Räfsen
mesotrophic lake · 61°N
clarity 4.9 mmax depth 8 mpH 5.6mesotrophicstatus moderateforest track · 22 min for the last stretch
Character of the water
Räfsen lies in central Sweden — a mesotrophic lake.
The surroundings
The lake lies half-remote, a fair way from the nearest road, tucked into woodland.
Moderately deep (8 m) — shallow bays, the odd reef and a deeper channel through the middle.
Permits & rules
Fishing permit required — Räfsen FVOF. Day permit ~140 kr · annual permit ~700 kr.
- Zander: minimum size 45 cm · protected during the spawn (Apr–May).
- 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 Räfsen
perch predatory fish
typically ~22 cm · can reach 45 cm
Perch moves carefully in the clear water — small mouthfuls, many of them.
asp fish
typically ~48 cm · can reach 90 cm
In the clear water asp picks its moments — wary, but relentless once committed.
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.
zander predatory fish
typically ~50 cm · can reach 95 cm
In the clear water zander 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.
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.
Fishing Räfsen
Räfsen holds 11 species, with perch, pike and zander at the top of the chain and asp, bream and regnbåge schooling beneath them. The modest depth keeps most of the fishing within reach of the bank.
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 Räfsen are alike.
The catch board
- 1Sören Dahlpike50 cm
- 2Linnea Häggburbot43 cm
- 3Anna Wagnerregnbåge31 cm
- 4Jukka Vogelwhitefish25 cm
- 5Henrik Forsbergwhitefish25 cm
- 6Klaus Karlssonwhitefish24 cm
Species records here
pike50 cmSören Dahl
burbot43 cmLinnea Hägg
regnbåge31 cmAnna Wagner
whitefish25 cmHenrik Forsberg
The same water, for real
