Västra Skaltjärnen

Character of the water

Västra Skaltjärnen lies in the cold north — a northern acidified brown forest lake. The tea-stained, humic water hides the bottom within an arm's length. In summer a thermocline settles around 7 m and splits the lake into two worlds. Acidification has thinned life down to the hardiest few.

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

Permits & rules

Fishing permit required — Västra Skaltjärnen FVOF. Day permit ~100 kr · annual permit ~500 kr.

• 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.

Fishing Västra Skaltjärnen

The species list of Västra Skaltjärnen runs to 3. The predators — burbot, trout and Arctic char — hunt where the baitfish gather, and on a water this size you soon learn where it holds its fish.

Whoever fishes Västra Skaltjärnen 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

• Brown, humic water dampens the light — fishing can be good even in the middle of the day.
• Acidified water yields few, hardy species.