Tyresö Slott; 23rd April 2009

A 2lb. 20z. Ide from the slott for Simon!

4lb 3oz. Bream, my biggest swedish Bream to date...

A day out at the Slott went somewhat away from the planned chain of events, the plan being to catch some bait and proceed to the tip of the slott to fish for Pike. As it happened, frustratingly, not a single baitfish could be tempted and we ended up on the bridge to try for bait there. No baitfish were present, though Bream were. Simon and I had a number of bites culminating in a 4lb 3oz. fish to my own rod, my biggest swedish Bream to date and a 6 pointer to boot!

After an uneventful couple of hours at the tip we decidede to return to the bridge where Simon had a 2lb Bream, awarding him his fist point of the year. Ed and James then arrived in time to see the fish of the day, another surprise from the Slott from right under the bridge, a cracking 2lb. 2oz. Ide, another new species from this site, which never fails to hold a surprise or two every year. This noteworthy fish netted Simon another 6 points.

The day wore on very quetly, Simon headed home whilst the rest of us fished on. At about 18.30 the Roach suddenly began to feed heavily and we caught an absolute stack of them, some of them reasonable fish. Headed home after a good day out happy with a good days fishing...

As a footnote a day out last week at Lidingö, generally unproductive, did produce a Pike of around 3lb. for James, the fish falling for a lure, earning him his first point of the year.

Moon Phase; New Moon(-2days)

Moon Rise;04.22 Moon Set;09.52 Moon Low Pt.;12.51

Tyresö Slott, April 17th 2009

A very happy me with my first ever rod caught Sik from Tyresö Slott...


My first ever Sik! This fish was another real surprise from the Slott, a venue that has produced a huge array of species over the past few years. The fish came at 7.30am, a really vicious bite that hooped the rod over. Striking into it, I initially thought it a Perch, then a large Roach, the fish put up a tremendous fight ans was a very fast swimming fish. Was delighted when it lay on the surface and I realised it was my first Sik, The fish is rather rare around Stockholm and gives me three points, the fish weighing in at 1lb. 5oz. Something of an oddity, this fish reminded me of the Bonefish of warmer climes, with a simular elongated appearance, colouration and underslung mouth. A member of the whitefish family, apparently superb eating, but this one was released today...
A rather bizarre occurance was that the only three bites that came to my Pike rods all morning came more or less simultaneously on all three rods at 06.55am! Two of the Smelt deadbaits were dropped, the other fish put up a rather odd dour fight before coming off. All bites were rather tentative and must of been either Zander, or most likely Perch. I think what happened is a large shoal moved through the swim resulting on all three smelt deadbaits being taken, maybe! The baits were unmarked on inspection laeding me to think Pike were not the culprits..
Simon joined me later in the morning and we caught a stack of Roach on the legered worm before we headed home. A really enjoyable morning...

Moon Phase; Last Quarter Moon
Moon Rise;03.40 Moon Set; 10.02 Moon Low Point;18.42

Sandasjön; 4th March 2009

Another brace from Sandasjön; 0.50 and 0.65 kilo.

0.65 kilo Rainbow on the ice....

Another trip to Sandasjön today hoping for a few more Rainbow Trout. Again I was lucky enough to catch two fish, the first almost straight away, a really plump female of 0.65 kilo(1lb. 7oz.) in weight. The other, a more modest 0.50 kilo(1lb 1oz.) fish, also a female, came later in the afternoon. Karl had no luck at all over the day and left without a trout, which spoiled it just a little. My livebaited Roach was also viciously taken twice in quick succession by what I am quite sure was a good Perch after inspecting the bait later, the fish being seized from behind in typical fashion....

As mentioned, both fish were female, which I realised when preparing them for dinner, as they were full of roe. Kept this to use as bait for Seatrout in the near future, it is a deadly bottom fished bait in Stockholm Ström...

Moon Phase; First Quarter Moon

Moon Set 03.19 Moon Rise;07.56 Moon Low Point;18.07

As lucky as Al

Sändasjön; 11th Febuary 2009

A Brace of Rainbow Trout..

Rainbow Trout(.52kilo)

Close up...

My first Rainbow Trout, a .48kilo fish...

Nice to have a few fresh fish for dinner....


