Angler Legend
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Mörttjärnen

acidified forest lake · 63°N
Real lakereal shoreline11 species on recordsources & method
clarity 6.4 mmax depth 13 mpH 5.4oligotrophicstatus unsatisfactorygravel road

Character of the water

Mörttjärnen lies in central Sweden — a acidified forest lake. The water is crystal-clear and the fish skittish in the sharp light. In summer a thermocline settles around 6 m and splits the lake into two worlds. Acidification has thinned life down to the hardiest few.

The surroundings

The lake lies half-remote, a fair way from the nearest road, tucked into woodland.

A small but surprisingly deep pocket (13 m) with steep drops straight down from shore — the bottom falls away fast.

Permits & rules

Fishing permit required — Mörttjärnen FVOF. Day permit ~100 kr · annual permit ~500 kr.

  • 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 Mörttjärnen

perch predatory fish
typically ~22 cm · can reach 45 cm
Perch moves carefully in the clear water — small mouthfuls, many of them.
ål fish
typically ~55 cm · can reach 110 cm
Ål holds the bottom even in clear water — shade and depth are its cover.
pike predatory fish
typically ~62 cm · can reach 120 cm
In the clear water pike picks its moments — wary, but relentless once committed.
grayling fish
typically ~30 cm · can reach 50 cm
Grayling moves carefully in the clear water — small mouthfuls, many of them.
id fish
typically ~38 cm · can reach 75 cm
Id moves carefully in the clear water — small mouthfuls, many of them.
burbot bottom fish
typically ~45 cm · can reach 90 cm
Burbot holds the bottom even in clear water — shade and depth are its cover.
roach coarse fish
typically ~18 cm · can reach 32 cm
Roach moves carefully in the clear water — small mouthfuls, many of them.
trout salmonids
typically ~35 cm · can reach 70 cm
In the clear water trout picks its moments — wary, but relentless once committed.
regnbåge fish
typically ~35 cm · can reach 70 cm
Regnbåge is a sight-hunter here — the clear water means long follows before the take.
Arctic char salmonids
typically ~35 cm · can reach 70 cm
In the clear water Arctic char picks its moments — wary, but relentless once committed.
whitefish whitefish
typically ~30 cm · can reach 55 cm
Whitefish holds in the open water column where light and temperature set the day.

Fishing Mörttjärnen

perch, pike and grayling sit at the top of the food chain in Mörttjärnen, carried by ål, id and roach. The clearer water makes the fish wary — and rewards a careful presentation.

Every session at Mörttjärnen 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.
  • Acidified water yields few, hardy species.

The catch board

6 anglers · 12 catches
  1. 1Björn Olofssonål51 cm
  2. 2Lars Nilssonål46 cm
  3. 3Emil Wagnerburbot38 cm
  4. 4Karin Ekperch18 cm
  5. 5Erik Olofssonroach17 cm
  6. 6Henrik Lundroach16 cm
Species records here
ål46 cmLars Nilsson
burbot38 cmEmil Wagner
perch18 cmKarin Ek
roach17 cmErik Olofsson
The same water, for real