Southern Finland Lakes & Rivers Fishing Map

Fishing Act (379/2015 (in force 1.1.2016; latest amendments 1219/2023 [7, 8, 79 §], 695/2023 [47, 58 §], 632/2025, 357/2026, 367/2026)). Surface water fishing rights, general fishing rights (yleiskalastusoikeudet, 7 §), prohibited methods (46 §), protection/size (55–58 §), migratory fish waters, fish passage and dam prohibitions (63–72 §), stocking (73–77 §), kalastonhoitomaksu (79 §). Permit: Onkiminen (float/simple rod, without reel, no artificial lure) and pilkkiminen (ice fishing) free for everyone (7 §). For viehekalastus (single rod with spinning/artificial lure, trolling with a single rod), those aged 18–64 (the upper limit is reported to have been raised to 69 by 1219/2023 — not verified) must pay the kalastonhoitomaksu; proof of payment must be carried (79 §). General rights do not apply in the rapids/koski sections of migratory fish waters → a separate permit from the water owner is required (7 § 3 mom.). Water owner's permit for more than one rod/vetouistelu (definition 4 §: viehekalastus = 'yhdellä vavalla ja vieheellä'). Competent authority: Maa- ja metsätalousministeriö (MMM); regional decisions: ELY-keskus (from 2026 elinvoimakeskus — not verified); fee collection: Metsähallitus (eräluvat.fi).

The article text is taken from the communiqué. The table above was carried into our own records from the relevant rows of the communiqué and may be abridged. The official publication is what binds. Official communiqué (PDF) →

Government Decree on Fishing (1360/2015 (consolidated; amendments 798/2018, 756/2022, 847/2022, 312/2024, 1133/2025 [1.1.2026], 472/2026 [5.6.2026, 12 §])). Protected species and periods (1 §), national minimum sizes (2 §), ELY's ±20% regional size authority (3 §), daily bag limit for salmon/lake salmon (4 §), net rules in migratory fish waters (11–13 §), special ban for the Vuoksi basin (14 §), adipose fin clipping of stocked fish (15 §). Competent authority: Valtioneuvosto / MMM; ELY-keskus.

The article text is taken from the communiqué. The table above was carried into our own records from the relevant rows of the communiqué and may be abridged. The official publication is what binds. Official communiqué (PDF) →

Decree on the amount of the fish stock management fee (2023–2027) (904/2022). Kalastonhoitomaksu for 2023–2027: 47 €/calendar year, 16 €/7 days, 6 €/day (search summary; the law text still shows the old amount 39/12/5 €). Licence: mandatory for Viehekalastus; not required for onkiminen/pilkkiminen; under 18 and ≥65 exempt (age 69 change not verified). Competent authority: MMM; collection Metsähallitus (eräluvat.fi).

The article text is taken from the communiqué. The table above was carried into our own records from the relevant rows of the communiqué and may be abridged. The official publication is what binds. Official communiqué (PDF) →

Regional: regional fishing restrictions and size decisions of ELY centres (Variable; published on the kalastusrajoitus.fi map). Regional prohibition/restriction areas (e.g. koski sections, below dams up to 500 m, box areas), sizes differing by up to 20%. Permit: Permits from the water owner (osakaskunta) may also be required. Competent authority: ELY-keskus / elinvoimakeskus.

The article text is taken from the communiqué. The table above was carried into our own records from the relevant rows of the communiqué and may be abridged. The official publication is what binds. Official communiqué (PDF) →

Lapland border rivers: Fishing agreements for the Teno, Näätämö and Torne rivers (Separate agreements/decrees (numbers not verified)). Separate permit, season and bait rules in border rivers (basis: Kalastuslaki 78 §). Permit: separate permit from Metsähallitus/eräluvat.fi; details not verified in this study. Competent authority: MMM, Metsähallitus, Lapin ELY.

The article text is taken from the communiqué. The table above was carried into our own records from the relevant rows of the communiqué and may be abridged. The official publication is what binds. Official communiqué (PDF) →

Explosives/pressure, firearms, poison/narcotics, electricity, deliberate foul-hooking of fish from the outside (snagging), harpoon/spear; dip net with light/fire in rivers and streams of migratory fish waters; additionally 15.04–31.05 in all waters; prohibited gear may not be kept ready on a boat. Period: All year.

The article text is taken from the communiqué. The table above was carried into our own records from the relevant rows of the communiqué and may be abridged. The official publication is what binds. Official communiqué (PDF) →

Undersized fish and fish caught during the protection/closed period or with prohibited gear or methods must be released into the water immediately. Period: All year.

The article text is taken from the communiqué. The table above was carried into our own records from the relevant rows of the communiqué and may be abridged. The official publication is what binds. Official communiqué (PDF) →

Onkiminen: one rod, one hook, without artificial lure or casting reel; pilkkiminen: one short rod + vertically moved pilkki; viehekalastus: one rod + one artificial lure (including trolling with one rod, bottom/float rig with reel). Additional rods and multi-rod trolling require the water owner's permission. Period: All year.

