Velen
clear oligotrophic forest lake · 60°N
Real lakereal shorelinemeasured max depth 11 m16 species on recordsizes from survey fishingreal water chemistrysources & method →
clarity 1.6 mmax depth 11 mpH 6.3oligotrophicstatus goodno road · 50 min for the last stretch
Character of the water
Velen lies in central Sweden — a clear oligotrophic forest 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 (11 m) — shallow bays, the odd reef and a deeper channel through the middle.
Permits & rules
Fishing permit required — Velen FVOF. Day permit ~60 kr · annual permit ~300 kr.
- Zander: minimum size 45 cm · protected during the spawn (Apr–May).
- 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 Velen
perch predatory fish
typically ~12 cm · can reach 42 cm
Perch moves carefully in the clear water — small mouthfuls, many of them.
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 ~27 cm · can reach 39 cm
Bream lives down in the cool — the deep is its home ground all year.
elritsa fish
typically ~7 cm · can reach 12 cm
Here elritsa lives on the small stuff — and rewards those who fish small and fine.
pike predatory fish
typically ~30 cm · can reach 30 cm
In the clear water pike picks its moments — wary, but relentless once committed.
ruffe perch family
typically ~7 cm · can reach 11 cm
Ruffe lives down in the cool — the deep is its home ground all year.
zander predatory fish
typically ~29 cm · can reach 39 cm
In the clear water zander 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 ~14 cm · can reach 29 cm
Roach moves carefully in the clear water — small mouthfuls, many of them.
nors fish
typically ~9 cm · can reach 9 cm
Nors cruises the open water — the depth it picks follows the light through the day.
trout salmonids
typically ~35 cm · can reach 70 cm
In the clear water trout picks its moments — wary, but relentless once committed.
Arctic char salmonids
typically ~35 cm · can reach 70 cm
In the clear water Arctic char picks its moments — wary, but relentless once committed.
ruda fish
typically ~18 cm · can reach 42 cm
Ruda lives down in the cool — the deep is its home ground all year.
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 Velen
The species list of Velen runs to 16. The predators — perch, pike and zander — hunt where the baitfish gather, and on a water this size you soon learn where it holds its fish.
Whoever fishes Velen 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.
The catch board
- 1Björn FalkArctic char29 cm
- 2Kjell Vogelbream25 cm
- 3Sabine Krügerbjörkna15 cm
- 4Nils Erikssonroach12 cm
- 5Lars Weberperch12 cm
- 6Anders Nilssonelritsa6 cm
Species records here
Arctic char29 cmBjörn Falk
bream25 cmKjell Vogel
björkna15 cmSabine Krüger
perch12 cmLars Weber
roach12 cmNils Eriksson
elritsa6 cmAnders Nilsson
The same water, for real
