Kuusamo - The Best of the Both Worlds

 
Some of the finest flyfishing in Finland can be found in the northeastern parts of the country. Kuusamo municipality, close to the eastern border has several fine rivers with trout, grayling and whitefish. Three of these woodland rivers have very special populations of migratory brown trout, also called Russian browns. This is because they spend most of their adult life in Russian lakes and run to the Finnish side only to spawn. These magnificent fish grow to a great size, most maiden fish measuring between 60 and 70 cm (23-27 inches). This equals weights between 2 and 4 kilos (4,5-9 lbs), but many specimens reach twice that size or even more.

In behavior they much resemble Atlantic salmon or seatrout, eating very little while in their spawning rivers. These populations are pure, their wildness has not been diluted with inferior stockfish. The main run arrives after Midsummer and good fishing can be had until September. These beautiful rivers got lots of international attention when the World Flyfishing Championships took place in Kuusamo in summer 1989. There are small villages scattered here and there, many isolated farmhouses but most of this area is wild and rugged fell and forest country.
 

The Rivers:

-Oulanka; biggest of the three Kuusamo rivers, slow and broad with some cascades, wonderful sandy banks and wild meadows, National Park area, beautiful scenery, rich fauna & flora, some walking to the most remote areas
-Kitka; wild and fast river, not too wide, partially in a canyon, mostly physically demanding access, the biggest trout in the area, good grayling fishery, very beautiful and challenging river, upper river easier and almost civilized
-Kuusinki; a real jewel, suitably shallow and gravelly, nearly perfect for flyfishing with good hatches, easily waded in most parts, fine trout, grayling and whitefish, easiest access of the three, unfortunately it can be extensively crowded

Flies for Russian browns are various, but almost any salmon pattern can be used with success. They take also imitative nymphs and sometimes even dry-flies surprisingly well. There are many mayflies and stoneflies in this area but caddisflies (sedges) are usually more important. Streamers (size 8-2, minnow and sculpin imitations) are also very good even for grayling. The bigger fish demand stout tackle, something like AFTMA 7-8, while any fine dry-fly rod classed for lines 3-5 will be very enjoyable with grayling and the smaller trout.

Also many other rivers in the general northeastern area have good fishing and they are usually less crowded than those three famous Kuusamo-rivers. Fishing for grayling can be fabulous although the average size is usually not too big. Trout fishing can be more consistent than in Kuusamo as the fish are less migratorially inclined. Many of the best fishing areas can be found along the long River Iijoki. It flows almost all across Finland from east to west and provides fine reaches of classic grayling water with some big trout every now and then. River Pärjänjoki, managed by F.P.S., is a long, interesting tributary to Iijoki also with grayling and trout.

The municipality of Kuhmo is situated some 200 kilometers south of Kuusamo and has equally fine rivers and rapids. This is also one of the best areas for sizeable whitefish. There are some lake fisheries to consider. F.P.S. has Kylmäluoma-area some 50 kilometers south from Kuusamo and Hossa-area not far either. Both of these destinations are well-stocked with several species of salmonids and especially Hossa is being developed under an extensive sportfishing and facilities program. All prices for fishing here are quite reasonable.