Stora Skälen

southern clear oligotrophic forest lake · 56°N

Real lakereal shorelinemeasured max depth 17 m10 species on recordsizes from survey fishingsources & method →

clarity 7.6 mmax depth 17 mpH 6.7oligotrophicstatus goodgravel road

Character of the water

Stora Skälen lies in the south — a southern clear oligotrophic forest lake. The water is crystal-clear and the fish skittish in the sharp light.

The surroundings

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

A small but surprisingly deep pocket (17 m) with steep drops straight down from shore — the bottom falls away fast.

Permits & rules

Fishing permit required — Stora Skälen 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 Stora Skälen

perch predatory fish

typically ~11 cm · can reach 37 cm

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

ål fish

typically ~55 cm · can reach 110 cm

Ål holds the bottom even in clear water — shade and depth are its cover.

bream coarse fish

typically ~48 cm · can reach 48 cm

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

pike predatory fish

typically ~48 cm · can reach 51 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.

burbot bottom fish

typically ~45 cm · can reach 90 cm

Burbot holds the bottom even in clear water — shade and depth are its cover.

roach coarse fish

typically ~18 cm · can reach 34 cm

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

ruda fish

typically ~18 cm · can reach 42 cm

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

whitefish whitefish

typically ~30 cm · can reach 55 cm

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

sutare fish

typically ~35 cm · can reach 60 cm

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

Fishing Stora Skälen

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

Every session at Stora Skälen 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

Clear water makes fish light-shy — dawn, dusk and night are usually best.
In deep, oxygenated lakes the predators seek cool depth in summer, shallower in spring and autumn.

The catch board

6 anglers · 12 catches

1Emil Weberål47 cm
2Andreas Häggål44 cm
3Stefan Korhonenzander40 cm
4Karl Nyströmbream36 cm
5Wolfgang Brandtruda19 cm
6Wolfgang Korhonenroach16 cm

Species records here

ål44 cmAndreas Hägg

zander40 cmStefan Korhonen

bream36 cmKarl Nyström

ruda19 cmWolfgang Brandt

roach16 cmWolfgang Korhonen

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