Skillingen
nutrient-rich lowland lake · 60°N
clarity 2.5 mmax depth 4 mpH 7.4eutrophicstatus unsatisfactoryforest track · 22 min for the last stretch
Character of the water
Skillingen lies in central Sweden — a nutrient-rich lowland lake.
The surroundings
The lake lies half-remote, a fair way from the nearest road, tucked into woodland.
Moderately deep (4 m) — shallow bays, the odd reef and a deeper channel through the middle.
Permits & rules
Fishing permit required — Skillingen 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 Skillingen
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 Skillingen
perch, pike and zander sit at the top of the food chain in Skillingen, carried by roach, bream and ruffe. The nutrient-rich water means plenty of baitfish — and predators that grow fat on them.
Whoever fishes Skillingen 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
- Nutrient-rich lakes hold plenty of baitfish but often murky water.
The catch board
- 1Bjørn Boströmzander40 cm
- 2Mats Häggbream34 cm
- 3Astrid Wagnerbream32 cm
- 4Per Schmidtperch19 cm
- 5Torbjörn Lundruffe10 cm
- 6Petra Olofssonruffe9 cm
Species records here
zander40 cmBjørn Boström
bream32 cmAstrid Wagner
perch19 cmPer Schmidt
ruffe10 cmTorbjörn Lund
The same water, for real
