On the island Dragso, in the south west of Sweden in the archipelago just off the coast, is one of the most professional fishing camps in the whole of Sweden. Right next to Karlskrona you will find yourself in the middle of nature in one of the best imaginable fishing areas in this part of Sweden. The potential fishing area covers several square kilometres and with the well-equipped fishing boats you will be quickly and comfortably on the spot. In addition, fishing here is based solely on catch & release which makes this place an attractive option for the long term and during all periods.
This location is open from the end of March until the end of November. Most fishermen come here to fish for pike. This is done at the beginning of spring and at the end of autumn especially on the shallow waters. In this period you can see the pike attacking your lures which results in very spectacular fishing. In the period in between you fish in the deeper parts and around the islands and there is plenty of action in the emerging beds of vegetation.
Here you can read 3 articles on Totalfishing. Part 1, part 2 and part 3 in Dutch
As far as lures are concerned, we recommend the following based on experience. The colours red/black, blue/white and 'motor oil'. It goes without saying that with cloudy water striking colours work better and with clear water the natural colours work better. Click here for the water map.
And to think that this location is only a few hours drive from central Europe and is therefore easy and quick to reach. The fishing here is really impressive as you have a very large area at your disposal. Also you are in the middle of the archipelago and nature and you will find complete rest here.
Other fish you can catch here are sea trout, cod, garfish, herring and salmon. These sea species are caught further into the deeper water and the chance of catching them in the archipelago is not very big. So in order to fish for these species you have to go further out to sea, but the rental boats are not optimal for this. Conclusion: the main target is pike!
Karlskrona is a 10 minute drive away and has a rich nightlife, supermarkets, restaurants, bars, gas station etc. All the things you would need during your stay can be found here. On the site itself is a small kiosk / restaurant. Depending on the season it is open longer.
There are also several boats for rent at this location.
Master 500
These aluminium boats are 5 metres long and equipped with 30 to 50 HP 4 stroke engines. In addition, there is a GPS / fish finder and the boat is allowed for up to 5 people. However, for comfortable fishing we recommend a maximum of three.
Master 410
This is also an aluminium fishing boat but is equipped with a 25 HP 4 stroke engine. This boat is the smaller brother of the 500 and is 4.3 metres long. The boat can be fished optimally by 2 persons. Of course, here is also a GPS / fish finder standard included.
Linder 440
This boat is also made of aluminium and has a length of 4.03 metres and is equipped with a 4 or 5 HP 4 stroke engine. This boat has no GPS / fish finder and is best used by two people.
Guide boat
For the enthusiast it is also possible to book a half or full day with a professional guide. The Silver Hawk 540 DC is used for this. This boat is perfect because of the high seat and the 100 HP 4 stroke engine with which the guide brings you quickly and comfortably to the best fishing spots. The guide boat can take up to 4 anglers. The costs for 4 hours are € 425,- and for 8 hours € 600,-. For this amount lures, rods, reels and lines are included as well as the fuel. If you want to take the guide in your own boat, you can hire them for an amount of € 55,- per hour with a minimum of 4 hours.
There are two ways to refuel the boats. You can take the gasoline to the nearest gas station (Karlskrona is 3 kilometres away) or you can sail to the boat gas station 8 minutes away. The guides on the spot will of course be happy to show you the way.
The engines of the boats are equipped with Propulse propellers. These are made of composite and break more easily than regular aluminium propellers. So in case a small accident does occur there is no damage to the motor housing and drive shaft. The blades of the propellers are easy and inexpensive to replace for an amount of € 35, - per blade. That makes it all a bit more bearable in case a small accident would happen. The boats are not standard insured and therefore it is recommended to arrange additional travel insurance. Furthermore, the boats (except the Linder) are standard equipped with a Lowrance Elite 4 Chirp GPS module. A fish finder is not necessary as you fish between the islands.
Fishing kayaks
Besides the boats you can also rent fish kayaks here. The Jackson Cuda 14 has been elected fish kayak of the year in 2012 by 'Yakangler.com'. The kayak is suitable for currents, sea, large waters and the seat is adjustable in height and length and has a rudder for extra steering. All in all a perfect kayak for fishing on the spot and a nice change from the regular fishing from the boat and ideal to get acquainted if you have not done this before. The price of the kayak is € 50,- per day and includes kayak, trailer, paddle, lifejacket and nautical chart.
No boating licenses are required for any of the boats. And if you want to bring your own boat that is also possible off course. You can use the local slipway to enter your boat in the water. But be aware of the shallow areas to not harm your propeller.