Fishing in Finland

With so many lakes and rivers and so much unspoilt coastline, Finland is a paradise for the expert fisherman and the embarrassed novice alike. Lapland’s rivers provide the fly fisherman with the chance to catch giant salmon; the winter brings the strangely captivating ice fishing; and millions try their luck in summer with a line tied to a branch.

Many of our cottages have small boats which can be taken out and used for fishing. The owners are always on standby with advice and tips on where to go!

Fish varieties in Finland

Common varieties include: salmon, brown trout, sea trout, rainbow trout, pike, perch, pike-perch, whitefish, bream, herring and vendace.

Seasons

The first thing to remember is the sea and lakes will be under ice from December / January to April / May and at that time only ice fishing is possible.

For more information on the best months for particular fish visit: http://www.visitfinland.com/web/fishing/index.nsf/(pages)/Discover?OpenDocument

Licences

No licence is required for simple angling or ice fishing (ie. dangling a static line into the water).

A state fishing licence is required for all other types of fishing particularly ‘lure’ and ‘net’ fishing and costs €20 per year or €6 for seven days (2005 prices).

In addition, a provincial licence is required and governs the area where you will fish. These cost €27 per year or €6 per week (2005 prices).

Licences are available from post offices and some outdoor equipment shops. Ask your host for more information if you are unsure where the fish are hiding and where to buy a licence!