Tips for a Responsible Fisher

vk-harri-tarvainen-fisherman3

Tips for a Responsible Fisher

North Karelia is home to wonderful and diverse fishing destinations that everyone should visit at least once in their lifetime. However, in the name of preserving nature and fish stocks, responsibility and local regulations must be taken into account when traveling.

VK-Harri-Tarvainen-fish.jpg (3)

Fish Responsibly

When fishing, it is good to remember that you should only catch as much as you intend to eat. Small and undersized fish should be allowed to grow back, but it is also worth keeping in mind the less talked about upper dimensions: large fish are much more valuable as stewards of nature in the water bodies, where they keep fish populations in check. Larger fish also start to accumulate heavy metals, making them less tasty catches.

The lower and upper dimensions of the most common fish caught in North Karelia look like this:

  • Pikeperch – lower dimension: depending on the water body 42-45cm, upper dimension: 60-65cm

  • Perch – upper dimension: 35-40cm

  • Pike – upper dimension: 80cm

  • Salmon without adipose fins – lower dimension: 60cm

  • Trout without adipose fins – lower dimension: 50cm

  • Grayling – lower dimension: 35cm

vk-harri-tarvainen-flyfishing-jpg

Work with the Close Season

During the season, it is a good idea to keep an eye on the spawning times and locations of fish so that they can be left alone. By respecting the close season, we are taking care of the well-being and diversity of nature and that there will still be fishing opportunities in the future. Fortunately, there are plenty of great fishing destinations in North Karelia with its thousands of lakes, so one will not run out of options.

  • The Höytiäinen Canal estuary is closed from the beginning of May to the end of August. Boating and fishing are not allowed in the area. The closed area is marked with yellow booms.

  • The Pielisjoki River is closed to all fishing from the beginning of August to the end of October. The closed area starts from the long Pyhäselkä and continues all the way to the Kuurna power plant. The total ban on fishing applies to the spawning season of lake trout and the endangered landlocked salmon.

  • Grayling is closed from the beginning of April to the end of May.

  • Adipose-finned salmon and trout are protected all year round

  • Adipose-finned landlocked salmon are protected in Pyhäselkä from the beginning of June to the end of August

Visit-Karelia-Ruunaa-Patvinsuo-drone-fullres-0634

Remember to pay your fishery fee!

Every person aged 18-64 who uses fishing equipment other than a worm fishing rod or ice fishing rod must pay a state fishery fee. The fishery fee enables sustainable management of fish populations and ensures that fishing is carried out in accordance with the rules. Permits can be purchased online for a day, a week or a year at a time.

The fishery fee is not always enough for everything, as fishing in certain areas also requires separately purchased permits. For example, a separate fishing permit is required to fish at the Ruunaa rapids and between the railway bridge at Joensuu rapids and the Suvanto bridge. The rapids fishing permits sold by the Joensuu Fisheries Board are not impossibly expensive, as a 12-hour permit can be obtained for as little as 7 euros.

Fisheries Management Fee Joensuun alueen kalastusluvat (in Finnish) Ruunaa Rapids Fisheries Management Fee