A really fine day in every way, the weather was stunning, a beautiful sunny winters day. Ice fished at Sändasjön in the hope of a Rainbow Trout with Ed and Simon. Just after arriving lost two fish which were undoubtedly trout, the second pulling my unattended ice rod through the hole in the ice, I managed to recover it by plunging my arm after it down the hole, only to lose the fish! A short while later I was delighted when my bait was again taken and I duly landed my first Rainbow Trout after a nice scrap through the hole in the ice, a fish just over a pound in weight at .48 kilo. Ed then had a monster bite and was bitten off, most likely by a Pike. A bonus followed when I hooked and landed another very slightly heavier Rainbow Trout of .52 kilo, a really purple fish this, which was really well marked. Both these fish are worth a total of 6 points on this years table. All in all a really fortunate day for me, the lads not so lucky with no trout, though plenty of small roach were caught on a day we all enjoyed...

Moon Phase; Full Moon+2 Days

Moon Low Point;01.07; Moon Set;07.41 Moon Rise;19.39

Ice Fishing; Flaten, 11th January 2009

Winter Perch

Karl's first fish from under ice...

Jack Pike

Another monster....

Scouse eskimo fishing in a hole...

At last, for the first time in three years the tempature has fallen enough to allow ice fishing around Stockholm. A really enjoyable few hours spent on Flaten enjoying a form of fishing new to us all. Managed to catch a few Perch between us on vertically jigged lures, mostly tiddlers, as well as a single jack Pike which netted me the first point of 2009. A lot to learn about ice fishing, hope the cold weather holds so that we can try some predator fishing, with Pike, Perch, Zander and Burbot all possible from under the ice...

Final Point's Table; 2008

Another year passed already, so time to post the final points table for the year 2oo8. As always, bonus points are now added for the biggest points scoring fish of each species caught over the year, with a reward of 12 Points for each. In addition a further 12 Points are awarded for the heaviest fish of the year outright. The following fish are awarded points;

Pike; 14lb. 14oz., Dreviken. Al (24 Pts., also largest fish of the year.)
Zander; 3.8kg., Lidingö. Ed (12 Pts.)
Perch; 1.2 kg., Lidingö. Ed (12 Pts.)
Burbot; 6lb. 5oz., Tyresö Slott. Al (12 Pts.)
Eel; 1lb. 4oz.,Aspö. Karl (12 Pts.)
Rudd; 2lb. 3oz., Tyresö Slott. Al (12 Pts.)
Bream; 3lb. 9oz., Varmdö. Al (12 Pts.)
Tench; 4lb. 2oz., Nyfors, Al (12Pts.)
Ide; 1lb. 4oz., Aspö. Al (12 Pts.)

All of this means the final table looks like this...

1st. Al (194pts.)
2nd. Ed (53pts.)
3rd. Karl (28pts.)
4th. Simon (13pts.)
5th. Tom (3pts.)
6th. Kevin (2pts.)

Again in 2008, several species were not caught at all. Notably, these include Salmon, Brown Trout, Seatrout, Rainbow Trout, Grayling, Char, Chub, Dace, Silver Bream, Carp, Crucian Carp, Asp and Flounder. Several of these are easily available with a little effort and time and offer good opportunites in 2009. Other species, like Roach, a commonly caught species were not caught at sufficient size to register points on the table. Burbot, Eel, Ide and Zander were all caught for the first time during 2008. Hopefully 2009 will bring some more great fish and enjoyment for you all...

Stockholm Strömmen;15th October 2008

11lb. Seatrout (male)

Five hours were spent fishing this evening between 8pm. and 1am., alas, without a fish for Ed, Karl or myself. A couple of hours alone yesterday evening produced the same result and it seems the peak of the Salmon run here has passed and the fish are scarcer now. Seatrout however will pick up over the next month or so and will continue to be present into the new year, the fish photographed above was caught early this evening, a reminder of what can be taken with a little luck, or perseverence, a superb male Seatrout that weighed 11lb.! A well coloured fish that has been in the Ström for some time, these fish are silver when they first come in from the baltic, gradually gaining darker colouration as the weeks pass.

Pike fishing was quiet last Monday also and a half day on Malaren produce a single jack Pike for myself and a brace for Jamie on what was a poor day overall, despite promising conditions. The seaon is drawing to a close now for many species as the winter closes in....

Malaren; 9th October 2008

6.60kilo(14lb 9oz.) Pike for Jamie....

6.60kilo(14lb 9oz.) Pike

4.20kilo(9lb 5oz.) Pike at dusk....

4,20kilo(9lb. 5oz.) Pike

3.80kilo(8lb. 6oz.) Pike for Simon during the morning...

Simon and the head of the beast....


