Kolima-Keitele rapids route 6576
Situated in Viitasaari, the traditional Kolima-Keitele rapids route offers three separate permit areas and diverse fishing experiences. Permits are only available in limited quantities, which means there are enough fishing grounds for everyone. Alternatively, you can reserve the entire rapids for yourself and enjoy the surrounding nature in your own peace and quiet, or together with your friends. The middle section of the route, Kellankoski, is intended only for fly fishers and only barbless hooks are permitted.
Various restoration projects have also been carried out on the rapids route to improve migratory fish habitats. In 2018, restoration measures were carried out on such sites as Kärnänkoski, Kellankoski and Kymönkoski, all of which are located within the permit area. Kyrönpuro, which previously was a permit area, has been protected from all fishing.
You can check the real-time temperature of the water in Kellankoski during the snow-free season in the SensorMonitor service (map.sensormonitor.fi).
Please note that Kellankoski, which is part of the Kolima-Keitele rapids route, is located in Viitasaari. A rapids of the same name is also found in Konnevesi, so take this into account when navigating to the destination.
Kolima-Keitele rapids route
Purchasing a permit
Purchasing Information
Angling permits for Kymönkoski, Kellankoski and Kärnänkoski are sold separately, even though all three sites are part of the permit area of Kolima-Keitele rapids route. Five persons at maximum may fish at a time in Kymönkoski and Kellankoski, and a maximum of six at Kärnänkoski.
In Kolima-Keitele rapids route angling permit area, the customer can choose between a validity period of 6 hours, 12 hours or 24 hours.
Permit sales
Permits for 2024 become available on 8 January 2024 at 9 a.m.
Individual reservations
Starting from 8.1. for time periods between 8.1. and 31.3. you can buy permits from web store or via our customer service number.
Starting from 1.4 for time periods between 1.4. and 31.12. you can buy permits from web store or via our customer service number.
Reservations for the entire rapids
Starting from 8.1. for time periods between 8.1. and 31.3. you can buy permits from web store or via our customer service number. For time periods between 1.4. and 31.12. you can buy permits only via our service number (reservations only for 24 h).
Starting from 1.4. for time periods between 1.4. and 31.12. you can buy permits from web store or via our customer service number.
Individual angling permit
| Permit validity | permit price | Validity begins at |
|---|---|---|
| 6 hours | 25 € | At midnight, 6 AM, noon or 6 PM |
| 12 hours | 30 € | At midnight, 6 AM, noon or 6 PM |
| 24 hours | 40 € | At 6 PM |
Persons under 18 years of age pay half price for the angling permit.
reserving the entire rapids
You can reserve the entire rapids by purchasing as many individual permits as the angler quota allows in the web shop: five for Kymönkoski and Kellankoski and six for Kärnänkoski. To reserve the entire rapids for groups of more than five or six anglers, you must call the Eräluvat telephone service.
The names of the people who will participate in the fishing must be provided in conjunction with the permit reservation.
Each of the rapids is reserved separately.
Reserving Kymönkoski or Kellankoski
| permit validity | permit price | validity begins at |
|---|---|---|
| 6 hours | 125 € | At midnight, 6 AM, noon or 6 PM |
| 12 hours | 150 € | At midnight, 6 AM, noon or 6 PM |
| 24 hours | 200 € | At 6 PM |
If the group includes more than five anglers, the price of a permit for each additional person is the same as the price of an individual permit, in other words, 25, 30 or 40 euros depending on the validity of the permit.
Reserving Kärnänkoski
| permit validity | permit price | validity begins at |
|---|---|---|
| 6 hours | 150 € | At midnight, 6 AM, noon or 6 PM |
| 12 hours | 180 € | At midnight, 6 AM, noon or 6 PM |
| 24 hours | 240 € | At 6 PM |
If the group includes more than six anglers, the price of a permit for each additional person is the same as the price of an individual permit, in other words, 25, 30 or 40 euros depending on the validity of the permit.
- Buy licence from web store
- Catch reports
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Service number 020 69 2424 (Mon–Fri 9 AM–3 PM)
Licence sellers
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.
Permit terms
Permit terms for the area
1.1.–31.8. and 1.12.–31.12.What does the permit entitle the holder to
All visitors fishing in Kolima-Keitele rapids route permit area must obtain 6576 angling permit. Hook and line fishing and ice fishing are prohibited in rapids and running waters where there are migratory fish routes regardless of whether the person has an angling permit or not.
Angling permit Southern Finland (7413) issued by Metsähallitus does not entitle the holder to fish in the waters of Kolima-Keitele rapids route (6576).
Please note that there are areas prohibited for fishing in the permit area. Anglers must check the borders of the restricted area on the permit area map.
Fishing gear and bait
An angler may use one (1) rod with a single line.
Use of natural baits, such as worms, shrimps, bait paste or similar, is prohibited in Kolima-Keitele rapids route permit area.
Only traditional fly fishing is allowed at Kellankoski and only barbless hooks are permitted.
Both lure and fly fishing are permitted in Kärnänkoski and Kymönkoski rapids.
Catch quotas
The maximum number of fish that an angler may catch is indicated in the table below:
| permit validity | Maximum catch |
|---|---|
| 6 hours | 1 grayling or a brown trout without an adipose fin |
| 12 hours | 2 salmonid of which one can be a grayling |
| 24 hours | 3 salmonid of which one can be a grayling |
In this quota table, salmonid means a brown trout without an adipose fin and a grayling. There is no fishing quota limit for other fish species.
The 24-hour catch quota cannot be increasing by purchasing several permits for the same 24-hour period. For example, three 6-hour permits does not entitle the permit holder to catch three brown trout within a 24-hour period.
Catch sizes and protection periods
The following catch sizes and protection periods for fish species are in effect for this permit area:
| Fish species | Catch Size | Protection period |
|---|---|---|
| Trout with adipose fin | Fish of all sizes must be released | Completely protected |
| Trout without adipose fin | At least 50 cm | In rapids and running waters 1.9.–30.11. |
| Grayling | At least 35 cm | 1.4.–31.5. |
Fishers must observe the catch sizes and protection periods mandated 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.
Further information
Services in the area
There are campfire sites and lean-to shelters at the rapids for both anglers and hikers to enjoy. Kärnä rental hut in Kärnänkoski can be booked through Eräluvat webshop (verkkokauppa.eraluvat.fi).
Fisheries management
Plantings are only done with trout that have had their adipose fin cut off.
Major restoration work was carried out along Kolima-Keitele rapids route in 2018. Migratory fish habitats in Kärnänkoski, Kellankoski and Kymönkoski, which are part of the permit area, were improved by such measures as creating more spawning and nursery grounds. The effectiveness of the restoration projects has been monitored using electric pulse fishing and redd inventories. Read more about the restoration of Kolima–Keitele rapids route (in Finnish).
Discharge information
Current information on the discharge and water levels in Kellankoski Rapids may be found here (ymparisto.fi, in Finnish).
Impact of water temperature on fishing
You can monitor the real-time temperature of the water in Kellankoski 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 licence sales as temperatures rise.