Mellan-Kolpen

clear oligotrophic forest lake · 60°N

clarity 8.3 mmax depth 10 mpH 6.7oligotrophicstatus goodforest track · 22 min for the last stretch

Character of the water

Mellan-Kolpen lies in central Sweden — a clear oligotrophic forest lake. The water is crystal-clear and the fish skittish in the sharp light. In summer a thermocline settles around 5 m and splits the lake into two worlds.

The surroundings

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

Moderately deep (10 m) — shallow bays, the odd reef and a deeper channel through the middle.

Permits & rules

Fishing permit required — Mellan-Kolpen FVOF. Day permit ~60 kr · annual permit ~300 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 Mellan-Kolpen

perch predatory fish

typically ~22 cm · can reach 45 cm

Perch moves carefully in the clear water — small mouthfuls, many of them.

pike predatory fish

typically ~62 cm · can reach 120 cm

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

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.

Fishing Mellan-Kolpen

perch, pike and trout sit at the top of the food chain in Mellan-Kolpen, carried by roach. The clearer water makes the fish wary — and rewards a careful presentation.

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-Kolpen are alike.

General rules of thumb for this kind of water

Clear water makes fish light-shy — dawn, dusk and night are usually best.

The catch board

6 anglers · 12 catches

1Anders Blompike49 cm
2Stefan Korhonentrout28 cm
3Mikael Petterssonperch19 cm
4Stefan Ekperch18 cm
5Elin Nieminenroach15 cm
6Karin Månssonroach14 cm

Species records here

pike49 cmAnders Blom

trout28 cmStefan Korhonen

perch19 cmMikael Pettersson

roach14 cmKarin Månsson

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