Enontekiö Wilderness 1551

The north-west corner of the Käsivarsi area is home to the only large fell area in Finland and has some of the best waters to fish char and grayling. The majority of fish found in Northern Lapland are found in the area. Kilpisjärvi is a popular tourist destination, where the aim is to catch large char. The other most important char lakes in the area are Loussu, Kodde, Pihtsus, Toskali, Rimma and Luohto. Saanajärvi near Kilpisjärvi Lake is also an excellent place for ice fishing. The lakes are located at the altitude of 600-1000 metres, which means that weather conditions are demanding and can change rapidly.

The area of large fells starts right at the Kilpisjärvi Lake, with several marked trails and tracks. The fastest and easiest way to get to the middle of char and grayling waters around the year is by helicopter or hydroplane from Kilpisjärvi. Many tourism entrepreneurs also organise snowmobile transport to the best ice fishing sites. You can fish for char in the flowing waters of the fell area using a rod but there are also several rivers and lakes with large graylings in the area. The size of the char varies greatly, the largest individuals reaching the weight of over two kilograms. The grayling and char live in lakes up to the elevation of 700 metres. The largest graylings may weight up two kilograms, and the pike 10 kilograms. Trout live in all flowing waters and grow to 3-4 kg at the largest. River and brook waters flowing into Könkämäeno and Lätäseno are important rivers for sea trout breeding. It is recommended to release the trout when fishing in these rivers.

When going towards the southern parts of the Käsivarsi area, the best waters for large grayling are the waters around Lake Pöyrisjärvi, such as Lake Maaderjärvi. The main fish in the southernmost areas of the Pöyrisjärvi wilderness area are perch and pike. In some waters, the whitefish is also a significant catch. The Maaderjoki River from Maaderlompolo to Lake Pöyrisjärvi has been protected by decision of the Enontekiö fishing area. In Maljasjoki and Tarvantojoki rivers which run into Muonionjoki, the lower parts of the rivers are also home to migratory sea trout which is recommended to be released. You can also find transport and guide services in Pöyrisjärvi wilderness areas in Hetta.

The fishing and permit arrangements in this angling permit area change at the beginning of 2023. The area is divided into two zones where the permits are sold separately. In addition, the weekly permit and family permit are removed from the selection of permits. Daily and seasonal permits are still available for the area.

Enontekiö Wilderness

Fishing licenses Recreational fishing (angling)

Fishing period Calendar year. The river and stream waters are protected between 1 September and 15 November, so fishing is prohibited during that time.

Recommended forms of fishing Fly fishing, Angling, Ice fishing, Trolling, Casting

Target species Arctic char, Grayling, Trout, Whitefish, Perch, Pike

Fisheries management Natural fish stock

Level of service Campfire site, Lean-to shelter, Cottage

Permit area map

Location Lapland, Enontekiö

Purchasing a permit

The number of angling permits in the Enontekiö Wilderness permit area is limited. Please check the availability of permits prior to your trip.

The need for an angling permit is determined by the type of waters and the number of rods and lures you intend to use. Read more in the When do you need an angling permit section of the permit terms.

ZONES AND NUMBER OF PERMITS

Zone 1

Zone 1 comprises the Käsivarsi area, including the Käsivarsi wilderness area as a whole and ends at the Hietavuoma mire conservation area in Karesuvanto.

200 season permits are sold for zone 1.

Zone 2

Zone 2 comprises the areas from Karesuvanto to the east, including the wilderness areas of Tarvanta and Pöyrisjärvi up to the municipal border of Inari and Kittilä, excluding the waters belonging to Pallas-Yllästunturi.

200 season permits are sold for zone 2.

A total of 16,200 fishing days are available for sale in the zones. There is no daily quota. A total of 400 seasonal permits are sold. The season permit is only valid in the zone for which it has been redeemed.

Permit price and validity

In the Enontekiö Wilderness angling permit area, the customer can choose between a validity period of 24 hours or a calendar year. The prices of angling permits are as follows:

Permit validity	Permit price
24 hours	10 €
Calendar year	60 €

Persons under 18 years of age can buy the angling permit at half price.

Persons under 15 years of age may fish under the angling permit and within the fishing quota of an adult belonging to the same party, without needing to purchase an angling permit of their own.

Buy licence from web store
Catch reports
Service number 020 69 2424 (Mon–Fri 9 AM–3 PM)

Where to purchase A permit

Online store

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

Service number for fishing and hunting permits: +358 20 69 2424

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

Eräluvat mobile app

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.

Mobile permit

As of 1 January 2020, mobile permits are no longer available. This is due to mobile network operator’s decision not to provide the current service anymore.

