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Tornionjoki-Muonionjoki-Könkämäeno 2502

The Tornion-Muonionjoki River runs from the fells of the north to the Gulf of Bothnia and it is the longest freely flowing salmon river in all of Europe. It is approximately 450 kilometres long with variation from rapids only a hundred metres wide to calmer sections a kilometre wide. The Tornion-Muonionjoki River also serves as the border river between Finland and Sweden. In addition to salmon, the river is rich in sea trout and grayling.

The joint permit area of Tornion-Muonionjoki-Könkämäeno is popular among both lure and fly fishers. The traditional form of fishing in "the Channel", as the water system is sometimes called, is salmon trolling without a motor, but there are also great fishing spots on the shore all along the river.

See info map of the joint permit area (infokartta.fi)

More information about the Gyrodactylys salaris parasite and how to prevent spreading it: Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment in Lapland and Finnish Food Authority (ruokavirasto.fi).

Tornionjoki-Muonionjoki-Könkämäeno

Recreational fishing (angling)
Salmon fishing is permitted from 1.6 - 31.8. Salmon fishing is prohibited: from Sunday 7:00 p.m. to Monday 7:00 p.m. Finnish time and from Sunday 6:00 p.m. to Monday 6:00 p.m. Swedish time. All fishing is prohibited from 15.9 -15.12.
Casting, Fly fishing, Trolling
Grayling, Pike, Sea salmon, Perch, Whitefish

Purchasing a permit

A joint permit may be purchased for fishing in all the water areas in the joint permit area or for fishing in one of the following areas:

  • area 1 Tornio
  • area 2 Ylitornio
  • area 3 Pello
  • area 4 Kolari
  • area 5 Muonio
  • area 6 Enontekiö.

Persons aged 15 to 17 can buy the joint permit at half price. Persons under 15 years of age do not need a joint permit to lure fish in the waters of the permit area.

joint permit within every municipality

Joint permit for adults

permit validity permit price
24 hours 20 €
7 days 80 €
The entire season 160 €

Joint permit for persons aged 15 to 17

permit validity permit price
24 hours 10 €
7 days 40 €
The entire season 80 €

joint permit within one municipality

A joint permit for fishing within one municipality is valid for the entire season. The price is 90 euros for adults and 45 euros for persons aged 15 to 17.

 

Where to purchase A permit

 

You can pay licences using the most common payment methods in the online store (verkkokauppa.eraluvat.fi).

 

 

Metsähallitus' fishing permits may also be purchased by phone. The service is open on
weekdays from 9 AM to 3 PM.

 

Other permit vendors are listed on the Info Map.

 

Permit terms

Permit terms for the area

Salmon fishing is permitted from 1.6 - 31.8. Salmon fishing is prohibited: from Sunday 7:00 p.m. to Monday 7:00 p.m. Finnish time and from Sunday 6:00 p.m. to Monday 6:00 p.m. Swedish time. All fishing is prohibited from 15.9 -15.12.

What does the permit entitle the holder to

The joint permit grants the right to fish in the waters of the fishing rights holders who are party to the agreement using a rod and a lure or a pilk as detailed on the fishing card. This means that when fishing from a row or motor boat, the fishing can only take place in these specified water areas. The terms of the joint permit must be observed when fishing.

When fishing without the use of an outboard motor, the rower must also have a valid joint permit. Rowers must also pay the fisheries management fee if they are 18–69 years of age and want to fish with a rod or trap on the Finnish side of the border. Fishers who have reached the age of 65 or more by 31 December 2023 are an exception: they do not have to pay the fee.

In addition to this agreement, fishing in the Torne River fishing area is subject to the Decrees issued by the Finnish and Swedish governments.

Water areas and regional restrictions that are included in this joint permit

As the agreeing parties of Tornion-Muonionjoki-Könkämäeno joint permit area, the Lapland ELY Centre, the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management and the joint ownership associations and private water owners of the area have come to an agreement concerning lure fishing in the permit area. Tornion-Muonionjoki-Könkämäeno lure fishing joint permit area includes fishery collectives, joint ownership associations and private water area owners.

FISHING ON THE FINNISH SIDE

In Finland the joint permit regulates salmon fishing in the waters of the Rivers Torne, Muoniojoki and Könkämäeno in the border region between Finland and Sweden.

From the mouth of Torniojoki River to the lower reaches of Lake Kilpisjärvi, fishing for other species is only permitted in water areas owned by the following fishing rights holders:

  • The Fishery Collective of Pirkkiö
  • The City of Tornio
  • The Fishery Collective of Kiviranta
  • The Fishery Collective of Kukkolankoski 
  • The Fishery Collective of Karunki 
  • The joint ownership association of Kukkola
  • The joint ownership association of Alavojakkala
  • The Fishery Collective of Ylivojakkala 
  • Matkakoski Oy  
  • The joint ownership association of Korpikylä
  • The Fishery Collective of Kauliranta 
  • The Fishery Collective of Närkki-Tengeliö-Portimo 
  • The Fishery Collective of Kainuunkylä 
  • The Fishery Collective of Nuotioranta 
  • The Fishery Collective of Alkkula 
  • The Fishery Collective of Armassaari
  • The Finnish State/Metsähallitus 
  • The joint ownership association of Lappea-Ääverkoski
  • The Fishery Collective of Kolari 
  • The joint ownership association of Ristimella-Luttunen
  • The joint ownership association of Kangosjärvi
  • The joint ownership association of Muonionniska
  • The joint ownership association of Ylimuonio
  • The joint ownership association of Isosaari in Ylimuonio
  • The joint ownership association of Kätkäsuvanto
  • The joint ownership association of Palojoensuu
  • The Fishery Collective of Karesuvanto 
  • The Fishery Collective of Kelottijärvi
  • Lompolo 1:1
  • The Fishery Collective of Kuivakangas
FISHING ON THE SWEDISH SIDE

In Sweden the joint permit regulates salmon fishing from the mouth of the Torne River to the southern border of the municipality of Pajala. This agreement does not apply to the Matkakoski fishing area in Haaparanta, where a separate salmon and trout fishing agreement is in place.

