Skip to content

Northern Ostrobothnia and Kainuu 5411

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 Metsähallitus' angling permit is that it covers the entire family and it allows you to troll using multiple rods (up to 8 rods). 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.

Northern Ostrobothnia and Kainuu

Recreational fishing (angling)
Calendar year
Casting, Trolling, Fly fishing, Ice fishing
Trout, Grayling, Pike-perch, Pike, Perch
Fry stocking of natural fish stocks

Permit area map

Pohjanmaa and Kainuu,

Purchasing a permit

Angling permit for adults

When purchasing an angling permit for an adult, the customer can choose between a validity period of 24 hours, 7 days or the entire season. The angling permit prices are as follows:

Permit validity Permit price
24 hours 15 €
7 days 20 €
The entire season (calendar year) 30 €

An adult permit allows the entire family to fish with one permit. A family consists of children under 18 years of age and their parents/legal guardians as well as married and common-law couples.

Angling permit for people aged under 18

An angling permit for a person under 18 years of age is valid for the entire calendar year and the price is 12 euros. The permit is personal, so only the permit holder is entitled to fish.

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.

 

With the Eräluvat app, you can purchase angling permits easily and quickly. You can pay with a debit or credit card. Read the instructions for using the app.

 

 

Permit terms

Permit terms for the area

Calendar year

When do you need an angling permit?

The need for an angling permit depends on the type of waters and the number of rods and lures being used.

As a general rule, an angling permit is not required if you fish with a one rod or lure in lakes or other still water areas. In this case, you only have to pay the fisheries management fee. Payment of the fisheries management fee is not required if you are under 18 years of age, over 70 years of age or have reached the age of 65 or more by 31 December 2023. In addition to the fisheries management fee, you need an angling permit if you fish in running waters or when you use more than one rod.

You also need an angling permit if you are hook and line fishing, ice fishing or lure fishing in Lake Valkiainen in Lestijärvi municipality and in Lake Laahtanen in Ristijärvi municipality because general fishing rights do not apply to these waters.

Hook and line fishing and ice fishing with a single rod is permitted in other still waters without paying the fisheries management fee and angling permit. However, hook and line fishing and ice fishing are prohibited in rapids and running waters regardless of whether the person has an angling permit or not.

You can check the areas where fishing is restricted on the Kalastusrajoitus.fi service (in Finnish).

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

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 Excursionmap.fi service.

The angler is responsible for finding out about possible separate fishing restrictions and catch size regulations set by the ELY Centre and fishery areas. The Kalastusrajoitus.fi service (in Finnish) indicates the areas where fishing is restricted.

Water areas that are not included in this angling permit

Northern Ostrobothnia and Kainuu angling permit does not grant the right to fish, for example,

  • 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 Northern Ostrobothnia and Kainuu 5411 angling permit does not grant the right to fish in them:

Fishing gear

Lures and flies are permitted.

One angling permit grants the right to use eight (8) rods or lines at the same time.

The angling permit allows an angler to use the so-called Ismete fishing method, which means dead bait fishing with on the ice with several rods. However, this method is prohibited in rapids and running waters and in pools.

Watercraft

Holders of Northern Ostrobothnia and Kainuu angling permit are allowed to keep a boat on the shores of a water body which is included in the permit area and located in a multiple-use forest managed by Metsähallitus Forestry Ltd. If there is a valid plan for the area guiding the storage of boats in a certain location, the boats must be stored in the designated locations. The owner’s name must be marked on the boat, and the owner is responsible for keeping the moorings clean.

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 nationalparks.fi.

Catch quotas

In rapids and running waters, an angler can catch a maximum of three (3) salmonids during a 24-hour period, two (2) of which may be salmon. In this case, salmonid means trout, salmon, landlocked salmon, rainbow trout, char and grayling. (For example: you can catch two rainbow trout and one grayling but not two salmon and two grayling.)

In all water areas, a recreational angler can catch a maximum of two (2) salmon in a 24-hour period.

In Lake Oulujärvi, a single boating party can catch a maximum of five (5) pike-perch during a 24-hour period.

There is no fishing quota limit for other fish species.

Catch sizes and protection periods

The following table contains the catch sizes and protection periods specified in the Fishing Decree:

Species Catch size Protection period
Trout with adipose fin At least 60 cm in inland waters between the 64°00 N and 67°00 N latitudes Year-round south of the 64°00 N latitude. 1.9.–30.11. in rivers and streams.
Trout without adipose fin At least 50 cm In rivers and streams 1.9.–30.11.
Trout living in streams or ponds with no migratory connection from the sea or a lake. Maximum of 45 cm In rivers and streams 1.9.–30.11.
Landlocked salmon At least 60 cm In rivers and streams 1.8.–30.11.
Salmon At least 60 cm In rivers and streams 1.9.–30.11.
Pike-perch At least 42 cm No protection period
Grayling At least 35 cm 1.4.–31.5.
Whitefish No catch size In rivers and streams that drain into the sea 1.9.–30.11.

By decision of the local ELY Centres, the catch size can be smaller or larger than in the table above, so check the catch size in the Kalastusrajoitus.fi online service (in Finnish) before you start fishing.

Water temperature has a significant impact on the survival of salmonids after they are released. When water temperatures approach +20 °C, you should use judgement before you decide to fish for salmonids. In waters warmer than this, fishing for salmonids should be avoided. In such situations, it is advisable to focus on species that are more resistant to heat, such as zander, pike and perch. See guidelines for responsible fishing.