Käsivarsi-Tarvanto 1401

Angling permit area 1401 Käsivarsi-Tarvanto will partly replace the former angling permit area 1551 Enontekiö Wilderness. The second replacement angling permit area is 1402 Karesuvanto-Hetta.

The Käsivarsi-Tarvanto angling permit area covers the entire Käsivarsi wilderness area, bordering on the Hietavuoma mire conservation area in Karesuvanto. 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.

In addition to Kilpisjärvi, the most important lakes for fishing char in the Kilpisjärvi area are Lakes Koddejärvi, Pihtsusjärvi, Toskaljärvi and Luohtojärvi. Lake Saanajärvi is also an excellent destination for ice fishing char. The lakes in the area are located at the altitude of 600–1,000 metres, which means that weather conditions may be demanding and can change rapidly.

The Käsivarsi fell area, which is part of the permit area, starts immediately at Kilpisjärvi. Several tourism operators organise guided fishing and transport services for the best fishing sites in the area. The vicinity of the Kilpisjärvi village also has plenty of great sites that are accessible by hiking or skiing. There is one long marked hiking trail in the Käsivarsi Wilderness Area, the Kalottireitti Trail. Following the trail leads visitors to many fishing waters.

Käsivarsi-Tarvanto

Fishing licenses Recreational fishing (angling)

Fishing period Calendar year. The river and stream waters are protected between 1 September and 30 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, Rental hut, Reservable wilderness hut, Open wilderness hut

Permit area map

Location Lapland, Enontekiö

Purchasing a permit

Permits for 2024 become available on 4 January 2024.

The number of angling permits in the Käsivarsi-Tarvanto 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.

NUMBER OF PERMITS

A total of 6,600 fishing days are available for sale in the Käsivarsi-Tarvanto angling permit area. There is no daily quota.

A total of 200 season permits are sold.

Permit price and validity

In the Käsivarsi-Tarvanto angling permit area, the customer can choose between a validity period of 24 hours or the entire season. The prices of angling permits are as follows:

Permit validity	Permit price
24 hours	15 €
The entire season (calendar year)	100 €

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)
Kilpisjärvi: Kilpisjärvi Visitor Centre (Nationalparks.fi)
Kilpisjärvi: Kilpissafaris
Enontekiö: Grayling Guide
Kolari: Salmela Fishing & Hunting

Permit terms

Permit terms for the area

Fishing period: Calendar year. The river and stream waters are protected between 1 September and 30 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.

A Käsivarsi-Tarvanto angling permit 1401 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
Two ponds located southwest of Lake Ailakkajärvi (Marjajärvi and Bearačielggejávri)
In addition, ice fishing without an angling permit is prohibited in the Siedjonjoki and Kaitsajoki Rivers by decision of the ELY Centre for Lapland. More information is available in the Kalastusrajoitus.fi map service (in Finnish).

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 18 years of age, over 70 years of age or have reached the age of 65 by 31 December 2023.

Water areas that are not included in this angling permit

Angling permit Käsivarsi-Tarvanto 1401 does not entitle you to fish in the following water areas even though they are in Enontekiö:

The Könkämäeno and Muonionjoki Rivers (permit area 2502)
The Lätäseno (permit area 1423)
The Poroeno (permit area 1432)
Toriseno Rivers up until the mouth of the Vuontisjoki River (permit area 1426)
The Hietajoki River up until the mouth of the Puusasjoki River (permit area 1436)

The Käsivarsi-Tarvanto angling permit does not grant the right to fish in private waters.

Fishing in Kilpisjärvi Lake

The Käsivarsi-Tarvanto angling permit grants the right to fish in Lake Kilpisjärvi only in Finland.

According to the agreement between Finland and Sweden, trolling using baitfish and planer boards are prohibited in Lake Kilpisjärvi.

In Lake Kilpisjärvi the minimum catch size for char is 40 cm.

Fishing gear and bait

The use of natural bait is prohibited in the Käsivarsi-Tarvanto 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.

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. In addition, fishing gear brought in from outside to the Käsivarsi-Tarvanto angling permit area must be completely dry upon arrival to prevent the spread of Canadian waterweed.

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

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–30 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–30 Nov.
Char	At least 40 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–30 Nov.

Metsähallitus recommends anglers to release all trout back into the water in the Vuoskujoki River.

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.