Fishing in Finland

best SPOTS, Boats, cabins

Welcome to Suomi-Fishing.com - your guide to Fishing in Finland! Discover the best fishing spots across Finland, from the wild lakes of Lapland to the scenic Southern Archipelago. We provide detailed fishing routes, video reviews, and expert tips to help you catch trophy pike, zander, and perch.

Plan your perfect fishing trip with us: book cozy lakeside cottages, rent fully equipped fishing boats with 20-30hp engines and advanced electronics, and get the right gear tailored to your needs. Explore Finland’s top fishing destinations with us.

Upcoming Fishing Trip Announcements for 2025/2026

WHAT WE OFFER

Why Choose Us

100+ Fishing Trips Per Year

Constant Practice. We don’t guess - we know. Every season, we’re on the water: chasing sea pike in the archipelago during spring and fall, and targeting zander in deep lakes throughout the summer.

Proven Spots. Thanks to frequent trips, we constantly update our map of productive fishing locations - only fresh, reliable info, no “maybe it worked” guesses.

For us, fishing isn’t just a weekend hobby; it’s serious work where every cast counts.

Personal Experience

Most of our routes have been personally tested. Our firsthand fishing experience is the foundation of everything we do.

We’ve fished the exact spots we recommend to you. We know when jerkbaits work best and when a slow retrieve is key. We understand where big pike hang out after spawning and where zander hunt at sunset.

We recognize real bites - no false promises of “big catches.” We honestly guide you where there’s a real chance for trophies and where it’s best to relax and enjoy the process.

We fish in Finland from April through November. Rain, fog, heat, autumn storms - every season teaches us something new that we bring to our fishing trips.

We don’t just offer what works on paper. We’ve stood waist-deep in water, frozen in the wind, and jumped for joy pulling out our dream pike.

Trusted Accommodation and Boats

We know in advance where you’ll be fishing and what boats you’ll use. The cottages and boats we offer are personally checked, not just by photos, but in real life.

Comfort and logistics are designed for fishing. Our cottages are located close to prime fishing spots. No long transfers - you wake up, eat, and head straight to the water.

Boats are well-maintained, with the right engine power and fish-finding electronics tailored for fishing.

Tested by us firsthand. We use these boats ourselves and know exactly when a 40hp motor is needed and when 5hp is enough.

Personalized Approach

No “standard” tours here - each route and service is custom-built around your goals, experience, and the season.

New to fishing? We’ll find calm waters and recommend gear - simple, safe, and effective.

Experienced angler? We’ll suggest the best seasonal spots with real trophy potential.

Coming with family? We pick cozy accommodations with sauna, great kitchens, and activities for non-anglers.

Want quiet exploration or 10 hours a day on the water? We tailor the trip to your pace.

No templates - we listen carefully, ask the right questions, and create your perfect fishing adventure. That’s personalized service: precise, no fluff.

Contact Form

Top Places to Go Fishing in Finland

Pike Lakes in Finland 

In Northern Finland, pike is a wild and often overlooked predator. Local anglers tend to favor “nobler” species, leaving pike largely undisturbed. That makes it unpressured, aggressive, and always hungry - a perfect target for trophy hunters.

In these remote northern lakes, pike go wild for lures, often exploding from the water like salmon. It’s raw, adrenaline-filled fishing that captures the spirit of the North-intense, wild, and unforgettable.

The story changes in Southern Finland. Here, pike is a prized game fish, especially around the Baltic Sea coast, as well as lakes like Saimaa, Päijänne, and Simpelejärvi. These fish are clever - they’ve seen every lure in the box and won’t fall for cheap tricks. It’s a challenge, but that makes every catch truly rewarding.

Southern lakes offer excellent fishing infrastructure: easy airport access, lakeside cottages, equipment rentals, and the chance to combine serious fishing with a comfortable vacation. To succeed here, you’ll need stealth, precision, and perfectly chosen gear - but the reward may be the pike of a lifetime.

Pike Fishing in the Archipelago

From late April to mid-May, right after the ice melts, sea pike move into the shallow coastal waters of the Gulf of Finland and the Turku Archipelago. These reed-filled bays warm up quickly, attracting hungry predators. The same pattern repeats in October, when pike return to the shallows to feed before winter.

For trophy hunters, this is prime time. Aggressive and active, pike smash into large soft baits and jerkbaits with explosive strikes and powerful fights.

We know proven hotspots where your chances of landing a meter-long pike are real. The Finnish archipelago isn’t just about fishing - it’s about a serious challenge and the thrill of the hunt.

Zander Lakes in Finland

Zander is one of the most respected predators in Finnish freshwater. It prefers deep, oxygen-rich lakes with complex bottom structures and good water flow - conditions found in only a select number of Finnish lakes.

Lake Päijänne, one of Finland’s largest, is a true zander fishing classic. Its rugged bottom contours, underwater ridges, deep drop-offs, and steady currents make it an ideal hunting ground for this elusive fish. Another top destination is Lake Kuopioselkä, part of the Kallavesi lake system, where zander are actively caught in summer and fall - especially near rocky reefs and shallow island edges.

