Ruunaa Rapids 7525
The area surrounding Ruunaa Rapids offers tremendous experiences in nature with its hiking trails, lodging services and rafting opportunities. The great fishing experiences of Ruunaa Rapids are accessible to all anglers from beginner to pro.
Ruunaa is situated 30 kilometres east from Lieksa. The rapids are situated in Ruunaa Camping Area and they stretch from the headwaters of Paasikoski to below Siikakoski. Ruunaa is a destination that can be taken in with the entire family, a group of friends or by your lonesome. All nature enthusiasts are sure to find something interesting in the pristine landscape of Ruunaa.
Extensive fisheries restoration measures have been taken at Ruunaa in 2018-2019. Migratory fish habitats have been improved in the rapids within the permit area, such as by adding gravel spawning beds and fry production areas. Restoration work will continue in the coming years.
We welcome you to Ruunaa where the breathtaking rafting experience or memorable hike is topped off with an evening by the campfire, enjoying the freshly caught haul of the day.
You can check the real-time temperature of the water in Ruunaa during the snow-free season in the SensorMonitor service (map.sensormonitor.fi).
Ruunaa Rapids
Purchasing a permit
Purchasing Information
In Ruunaa Rapids angling permit area, the customer can choose between a validity period of 3 hours, 24 hours or the entire season. The angling permit prices are as follows:
| Permit validity | Permit price |
|---|---|
| 3 hours | 15 € |
| 24 hours | 25 € |
| The entire season (calendar year) | 300 € |
Anglers under 18 years of age pay 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.
A family may purchase a family permit, which costs twice as much and has a fishing quota twice as large as an individual angling permit. A family consists of children under 18 years of age and their parents or legal guardians as well as married and common-law couples.
- Buy licence from web store
- Catch reports
-
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.
Mobile licence
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.
Pankakoski: Ruunaan hiking centre, Neitikoskentie 47, 81750 Pankakoski
Pankakoski: Ruunaa Tourism, Siikakoskentie 47, 81750 Pankakoski
Lieksa: Lieksan Retkiaitta, Pielisentie 126, 81700 Lieksa
Permit terms
Permit terms for the area
Calendar yearAn exemption decision made by the ELY Centre will cause changes in the fishing arrangements at Ruunaa Rapids starting in 2020. Read about the changes in the Eräluvat news item (in Finnish).
Exceptions to the fishing period
Wading is prohibited between 1 September and 31 May.
Fishing in Paasikoski–Mutikaisenkari area is prohibited between 1 September–30 November. Anglers must check the borders of the restricted area on the permit area map, for example, in the Excursionmap.fi service.
What does the permit entitle the holder to?
Angling permit 7525 is required for all lure fishing in Ruunaa Rapids angling permit area. 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.
The angling permit grants the right for lure fishing (lure, fly, jig) in rapids and running waters. It also allows hook and line fishing and ice fishing in lake areas.
General fishing rights do not apply in Lake Murroojärvi and Lake Kattilajärvi. This means that it is prohibited to fish there with a lure under a fisheries management fee as well as fish with a rod and line (hook and line fishing), and through a hole in the ice in wintertime (ice fishing), unless you have purchased an angling permit 7525. The Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY) has issued the decision on restricting general fishing rights.
General fishing rights apply in Lake Neitijärvi and Lake Kattilalampi. This means that you do not need to pay the fisheries management fee or purchase an angling permit for hook and line fishing or ice fishing with one rod in these pond and lake waters. Lure fishing with one (1) rod is permitted in Lake Neitijärvi and Lake Kattilalampi 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 or more by 31 December 2023.
Southern Finland (7413) angling permit also grants the right to fish in Lake Neitijärvi and Lake Kattilalampi.
Fishing gear and bait
An angler may use one (1) rod with a single line. The rod must be in the angler’s hand or within reach at all times (no more than 2 metres away). The rod may not be left alone for fishing. Fishing with a passive rod (left alone for fishing) is forbidden.