A superb days piking from the boat with Simon and Jamie on lake Malaren. Fished from 10.30am through until 6.oopm. with lures all day. First fish came to Jamie with a fish of around a kilo, followed by another simular fish for myself. A couple more takes and small fish came before Simon had the first really good fish of the day when he took a 3.80kilo fish on a green Zalt Wobbler, a lovely fish for him to start the day. The afternoon proved rather quiet with a handful of small fish lost on the strike before Jamie connected with the best fish of the day, a cracking 6.60kilo fish on a Buster Jerkbait. Simon landed another small fish, as did I before the light started to fade. I was delighted to get a really nice 4.20kilo fish ar dusk, also falling to a Buster Jerkbait, which gave us all a good fish during the day, which was thorughly enjoyable....

Lidingö; 29th September 2008

The head on that....!

6lb. Pike...

Lidingö the venue for Karl, Ed and myself on a day when new moon fell and it was rather dissapointing in all honesty. On the plus side the weather was glorious for the time of year....

A total of six livebait rods between us and just a single Pike, albeit a really hard fighting, exceptionally nicely marked and well proportioned 6lb. fish. The livebait was a small Roach. Ed had a dropped take, as I did during the day. Later I had another good run on a Perch bait which released the bait on the strike, these fish were probably all big Perch...

Vaxholm; 22nd September 2008

Ed and 6lb 1oz. Pike

1lb 3oz. Perch

Karl with 2lb 9oz. Bream

A really nice day today, great weather and a few fish as well. Vaxholm was the venue for Karl, Ed and myself and we all legered a worm on the bottom anf fished a livebait. Quite a few Perch caught during the afternoon, with fish actively hunting baitfish in front of us. Ed took the larggest, a 1lb. 3oz. fish that bagged him 2 points. Soon afterwards Ed's livebait was taken and after a lively struggle a really nice Pike of 6lb. 1oz. (2pts.)was landed and relased. Not to be left off the points table Karl landed his biggest Bream to date, a fish of 2lb. 9oz. (1 pt.)on the leger. All in all a nice day with Perch, Pike, Bream, Roach and Ruffe all taken...

Stockholm Strömmen; 2nd September 2008

8lb Seatrout...

7lb 8oz. Salmon from Strömmen

Brace of Salmon around the 10lb. mark....

A fine trio, Seatrout and Salmon, all around the 8lb mark...

Evening spent again at Strömmen with Karl from 5pm. until 11pm. A really frustrating evening in all honesty, hooked no less than seven fish between us and landed none! Particularily depressed myself after hooking no less than five fish, one of which was a very good Salmon. A lot of fish were landed tonight of a high average size, some cracking Seatrout in particular were witnessed. Have taken some photos of some of the catches made and posted here for interest. Did learn a lot tonight about fly choice and hook strength in particular, as well as several other tips for the future, feel it won't be long before a good fish is landed....

Stockholm Strömmen; 1st September 2008

Strömmen Seatrout...

Strömmen Seatrout...

A few free hours in the late afternoon today, thought I would try the Ström again for a couple of hours and arrived at 15.20, I was surprised to find myself the only fisherman there before I was joined by a swedish fisherman, the pair of us having it all to ourselves. Several jumping Salmon made sure the adrenalin was high with fish well into double figures active in the water below us. Fished the traditional fly method here, which involves an 80 gram weight, three way swivel and long leader to the fly. After 40 minutes, having just changed to a dark blue tube fly, I was hit hard in a savage fashion, the fish giving phenomenal resistance as it sulked across the river. I was only barely managing to hang on and keep contact for three minutes when it decided to make off downstream under the bridge where it easily snapped me off just above the fly. The albeit short fight left me in no doubt as to just how strong these fish can be and wondering how large a fish I had jusy hooked. Needless to say I was gutted...

Perhaps 45 minutes later at 17.30 the swedish lad beside me had a take, also on a blue fly and after a brief struggle landed a really beautiful Seatrout of around seven pounds weight, a slightly coloured fish, suggesting it had been in the freshwater for perhaps a week or two. Really nice to be able to net this fish for the guy and get a good look at the fish. Took a couple of snaps which I have posted here. The concensus after seeing this fish caught was that I had probably hooked a good Salmon or perhaps a very large Seatrout, and though a little disapointing not to have landed a fish, it is good to have finally connected with a fish.

Stockholm Strömmen; 27th August 2008

A 10lb. Salmon from Strömmen...

A 5lb Seatrout taken just after dusk...

Popped down to Stockholm Ström for a couple of hours in the late evening and fished an hour into darkness. The late autumn run is begining now with both Seatrout and Salmon coming through in big numbers, with some colossal fish present. Seatrout run well over 20lb. here and Salmon as large as 50lb.!

