Mellan Vålen

nutrient-rich lowland lake · 60°N

Real lakereal shorelinemeasured max depth 11 m8 species on recordreal water chemistrysources & method →

clarity 0.4 mmax depth 11 mpH 6.2eutrophicstatus poorpaved road

Character of the water

Mellan Vålen lies in central Sweden — a nutrient-rich lowland lake.

The surroundings

The lake sits close to town with a road right up to it — easy to reach, but hard-fished and exposed to nutrient runoff from the buildings and fields all around.

Moderately deep (11 m) — shallow bays, the odd reef and a deeper channel through the middle.

Permits & rules

Fishing permit required — Mellan Vålen 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 Mellan Vålen

perch predatory fish

typically ~22 cm · can reach 45 cm

Perch grazes the rich water in schools — where there's one, there are more.

bream coarse fish

typically ~38 cm · can reach 65 cm

Down on the bottom bream sifts the soft ground — patience beats speed here.

pike predatory fish

typically ~62 cm · can reach 120 cm

In the murky light, pike shadows the baitfish and hits in short rushes.

ruffe perch family

typically ~12 cm · can reach 22 cm

Down on the bottom ruffe sifts the soft ground — patience beats speed here.

burbot bottom fish

typically ~45 cm · can reach 90 cm

Burbot works the bottom in the dark — smell and feel come before everything else.

roach coarse fish

typically ~18 cm · can reach 32 cm

Roach grazes the rich water in schools — where there's one, there are more.

trout salmonids

typically ~35 cm · can reach 70 cm

In the murky light, trout shadows the baitfish and hits in short rushes.

regnbåge fish

typically ~35 cm · can reach 70 cm

Regnbåge hunts by feel more than sight in the stained water — short, hard strikes close to the bait.

Fishing Mellan Vålen

The species list of Mellan Vålen runs to 8. The predators — perch, pike and burbot — hunt where the baitfish gather, and on a water this size you soon learn where it holds its fish.

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 Vålen are alike.

General rules of thumb for this kind of water

Nutrient-rich lakes hold plenty of baitfish but often murky water.

The catch board

6 anglers · 12 catches

1Anna Vainiopike52 cm
2Johan Karlssonpike52 cm
3Mikko Sandströmburbot38 cm
4Uwe Nilssonburbot37 cm
5Torbjörn Häggburbot36 cm
6Tomas Brandtbream31 cm

Species records here

pike52 cmAnna Vainio

burbot37 cmUwe Nilsson

bream31 cmTomas Brandt

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