Salmon fishing in Tornion-Muonionjoki north of the southern border of Pajala is permitted in the water areas owned by the fishing rights holders who are parties to the agreement.

Fish species other than salmon may only be fished in the water areas owned by the following fishing rights holders:

  • The common water areas owned by the village associations of Nedre (Lower) Vojakkala
  • The common water areas owned by the village associations of Övre (Upper) Vojakkala
  • The common water areas owned by the village associations of Kukkola 
  • The common water areas owned by the village associations of Karunki
  • ForestLand/Linus Rova
  • The common water areas of Parkajoki
  • The common water areas owned by the village associations of Kieksiäisvaara
  • The common water areas of Kengis Bruk AB/C-E Sohlberg
  • The common water areas owned by the village associations of Ruokojärvi
  • The common water areas owned by the village associations of Jarhoinen
  • The common water areas owned by the village associations of Juoksenki
  • The common water areas owned by the village associations of Kuivakangas 
  • The common water areas owned by the village associations of Pello 
  • The common water areas owned by the village associations of Kassa 
  • The common water areas owned by the village associations of Ruskola 
  • The common water areas owned by the village associations of Vitsaniemi 
  • The common water areas owned by the village associations of Niemis 
  • The common water areas of Päkkilä
  • The common water areas owned by the village associations of Huukki 
  • Ristimella 1:1
  • The common water areas of Koivukylä.

In the municipality of Pajala the agreement only applies to salmon fishing.

Regional restrictions

On the Finnish side, the joint permit grants the right to fish from the shore.

On the Swedish side one may fish from the shore only in designated and marked spots in the waters of the municipality of Pajala and the village associations that are parties to the agreement.

Fishing closer than 200 metres of salmon dams and seine nets is prohibited.

Fishing gear, fishing methods and watercraft

Hook fishing that intends to hook the fish from the outside is prohibited.

When using a casting weight, line and lure in the river area, a fisher may only use one single hook with a maximum gap of 12 mm. This is an additional condition related to section 8 of the Fishing Regulations.

While fishing with a rod and lure, the use of an outboard motor is prohibited with the exception of the calm waters downstream from the bridge between Övertorneå and Aavasaksa to the mouth of the Torne River.

Salmon fishing guidelines:

1. Anglers must always adhere to these guidelines as well as the fishing regulations issued by the Finnish and Swedish governments.

2. If you do not know a river area particularly well, ask local anglers how you can move about safely and fish without disturbing others. Stay safe – the use of life jackets is mandatory.

3. When coming ashore on a motorboat, navigate via the designated channels. During high water season this channel is usually situated in the middle of the river, but during low water season it can also be elsewhere.

4. Always avoid steering through good fishing spots with the motor running. Go around other anglers with as much clearance as possible at reduced speed.

5. Begin fishing from the starting point when it is your turn. Do not cut in line – it only causes unnecessary friction between anglers.

6. If there are anglers waiting for their turn to row out, beach your boat and wait for your turn. Do not begin fishing below the boats in the waiting zone.

7. Do not spend too much time fishing at any one spot: it only causes disturbance to other anglers.

8. Always make way for an angler fighting a hooked fish and remember that a hooked salmon can be up to a few hundred metres away from the angler at the other end. Retrieve your own fishing lines to avoid tangling if necessary.

9. Only make fire at the designated lean-to and campfire sites on the shores. Do not harm living trees. The lean-to shelters are not intended for camping; they are there for short breathers and breaks.

10. Do not litter! Take your trash away with you or place them in the designated garbage bags. Waste that may be burned can be disposed of at the campfire sites. Always protect your surroundings; the environment is fragile.

11. Remember to make a catch report! Read more about the report in section Catch quotas.

12. Do not get greedy! The supply of salmon is not unlimited and you, together with all the other anglers, are responsible for maintaining a viable salmon stock. Keep in mind that salmon does not stay edible for more than a few months anyway, even in the freezer. The fishing quota on both sides of the border is one salmon/day.

Catch quotas

Catching more than one (1) salmon during a 24-hour period is prohibited. There is no catch quota limit for other fish species. 

Catch sizes and protection periods

The following catch sizes and protection periods for fish species are in effect for this permit area:

Fish species Catch size Protection period
Trout Fish of all sizes must be released immediately Protected year-round
Salmon At least 50 cm 1.9.–31.5. and every week from Sunday to Monday*
Grayling At least 35 cm

Downstream from the outlet of Lake Kilpisjärvi 1.4.–31.5. 

*Salmon fishing is permitted between 1. June – 31. August. However, salmon has a weekly protection period of 24 hours, and salmon fishing is prohibited during this period. The protection period starts on Sundays at 7 PM Finnish time and at 6 PM Swedish time. The protection period ends on Mondays at 7 PM Finnish time and at 6 PM Swedish time.

Further information

Further information on fishing in Tornionjoki-Muonionjoki-Könkämäeno joint permit area is available

  • online at www.torneriversalmon.com
  • by calling Ilkka Paaso the number +358 (0)400 187 954 and
  • by email yhteislupa@gmail.com.