Purkijaure
northern nutrient-rich lowland lake · 67°N
clarity 2.6 mmax depth 16 mpH 6.5eutrophicstatus unsatisfactorygravel road
Character of the water
Purkijaure 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 (16 m) — shallow bays, the odd reef and a deeper channel through the middle.
Permits & rules
Fishing permit required — Purkijaure 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 Purkijaure
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.
grayling fish
typically ~30 cm · can reach 50 cm
The nutrient-rich water keeps grayling moving constantly between the feeding grounds.
burbot bottom fish
typically ~45 cm · can reach 90 cm
Down on the bottom burbot sifts the soft ground — patience beats speed here.
roach coarse fish
typically ~18 cm · can reach 32 cm
The nutrient-rich water keeps roach moving constantly between the feeding grounds.
trout salmonids
typically ~35 cm · can reach 70 cm
Trout hunts by feel more than sight in the stained water — short, hard strikes close to the bait.
whitefish whitefish
typically ~30 cm · can reach 55 cm
Whitefish roams the open water after the feed — a moving target.
Fishing Purkijaure
Purkijaure holds 7 species, with perch, pike and grayling at the top of the chain and roach and whitefish schooling beneath them. The depth gives the water two storeys — and the fish move between them with the season.
Whoever fishes Purkijaure 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
- In deep, oxygenated lakes the predators seek cool depth in summer, shallower in spring and autumn.
- Nutrient-rich lakes hold plenty of baitfish but often murky water.
The catch board
- 1Mikko Forsbergpike52 cm
- 2Anders Månssonburbot38 cm
- 3Petra Brandtburbot37 cm
- 4Emil Lundburbot36 cm
- 5Elin Åbergwhitefish31 cm
- 6Björn Strandperch19 cm
Species records here
pike52 cmMikko Forsberg
burbot37 cmPetra Brandt
whitefish31 cmElin Åberg
perch19 cmBjörn Strand
The same water, for real
