Mellan-Fryken
mesotrophic stratified lake · 60°N
Real lakereal shorelinemeasured max depth 120 m21 species on recordreal water chemistrysources & method →
clarity 3.0 mmax depth 120 mpH 6.4mesotrophicstatus goodforest track · 22 min for the last stretch
Character of the water
Mellan-Fryken lies in central Sweden — a mesotrophic stratified lake. In summer a thermocline settles around 9 m and splits the lake into two worlds.
The surroundings
The lake lies remote, ringed by forest and bog far from any road. Few find their way here — the water is untouched and the stock undisturbed.
Large and deep (120 m): a central basin ringed by drop-offs and shallow bays around the edges — varied bottom with many spots to read.
Permits & rules
Fishing permit required — Mellan-Fryken 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 Mellan-Fryken
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.
björkna fish
typically ~18 cm · can reach 35 cm
Björkna lives down in the cool — the deep is its home ground all year.
bream coarse fish
typically ~38 cm · can reach 65 cm
Bream lives down in the cool — the deep is its home ground all year.
elritsa fish
typically ~7 cm · can reach 12 cm
Here elritsa lives on the small stuff — and rewards those who fish small and fine.
pike predatory fish
typically ~62 cm · can reach 120 cm
In the clear water pike picks its moments — wary, but relentless once committed.
ruffe perch family
typically ~12 cm · can reach 22 cm
Ruffe lives down in the cool — the deep is its home ground all year.
zander predatory fish
typically ~50 cm · can reach 95 cm
In the clear water zander picks its moments — wary, but relentless once committed.
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.
salmon fish
typically ~65 cm · can reach 130 cm
Salmon is a sight-hunter here — the clear water means long follows before the take.
löja fish
typically ~12 cm · can reach 20 cm
Löja moves carefully in the clear water — small mouthfuls, many of them.
roach coarse fish
typically ~18 cm · can reach 32 cm
Roach moves carefully in the clear water — small mouthfuls, many of them.
nors fish
typically ~12 cm · can reach 22 cm
Nors cruises the open water — the depth it picks follows the light through the day.
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.
sarv fish
typically ~18 cm · can reach 38 cm
Here sarv lives on the small stuff — and rewards those who fish small and fine.
whitefish whitefish
typically ~30 cm · can reach 55 cm
Whitefish holds in the open water column where light and temperature set the day.
vendace whitefish
typically ~16 cm · can reach 28 cm
Vendace cruises the open water — the depth it picks follows the light through the day.
stäm fish
typically ~16 cm · can reach 30 cm
Here stäm lives on the small stuff — and rewards those who fish small and fine.
stensimpa fish
typically ~8 cm · can reach 15 cm
Stensimpa lives down in the cool — the deep is its home ground all year.
Fishing Mellan-Fryken
Mellan-Fryken holds 21 species, with perch, pike and zander at the top of the chain and ål, björkna and bream schooling beneath them. The depth gives the water two storeys — and the fish move between them with the season.
The fishing here follows the water's own rhythm: dawn and dusk have their windows, fronts close and open them, and the season moves the fish. No two sessions at Mellan-Fryken are alike.
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
- 1Anna Nieminenpike54 cm
- 2Lars Forsbergid31 cm
- 3Sören Dahlid31 cm
- 4Mats Krügersarv15 cm
- 5Elin Hedlundvendace13 cm
- 6Roland Holmlöja9 cm
Species records here
pike54 cmAnna Nieminen
id31 cmLars Forsberg
sarv15 cmMats Krüger
vendace13 cmElin Hedlund
löja9 cmRoland Holm
The same water, for real
