South Päijänne’s clean waters offer excellent opportunities for many kinds of fishing. In addition to Lake Päijänne and Lake Vesijärvi, you will find hundreds of smaller lakes, ponds and rivers that meet the demands of all anglers, whether you prefer trolling, spinning or fly fishing. The best fishing spots can be found with the help of a professional local guide!
Finland’s second largest lake offers a variety of fishing opportunities. The wide open mid-lake areas and deep waters offer a great settings for trolling after brown trout and landlocked salmon. Other common game species on Lake Päijänne include pike, zander and perch that can be found in the more sheltered bay areas that are excellent spinning and trolling waters. Boat is recommended to reach the best fishing spots. World famous Rapala lures originate from lake Päijänne. There are several fishing guides available in southern Lake Päijänne area (see guided trips below). For more information check: www.fishinginfinland.fi/lake_paijanne
Lake Vesijärvi is known as an excellent fishing water. The most popular game species are perch, zander and pike. Especially Perch and Zander are fast growing and Lake Vesijärvi is well known from its good perch fishing, especially ice-fishing during winter months. In summer time Lake Vesijärvi is well suitable for trolling and spinning. Boat is recommended to reach the best fishing spots.
Lake Ruotsalainen flows from Lake Päijänne towards the town of Heinola offering a variety of fishing possibilities from trolling in open waters to spinning in sheltered bays. The most common game species are pike, brown trout, landlocked salmon, zander and perch. There are also faster flowing straits on the lake offering interesting settings for fishing. Boat is recommended to reach the best fishing spots.
Heinola sports fishing area next to the town center is an easy to reach fishing spot that offers a good variety of fishing options from lake to faster flowing rapid in beautiful settings around Siltasaari island. The most common game species are brown trout, rainbow trout, perch, zander, pike, grayling and landlocked salmon. Fishing licenses can be bought from Siltasaari island´s café, Urheilu Kontti sports store or Heinäsaari Camping area. You can rent fishing equipment and a boat from Siltasaari island´s Café Kailas. Spinning, fly fishing and trolling with a row boat are permitted fishing methods.
Rautjärvi sports fishing area includes two small lakes close to Heinola center: Lake Rautjärvi 8 ha and Lake Venejärvi 5 ha. The surroundings are beautiful and wilderness like. There are lean-to shelters, campfire sites and casting piers. Rental boats are available on Lake Rautjärvi. Rautjärvi is well suitable for families and there is also a nature trail in the area. The surrounding forests are part of the Heinola National urban park´s wilderness area. Fishing licenses can be bought from Siltasaari island´s café, Urheilu Kontti sports store or Heinäsaari Camping area.
Tainionvirta river in Sysmä´s Virtaa area offers fishing in slow flowing river landscape before the river reaches Lake Päijänne. The main game species are rainbow trout and brown trout, but there is also a good population of pikes and at times you can find a good number of zanders under the dam. Allowed fishing methods are fly fishing and spinning. Fishing licenses can be bought from Urheilu Valonen sports store in Sysmä center.
Tainiovirta River in Hartola offers excellent trout fishing after brown trout, rainbow trout and grayling. Not to forget the big pikes in the slow flowing areas. It is one of the most popular fly fishing rivers in southern Finland. You can often spot fish swimming in the clear water from the bridges. Allowed fishing methods are fly fishing and spinning. There are also guide services available to find the best spots and fishing methods. Fishing licenses can be bought from Linna-Hotelli or Gasthaus Koskenniemi.
Float fishing and ice fishing are included in everyman´s rights and are free for everyone in Finland, with the exceptions of rivers, special sports fishing areas and other restriction areas. For other kinds of fishing a state fisheries management fee is required for persons between 18-64 years. With state fisheries management fee you are allowed to fish with one lure in most waters, with the exceptions of rivers, special sports fishing areas and other restriction areas. If you prefer trolling with several rods you need a licence from the owner of the water area in addition to the state´s fisheries management fee.
Read more information on needed fishing licences from fishininfinland.fi
