Mellan Ristjärnen

Character of the water

Mellan Ristjärnen lies in central Sweden — a acidified brown forest lake. The tea-stained, humic water hides the bottom within an arm's length. In summer a thermocline settles around 5 m and splits the lake into two worlds. Acidification has thinned life down to the hardiest few.

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.

A small but surprisingly deep pocket (14 m) with steep drops straight down from shore — the bottom falls away fast.

Permits & rules

Fishing permit required — Mellan Ristjärnen FVOF. Day permit ~140 kr · annual permit ~700 kr.

• Pike: keep at most one over 75 cm per day.
• Handheld tackle only. Respect the protected zones at the inlets and outlets.

Fishing Mellan Ristjärnen

Mellan Ristjärnen holds 2 species, with perch and pike at the top of the chain. The modest depth keeps most of the fishing within reach of the bank.

Whoever fishes Mellan Ristjärnen regularly builds something of their own: a log of what took, where and when. That's how the water gives up its patterns — cast by cast, never all at once.

General rules of thumb for this kind of water

• Brown, humic water dampens the light — fishing can be good even in the middle of the day.
• Acidified water yields few, hardy species.