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Fishing Årdalsvatnet: what the data says
1,805-acre lake in Norway. The lake tops out around 597 ft. The depth chart is built from real state fisheries GPS surveys, so the humps, channels and drop-offs you see are measured, not guessed. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
On the chart, Årdalsvatnet draws 1,800 acres inside 13.2 miles of shoreline. With a shoreline index of 2.2, this water is all arms and coves — edge habitat well beyond its acreage. 0% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft) — cover, weeds and forage water.
Gratis interaktivt fiskekart — Årdalsvatnet, Norge: dybdekoter fra ekte dybdemålinger ned til 182 m (597 fot), og de beste fiskeplassene for ørret, abbor, gjedde med flere. Dybdekartet er modellberegnet fra innsjøens virkelige strandlinje og største dybde — bruk det som en veiledning, aldri til navigasjon.
Brown Trout fishing at Årdalsvatnet
Come spring, look for brown trout tight to the bank in 3 to 25 ft. Expect a summer slide to 25 to 60 ft, then a winter hold in 5 to 35 ft. Start at Deep basin. It's a deep basin holding about 592 ft of water and rates good come summer. Prime time lands in after dark and early morning. A spoon at the thermocline or a deep stickbait (night) is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Stickbait off planer boards (shallow), Small spoon along mud lines |
| Summer | 25 to 60 ft | night & dawn | Deep basin (592 ft) | Spoon at the thermocline, Deep stickbait (night) |
| Fall | 5 to 30 ft | dusk & dawn | open water | Jerkbait over gravel, Casting spoon |
| Winter | 5 to 35 ft | dawn | open water | Jigging spoon, Small stickbait (slow) |
European Perch fishing at Årdalsvatnet
The spring pattern is a shallow one: european perch in 3 to 12 ft. As the season builds they drop to 8 to 28 ft, wintering in 12 to 33 ft. Top water on the chart: Shallow bay flat, a weed flat in the 38-ft range, good in spring. Time it for early morning. Summer baits: a drop-shot micro plastics or a small crankbait (perch pattern) gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (38 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Inline spinner #1-2 |
| Summer | 8 to 28 ft | dawn | Deep basin (592 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small crankbait (perch pattern) |
| Fall | 10 to 33 ft | midday | Deep basin (592 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Drop-shot on deep flats |
| Winter | 12 to 33 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (592 ft) | Tungsten jig + maggots, Small balance jig |
Northern Pike fishing at Årdalsvatnet
Start shallow in spring: northern pike sit in 2 to 8 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 8 to 20 ft; cold water stacks them in 5 to 15 ft. Top water on the chart: Shallow bay flat, a weed flat in the 38-ft range, good in spring. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. Throw a bucktail or a weedless spoon over cabbage until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (38 ft) | #5 inline spinner, Spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (38 ft) | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (38 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Shallow bay flat (38 ft) | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
Lake Whitefish fishing at Årdalsvatnet
Early season lake whitefish use the shallows, holding in 15 to 45 ft. Summer is a 40 to 90 ft game here, winter a 25 to 70 ft one. The chart's best answer is Deep basin — deep basin, 592 ft, good for summer. Best bite is early morning. Tie on a blade bait vertical or a small jigging spoon and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 15 to 45 ft | midday & dawn | open water | Small jig + waxworm, Blade bait (small) |
| Summer | 40 to 90 ft | dawn | Deep basin (592 ft) | Blade bait vertical, Small jigging spoon |
| Fall | 8 to 30 ft | dusk | open water | Small spoon (gold), Jig + plastic larva |
| Winter | 25 to 70 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (592 ft) | Jigging spoon + bead chain, Tungsten jig + waxie |
Arctic Char fishing at Årdalsvatnet
Early season arctic char use the shallows, holding in 4 to 15 ft. Summer is a 20 to 60 ft game here, winter a 10 to 40 ft one. The chart's best answer is Deep basin — deep basin, 592 ft, good for summer. Best bite is early morning. Tie on a jigging spoon vertical or a tube jig (smelt) and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | open water | Small casting spoon (silver/orange), Jerkbait (small) |
| Summer | 20 to 60 ft | dawn | Deep basin (592 ft) | Jigging spoon vertical, Tube jig (smelt) |
| Fall | 8 to 30 ft | midday & dusk | open water | Casting spoon (orange/gold), Beadhead streamer |
| Winter | 10 to 40 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (592 ft) | Jigging spoon (glow/silver), Tungsten jig + plastic |
Notable structure
- Deep basin: deep basin, around 592 ft
- Feeding flat: feeding flat, around 148 ft
- Feeding flat: feeding flat, around 130 ft
- Main-lake point: point, around 125 ft
- Secondary point: point, around 77 ft
- Back-bay flat: weed flat, around 64 ft
- Shallow bay flat: weed flat, around 38 ft
Årdalsvatnet fishing regulations
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Norway waters are set by the Norwegian Environment Agency (fishing rules) — and special regulations can apply to Årdalsvatnet specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Norway fishing regulations →
Common questions
How deep is Årdalsvatnet?
Årdalsvatnet is about 597 ft (182 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart here comes from real state fisheries GPS surveys, so the contours reflect measured depths.
What fish are in Årdalsvatnet?
Anglers target northern pike, european perch, brown trout, lake whitefish, arctic char on Årdalsvatnet. This isn't a survey of the water — none is published for it — but an informed estimate from the species common to the region, narrowed by this water's depth, size and each species' range.
Where is the best fishing spot on Årdalsvatnet?
Shallow bay flat is the top-rated area: a weed flat in about 38 ft of water that rates good for european perch in spring. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Årdalsvatnet?
For brown trout, the summer bite is best in after dark and early morning. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
What are the fishing regulations for Årdalsvatnet?
Fishing on Årdalsvatnet is regulated by the Norwegian Environment Agency (fishing rules). Check the official Norway regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Nearby waters
Hafslovatnet 19 mi · Åsetevatnet 21 mi · Tunsbergdalsvatnet 24 mi · Veitastrondavatnet 24 mi · Vavatn 31 mi · Fleinsendin 32 mi · Vassbygdevatnet 32 mi · Nigardsbrevatnet 32 mi · Gjende 33 mi · Flævatn 36 mi · Styggevatnet 37 mi · Øyangen 38 mi
See how Årdalsvatnet stacks up: best northern pike lakes in Norway · best european perch lakes in Norway · best brown trout lakes in Norway · best lake whitefish lakes in Norway
Browse all Norway fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: state fisheries survey programs. How we build these maps. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.