Zander fishing is all about precision. Success depends on reading the lake’s structure, choosing the right time, and presenting the right lure. It’s not about luck - it's about knowledge and technique.

Seasonal Fishing Guide

In Finland, every month tells a different fishing story. You can't rely on luck - you need to know when and where to go. Whether you’re after pike, zander, perch, or sea trout, each species has its peak season, and we know exactly when to catch them.

April - Trophy Pike Season in the Archipelago

As the ice melts, big pike move into shallow, reed-filled bays of the Turku Archipelago to spawn. This isn’t the time for aggressive strikes - this is about slow retrieves, accurate casts, and a chance to meet a real monster.

May - Action-Packed Pike Fishing

The bite intensifies. In the right spots, you can catch dozens of pike a day. Perch start to gather near the shore, and bream become active in the warming backwaters. Spring fishing in Finland is fast, fun, and effective.

June - Shifting Patterns

As temperatures rise, pike move to deeper areas, but strong fish still bite in the lakes. Perch respond well to smaller lures, especially during early mornings and late evenings. In the north, Lapland rivers hit their prime for trout, grayling, and sea trout - just as the spring melt subsides.

July - Trolling Time

Predators retreat to deeper water, making this the month for trolling. Fish are best found with sonar on deep, structured lakes. A good boat, electronics, and patience will reward you.

October - Prime Time for Baltic Pike

Big, hungry pike return to the shallow coastal bays of the archipelago, striking hard at large lures like jerkbaits, spinnerbaits, and soft plastics over 15 cm. You can catch both in size and numbers.

November - Sea Trout Challenge

This is the season for true anglers. Sea trout hunt in shallow rocky bays—sometimes in water less than a meter deep. The Åland Islands, southern Turku Archipelago, and the Gulf of Finland coastline offer a rare chance to hook this acrobatic predator, known for its explosive surface runs.

Targeting Fish Species in Finland

PIKE

The Northern Pike is Finland’s most popular trophy. We categorize it into three main types:

• Weed Pike (up to 4–5 kg)

This smaller pike is commonly found in shallow, reed-filled bays. It’s easy to catch using spinning gear, soft plastic lures (10-15 cm), and a skillful retrieve. A perfect start for beginners.

• Big Pike (5-10 kg, 70-110 cm)

These are typically caught in the shallow bays of the Gulf of Finland and Turku Archipelago, especially in October or around spawning season (April–May). During these periods, pike gather in large numbers and feed aggressively in preparation for the seasonal shift.

• Trophy Pike (10+ kg, over 110 cm)

The giants grow in smaller, vegetation-rich lakes connected to larger water systems. These lakes offer ideal conditions: rich plant life, moderate eutrophication, and deep structures. Fishing guides use live sonars and precise coordinates to locate and target these monsters.

Important:

We strongly recommend releasing pike over 80 cm after careful measuring and weighing. It helps preserve the ecosystem and ensures the next record catch is still out there.

ZANDER

Zander is a graceful but cunning predator, favoring mid- to deep-water bays, underwater drop-offs, and holes with a steady current. Catching it in Finland is always a game of skill and patience.

This species thrives in deep, murky, warm-water lakes, making the southern parts of Finland and the coastal areas of the Baltic Sea its primary habitat. Top zander fishing spots include the Häme region, the lakes around Tampere and Nokia, and the narrows and straits of large lakes like Pyhäjärvi.

Zander is most active from June to July, just after its spawning season in May-June. One of its key features is a very tough mouth structure, which demands sharp, strong hooks for successful hooksets.

Most zander in Finland weigh between 1-2 kg, but true giants are out there - the national record stands at an impressive 16.5 kg.

Pro Tip:

For jigging, use a 20-40 g jig head and soft baits between 8-12 cm. Evening and nighttime hours are peak feeding times, especially during a full moon.

PERCH

A true favorite among Finnish anglers and a perfect target for action-packed sport fishing. When it comes to perch catches, Finland ranks.

You can often catch perch right from the dock of your lakeside cottage, but success depends on choosing the right lure. Color, weight, and shape make all the difference.

Pro Tip:

The smaller and lighter the lure, the more explosive the perch bite. Prepare for a fast-paced and thrilling fishing session!

SEA TROUT

A highly prized yet challenging target, Baltic salmon fishing in Finland offers thrilling rewards during two main seasons:

Autumn (mid-October to ice-up):

The rocky shorelines of the Åland Islands, Turku Archipelago, and the Gulf of Finland come alive when strong south/southwest winds stir up plankton-rich waters. This draws in baitfish - and with them, hungry salmon. Cold water temperatures (3-10 °C) mark the perfect conditions for action.

Spring (April-May):

Before water temps exceed 12 °C, shallow, sun-warmed bays offer excellent chances. This is the prime time to find salmon close to shore before they return to deeper sea waters.

Retrieval technique:

Mimic a tired baitfish - slow reeling, pause, twitch, pause again. Strikes often come during the pause, so patience and precision are key.