West & East

The coastal area in western Finland is even and low, but there are many rivers in this area. Most are regulated mainly for flood control purposes and have just coarse fish in them. However many have brown trout and/or rainbows and perhaps some grayling fishing in their upper and middle reaches and some have seatrout and the occasional salmon. Most of these slightly brownish rivers are on the smaller side of the scale and easily fished with flies. All the way from Tornio at the Finnish-Swedish border down the coast to Turku in SW there are several places worth trying. I'm just naming some which I know to be reliable and that have easy and affordable license system. That means that all or most of the river is covered by one permit (even up to 150 kilometers).

-Simojoki SE from Tornio; mainly grayling, more salmon lately
-Kiiminkijoki N from Oulu; grayling, some brown trout, the odd salmon
-Lestijoki NE from Kokkola; brown & rainbow trout, some grayling and seatrout
-Merikarvianjoki N from Pori; rainbow & brown trout, some seatrout

When we move east through central Finland and get closer to the Russian border we get into higher country. Here in eastern Finland there are several big lakes preferred by trollers and some rivers and a few smaller lakes with good flyfishing. Trout, landlocked salmon and grayling are the main species here. P.F.S. has some waters in this area but most areas are in private hands. F.P.S.-managed Ruunaa rapids-area is typical of this region with many fast, rocky stretches alternating with small lakes. In the area around Kuopio and Joensuu there are situated in nice country settings several fishable trout rivers, which are quite cheap and entertaining to fish. Look for places like Taipaleenjoki and Nurmijoki if you happen to go that way.