Rätanssjön

clear oligotrophic deep lake · 62°N

Real lakereal shorelinemeasured max depth 23 m12 species on recordreal water chemistrysources & method →

clarity 3.0 mmax depth 23 mpH 6.8oligotrophicstatus moderatepaved road

Character of the water

Rätanssjön lies in central Sweden — a clear oligotrophic deep lake.

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.

Large and deep (23 m): a central basin ringed by drop-offs and shallow bays around the edges — varied bottom with many spots to read.

Permits & rules

Fishing permit required — Rätanssjön FVOF. Day permit ~140 kr · annual permit ~700 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 Rätanssjön

perch predatory fish

typically ~22 cm · can reach 45 cm

Here perch lives on the small stuff — and rewards those who fish small and fine.

ål fish

typically ~55 cm · can reach 110 cm

Ål lives down in the cool — the deep is its home ground all year.

elritsa fish

typically ~7 cm · can reach 12 cm

Elritsa moves carefully in the clear water — small mouthfuls, many of them.

pike predatory fish

typically ~62 cm · can reach 120 cm

Pike is a sight-hunter here — the clear water means long follows before the take.

grayling fish

typically ~30 cm · can reach 50 cm

Here grayling lives on the small stuff — and rewards those who fish small and fine.

burbot bottom fish

typically ~45 cm · can reach 90 cm

Burbot lives down in the cool — the deep is its home ground all year.

roach coarse fish

typically ~18 cm · can reach 32 cm

Here roach lives on the small stuff — and rewards those who fish small and fine.

trout salmonids

typically ~35 cm · can reach 70 cm

Trout is a sight-hunter here — the clear water means long follows before the take.

regnbåge fish

typically ~35 cm · can reach 70 cm

In the clear water regnbåge picks its moments — wary, but relentless once committed.

Arctic char salmonids

typically ~35 cm · can reach 70 cm

Arctic char is a sight-hunter here — the clear water means long follows before the take.

whitefish whitefish

typically ~30 cm · can reach 55 cm

Whitefish cruises the open water — the depth it picks follows the light through the day.

vendace whitefish

typically ~16 cm · can reach 28 cm

Vendace holds in the open water column where light and temperature set the day.

Fishing Rätanssjön

perch, pike and grayling sit at the top of the food chain in Rätanssjön, carried by ål, elritsa and roach. The clearer water makes the fish wary — and rewards a careful presentation.

Whoever fishes Rätanssjön 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.

The catch board

6 anglers · 12 catches

1Anna Blomburbot40 cm
2Fredrik Sundinperch18 cm
3Jonas Krügerperch18 cm
4Roland Holmvendace13 cm
5Stefan Falkelritsa7 cm
6Mikko Sandströmelritsa6 cm

Species records here

burbot40 cmAnna Blom

perch18 cmJonas Krüger

vendace13 cmRoland Holm

elritsa7 cmStefan Falk

The same water, for real

This water's real catch reports — and the logbook for your own.Fångstrapport.sein Swedish

The real bite table for this water — for your next real session.Huggtabell.sein Swedish