Permit vendors

Hetta: Fell Lapland Visitor Centre (Nationalparks.fi), tel. +358 206 39 7950
Kilpisjärvi: Kilpisjärvi Visitor Centre (Nationalparks.fi), tel. +358 206 39 7990

Permit terms

Permit terms for the area

Fishing period: Calendar year. The river and stream waters are protected between 1 September and 15 November, so fishing is prohibited during that time.

When do you need an angling permit

The need for an angling permit is determined by the type of waters and the number of rods and lures you intend to use.

An Enontekiö Wilderness angling permit 1551 is needed when you fish

with more than one rod,
in running waters or
in special still waters where general fishing rights do not apply.

This means that fishing with a lure is permitted in running waters when you purchase an angling permit: simply paying the fisheries management fee does not grant the right to fish with a lure. However, hook and line fishing and ice fishing are prohibited in running waters regardless of whether the person has an angling permit or not.

Fishing with a lure is also permitted in special waters when you purchase an angling permit: simply paying the fisheries management fee does not grant the right to fish with a lure. Angling and ice fishing are permitted in special waters when you purchase an angling permit. Special waters are marked on the PDF map of the angling permit area and as a restricted area in the map window on this page and in the Excursionmap.fi service. The following are considered special waters:

Lake Luohtojärvi
Lake Toskaljärvi
Lake Rautujärvi of Spálloaivi
Two ponds located southwest of Lake Ailakkajärvi (Marjajärvi and Bearačielggejávri).

General fishing rights apply to other still waters included in the permit area. This means that you do not need to purchase an angling permit or pay the fisheries management fee for hook and line fishing or ice fishing. Lure fishing with one (1) rod is also permitted in these still water areas for persons who have paid the fisheries management fee or who are under the age of 18 or over 65.

Water areas that are not included in this angling permit

The following waters located in Enontekiö have their own angling permits, so the Enontekiö Wilderness angling permit 1551 does not grant the right to fish in them:

Könkämäeno and Muonionjoki rivers (permit area 2502)
Lätäseno, Poroeno and Toriseno rivers (permit area 1550)
Hietajoki river up until the mouth of Puusasjoki river and Palojoki river until the mouth of Paatsikkajoki river (permit area 1554)
Ounasjoki and Käkkälöjoki rivers and Pöyrisjoki river between Lake Vuontisjärvi and Lake Pöyrisjärvi (permit area 1556).

The Enontekiö Wilderness angling permit does not grant the right to fish in private waters.

Fishing in Kilpisjärvi Lake

The Enontekiö Wilderness angling permit grants the right to fish in Lake Kilpisjärvi only in Finland.

According to the agreement between Finland and Sweden, the use of planer boards is prohibited in Lake Kilpisjärvi.

In Lake Kilpisjärvi the minimum catch size for char is 60 cm.

Fishing gear and bait

The use of natural bait is prohibited in the Enontekiö Wilderness angling permit area regardless of whether the bait is alive or dead. The ban does not apply hook and line fishing in still waters.

A maximum of eight (8) rods may be used when trolling.

There are such lakes in the surroundings of Valkamapää Fell that belong to Tenojoki waterway. These are lakes Rautujärvi (Rávdojávri), Kotasijajärvi (Goahtesadjávri) and Haukijärvi (Hávgajávri).

All fishing gear brought to these lakes from other waterways must be completely dry upon arrival or they must be disinfected at a disinfection station before you start fishing.

If the same fishing gear is used to fish in waters that run into the Arctic Ocean, all gear must be disinfected to prevent the spread of the Gyrodactylys salaris parasite.

Catch quotas

The maximum number of fish that an angler may catch is indicated in the table below:

Area	MAXIMUM CATCH in 24 HOURs
Kilpisjärvi	1 char or 3 other salmonids
Other areas	3 salmonids

In this quota table, salmonid means trout, char and grayling. 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:

Species	Catch size	Protection period
Trout	At least 50 cm	In rivers and streams 1 Sept–30 Nov. (All fishing in rivers and streams is prohibited 1 Sept–15 Nov.)
Grayling	At least 35 cm	Grayling do not have a protection period in this permit area, but all fishing in rivers and streams is prohibited 1 Sept–15 Nov.
Char	At least 60 cm in Lake Kilpisjärvi	Char do not have a protection period in this permit area, but all fishing in rivers and streams is prohibited 1 Sept–15 Nov.

Metsähallitus recommends anglers to release all trout back into the water in Rivers Tarvantojoki, Maljasjoki and Vuoskujoki.

Anglers must observe the catch sizes and protection periods specified in the Fishing Decree for other fish species.

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.