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Pilgöljan

southern acidified brown forest lake · 59°N
clarity 2.2 mmax depth 9 mpH 5.5oligotrophic · humicstatus unsatisfactorypaved road

Character of the water

Pilgöljan lies in the south — a southern acidified brown forest lake. The tea-stained, humic water hides the bottom within an arm's length. In summer a thermocline settles around 5 m and splits the lake into two worlds. Acidification has thinned life down to the hardiest few.

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

Permits & rules

Fishing permit required — Pilgöljan FVOF. Day permit ~100 kr · annual permit ~500 kr.

  • Pike: keep at most one over 75 cm per day.
  • Handheld tackle only. Respect the protected zones at the inlets and outlets.

Species in Pilgöljan

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.

Fishing Pilgöljan

Pilgöljan holds 2 species, with perch and pike at the top of the chain. The modest depth keeps most of the fishing within reach of the bank.

Whoever fishes Pilgöljan regularly builds something of their own: a log of what took, where and when. That's how the water gives up its patterns — cast by cast, never all at once.

General rules of thumb for this kind of water

  • Brown, humic water dampens the light — fishing can be good even in the middle of the day.
  • Acidified water yields few, hardy species.

The catch board

6 anglers · 12 catches
  1. 1Petra Månssonpike66 cm
  2. 2Klaus Olofssonpike49 cm
  3. 3Mikael Björkperch18 cm
  4. 4Anna Lundperch18 cm
  5. 5Axel Månssonperch18 cm
  6. 6Eva Sandströmperch18 cm
Species records here
pike66 cmPetra Månsson
perch18 cmMikael Björk
The same water, for real