The article text is taken from the communiqué. The table above was carried into our own records from the relevant rows of the communiqué and may be abridged. The official publication is what binds. Official communiqué (PDF) →

Everyone aged 18–64 (the upper limit is reported to have been raised to 69 by 1219/2023) who does viehekalastus pays a fee: 47 € / 16 € / 6 € (2023–2027). The document is carried on one's person; non-payers are fined (kalastusrikkomus). Period: Calendar year / 7 days / 1 day.

The article text is taken from the communiqué. The table above was carried into our own records from the relevant rows of the communiqué and may be abridged. The official publication is what binds. Official communiqué (PDF) →

Competitions in onginta, pilkintä and viehekalastus require the water owner's permission. Period: All year.

The article text is taken from the communiqué. The table above was carried into our own records from the relevant rows of the communiqué and may be abridged. The official publication is what binds. Official communiqué (PDF) →

When fishing under the general fishing right, do not come closer than 50 m to trawls and large trap nets (isorysä); unnecessary disturbance to the environment/shore owner is prohibited. Period: All year.

The article text is taken from the communiqué. The table above was carried into our own records from the relevant rows of the communiqué and may be abridged. The official publication is what binds. Official communiqué (PDF) →

In recreational fishing at most 2 lohi/person/day; in the Vuoksi basin at most 1 adipose-fin-clipped järvilohi/person/day. Period: All year.

The article text is taken from the communiqué. The table above was carried into our own records from the relevant rows of the communiqué and may be abridged. The official publication is what binds. Official communiqué (PDF) →

No national night ban; pilkkiminen (ice jigging) is free as a public right. The net/hole marking rule (holes ≥40 cm) for ice fishing applies to net fishing.

The article text is taken from the communiqué. The table above was carried into our own records from the relevant rows of the communiqué and may be abridged. The official publication is what binds. Official communiqué (PDF) →

Because of crayfish plague, crayfishing gear is dried, disinfected or frozen before being moved to another water/catchment; crayfish are kept alive only in the water section where caught. Period: All year.

The article text is taken from the communiqué. The table above was carried into our own records from the relevant rows of the communiqué and may be abridged. The official publication is what binds. Official communiqué (PDF) →

Brown trout (wild) (Salmo trutta (adipose fin intact, sisu waters south of 64°N)): Protected all year — catch and release.

The article text is taken from the communiqué. The table above was carried into our own records from the relevant rows of the communiqué and may be abridged. The official publication is what binds. Official communiqué (PDF) →

Saimaa landlocked salmon (wild) (Salmo salar m. sebago (adipose fin intact, Vuoksi/Hiitolanjoki)): Protected all year — catch and release.

The article text is taken from the communiqué. The table above was carried into our own records from the relevant rows of the communiqué and may be abridged. The official publication is what binds. Official communiqué (PDF) →

Saimaa Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus (Saimaa: Puumalansalmi–Vuoksenniska, Kuolimo)): Fully protected (rauhoitettu).

The table in our records

Closed season

All year

The article text is taken from the communiqué. The table above was carried into our own records from the relevant rows of the communiqué and may be abridged. The official publication is what binds. Official communiqué (PDF) →

Sisu waters south of 64°00′N: Brown trout (taimen) — adipose fin intact (wild) (Salmo trutta), Lake / river — Closed season: 01.01 (catch and release: taimen with intact adipose fin protected all year) – 31.12. Minimum size: 50 (adipose-clipped stocked fish only). Adipose-clipped (rasvaeväleikattu) taimen may be kept (≥50 cm). Taimen caught from streams/ponds with no migration connection are exempt from protection (max. 45 cm → 2 § 2 mom. 3 kohta 'enintään 45 cm' written as maximum size).

The article text is taken from the communiqué. The table above was carried into our own records from the relevant rows of the communiqué and may be abridged. The official publication is what binds. Official communiqué (PDF) →

Whole country — rivers and streams (joki ja puro): Brown trout (taimen) and Atlantic salmon (lohi) (Salmo trutta / Salmo salar), River — Closed season: 01.09 – 30.11. Minimum size: lohi 60; taimen by region (see other rows). All taimen/lohi, whether adipose fin-clipped or not, are protected in rivers and streams (full protection; accidental catches released immediately, 58 §). No such seasonal ban in lakes.

The table in our records

Closed season

01.09–30.11

The article text is taken from the communiqué. The table above was carried into our own records from the relevant rows of the communiqué and may be abridged. The official publication is what binds. Official communiqué (PDF) →

Sisu waters between 64°00′N–67°00′N: Brown trout (taimen) (Salmo trutta), Lake / river — Closed season: — (minimum size only; in rivers 01.09–30.11 separate row) – —. Minimum size: 60 cm. For adipose-clipped taimen 50 cm nationwide (2 § 2 mom.).

The table in our records

Minimum size

60 cm

The article text is taken from the communiqué. The table above was carried into our own records from the relevant rows of the communiqué and may be abridged. The official publication is what binds. Official communiqué (PDF) →