Småtjärnarna

Character of the water

Småtjärnarna lies in central Sweden — a acidified brown forest lake. The tea-stained, humic water hides the bottom within an arm's length. In summer a thermocline settles around 8 m and splits the lake into two worlds. Acidification has thinned life down to the hardiest few.

The surroundings

The lake lies half-remote, a fair way from the nearest road, tucked into woodland.

A small but surprisingly deep pocket (15 m) with steep drops straight down from shore — the bottom falls away fast.

Permits & rules

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

• Handheld tackle only. Respect the protected zones at the inlets and outlets.

Fishing Småtjärnarna

perch sit at the top of the food chain in Småtjärnarna. The brown, humic water keeps visibility short — the fishing is more about vibration than sight.

Every session at Småtjärnarna is fished in whatever conditions hold right then — the same pressure, wind and light as over the real water. What bites today isn't what bit the day before, and those who return learn the water for real.

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.