Angler Legend
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Västra Halstjärnen

nutrient-rich lowland lake · 61°N
Real lakereal shoreline13 species on recordsources & method
clarity 2.7 mmax depth 4 mpH 7.4eutrophicstatus unsatisfactoryforest track · 22 min for the last stretch

Character of the water

Västra Halstjärnen lies in central Sweden — a nutrient-rich lowland lake.

The surroundings

The lake lies remote, ringed by forest and bog far from any road. Few find their way here — the water is untouched and the stock undisturbed.

Moderately deep (4 m) — shallow bays, the odd reef and a deeper channel through the middle.

Permits & rules

Fishing permit required — Västra Halstjärnen FVOF. Day permit ~60 kr · annual permit ~300 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 Västra Halstjärnen

perch predatory fish
typically ~22 cm · can reach 45 cm
The nutrient-rich water keeps perch moving constantly between the feeding grounds.
björkna fish
typically ~18 cm · can reach 35 cm
Björkna works the bottom in the dark — smell and feel come before everything else.
bream coarse fish
typically ~38 cm · can reach 65 cm
Bream works the bottom in the dark — smell and feel come before everything else.
elritsa fish
typically ~7 cm · can reach 12 cm
Elritsa grazes the rich water in schools — where there's one, there are more.
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.
ruffe perch family
typically ~12 cm · can reach 22 cm
Ruffe works the bottom in the dark — smell and feel come before everything else.
grayling fish
typically ~30 cm · can reach 50 cm
The nutrient-rich water keeps grayling moving constantly between the feeding grounds.
id fish
typically ~38 cm · can reach 75 cm
The nutrient-rich water keeps id moving constantly between the feeding grounds.
burbot bottom fish
typically ~45 cm · can reach 90 cm
Down on the bottom burbot sifts the soft ground — patience beats speed here.
roach coarse fish
typically ~18 cm · can reach 32 cm
The nutrient-rich water keeps roach moving constantly between the feeding grounds.
nors fish
typically ~12 cm · can reach 22 cm
Nors follows the schools through open water — here today, gone tomorrow.
trout salmonids
typically ~35 cm · can reach 70 cm
Trout hunts by feel more than sight in the stained water — short, hard strikes close to the bait.
ruda fish
typically ~18 cm · can reach 42 cm
Ruda works the bottom in the dark — smell and feel come before everything else.

Fishing Västra Halstjärnen

Västra Halstjärnen holds 13 species, with perch, pike and grayling at the top of the chain and björkna, bream and elritsa schooling beneath them. The modest depth keeps most of the fishing within reach of the bank.

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 Västra Halstjärnen are alike.

General rules of thumb for this kind of water

  • Nutrient-rich lakes hold plenty of baitfish but often murky water.

The catch board

6 anglers · 12 catches
  1. 1Petra Brandtpike55 cm
  2. 2Heike Häggpike51 cm
  3. 3Hanna Strandgrayling24 cm
  4. 4Astrid Nieminenroach15 cm
  5. 5Ida Boströmruda15 cm
  6. 6Stefan Åströmbjörkna14 cm
Species records here
pike55 cmPetra Brandt
grayling24 cmHanna Strand
ruda15 cmIda Boström
roach15 cmAstrid Nieminen
björkna14 cmStefan Åström
The same water, for real