once committed.

roach coarse fish

typically ~18 cm · can reach 32 cm

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

trout salmonids

typically ~35 cm · can reach 70 cm

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

vendace whitefish

typically ~16 cm · can reach 28 cm

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

Fishing Mörttjärn

Mörttjärn holds 9 species, with perch, pike and zander at the top of the chain and ål, bream and roach schooling beneath them. The modest depth keeps most of the fishing within reach of the bank.

Every session at Mörttjärn 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

Acidified water yields few, hardy species.

The catch board

6 anglers · 12 catches

1Elin Viklundpike52 cm
2Erik Blomzander40 cm
3Mats Bergbream32 cm
4Erik Holmperch18 cm
5Lars Weberroach15 cm
6Anders Karlssonvendace13 cm

Species records here

pike52 cmElin Viklund

zander40 cmErik Blom

bream32 cmMats Berg

perch18 cmErik Holm

roach15 cmLars Weber

vendace13 cmAnders Karlsson

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