6550 Kotala Rapids

The number of anglers is restricted. No more than ten persons may fish simultaneously at Kituskoski Rapids and ten at Vehmas-Koskelankoski Rapids.

Permits for these two rapids are sold separately. Please check in advance whether permits are available for the desired time period.

A qualification competition for the Finnish Championships in fly fishing will be held at Koskelankoski on 14 June 2026 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Fishing continues as normal at Vehmaskoski and Kituskoski.

Permits needed for fishing

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 river pools, payment of the fisheries management fee is sufficient.

Hook and line fishing and ice fishing are fully prohibited in running and rapids sections of waters with migratory fish stocks (i.e. also this permit area). In still waters, hook and line fishing and ice fishing are permitted free of charge with one rod.

Please note that the Kotala Rapids angling permit area practically comprises of flowing water only.

Waters and area-specific restrictions in the permit area

Always make sure to check the location of the permit area. Please see either the map window or the PDF map on this page. Enlarge the map window to view the location of the permit area more clearly.

Kotala Rapids permit area contains two separate areas: Kituskoski and Vehmas-Koskelankoski. Permits for these two areas are sold separately. Only fly fishing is allowed at Kituskoski Rapids.

Services in the area

Kotala Rapids has campfire sites and lean-to shelters available for anglers and hikers.

Kotala General Store is located at Vironkoskentie 72, 42870 Kotala.

Further information

Fisheries management

The rapids are mainly stocked with spawn or fry of trout. Development of the fish stock is monitored using electric pulse fishing.

Discharge information

Up-to-date information on the water level and flow situation in Lake Kitusjärvi is available at www.ymparisto.fi (in Finnish).

Impact of water temperature on fishing

You can monitor the real-time temperature of the water in Kituskoski 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. On this site you can also find information on possible suspensions of permit sales as temperatures rise.