Where to Fish in Finland - 6 regions, honest advice

Tammisaari (Ekenäs)

The most accessible pike destination from Helsinki. Just over an hour by car. Numerous reed-lined bays with consistent pike action across the season. The trade-off: busy on weekends with local anglers, especially near the main marinas.

For better fishing, move away from the town and the obvious launch points. Trophy pike avoid regular pressure, are found in more remote bays 15-20 minutes by boat from the nearest marina. The deeper channels between islands hold zander from June onwards.

A good first destination for anglers unfamiliar with Finnish water before moving to more remote locations.

Peak periods



Pike: May - June, September - October

Zander: June - September, channels

Turku Archipelago

The Turku Archipelago is the single best pike location in southern Finland and one of the top three in the country. In May (post-spawn feeding) and October (pre-winter feeding), 20-30 pike per day in sheltered bays is realistic. Fish over 1 metre and 10–14 kg are caught here every season without exception.

The island network, Parainen, Nagu, Korpo, is connected by free ferries. You can move between fishing areas freely, by car.

Compared to mainland lakes, fishing pressure here is lower and the landscape is exceptional. Korpo and Nagu have very few anglers and some of the clearest water in the region.

Livonsaari Island

A small island 20 km from Naantali, accessible by car without ferries through a system of bridges. There are plenty of fishing spots for pike. Secluded cottages can be found on the island. Other fishermen are rare, the place is relatively quiet.

Korpo Island

A remote island in the Turku archipelago. It can be reached by car with two free ferries - the journey from Helsinki takes about 3.5 hours. Isolation is a plus: there are few fishermen here. Many excellent places for pike, the water is clear. Minus - a large number of coastal cottages. Not all bays are convenient to catch. Keep a distance of at least 50 meters from buildings and piers to avoid conflicts.

Nagu and Parainen

Nauvo - Storlandet island system 20 km from Parainen. Access by car, one ferry crossing. The rugged shores create ideal conditions for pike hunting.

Best windows

Pike: late April - May, October - November

Sea trout: April, November

Lake Pyhäjärvi, Hämeenlinna

A summer zander lake with a specific character: high fishing pressure from its proximity to Helsinki means the fish here are selective. They've seen lures. Trolling and electronics-assisted jigging consistently outperform aggressive spin techniques.

Deep holes on the lake bottom concentrate baitfish in summer, zander follow. The fish are present in good numbers and good size, but they need to be worked for. This is a lake that rewards patience and precision over volume fishing. Reliable from mid-June when water temperatures rise above 15°C.

Peak periods

Zander: mid-June - August, deep holes

Pike: May, October

Lake Saimaa

Finland's largest lake, thousands of islands, and a labyrinth of channels that takes years to learn properly.

That scale is both the appeal and the challenge: fish have room to spread, which means reading water here is a real skill. The reward is genuine wilderness fishing with almost no other boats in sight.

Key zones are straits between islands, bay entrances, and rocky points where currents concentrate baitfish. A fish finder and navigation charts are not optional here, they're the difference between a productive day and hours of guesswork.

We recommend a boat with at least a 15HP engine and a quality plotter for Saimaa.

Peak periods by species

Pike: mid-May - October

Zander: mid-June - mid-September

Perch: June - October

Lake Puruvesi (Saimaa system)

Puruvesi is part of the Saimaa system but deserves its own entry - it fishes completely differently. The water clarity (10m+ visibility) changes everything: fish are more cautious, presentations need to be precise, and slow techniques outperform aggressive ones.

The deep-water zones like Hummonselkä hold trophy pike at 15-30 m depth, jigging and trolling here in May and September produces fish in the 10-15 kg range consistently. Puruvesi is also stocked annually with taimen, brown trout, and rainbow trout.

Home to Finland's oldest 24-hour trolling championship and the annual Puruveden Lohikuningas salmon competition (up to 300 teams).

Lake Ruovesi & Tampere Region

The Paloselkä area on Ruovesi produced more pike over 10 kg in the 1990s than all other Finnish lakes combined. That reputation still holds - the deep holes to 40 m make it exceptional trolling water for big pike in summer and autumn.

The surrounding Tampere region lakes Kulovesi, Rautavesi, Längelmävesi, Pyhäjärvi form one of Finland's strongest zander clusters. Jigging in July and August produces consistently large fish. The varied underwater terrain (rocky drops, gravel points, soft-bottom channels) means different techniques work in different areas. Ask us for a specific route in this district - the lakes connect and a multi-lake trip is very doable in a week.

IGOR

Fishing and Boat Expert

100+ days per year on Finnish water. Fishes every region in this guide personally. Answers questions about technique, lure selection, specific spots, and fish behaviour. Will tell you exactly when and where to go for your target species.

YULIA

Trip planner · Accommodation

20+ years helping anglers plan Finland trips from southern coast to Lapland. Completed Finnish fishing school. Handles cabin bookings, boat logistics, fishing licences, and full trip. Matches you with the right accommodation for your location and budget.