Finland
Finnish Lapland Lakes & Rivers Fishing Map
Find your stretch of water. Explore the lakes and rivers, get to know the species and plan your next day by the water.
Lakes and riversAll 20 grounds on the map
01 / Discover the waters
Finnish Lapland Lakes & Rivers fishing spots 20
Choose a place, explore its details or go straight to its pin on the map.
A total of 20 grounds; the first 20 of them are below.
Matching grounds:
Show 14 more grounds
No matching grounds. Try another place or explore all grounds on the map.
02 / Species
What can you catch in the lakes and rivers of Finnish Lapland?
Meet the species recorded in these waters. Open a species for its techniques, bait and fishing grounds.
Matching species:
Common whitefish
Coregonus lavaretus
Brown trout
Salmo trutta
European perch
Perca fluviatilis
Northern pike
Esox lucius
Atlantic salmon
Salmo salar
Arctic char
Salvelinus alpinus
Roach
Rutilus rutilus
Pikeperch
Sander lucioperca
Grayling
Thymallus thymallus
Vendace
Coregonus albula
Burbot
Lota lota
Ide
Leuciscus idus
Ruffe
Gymnocephalus cernua
No matching species. Try another name or see every species in the catalog.
In season · November
Finnish Lapland Lakes & Rivers fishing calendar
Species with a productive season this month. Seasonal data is a guide, not a guarantee of a catch.
Species counts peak in the lakes and rivers of Finnish Lapland in Jul, Aug, Sep — the strip shows how many species are productive in each month.
- 2 Jan
- 1 Feb
- 3 Mar
- 2 Apr
- 2 May
- 3 Jun
- 12 Jul
- 11 Aug
- 11 Sep
- 3 Oct
- 1 Nov
- 1 Dec
The height of the strip is the number of productive species in that month; it is not a guarantee of a catch. The turquoise column is the current month.
In season · November
BurbotWhat is caught in the lakes and rivers of Finnish Lapland month by month
For each month, the species in season — the most seasonal ones first.
- Jan
- Arctic char, Burbot
- Feb
- Burbot
- Mar
- Vendace, Arctic char, Burbot
- Apr
- Arctic char, Burbot
- May
- Ruffe, Arctic char
- Jun
- Brown trout, Ruffe, Arctic char
- Jul
- Ide, Atlantic salmon, Common whitefish, European perch, Pikeperch, Roach and 6 more species
- Aug
- Atlantic salmon, Common whitefish, European perch, Pikeperch, Roach, Grayling and 5 more species
- Sep
- Common whitefish, European perch, Pikeperch, Roach, Grayling, Brown trout and 5 more species
- Oct
- Northern pike, Ruffe, Burbot
- Nov
- Burbot
- Dec
- Burbot
What bites in the lakes and rivers of Finnish Lapland this month
Ranked by this month’s research score at the lake and river spots of this region.
Good
Weak
- Northern pike
- European perch
- Roach
- Brown trout
- Common whitefish
- Atlantic salmon
- Vendace
- Grayling
- Ide
A 0–100 score from season, water temperature, habitat and local records; a general trend, not a guarantee.
Before you cast
Rules specific to this region 34
The entries are summaries compiled from that country’s fishing legislation; each lists its legal basis and official source. The official text is binding, and rules can vary by state and by water. Check the rules on your permit before you fish.
Legal framework and permits
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).
Legal basis: Kalastuslaki communiqué text
Legal framework and permits
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.
Legal basis: Valtioneuvoston asetus kalastuksesta communiqué text
Legal framework and permits
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).
Legal basis: Valtioneuvoston asetus kalastonhoitomaksun suuruudesta vuosina 2023–2027 communiqué text
Legal framework and permits
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.
Legal basis: Regional: ELY-keskuksen kalastusrajoitus- ja pyyntimittapäätökset (kalastuslaki… communiqué text
Legal framework and permits
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.
Legal basis: Lapland border rivers: Tenojoen, Näätämöjoen ja Tornionjoen kalastussopimukse… communiqué text
General provision
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.
Legal basis: Kalastuslaki 46 § communiqué text
General provision
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.
Legal basis: Kalastuslaki 58 § communiqué text
General provision
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.
Legal basis: Kalastuslaki 4 § (definitions), 7 § communiqué text
General provision
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.
Legal basis: Kalastuslaki 79 §; VNa 904/2022 communiqué text
General provision
Competitions in onginta, pilkintä and viehekalastus require the water owner's permission. Period: All year.
Legal basis: Kalastuslaki 7 § 4 mom. communiqué text
General provision
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.
Legal basis: Kalastuslaki 50 § communiqué text
General provision
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.
Legal basis: VNa 1360/2015 4 § communiqué text
General provision
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.
Legal basis: Kalastuslaki 7 §; VNa 1360/2015 7 § communiqué text
General provision
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.
Legal basis: Kalastuslaki 51 § communiqué text
Mandatory release
Brown trout (wild) (Salmo trutta (adipose fin intact, sisu waters south of 64°N)): Protected all year — catch and release.
Legal basis: VNa 1360/2015 1 § 1 kohta communiqué text
Mandatory release
Saimaa landlocked salmon (wild) (Salmo salar m. sebago (adipose fin intact, Vuoksi/Hiitolanjoki)): Protected all year — catch and release.
Legal basis: VNa 1360/2015 1 § 3 kohta communiqué text
Protected species
Saimaa Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus (Saimaa: Puumalansalmi–Vuoksenniska, Kuolimo)): Fully protected (rauhoitettu).
Legal basis: VNa 1360/2015 1 § 5 kohta communiqué text
Closed season and minimum size
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).
Legal basis: Inland waters south of 64°00′N: VNa 1360/2015 1 § (rauhoitus) 1 mom. 1 kohta +… communiqué text
Closed season and minimum size
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.
Legal basis: VNa 1360/2015 1 § (rauhoitus) 1 mom. 2 kohta communiqué text
Closed season and minimum size
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.).
Legal basis: Inland waters between 64°00′N and 67°00′N: VNa 1360/2015 2 § 1 mom. 3 kohta communiqué text
The first 20 of 34 entries are listed.
Frequently asked
What can you catch in the lakes and rivers of Finnish Lapland?
13 species are on record in the lakes and rivers of Finnish Lapland: Common whitefish, Brown trout, European perch, Northern pike, Atlantic salmon, Arctic char, Roach, Pikeperch and others.
What can you catch in the lakes and rivers of Finnish Lapland in each month?
The month with the most species in season is July (12 species). By season: winter: Burbot and Arctic char; spring: Vendace and Ruffe; summer: Atlantic salmon and Common whitefish; autumn: European perch and Pikeperch.
How many fishing grounds are there in the lakes and rivers of Finnish Lapland?
There are 20 fishing grounds on record in the lakes and rivers of Finnish Lapland; each has its own page with the location, the species caught and the conditions that suit it.
