Mellan-Svan
mesotrophic lake · 59°N
clarity 4.2 mmax depth 17 mpH 7.0mesotrophicstatus goodforest track · 22 min for the last stretch
Character of the water
Mellan-Svan lies in central Sweden — a mesotrophic lake.
The surroundings
The lake lies half-remote, a fair way from the nearest road, tucked into woodland.
Moderately deep (17 m) — shallow bays, the odd reef and a deeper channel through the middle.
Permits & rules
Fishing permit required — Mellan-Svan FVOF. Day permit ~60 kr · annual permit ~300 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-Svan
perch predatory fish
typically ~22 cm · can reach 45 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.
asp fish
typically ~48 cm · can reach 90 cm
Asp is a sight-hunter here — the clear water means long follows before the take.
björkna fish
typically ~18 cm · can reach 35 cm
Björkna holds the bottom even in clear water — shade and depth are its cover.
bream coarse fish
typically ~38 cm · can reach 65 cm
Bream holds the bottom even in clear water — shade and depth are its cover.
elritsa fish
typically ~7 cm · can reach 12 cm
Elritsa moves carefully in the clear water — small mouthfuls, many of them.
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.
zander predatory fish
typically ~50 cm · can reach 95 cm
Zander is a sight-hunter here — the clear water means long follows before the take.
id fish
typically ~38 cm · can reach 75 cm
Here id lives on the small stuff — and rewards those who fish small and fine.
burbot bottom fish
typically ~45 cm · can reach 90 cm
Burbot lives down in the cool — the deep is its home ground all year.
löja fish
typically ~12 cm · can reach 20 cm
Here löja lives on the small stuff — and rewards those who fish small and fine.
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.
nors fish
typically ~12 cm · can reach 22 cm
Nors holds in the open water column where light and temperature set the day.
trout salmonids
typically ~35 cm · can reach 70 cm
Trout is a sight-hunter here — the clear water means long follows before the take.
ruda fish
typically ~18 cm · can reach 42 cm
Ruda holds the bottom even in clear water — shade and depth are its cover.
sarv fish
typically ~18 cm · can reach 38 cm
Sarv moves carefully in the clear water — small mouthfuls, many of them.
vendace whitefish
typically ~16 cm · can reach 28 cm
Vendace holds in the open water column where light and temperature set the day.
sutare fish
typically ~35 cm · can reach 60 cm
Sutare holds the bottom even in clear water — shade and depth are its cover.
Fishing Mellan-Svan
Mellan-Svan holds 19 species, with perch, pike and zander at the top of the chain and ål, asp and björkna 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-Svan 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
- 1Jonas Wikströmbream32 cm
- 2Petra Månssontrout32 cm
- 3Sören Lundid31 cm
- 4Stefan Olofssonvendace15 cm
- 5Magnus Hedlundsarv15 cm
- 6Ida Sundinelritsa6 cm
Species records here
trout32 cmPetra Månsson
bream32 cmJonas Wikström
id31 cmSören Lund
vendace15 cmStefan Olofsson
sarv15 cmMagnus Hedlund
elritsa6 cmIda Sundin
The same water, for real
