Helga Lake

Helga Lake is situated just north of the city of Växjö at 163 metres above sea level in the county of Kronoberg in central southern Sweden. With its 55 square kilometres it covers a considerable area of the 135 kilometre long Mörrum River basin, flushing plenty of fresh, nutrition-poor water from the south Swedish highlands with their forests, meadows and moorlands up at the source some 280 metres above sea level. Local boards neutralise the acidity with limestone, giving the water a low acidity level of 6,7 Ph with positive, lightly ferric alcalinity. Clear vision depths in the water vary on account of humous concentrations down to four metres depending upon the season.

The lake is surrounded by diverse natural biotypes and several hills that rise to 100 metres above the water, lower woodlands, meadows and various communities and built-up areas. In shape it is rather amoeboid with at least four major and wide bays, and the depth is at most 26 metres, with 6,2 metres as an average. Islands and islets of different sizes divide the bays into smaller areas, and often form together archipelagos, some jagged banks and shallower areas. Banks and lake bottoms vary consisting of boulders, smaller stones, sand or mud.

Helgasjön boasts a rich variety of fresh-water fish, notably perch, pike-perch, pike, bream, roach and dace, bleak, tench and burbot with others. There is also an ancient population of river trout. Every year more pike-perch and trout are put in to reinforce the populations of these species. In certain areas of the lake the trout are protected and migration channels have been built to keep the population up. A number of artificial underwater spawning grounds are kept in order where sunken vegetation enhances the breeding of other species of fish such as perch or roach.
In August and September it is the season for catching cray-fish.

Thanks to the efforts of the local fishing board (Hfvof, which represents the 360 water-rights owners) the public, tourists and neighbours are afforded good means of angling for pleasure or for household purposes. Fishing licences can be bought locally and there are several launch-ramps for boats around the shores of the lake. The local fishing board has made up a set of rules and exerts active inspection of fishing activities in Helgasjön. Our aim is to market and inform on the fishing situation, increase availability and a good, natural environment that will benefit the public in recreation and activities.

There are several clubs and societies attached to Helgasjön. The local yachting society, Helgasjöns Segelsällskap, has published a chart that shows depth-soundings by international standards. Navigation channels and routes are marked out as are shallows and speed-limits. There are a large number of leisure-boats on Helgasjön, particularly in the southernmost waters nearest to the suburbs of the city of Växjö and its outlying colonies of summer-cottages.

Around the lake there are several places of commerce where one can shop or eat. Some of them are historic land-marks like the ancient ruined fortress from the 16th century that gives the county of Kronoberg its name. Close to the fortress is the jetty used by SS Thor, Sweden’s oldest steam-boat in use. Thor carries the public on tours up to the lock at Åby village, and sometimes through the lock and northwards on through Lake Tolg and Lake Asa.
Helgasjön can also boast several rare species of birds that will enthrall ornithologists. The osprey is one of these.

The Holy Lake was formed by the receding inland ice-cap ten to fifteen thousand years ago, and is thus an articulate reminder of the fact that in the ice-age this part of Sweden was covered by ice more than a mile thick. Reminders can be seen in the polished rocks that slope down into the waters around the shores. Since the last ice-age the land has sprung up again, changing the map as it has risen from the previous ice-lake of the Värend district to the shape that the lake has today.
And all this time Helgasjön has provided people with good fishing and hunting amenities, reminding us of the badge of Hfvof, ”Live, Saint Peter”.

We wish you a warm welcome to our lake.

Helga Lake Fish Conservation Association

Designated Fishing areas; Helga lake from the motorway bridges in southern part, but excluding some of the northern part of the Aby-fjord, Kvarn-creek, in front of the Locks. Pls. look at the map. No fishing allowed in a zone aprox 100 m from private bridges, swimmingramp, lawn or gardens. Fishing permits (Fiskekort) covers fishing with Coarse, Fly, one set of Spinner ( Lure ) and Jig-tackles, also valid for up to 6 ice-tools.

Prices
Day 120 kr per person.
Week 450 kr
Year 900 kr
Junior Year card 0 kr for young up to, and including 17 years age.

Fishing Trolling permits valid for max. four lines from boat, in the designated parts of the lake. No trolling is permitted in the northern part of the Aby-creek due to fish conservation reasons. The card is also valid as the above ment cards.

Prices
Day 350 kr
Year 1300 kr

Group fishing permits Concourse, Business, Scool or larger groups fishing permits are sold through the Board, at price set at time, up on individual request. There are aprox 40 places with special made breading ”Vases” in the lake, mainl at Evedal, Kronoberg and the western side of Aby-creek. It is forbidden to anchor or more, on or at these Vases.

Note! Minimimum size for: brown trout 40 cm, pike 50 cm and pike-perch 45 cm. Maximum size for: pike 75 cm and pike-perch 65 cm. Fish smaller than minimum or larger than maximum size shall be released at the catching point, regardless of condition.

Max two (2) fishes, pike-perch or pike, per fishing license and day.

The catching of Brown Trout between the dates of 15 october and 31 of December is forbidden.

The catching of Pike-perch during May is forbidden.