Hestrasjön

Fishing in a shallow Småland lake

Hestrasjön may not be large, but it supports a surprising variety of fish. Test net fishing conducted by the County Administrative Board has repeatedly recorded pike, perch, bream, and roach in the lake's soft-brown waters. The most recent survey in 2016 showed the highest catch weight per effort in twenty years, suggesting the fish community is in good shape.↗↗

Because the lake is very shallow — just 0.8 metres on average — fishing here is best done from the shore or by wading carefully along the margins. It is not a deep-water boat-fishing lake; its appeal lies in the intimacy of working a small, warm body of water where the shallows can be productive for perch and bream throughout the warmer months.↗

Landscape and nature

The Hestrasjön catchment is dominated by spruce and pine woodland, which makes up roughly 54 per cent of the drainage area. Bog and wetland cover another 15 per cent, creating patches of open peatland and shallow pools around the lake's fringes. These wetlands are the lifeblood of the lake — water passes through the system in about a month, making Hestrasjön a dynamic, fast-renewing body of brown water.↗↗

The surrounding terrain is gentle and undulating, typical of the south-Swedish upland south of the Norwegian border watershed. The lake sits at 128 metres elevation, and the wider area reaches an average of 137 metres — low enough for a mild, relatively damp climate that sustains the mosses, sedges and sphagnum bogs that characterise this part of Småland.↗

The lake's conservation story

Hestrasjön is a lake that has needed help. By the 1980s it had become severely acidified, with pH levels dropping to around 5.3 — low enough to threaten the survival of young roach. In 1989 the Swedish state began liming the lake from aircraft, and since then the treatment has brought water quality back above the target threshold of pH 6.0. Fish surveys now classify the lake as unaffected by acidification, meaning the roach population is healthy and breeding normally.↗

The lake also receives treated effluent from the Broaryd sewage works, which has led to elevated nutrient levels and occasional algal blooms. The result is a lake that is neither pristine wilderness nor urban pond, but something in between — a working landscape where conservation and community coexist, much like many small Swedish lakes in rural villages.↗

Visiting Hestrasjön

Hestrasjön is a local lake, not a developed tourist site. The village of Broaryd, a small settlement in Gislaved Municipality, sits within the same catchment, and it is from here that access to the lake's shores is easiest. There are no published opening hours, admission fees, or dedicated visitor facilities, so plan around daylight and local paths. The area is free to roam under Sweden's allemansrätten (right of public access), which allows walking, berry-picking and swimming in natural water bodies.↗↗

If you are driving, the lake is found roughly between Gislaved to the south and Vaggeryd to the north in the Jönköping County countryside. The Google Maps coordinates place the lake at 57.118°N, 13.240°E. For fishing, a Swedish fishing licence may be required depending on the water rights arrangement — check with the local municipality or fishing society before your visit.↗

The lake's proximity to Nissan's river system also makes it a potential stop for visitors exploring the wider Småland outdoors. The Nissan itself is a popular salmon and trout river that flows south toward the Kattegat coast, about 77 kilometres from Hestrasjön. Pairing a quiet lakeside stroll or an afternoon of shore-fishing with a visit to one of the larger waterways in the region can make a satisfying day in the Swedish forest interior.

Highlights

A healthy pike, perch and bream fishery in a warm, shallow lake↗↗

Classic Småland landscape of spruce forest, bog and wetland↗↗

A living example of Swedish lake restoration — limed since 1989, now ecologically recovered↗

Gateway to the Nissan river basin, one of Sweden's most important salmon rivers↗

Practical tips

Best months for fishing are late spring through early autumn when the shallows warm up and fish are active near the edges.

The lake is small enough to walk around in under an hour, making it an easy addition to a countryside drive through Gislaved Municipality.↗

Check local water rights and fishing permit requirements with Gislaved municipality before casting a line.

There are no commercial facilities at the lake itself — bring your own supplies and pack out all waste.