Fishing

From the brackish waters surrounding the archipelagos in the Baltic Sea off the southern coast, to the lakes, rivers, and rapids of Southern Finland, the island-dotted waters of the Lake District of Central Finland, the coastal waters of the Gulf of Bothnia, to the pristine and remote lakes and rivers of Lapland, Finland provides anglers with a wide variety of fishing opportunities.

The first inhabitants of Finland survived by hunting and fishing, and today Finns and visitors alike are encouraged to take advantage of this unique environment by an ease of access to fishing licences and permits, and by their inexpensive and flexible nature. Getting a licence couldn't be easier, and is one of the cheapest recreations in the country.

Visitors to Finland will be amazed at the number and variety of fishing-related events held here every year. Ice-fishing contests are the most popular with locals, but they also hold the World Championships in zander trolling, and the European Championships in salmon and pike trolling. There are almost 50 annual fish fairs to be enjoyed, as well as such events as the Riihimäki International Sportsmen's Fair, the Northern Finland Outdoor Life Fair in Oulu and the Savo Wilderness Fair in Kuopio.

There are 67 species of fish native to Finnish waters, although the number of species to be found can be as high as 100 when occasional visitors are counted. The main species are pike, perch, zander, grayling, trout, salmon, vendace, whitefish, burbot, bream, roach, ide, rudd, asp, Baltic herring, and Arctic char. Something for everyone, I think you'll agree.