Petäjäjärvi
northern nutrient-rich lowland lake · 68°N
clarity 1.5 mmax depth 5 mpH 7.4eutrophicstatus unsatisfactorygravel road
Character of the water
Petäjäjärvi lies in the cold north — a northern nutrient-rich lowland lake.
The surroundings
The lake lies half-remote, a fair way from the nearest road, tucked into woodland.
Moderately deep (5 m) — shallow bays, the odd reef and a deeper channel through the middle.
Permits & rules
Fishing permit required — Petäjäjärvi FVOF. Day permit ~100 kr · annual permit ~500 kr.
- Zander: minimum size 45 cm · protected during the spawn (Apr–May).
- Pike: keep at most one over 75 cm per day.
- Handheld tackle only. Respect the protected zones at the inlets and outlets.
Species in Petäjäjärvi
perch predatory fish
typically ~22 cm · can reach 45 cm
The nutrient-rich water keeps perch moving constantly between the feeding grounds.
pike predatory fish
typically ~62 cm · can reach 120 cm
Pike hunts by feel more than sight in the stained water — short, hard strikes close to the bait.
roach coarse fish
typically ~18 cm · can reach 32 cm
The nutrient-rich water keeps roach moving constantly between the feeding grounds.
zander predatory fish
typically ~50 cm · can reach 95 cm
Zander hunts by feel more than sight in the stained water — short, hard strikes close to the bait.
bream coarse fish
typically ~38 cm · can reach 65 cm
Bream works the bottom in the dark — smell and feel come before everything else.
ruffe perch family
typically ~12 cm · can reach 22 cm
Ruffe works the bottom in the dark — smell and feel come before everything else.
Fishing Petäjäjärvi
The species list of Petäjäjärvi runs to 6. The predators — perch, pike and zander — hunt where the baitfish gather, and on a water this size you soon learn where it holds its fish.
Every session at Petäjäjärvi 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
- Nutrient-rich lakes hold plenty of baitfish but often murky water.
The catch board
- 1Bjørn Boströmpike52 cm
- 2Klaus Karlssonzander42 cm
- 3Mats Krügerbream36 cm
- 4Fredrik Boströmroach15 cm
- 5Jukka Erikssonruffe10 cm
- 6Mats Hansenruffe9 cm
Species records here
pike52 cmBjørn Boström
zander42 cmKlaus Karlsson
bream36 cmMats Krüger
roach15 cmFredrik Boström
ruffe9 cmMats Hansen
The same water, for real
