Pike Fishing in Småland (Best Venues and Methods)

Pike fishing in Pippi’s Småland is always a truly special experience!

Having lived here for over 20 years and fished in numerous waters, I want to share my best tips for pike fishing in Småland with you in this article.

If you want to learn more about the best pike waters here in Småland and need tips for the best fishing methods, lures, and times, you should definitely keep reading!

Where is the Best Pike Fishing in Småland?

Pike can be found more or less in every lake and river in Småland! However, there are some waters that harbor particularly large numbers of pike, as well as many big ones.

Here’s a list of lakes that offer excellent pike fishing opportunities, where 10- to 20-pounders are always a possibility:

• Helgasjön (Lake, Växjö)
• Södra Bergundasjön (Lake, Växjö)
• Innaren (Lake, Växjö)
• Åsnen (Lake, Tingsryd)
• Tiken (Lake, Tingsryd)
• Rusken (Lake, Värnamo)
• Lagan (River, Värnamo)
• Vidöstern (Lake, Värnamo)
• Allgunnen (Lake, Högsby) (I guide here!)
• Bolmen (Lake, Ljungby)
• Möckeln (Lake, Ljungby)
• Uvasjön (Lake, Uppvidinge) (I guide here!)
• Hultebräan (I guide here!)

Pro Tip: The Kalmar Region and the Kalmar Strait

I live and guide in Kalmar. The region along the Baltic Sea coast is particularly rich in pike. Every year, many large pike up to 25 pounds are caught here.

We have several beautiful coastal rivers in the Kalmar region that offer great opportunities to catch stunning fish.

The rivers I fish and offer guided tours on are Ljungbyån (also known as Hossmoån) and Hagbyån. Both are located slightly south of the city of Kalmar.

There’s also the Kalmarsund or Kalmar Strait. Many trophy pike are caught in the large bays of the Baltic Sea here!

I offer boat tours in the Rafshagen Bay, an excellent pike fishing spot located about 15 minutes north of Kalmar.

What’s the Best Way to Fish for Pike in Småland?

There are many fishing methods for successful pike fishing in Småland. Here are the most popular ones:

Spinning

Most anglers prefer spinning, as it’s a very active form of predator fishing.

All you need is a medium spinning or baitcasting setup to cast medium-to-heavy lures effectively and handle even the largest pike safely.

In terms of lures, almost anything works! I prefer the following for my pike fishing here:

• Spinners and spinnerbaits
• Large softbaits
• Crankbaits
• Spoons
• Jerkbaits

Trolling

When you’re out on a lake with a boat, trolling or slow trolling for pike is a super fun and effective method, especially on larger lakes.

You can use crankbaits or slow troll with a float and live bait!

Float Fishing and Bottom Fishing

If fishing from the shore or in a river, float or bottom fishing with baitfish is an excellent choice.

Particularly in the colder months, dead baitfish on a float or on the bottom can catch many pike!

Ice Fishing

In winter, ice fishing for pike is fantastic if the ice is thick enough!

For ice fishing, the best method is using baitfish with short, medium-action ice rods. You should definitely try this way of fishing if you’re here during the winter. It’s great fun!

When is the Best Time to Catch Pike in Småland?

Pike can be caught year-round in Småland. Whether it’s spring, summer, fall, or winter, our pike are always hungry!

However, some seasons are better than others. Late spring and all of fall are undoubtedly the best times for pike! Early and late summer are also fine, as long as the waters don’t get too warm.

High summer and the depths of winter are not ideal times for pike fishing, as the fish are usually fairly inactive.

Pro Tip: Deep waters are always best during the summer heat and winter cold! Whether it’s too warm or too cold, fishing the deepest areas of a lake always gives you a good chance to catch pike!

Overall, I’d say the months of March, April, May, June, September, October, and November are the absolute best for pike fishing here in Småland!

How Big Do Pike Get in Småland?

Småland is the land of giant pike! Monsters roam in our lakes, rivers, and the Kalmarsund in the Baltic Sea!

While the average size is around 40 to 60 cm (16–24 inches) and 2 to 5 pounds, many waters have pike between 60 and 100 cm (24–39 inches) and 5 to 15 pounds.

And there are plenty of waters with fish between 80 and 110 cm (31–43 inches) and 10 to 20 pounds or more.

Here in Kalmar, we have quite a few of these waters!

Are There Minimum Size Limits for Pike in Småland?

Almost all lakes and rivers in Småland have minimum (and maximum) size limits for predatory fish.

These can vary, but generally speaking, minimum sizes are usually either 40 or 50 cm (16–20 inches), and minimum/maximum sizes are most commonly 40–75 cm (16–30 inches), or 50–75 cm (20–30 inches).

Anything smaller or larger must be released.

Catch & Release is very common here in Sweden, and it works exceptionally well!

Are There Closed Seasons for Pike in Småland?

While most lakes and rivers in Småland don’t have closed seasons for pike (as spring fishing is almost always catch & release), there are special rules for the east coast.

There’s a closed season for pike and perch between March 1st and May 31st. In some large bays, the closed season even begins on January 1st.

Please keep this in mind if you plan to fish in the Kalmarsund!