Västra Silen

clear oligotrophic deep lake · 59°N

Real lakereal shorelinemeasured max depth 41 m11 species on recordsizes from survey fishingreal water chemistrysources & method →

clarity 5.2 mmax depth 41 mpH 6.8oligotrophicstatus goodno road · 50 min for the last stretch

Fish Västra Silen Buy forecast

Character of the water

Västra Silen lies in central Sweden — a clear oligotrophic deep lake. The water is crystal-clear and the fish skittish in the sharp light. In summer a thermocline settles around 10 m and splits the lake into two worlds.

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.

Large and deep (41 m): a central basin ringed by drop-offs and shallow bays around the edges — varied bottom with many spots to read.

Permits & rules

Fishing permit required — Västra Silen 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 Silen

perch predatory fish

typically ~28 cm · can reach 47 cm

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

ål fish

typically ~55 cm · can reach 110 cm

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

bream coarse fish

typically ~38 cm · can reach 62 cm

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

pike predatory fish

typically ~57 cm · can reach 84 cm

Pike is a sight-hunter here — the clear water means long follows before the take.

ruffe perch family

typically ~9 cm · can reach 13 cm

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

burbot bottom fish

typically ~37 cm · can reach 69 cm

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

löja fish

typically ~15 cm · can reach 17 cm

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

roach coarse fish

typically ~21 cm · can reach 29 cm

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

trout salmonids

typically ~35 cm · can reach 70 cm

Trout is a sight-hunter here — the clear water means long follows before the take.

whitefish whitefish

typically ~31 cm · can reach 58 cm

Whitefish cruises the open water — the depth it picks follows the light through the day.

vendace whitefish

typically ~18 cm · can reach 22 cm

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

Fishing Västra Silen

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

Whoever fishes Västra Silen regularly builds something of their own: a log of what took, where and when. That's how the water gives up its patterns — cast by cast, never all at once.

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

1Nils Sandströmpike50 cm
2Per Häggpike45 cm
3Elin Hansenburbot31 cm
4Lars Nilssonperch23 cm
5Johan Björklöja13 cm
6Maria Häggruffe7 cm

Species records here

pike45 cmPer Hägg

burbot31 cmElin Hansen

perch23 cmLars Nilsson

löja13 cmJohan Björk

ruffe7 cmMaria Hägg

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