Why go pike fishing in Sweden?
Sweden has many assets to attract pike fishermen. Fresh water represents almost 9% of the country's surface. There are more than 40,000 km2 of water to explore in more than 90,000 lakes and numerous rivers throughout the country, and not counting the 11,500 km of coastline of the Baltic Sea, there is plenty to keep you busy.
Secondly, the Swedish population is very concentrated in the cities and the southern regions, which means that as soon as you explore the central and northern regions of the country you quickly realize that you are almost alone in the world in these wilderness areas (from 4 to less than 2 inhabitants per square kilometer...).
When to go pike fishing in Sweden?
As everybody knows, Sweden is a Scandinavian country, so it is very cold in winter (-30°c) and much better in summer... In the central and northern part of the country, it is necessary to wait until the end of April, mid-May for the ice to melt and free all the lakes and rivers of these fishy regions. Therefore, you can go pike fishing from the beginning of May in regions such as Dalarna or Varmland for example (central Sweden). On the other hand, to go fishing in Lapland, it is better to wait until mid-June to be sure to have fun on well-thawed lakes.
Pike fishing is good throughout the summer, the fish in these regions have little time to enjoy the summer and gain strength to get through the harsh winters. As a result, pike are very active during the "warm" months of the year.
One of the best times to come to Sweden to fish for pike is the end of June. It is a must to come at this period with the midnight sun, that is to say that there is no more night, the sun sets slightly and reappears quickly, so you can fish when you want and as long as you want... You just have to remember to rest from time to time...
It is said that Swedish pikes are numerous and large, do you have figures and explanations?
The average size of the catches is around 65 cm and for the big fish the maximum size is around 120 cm.
As already explained above, the fisheries potential of Sweden is already enormous just in terms of raw data (hectares of water, small population). Then, as Sweden is not very rich in fossil materials, it has set up a large number of hydroelectric dams on most of these rivers. As a result, the rivers that were mainly salmonid rivers in the 60s and 70s have become much wider and more lentic than before. This has created a perfect biotope for pike, with huge breeding areas and a perfect biomass for their development in the whole country.
Regarding the quality of fishing in Sweden, in general, fishermen will make between 10 and 20 fish per day and missing the same number. Afterwards, depending on the lake and the environment, the scores can go up as sometimes the fishing can be difficult. Fishing in Sweden is not miraculous, as everywhere fish are earned, but in general, there will always be some action, and often you will have an opportunity per day to bring a nice fish back to the boat.
Sweden allows you to really have fun with many different techniques. If you want to catch pike on lures never baptized here it should not take long to validate them properly.
After that, fish in inland waters grow slower than in France, the water is colder, the metabolism of fish is different. In the northern regions, a fish of one meter has at least 7-8 years. While in the Baltic, the growth rates are stronger, because pike feed on fatty fish (herring, etc.).
The biotope of the lakes and rivers is perfect for the pike, the numerous grass beds, the water lilies and the large reed beds offer shelter and food to all age groups of the species. As a result, the pike is really in its element in these Swedish waters and its development remains consistent in all these environments.
What techniques are used to fish for pike in Sweden?
All techniques work!!! It is also one of the pluses of Sweden, to be able to gain confidence on lures that we are not used to using. Here it is perfect to validate and learn new techniques: buzzing on the surface, animation of stick baits and frogs, chatterbait, buzz bait, spinnerbait and also big bait. Learn how to make a good strike and also how not to strike too fast when a big wave moves away from the edge of the horsetail before swallowing your surface lure in front of you. Fishing in Sweden will give you a lot of thrills, that's guaranteed!
No need to worry about fishing with big lures, pikes are active on all types of prey, you just need to find the trends of the day; soft lures, big jerks, vibrations, etc...
There is just to fish as you wish while keeping in mind the comfort aspect, because if you go at certain periods you can fish for pike 24 hours a day! It's better to have fun with light equipment, but capable of taming the biggest subjects if necessary.
So a xh spinning or casting set will do the trick for those who want to throw big baits for a few hours. A medium set is also recommended to have fun on fish of any size. Finally, a small light set can always be used to have fun on the many perch and trout that populate Swedish waters.
What is the budget for a fishing trip to Sweden?
It will depend on the number of participants, the more you are the cheaper the price. But compared to other pike destinations in Europe, the destination is not more expensive...
To give you an example, for a stay of 8/7 nights in a very comfortable gite with 3 days of guiding, the rental of a boat for 6 days, the fishing permits and the fishing assistance for the week on a basis of 3 fishermen, we are at 980euros per person. This does not include transportation and meals. But with the plane and the car, we are at 1500euros the week.
If you come to Lapland with 6 people, for example, it is 590euros per person with 3 days of guiding (only one guide).
As an indication, the round trip with Air France is on average 330 euros (CDG-ARN).
Some good advice for anglers who are going to Sweden to fish for pike
Come and enjoy the midnight sun from mid-June to mid-July. Be careful when sailing if you go on your own, the Swedish lakes and rivers are very tricky, the outcrops are often omnipresent on the spots. Be sure to have some money to exchange, Sweden has its own currency, the Swedish crown. Buy local mosquito repellent when you arrive, no mosquitoes on the water, but on the shore, they can be formidable.
If you like to fish in little water with a lot of action on sight, with few people around you in a rather preserved nature, then it's time to try pike fishing in Sweden.
