Sweden
Swedish nature is free to us all to enjoy, but you must take care and show respect towards wild animals and plants. Naturally you also respect other visitors. The main rule is to not disturb and not destroy. You may walk, cycle, ride or ski in nature as long as you do not risk damaging crops, forest plantations or other sensitive ground. You must respect people´s privacy and may not cross or spend time on private properties, i.e. fenced in areas close to houses.
Hunting and fishing is not generally permitted. However, you may fish freely with line and rod in the five largest Swedish lakes and along the coasts. In all other waters a license is required (a “fiske kort”). Wherever you aim to go fishing it is your responsibility to find out which rules that apply. Make sure you are aware of minimum size, bag limits, non-fishing seasons. This information can be found under the title “fishing rules”
On The Lake
Before you set off onto the lake it is wise to get a nautical chart -both for the sake of security and for fishing! With a chart you have a much greater chance of getting to know the lake and also of keeping track of where you are. Make sure you get a nautical chart updated to Wgs 84. Older maps are not up to date with the current non-fishing zones etc.
There are many who share the space on and around Vättern. To avoid accidents you should note the following: Let someone know where you plan to go fishing, and if you run late, phone home and let them know. The emergency operations of the coast guards (Tel no: 112 or VHF channel 16) are expensive and should not be unnecessarily called upon.
On the lake one should “give to the right” as two motorboats meet. As a motorboat and a sailing boat meet, it is always the motorboat, which must give way to the sailing boat. The only exception to this rule is if the sailing boat catches up with a motorboat, then the faster sailing boat must give way. If you pass a stationary boat with a blue and white flag flying, do not go too close as this means that there are divers in the water. If vision is bad or if the sun has set you must light the lanterns on your boat, as there might be more boats in the mist or dark.
During trolling where there are numerous boats in the same area, keep the line short to insure maximum control and manoeuvring possibility. Clearly show your route choice, and if possible, follow the same direction as the other boats along deep edges and around shallow reefs. If the crew on one of the boats actually catch a fish, the rest make sure to keep a safe distance.
There are about 20 professional fishermen who work on Vättern. They contribute to the life of the communities around the lake, so keep an eye out for their equipment. Do not go anywhere close to or over their equipment if you are the slightest unsure of the meaning of the markings.
Sport fishing on Lake Vättern
We hope that your fishing trip to the unique Lake Vättern will be successful. The lake holds four species of salmonid game fish (land-locked Atlantic salmon, Arctic char, Lake-run brown trout and grayling) along with the largest pikes in Sweden. Please, read these fishing rules and recommendations for visiting tourists from abroad thoroughly.
Sport fishing rules
No fishing license is required! Fishing for personal use with a line attached to a handheld pole (rod) is permitted all over the lake. This includes fly fishing and other lure fishing that do not require the use of a boat. Equipment other than handheld rod or trolling gear is forbidden for visitors, e.g. nets, long-lines and traps.
Trolling or mooching from a boat is allowed with a maximum of ten lures per boat on public water on the “open coast”.
There is a daily bag limit of 3 fishes of the three salmonid species. All other catch must be released. Treat fish carefully.
It is recommended that you use only one hook (1-3 points) per lure. Live bait is not recommended. It is forbidden to transport live fish between waters.
Open coast
This old expression denotes the parts of the lake outside the archipelago, i.e. most of the lake except the northern part and all bays and straits with a width narrower than 300 m. The innermost part of “Motala viken”-bay is also excluded, as well as the bays “Hargeviken”, “Forsaviken” and “Gopöfjärden”.
Private and public water
In Sweden the fishing right in most lakes is owned by private persons, normally the land-owner. In the five great lakes the fishing right outside the private water is owned by the state and free to the public. The private water is all water within 300 m from the shore, and adjoining parts outside with a depth less than 3 m. This also includes the water surrounding islands larger than 100 m in length. All water in the northern archipelago is private, as well as the bays “Hargeviken” and “Motalaviken”.
Tagged fish
Stocking of salmon is performed annually and a portion of the fish released are tagged with visible plastic tags under the dorsal fin. If you catch a tagged fish please recover the tag, measure and weigh the fish. Send the tag along with records of how, when and where you caught the fish. Send the tag to: National Board of Fisheries, 178 93 Drottningholm, Sweden. A small reward will be offered.
Minimum size
The smallest size (total length) of fish that may be kept is established for: Landlocked salmon 60 cm (23.7”) Lake-run brown trout 45 cm (15.8”)
Arctic char 45 cm (15.8”) Pikeperch (sander) 40 cm (15.8”) European eel 55 cm (21.7”) Grayling 35 cm (13.8”)
All fish below the minimum size, measured from the tip of the nose to the extreme tip of the tail (caudal) fin, must immediately be released unharmed back to the water. Fish allowed to be kept should not be cleaned or filleted in the field. They must be maintained in such a condition that the total length can be determined.
For Your Safety
Always carry distress rockets and lifejackets of appropriate size for every person on board. As the lake is cold (maximum 17 oC, 63 oF, in mid-summer) it is strongly recommended that You use thermo suits.
Be sure to hold the distance to other boats and be attentive.
In case of emergency call 112 over the telephone and ask for “Sjöräddning”, the coastguard.
On VHF-radio: call Sweden rescue on channel 16.
Marking of fishing gear
On Lake Vättern commercial fishing is carried out. Each gear must have a buoy that is marked according to the following:
Gill-nets are marked by one small flag in the easterly direction and two in the westerly direction. In some cases the marking consists of only buoys (non- commercial fishing). All the gear mentioned can be sailed across. Gill-nets at or near the surface (pelagic nets) are also marked with a ball above the flags. These gears can not be sailed across.
Trap-nets along the shore line are marked with a yellow cross and one or two flags at the extreme extension. All fishing is prohibited within 100 m from trap-nets.
Don’t sail close to unattended gear, especially if You’re not certain of the marking.
Closed areas and seasons
On the map closed areas are marked. All fishing is prohibited on private waters and inside the closed areas from the 15th of September until 30th of November. However, sport fishing (line-and-rod) may be carried out if no boat is required. Trout or Arctic char caught must immediately be released.
In all inlet streams all fishing for salmon and trout is prohibited from the 15th of September until 31stof December.
Be considerate
-to the fish. Handle fish with care. When You need to release the fish leave it in the water if possible. Do not net it, use a hook remover to take out hooks embedded in the mouth. If the fish has swallowed the hook, cut the leader. Revive the fish before releasing it.
-to Your fellow fishermen. Be prepared to help anyone in need.
-to the environment. Don’t throw away used fishing lines, dispose of motor oil or other toxic substances environment friendly. Bring all the litter back to shore.
-to the bird fauna. Bird sanctuary’s are marked with yellow signs on the small islands in question. Normally it is not allowed to travel closer than 100 m from these areas during the 15th of April until the 15th of July.
-to people living all around the lake. Park Your vehicle on marked parking areas. Don’t use private bridges and don’t trespass.
GPS-positions (coordinates) for “open coast” and closed areas can be found on the Swedish edition of this pamphlet. There is also found the rules for marking of gear and an example of how the minimum size is measured.
Enjoy Your stay....and remember that even a bad days fishing is better than a good day at the office!
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| Lattitude | 58.3202327891 |
| Longitude | 14.52919310426 |
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