Ice Fishing in Sweden — a guide to safe ice and jigging
When the lakes freeze, Sweden gets a second fishing season. Ice fishing lets you reach water you can't cast to in summer — but it starts with knowing when the ice is safe. Here is how to judge the ice, what gear you need and which species bite under it.
Safe ice first
Clear black ice is the strongest. As a rule of thumb, 5 cm of clear ice carries one person on foot, 10 cm a small group. Snow ice, grey ice and ice near inlets, outlets, bridges and reeds is much weaker. Early and late in the season, conditions change quickly.
- Never go alone, and tell someone your plan.
- Wear ice picks around your neck and carry an ice pole.
- Use a flotation suit or life jacket and carry a throw rope.
- Check local ice reports and ask other anglers.
Gear for ice fishing
An ice auger (hand or powered), a short jigging rod with a sensitive tip, 0.12–0.20 mm line, balance jigs, pirks and mormyshkas, plus an ice scoop. For pike, a few tip-ups with steel leaders. Warm, windproof clothing and something dry to sit on make long days possible.
Species under the ice
- Perch. The most common winter catch. Jig with a balance jig or small mormyshka near the bottom over shallows, points and edges at 3–8 metres. Drill many holes and move until you find the school.
- Pike. Fished with tip-ups and dead baitfish, or large jigging lures. Reed beds and shallow bays on first ice are classic spots.
- Zander. Jig with a balance jig or soft plastic over deep edges at dusk and after dark. A sonar makes a big difference in finding fish.
- Arctic char. The winter classic of mountain lakes. Jig with a bright pirk or a mormyshka with maggot, often suspended in open water rather than only at the bottom.
- Whitefish. Small baits and thin line. A mormyshka or small hook with maggot just above the bottom. Delicate fishing that rewards patience.
Where and when
Norrland and the mountain lakes have the longest and most reliable ice, often from November to April. In central Sweden the season usually runs January–March, and in the south good ice is a bonus. Use the fishing map to find lakes near you and check local rules and permits.
Read also: Swedish fishing rules, autumn fishing, best fishing lakes.
Frequently asked questions
How thick does the ice need to be?
At least 5 cm of clear black ice for one person on foot, and more on snow ice, near currents and inlets. Snow ice and grey, porous ice carry far less weight. Never go alone and always wear ice picks, carry an ice pole and use a flotation aid or flotation suit.
When does the ice fishing season start in Sweden?
In northern Sweden ice usually forms in November, in central Sweden December–January, and in the south the ice is unreliable and sometimes never forms. First ice and late winter in March often give the best fishing.
Which fish can you catch ice fishing?
Perch is the most common, followed by pike (on tip-ups), zander, Arctic char and whitefish. Stocked put-and-take waters also offer rainbow trout through the ice.
Do I need a fishing licence for ice fishing?
The same rules as in summer apply: the five big lakes and the coast are free with handlines, other waters usually require a local permit (fiskekort).