Salmon fishing in Simojoki, Finland

Simojoki flows into the Baltic in the very Bottom of the sea. Since the restrictions imposed on drift-net fishing in the Baltic Sea in 1996, the numbers of numbers of salmons rising along Simojoki have shown a considerable increase. The most significant of other fishes caught are grayling, pike and (to a lesser extent) trout. Simojoki has risen to become one of the leading favourites among Finnish sports-fishing enthusiasts in the space of three years.

The water of Simojoki river carries some humus and is therefore brownish. The flow of water varies a great deal depending on the weather in the summer; the average flow is 39 cub. metres/second. In a dry and warm summer there can be problems due to lack of water and it becoming warm. The width of the river bed is at the lower part of the river is between 130 - 70 metres. This lower part of the river (50 km in length), which is also the actual salmon rise part, has numerous rapids. Though they are numerous, the drop is not that great. It is highly suitable for spin-fishing and fly-fishing thanks to its open shoreline (ice tends to carry away the small trees in the spring) and it is easy to wade as it is shallow. Other advantages are the travel services ( airports, which can be reatched via Helsinki ) and the services of the nearby towns (Kemi 26 km, Oulu 81 km and Rovaniemi 125 km).

Considering that we are in Finland (in Finnish Lapland), the settlement of the riverside is relatively dense along its lower part. The river is free (i.e. there are no dams) and one of few natural salmon river in Finland.

In order to come sportfishing in Simojoki, You find information and contacts from these pages. Other possibility is to contact the nearest office of Finnair. Simojoki is easy to reach by flight via Helsinki to Kemi-Tornio airport (about 1 hour flight). From there on there are services available. Naturally the best way is to reserve everything in forehand. Wellcome!

1998 Fishing questionnaire results

Permits sold 3150 (1996 sales = 1200 permits and 1997 sales = 2650 permits)

Salmon catches

• Approx. 757 fish (1996 and 1997 = approx. 700 fish)
• Approx. 2990 kg (1996 and 1997 = 3200 kg and 3900 kg)
• Average weight 3.9 kg
• Biggest salmon: 18.8 kg (reliable information provided on fish weighing 21 kg and 23.5 kg)
• Typical catch early in the season, approx. 7 kg

Distribution of fishing times (fishing days/month)

• Summer 38%
• July 40%
• August 17%
• September 5%

Total: 12 106 fishing days, average 4 days Those successful in catching salmon: 23% of the respondents August is the most peaceful and surest time to catch salmon

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