Fished a tube fly on a long leader from a three way swivel, with an 80 gram weight required to get the fly down in the very strong flow and happily lost very little tackle. No fish fell to my rod but fish were taken by others during the evening, a couple of which I took snaps of and have posted here to whet the appetite! Will be getting out over the next few months and into the winter in pursuit of that dream fish, a large Seatrout really would be something special...

Lidingö; 19th August 2008

1lb 13oz. Perch

1lb 2oz. Perch

4lb 15oz. Pike

Simon and Perch


A fine day at Lidingö today with Karl and Simon, fishing principally for Perch. Perch came early on the legered worm, particularily to Simon who had three nice fish around the 12oz. mark. Karl then had a free roving Perch Live bait taken by a Pike of 4lb 15oz. which gave him a scare or two as it did its best to entangle itself in the reeds to our left before it was landed. A nice fish barely under five pounds gave him his first single point of the day for the table.

Next came a really nice fish for myself, a lovely 1lb 13oz. (4 Pts.) fish with rather faded markings, presumably an older female fish. This fish fell to legered worm and gave a brief but powerful account of itself on the swingtip rod. Then to wrap the evening up Karl had a large Roach livebait taken before he failed to hook what most probably was a good Perch. This was followed by a fish of 1lb 2oz. , a 2 point fish that went into the reeds and was fortunatly landed all the same, which was a great way to end the session before we packed up at 19.30. Happily all todays fish were released and swam away strongly to fight another day....

Lidingö; 12th August 2008

2lb 2oz. Perch

2lb 2oz. Perch

1lb 6oz. Perch

An evening session was long awaited at this spot, had been itching to try for big Perch, probably my favourite species to catch when they are bigger specimens. Began at about 4pm., with two float paternostered livebaits set up, complete with bobbins and bite alarms. Fished another rod on the bottom with worms on a fixed paternoster.

A frustrating start was had due to a lack of suitable bait sized fish coming on the worm, no shortage of Perch though with constant action with medium sized fish. Lost two fish in the reeds that might of topped a pound, my own fault for not carrying a landing net. Finally got a couple of bait sized fish, a small Perch and a Roach. The perch was the first to be taken at 18.10, the culprit a lovely 1lb 6oz. Perch(2pts.) which was landed after a few anxious moments after the fish kited into the reeds...

Things went quiet after that and I occupied myself with more modest Perch and Roach on the worm. Decided to fish into dusk and was rewardered at 21.10 when a roach livebait was taken suddenly, a screaming run and fabulous fight followed before a cracking Perch of 2lb 2oz. was landed, a 6 point fish and my best Perch for some time. A nice way to end the day...

Lidingö; 30th July 2008

0.9kg Perch

1,2kg perch

1,2kg Perch

Out at my favourite spot this morning hopin for another Zander or a pike. Arrived about 07.30 and started catching small perch on worm straight away. About 10.30 the livebait float went under and I struck into what I thought was a small pike. Was very pleased to see a huge perch instead! Weighed in at about 1,2kg. 10 minutes later the other float went under producing a good perch just under 1kg. Both caught on small perch livebait.. I'll be going back again soon!

Malaren 14-15th June

Bream

My first ever lure cought pike!! about 1.5kg

Second ever lure cought pike, 2.6kg

A nice weekend away at a friends country house on the island of Alholmen (somewhere after Ekero) Tried lure fishing for the first time ever and to my surprise, actually caught something. Caught both pike within 10 minutes at the same spot. All in all a pretty quite weekend though but some good spots so worth a return trip soon.

Waxholm; 26th June 2008

4lb 13oz. Pike

11oz. Perch

Grabbed the rods, reels, scales, camera, a few weights and a packet of size 10 hooks and headed out to Waxholm for a few hours light fishing for Perch. My first cast produced a good bite and I struck into a very strong fish that absoloubtly hooped my 12 foot swingtip leger rod over. I was dreaming about a monster Perch for 5 minutes as it stayed deep and took line every time I tried to bring it to the surface. When it did break the surface my dreams were dashed, a Pike of 4lb 13oz. had taken my worms of the bottom! The fish was well hooked in the scissors of the jaw, away from the teeth and it was landed, photographed and slipped back in. A truly unbelievable fight on the ultralight rod, it only it could of been the Perch I thought it might be!

Lots of Perch biting, all small at first, but things did improve steadily as the sun dropped lower, leading to three fish over .75lb before I had to leave at 19.15 to watch the Euro '08 semi-final! Might be well worth an evening in the area with small livebaits for, hopefully, a big, big Perch...