Mellanhån

clear oligotrophic forest lake · 61°N

Real lakereal shoreline15 species on recordsources & method →

clarity 6.9 mmax depth 3 mpH 6.7oligotrophicstatus goodgravel road

Character of the water

Mellanhån lies in central Sweden — a clear oligotrophic forest lake. The water is crystal-clear and the fish skittish in the sharp light.

The surroundings

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

Shallow throughout (max 3 m), with reeds and vegetation over large areas — water that warms fast in spring.

Permits & rules

Fishing permit required — Mellanhån 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 Mellanhån

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.

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.

grayling fish

typically ~30 cm · can reach 50 cm

Here grayling lives on the small stuff — and rewards those who fish small and fine.

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.

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.

trout salmonids

typically ~35 cm · can reach 70 cm

Trout is a sight-hunter here — the clear water means long follows before the take.

Arctic char salmonids

typically ~35 cm · can reach 70 cm

Arctic char is a sight-hunter here — the clear water means long follows before the take.

whitefish whitefish

typically ~30 cm · can reach 55 cm

Whitefish cruises the open water — the depth it picks follows the light through the day.

vendace whitefish

typically ~16 cm · can reach 28 cm

Vendace holds in the open water column where light and temperature set the day.

stäm fish

typically ~16 cm · can reach 30 cm

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

stensimpa fish

typically ~8 cm · can reach 15 cm

Stensimpa holds the bottom even in clear water — shade and depth are its cover.

Fishing Mellanhån

perch, pike and grayling sit at the top of the food chain in Mellanhån, carried by ål, bream and elritsa. The clearer water makes the fish wary — and rewards a careful presentation.

Every session at Mellanhån is fished in whatever conditions hold right then — the same pressure, wind and light as over the real water. What bites today isn't what bit the day before, and those who return learn the water for real.

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

1Roland Olofssonpike50 cm
2Stefan Brandtål45 cm
3Tomas Lehmanntrout30 cm
4Anna Blombream30 cm
5Kjell Falkgrayling25 cm
6Karin Månssonelritsa6 cm

Species records here

pike50 cmRoland Olofsson

ål45 cmStefan Brandt

bream30 cmAnna Blom

trout30 cmTomas Lehmann

grayling25 cmKjell Falk

elritsa6 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