Rent your own lake this summer

For many, taking a slow walk around a small lake with a fishing rod draped over your shoulder and a few freshly caught fish in your hand epitomises what summer is all about.
“More and more people want to go fishing or hunting for crayfish in their own lake,” says Jan Hansson, Rental and Concessions Manager for Sveaskog’s water properties in Götaland.

Demand for “nature experiences” is on the increase, both from Swedish holiday makers and overseas visitors. Many dream about having access to their own private fishing waters or being able to hunt for crayfish, safe in the knowledge that they won’t have to compete with anyone to secure their catch. Sveaskog has now made it possible for nature lovers to rent a lake for a day or a week. In this way, more and more people can enjoy the wonders of nature for themselves.

“Demand for this sort of experience is massive and is increasing all the time,” says Jan Hansson, Rental and Concessions Manager for Sveaskog’s water properties in Götaland.

Snapped up quickly

Someone who has taken advantage of the offer to rent a stretch of fishing water from Sveaskog is Kalmar resident Christian Andersson. Together with two friends, he has leased a small lake where they will put out and breed carp.

“We had been out looking at various places and eventually managed to find a suitable lake,” he says. “It turned out to be owned by Sveaskog and there was no problem in arranging a lease.”

Sveaskog grants licenses for the putting out of fish and similar measures in suitable lakes, although those leasing the water must apply for a permit from all relevant authorities. According to Hansson, everyone from private individuals and groups of friends to angling clubs is showing a keen interest in renting their own private fishing waters. Some want to put out game fish, others want to try out fly fishing. The one common denominator is this – once a water is made available, it gets snapped up very quickly.

“There is an even bigger demand for crayfish waters,” says Hansson. “I have signed agreements for well over 100 different fishing waters.”

The Sveaskog website is continually updated with new properties under the heading “Fishing waters and leases”. Interested parties can also get in touch with Sveaskog directly. Another target group for Sveaskog’s leasing activities is tour operators who want to develop their businesses and offer angling packages to their customers.

Guests like to get a bite

Together with his sister, former fish farmer Sonny Holmberg runs Arvidsjaur-based tour company Abborrträsk Natursafari, arranging angling holidays mainly for visitors from Germany and the Netherlands.

Holmberg is in no doubt why his guests come back time and again:
“I offer fishing and accommodation, and I also act as local guide. I also make sure that the fish bite. It all makes for happy guests.”