Virsbosjön

clear oligotrophic forest lake · 60°N

Real lakereal shoreline15 species on recordsources & method →

clarity 8.2 mmax depth 2 mpH 6.7oligotrophicstatus goodgravel road

Character of the water

Virsbosjön lies in central Sweden — a clear oligotrophic forest lake. The water is crystal-clear and the fish skittish in the sharp light.

The surroundings

The lake lies half-remote, a fair way from the nearest road, tucked into woodland.

Shallow throughout (max 2 m), with reeds and vegetation over large areas — water that warms fast in spring.

Permits & rules

Fishing permit required — Virsbosjön 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 Virsbosjön

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.

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 ~62 cm · can reach 120 cm

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

ruffe perch family

typically ~12 cm · can reach 22 cm

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

zander predatory fish

typically ~50 cm · can reach 95 cm

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

id fish

typically ~38 cm · can reach 75 cm

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

burbot bottom fish

typically ~45 cm · can reach 90 cm

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

löja fish

typically ~12 cm · can reach 20 cm

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

roach coarse fish

typically ~18 cm · can reach 32 cm

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

nors fish

typically ~12 cm · can reach 22 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.

vendace whitefish

typically ~16 cm · can reach 28 cm

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

Fishing Virsbosjön

The species list of Virsbosjön runs to 15. 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.

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 Virsbosjön 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

1Eva Viklundpike51 cm
2Lars Nilssonzander40 cm
3Kjell Björkperch19 cm
4Henrik Nyströmroach15 cm
5Klaus Erikssonelritsa7 cm
6Nils Åbergelritsa6 cm

Species records here

pike51 cmEva Viklund

zander40 cmLars Nilsson

perch19 cmKjell Björk

roach15 cmHenrik Nyström

elritsa6 cmNils Åberg

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