Stora Skingeln

Character of the water

Stora Skingeln lies in central Sweden — a humic brown forest lake. The tea-stained, humic water hides the bottom within an arm's length. In summer a thermocline settles around 6 m and splits the lake into two worlds.

The surroundings

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

A small but surprisingly deep pocket (12 m) with steep drops straight down from shore — the bottom falls away fast.

Permits & rules

Fishing permit required — Stora Skingeln 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.
• Handheld tackle only. Respect the protected zones at the inlets and outlets.

Fishing Stora Skingeln

Stora Skingeln holds 5 species, with perch, pike and zander at the top of the chain and roach and bream schooling beneath them. The modest depth keeps most of the fishing within reach of the bank.

Every session at Stora Skingeln 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.
• Nutrient-rich lakes hold plenty of baitfish but often murky water.