Mellanvakern
clear oligotrophic forest lake · 60°N
clarity 3.1 mmax depth 4 mpH 6.1oligotrophicstatus goodgravel road
Character of the water
Mellanvakern lies in central Sweden — a clear oligotrophic forest lake.
The surroundings
The lake lies half-remote, a fair way from the nearest road, tucked into woodland.
Moderately deep (4 m) — shallow bays, the odd reef and a deeper channel through the middle.
Permits & rules
Fishing permit required — Mellanvakern 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 Mellanvakern
perch predatory fish
typically ~22 cm · can reach 45 cm
Perch moves carefully in the clear water — small mouthfuls, many of them.
bream coarse fish
typically ~38 cm · can reach 65 cm
Bream lives down in the cool — the deep is its home ground all year.
pike predatory fish
typically ~62 cm · can reach 120 cm
In the clear water pike picks its moments — wary, but relentless once committed.
grayling fish
typically ~30 cm · can reach 50 cm
Grayling moves carefully in the clear water — small mouthfuls, many of them.
burbot bottom fish
typically ~45 cm · can reach 90 cm
Burbot holds the bottom even in clear water — shade and depth are its cover.
löja fish
typically ~12 cm · can reach 20 cm
Löja moves carefully in the clear water — small mouthfuls, many of them.
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.
regnbåge fish
typically ~35 cm · can reach 70 cm
Regnbåge is a sight-hunter here — the clear water means long follows before the take.
Arctic char salmonids
typically ~35 cm · can reach 70 cm
In the clear water Arctic char picks its moments — wary, but relentless once committed.
whitefish whitefish
typically ~30 cm · can reach 55 cm
Whitefish holds in the open water column where light and temperature set the day.
vendace whitefish
typically ~16 cm · can reach 28 cm
Vendace cruises the open water — the depth it picks follows the light through the day.
Fishing Mellanvakern
The species list of Mellanvakern runs to 12. The predators — perch, pike and grayling — 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 Mellanvakern are alike.
The catch board
- 1Ida Månssonpike53 cm
- 2Hanna Strandburbot40 cm
- 3Ida SundinArctic char28 cm
- 4Fredrik Sundingrayling24 cm
- 5Hanna Lindqvistperch18 cm
- 6Ida Raskperch18 cm
Species records here
pike53 cmIda Månsson
burbot40 cmHanna Strand
Arctic char28 cmIda Sundin
grayling24 cmFredrik Sundin
perch18 cmIda Rask
The same water, for real
