Angling permit area

5411 Northern Ostrobothnia and Kainuu

With Metsähallitus' angling permit for Northern Ostrobothnia and Kainuu you can fish using a fly or a lure in the state-owned waters in Northern Ostrobothnia and Kainuu. The permit area contains approximately 115,000 hectares of lake and pond waters and over 600 kilometres of river and stream waters.

One of the benefits of this Metsähallitus' angling permit is that it covers the entire family. One angling permit grants the right to use at most eight (8) rods or lines at the same time, each one with no more than two (2) lures. The angling permit for Northern Ostrobothnia and Kainuu grants anglers the right to fish even in the state-owned waters containing rapids and running sections with migratory fish stocks that are not included in the national fisheries management fee.

You can find out the real-time temperature of the water in the Oulankajoki River during the snow-free season in the SensorMonitor service (map.sensormonitor.fi )

Map files and brochures

Basic details of the area

Municipality: Haapavesi, Hyrynsalmi, Ii, Kajaani, Kuhmo, Kuusamo, Kärsämäki, Lestijärvi, Liminka, Nurmes, Oulu, Paltamo, Pudasjärvi, Puolanka, Pyhäjoki, Pyhäjärvi, Reisjärvi, Ristijärvi, Sievi, Siikalatva, Sotkamo, Suomussalmi, Taivalkoski, Toholampi, Utajärvi, Vaala, Ylivieska
Region: Kainuu, Keski-Pohjanmaa, Pohjois-Karjala, Pohjois-Pohjanmaa
Fishing period: 1 January–31 December
Permitted fishing methods: Casting (fishing with spinning rod), fly fishing, hook and line fishing, ice fishing, trolling
Required permits and fees: Angling permit, fisheries management fee. The need depends on the number of rods and lures or the water area. Always check "Permits needed for fishing".
Hook and line fishing and ice fishing: Permitted free of charge in still waters, prohibited in running waters
Angling permits for the area: 24 hours, 7 days, seasonal permit
Targeted catch: Grayling, perch, pike, pike-perch, trout
Fisheries management: Fry stocking of natural fish stocks
Area characteristics: Suitable for families, suitable for trolling
Special features of the area: An adult permit allows the entire family to fish with one permit.
Restrictions: Check the restrictions carefully in the permit terms.

What's new

Permits needed for fishing

The need for an angling permit depends on the type of waterbody and how many rods and lures you will use.

In this permit area, you will need an angling permit when lure fishing in sections with rapids and running water. You will also be required to pay the fisheries management fee, unless you are under 18 years of age, over 70 years of age, or are 65 years of age or older as of 31 December 2023.

If you are lure fishing with only one rod and lure in still waters, such as on lakes and in river pools, payment of the fisheries management fee is sufficient. You will also require an angling permit when fishing with multiple rods or lures.

Hook and line fishing and ice fishing are fully prohibited in rapids and running sections of waters with migratory fish stocks. You can refer to Kalastusrajoitus.fi (Fishing Restriction Service) to check waters with migratory fish stocks. In still waters, hook and line fishing and ice fishing are permitted free of charge with one rod. If you are hook and line fishing or ice fishing with more than one rod, you are required to purchase an angling permit and pay the fisheries management fee.

You also need an angling permit if you are hook and line fishing, ice fishing or lure fishing in Lake Valkiainen in Lestijärvi municipality.

Waters and area-specific restrictions in the permit area

Always make sure to check the location of the permit area in the map window on this page. Enlarge the map window to view the location of the permit area more clearly.

Regional restrictions

Northern Ostrobothnia and Kainuu angling permit only grants the right to fish in water areas managed by Metsähallitus that are located in Northern Ostrobothnia and Kainuu. The largest water areas covered by this angling permit are visible in the map window on this page and in the Excursionmap.fi service.

Northern Ostrobothnia and Kainuu angling permit does not grant the right to fish in:

private waters (such as waters owned by joint ownership associations),
Metsähallitus' other angling destinations (former recreational fishing sites),
joint permit areas,
rental waters with full fishing rights,
specialty waters.

The following waters located in Northern Ostrobothnia and Kainuu have their own angling permits, so the Northern Ostrobothnia and Kainuu 5411 angling permit does not grant the right to fish in them:

The Oulankajoki River (permit area 5572)
The middle course of the Iijoki River from Jurmu to Ervasti (permit area 5573)
The Livojoki River (permit area 2599)
Lake Iso-Pajuluoma (permit area 4525)
Lake Maasydänjärvi and Ahvenlampi Pond (permit area 4570)
The Hossanjoki River, Keihäslampi Pond, Huosilampi Pond, Iso-Valkeainen, Umpi-Valkeainen (permit area 5502)
The waters of the Yli-Vuokki permit area (permit area 5505)
Lake Syväjärvi (permit area 5525)
Manamansalo (permit area 5571)
The Korvua-Näljänkäjoki Rivers (permit area 5574)
The Kalliojoki River (permit area 5575)
The Irninjoki River (permit area 5578)

Fishing in the National Parks

Before fishing in a national park, an angler must check the special instructions and rules for the national park, including those related to access restrictions, landing and campfires. Information about the rules for national parks is available at Luontoon.fi.

Further information

Impact of water temperature on fishing

You can find out the real-time temperature of the water in the Oulankajoki River during the snow-free season in the SensorMonitor service (map.sensormonitor.fi). Read the Guidelines for responsible fishing to know more about how you can take high temperatures into account when fishing.