Matlöpen
mesotrophic lake · 60°N
Real lakereal shorelinemeasured max depth 25 m10 species on recordsizes from survey fishingreal water chemistrysources & method →
clarity 3.2 mmax depth 25 mpH 6.5mesotrophicstatus goodgravel road
Character of the water
Matlöpen lies in central Sweden — a mesotrophic lake.
The surroundings
The lake lies half-remote, a fair way from the nearest road, tucked into woodland.
A small but surprisingly deep pocket (25 m) with steep drops straight down from shore — the bottom falls away fast.
Permits & rules
Fishing permit required — Matlöpen 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 Matlöpen
perch predatory fish
typically ~19 cm · can reach 33 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.
ruffe perch family
typically ~12 cm · can reach 22 cm
Ruffe holds the bottom even in clear water — shade and depth are its cover.
burbot bottom fish
typically ~45 cm · can reach 90 cm
Burbot lives down in the cool — the deep is its home ground all year.
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.
regnbåge fish
typically ~35 cm · can reach 70 cm
In the clear water regnbåge picks its moments — wary, but relentless once committed.
Arctic char salmonids
typically ~35 cm · can reach 70 cm
Arctic char is a sight-hunter here — the clear water means long follows before the take.
Fishing Matlöpen
perch, pike and burbot sit at the top of the food chain in Matlöpen, carried by ål, bream and ruffe. The clearer water makes the fish wary — and rewards a careful presentation.
Every session at Matlöpen 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
- In deep, oxygenated lakes the predators seek cool depth in summer, shallower in spring and autumn.
The catch board
- 1Jukka Norénpike55 cm
- 2Karl Raskål44 cm
- 3Heike Dahlperch15 cm
- 4Oskar Norénperch15 cm
- 5Heike Sundinperch15 cm
- 6Henrik Lundruffe10 cm
Species records here
pike55 cmJukka Norén
ål44 cmKarl Rask
perch15 cmHeike Sundin
ruffe10 cmHenrik Lund
The same water, for real
