Svalsjön

southern clear oligotrophic forest lake · 58°N

Real lakereal shoreline11 species on recordsources & method →

clarity 5.5 mmax depth 7 mpH 6.7oligotrophicstatus goodpaved road

Character of the water

Svalsjön 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 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.

Moderately deep (7 m) — shallow bays, the odd reef and a deeper channel through the middle.

Permits & rules

Fishing permit required — Svalsjön 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 Svalsjön

perch predatory fish

typically ~22 cm · can reach 45 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.

björkna fish

typically ~18 cm · can reach 35 cm

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

bream coarse fish

typically ~38 cm · can reach 65 cm

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

pike predatory fish

typically ~62 cm · can reach 120 cm

In the clear water pike 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 32 cm

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

trout salmonids

typically ~35 cm · can reach 70 cm

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

sarv fish

typically ~18 cm · can reach 38 cm

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

vendace whitefish

typically ~16 cm · can reach 28 cm

Vendace cruises the open water — the depth it picks follows the light through 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 Svalsjön

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

The fishing here follows the water's own rhythm: dawn and dusk have their windows, fronts close and open them, and the season moves the fish. No two sessions at Svalsjön are alike.

General rules of thumb for this kind of water

Clear water makes fish light-shy — dawn, dusk and night are usually best.

The catch board

6 anglers · 12 catches

1Ida Boströmperch23 cm
2Nils Sandströmbjörkna18 cm
3Heike Dahlvendace16 cm
4Elin Sjöbergroach14 cm
5Heike Wikströmroach14 cm
6Erik Viklundvendace13 cm

Species records here

perch23 cmIda Boström

björkna18 cmNils Sandström

vendace16 cmHeike Dahl

roach14 cmElin Sjöberg

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