Lakes in put and take

The lakes are the backbone of Swedish put and take, and they can run from intimate forest lakes to large, open water. The challenge is that the fish can hold anywhere, so the craft is finding them. If you manage that, the rest is often simple, because the same baits and basics always apply.

Find the fish

In open water rainbow trout go where there is food, oxygen and a sensible temperature. Watch for:

• Edges and drop-offs, where the fish move and hunt.
• Inlets and springs, with fresh, cool water.
• Structure such as stones, reed, jetties and fallen trees.
• The windward side, where the wind airs the surface and gathers food.

The place shifts with the weather. In heat the fish pull deeper and cooler, while on a cool morning they can hold high and hunt in the surface. A pair of polarised glasses helps you see both fish and structure.

Cover the water well

Because you do not know exactly where the fish hold, you need to search the water methodically. Start with a searching bait, a spinner or a spoon, or a streamer on the fly, and try different depths by counting the bait down. Move along the bank instead of staying in one spot, and note where you get contact, because the fish often hold in a school or gathered around structure.

Methods on the lake

Every method works on a put-and-take lake. Spinning covers a lot of water quickly and is effective on hunting fish. Bait fishing with PowerBait is quiet and generous, especially if you want to sit still. And fly fishing with streamer or nymph takes active fish well. On waters where it is allowed, a float tube gives you access to drop-offs and stretches that are hard to reach from land, which often lifts the catch on larger lakes.

Timing

Dawn and dusk are usually best, but newly stocked fish take at any time, see bite times. If you want to compare with other water, see how you fish running water and small pools and tarns, and the whole overview under water types.