When trolling from a rowboat, an angler may use at maximum two (2) rods, each one with a single line.
Only barbless hooks are permitted in Ruunaa Rapids angling permit area. A lure can have a maximum of three hooks, in other words,
- one treble hook,
- one double hook and one single hook, or
- three single hooks.
The use of bait paste, silicone balls or natural baits, such as grubs, worms, shrimp or bait fish, is prohibited in the rapids or other running waters. These types of bait can be used in lake areas.
Watercraft
Fishing from a motorboat is only permitted in the lakes between the rapids, which means Lake Kattilajärvi and Lake Murroojärvi.
Rowboats are permitted in the rapids and running water areas, but the boat may not be anchored. Use of so-called satellite anchors that operate on a GPS device is also prohibited.
Catch quotas
In Paasikoski–Mutikaisenkari area, an angler can catch one (1) grayling or one (1) trout without adipose fin per day.
In Neitikoski, Murrookoski and Siikakoski rapids and in Lake Kattilajärvi and Lake Murroojärvi, the size of the catch quota depends on the validity of the permit. The maximum number of fish that an angler may catch in these waters is indicated in the table below:
| Permit validity | Maximum catch |
|---|---|
| 3 hours | 1 rainbow trout, grayling or trout (without adipose fin) |
| 24 hours | 3 rainbow trout, grayling or trout (without adipose fin) |
| Calendar year | 2 rainbow trout, grayling or trout (without adipose fin) per day |
There is no catch quota limit for other fish species.
The 24-hour catch quota cannot be increased by purchasing several permits for the same 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Landlocked salmon | Fish of all sizes must be released | Year-round |
| Brown trout with adipose fin | Fish of all sizes must be released | Year-round |
| Trout without adipose fin | At least 50 cm | 1.9.–30.11. |
| Grayling | At least 40 cm | 1.4.–31.5. Release is recommended at other times. |
| Pike-perch | At least 45 cm | No protection period |
Anglers must observe the catch sizes and protection periods specified in the Fishing Decree for other fish species.
Further information
Services in the area
Ruunaa Outdoor Centre is located at Neitikoski. Ruunaan Matkailu operates at Munkinvaara. These companies provide restaurant and accommodation services, rent equipment and sell fishing permits. You can read more about the services they offer at Ruunaa.fi and Ruunaanmatkailu.fi.
There is also an accessible fishing spot at Neitikoski that is suitable for people with physical disabilities. More information about accessible services at Ruunaa is available on the Ruunaa Hiking Area website (Nationalparks.fi).
Kattilakoski Rapids can be entirely reserved by a company or group for their own use. Information about reserving Kattilakoski is available from the Ruunaa Outdoor Centre at Neitikoski.
The best way to reach the destination is to take the Lieksa-Ilomantsi road (number 522), which has signs leading to the western side of Ruunaa and the Ruunaa Outdoor Centre at Neitikoski.
Fisheries management
The area between Neitikoski and Siikakoski is stocked with trout fry and, during the summer, catch-sized rainbow trout on a weekly basis.
The upper rapids of Ruunaa, which means the waters between Paasikoski and Mutikaisenkari, are a natural fish area that is stocked with trout and landlocked salmon fry.
The rapids route has also been the site of various restoration measures to improve conditions for migratory fish. These measures include spreading gravel from helicopters to create spawning beds and nursery grounds. Spreading gravel improves the habitats for landlocked salmon and trout and increases the number of spawning sites. The restoration measures implemented in 2018-2019 were done in the rapids between Paasikoski and Mutikaisenkari, all of which are located in the permit area. Read more about restoration in Ruunaa Rapids (in Finnish).
discharge information
Up-to-date information on the water level and flow situation in Lieksanjoki River is available at www.ymparisto.fi (in Finnish).
Impact of water temperature on fishing
You can find out the real-time temperature of the water in Ruunaa 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.