Ice fishing and snowshoeing near Rovaniemi

Both activities are slow by Lapland standards: no engine, no dogs pulling, just forest and frozen lakes around the city. Visit Rovaniemi describes ice fishing as the traditional Finnish way of fishing in winter, with the spot reached by snowmobile, on snowshoes or by car.

Most guided trips from Rovaniemi last three to four hours with pick-up, keep groups small and end at a campfire with hot drinks and something to eat. One tour combines the two activities: you are driven about 20 km north of the city and then walk 2 km across a frozen lake on snowshoes to the fishing spot.

How ice fishing works

Ice fishing in Finland means fishing with a short rod and a jig on a line that you move up and down through a hole in the ice. On one of the tours below you drill your own hole; on all of them the fishing gear and winter clothing are provided. One operator names trout, perch and whitefish as the likely catch. What happens to the fish depends on the tour: on one, a big catch is cooked over the fire on the spot, on another you can fry your catch at the end.

Daylight matters if you want to see the lake. Around the winter solstice the sun is up in Rovaniemi for only about two hours, from 11:08 to 13:22 on 21 December. By 1 February it rises at 09:19 and sets at 15:43, which leaves room for a morning or midday trip in proper light.

The rules for fishing on your own

Finland is generous here. Under the general fishing rights explained by Metsähallitus, ice fishing and hook and line fishing need no permit. The rights cover one rod at a time. With two or more rods, anyone between 18 and 69 must pay the fisheries management fee and get permission from the owner of the water. The general rights do not apply in rapids and running waters with migratory fish, or where fishing is banned by other rules, and Metsähallitus points to its online Fishing Restriction Service for local limits.

Everyman’s rights also let you move around on frozen waterways. That right does not mean the ice will hold you, and around Rovaniemi the official advice is to go out with a guide. Visit Rovaniemi writes that there is no sure way of telling when ice is thick enough to carry people.

Safe ice, and the river in town

Lakes and rivers near Rovaniemi are generally frozen from December to March, but Visit Rovaniemi stresses that the timing and thickness vary a lot with weather and location. The city centre is a special case. The City of Rovaniemi warns that the river ice there is not safe, and that between the Jätkänkynttilä bridge and the railway bridge it is dangerous all winter because of the strong current. Water released for electricity production can also stop the ice from thickening properly.

Snowshoeing with a guide

On a guided trip the guide shows you how to put the snowshoes on and leads you into the forest. The operators provide the snowshoes and usually the overalls and boots as well. The trips take about three hours including the drive and end at a campfire. One tour ends with lunch by the fire in a tipi in a forest about 30 km from town; on that one, winter clothing is not included, so check before you book.

Pick-up rules differ more than you would expect. One operator has stopped collecting guests from the centre and near its office and only picks up from listed accommodation outside the centre, while another collects within 10 km of the centre. If you stay in a central hotel, the meeting point may decide which tour suits you.

Snowshoeing on your own

You do not need a tour to try snowshoes. Santasport at Ounasvaara rents snowshoes and touring skis, and says you can reach the top of the hill quite easily on them. The Ounasvaara winter trail is groomed by snowmobile at the start of the season, runs to about 6 km in total with its connecting paths, and has two lean-to shelters and an observation tower. Its nearest point is 1.6 km east of the city centre: cross the Jätkänkynttilä bridge and Jäämerentie, then turn left off the cycle path and climb Ounasvaara. The city says the trail is maintained in winter and free for everyone to use.

Keep off the cross-country ski tracks. Visit Rovaniemi and the Lapland safety brochure both say they are for skiers only, and walking on them is prohibited. Further out, Korouoma’s Koronjää trail can be walked on snowshoes in winter, and the 3.6 km nature trail at Auttiköngäs suits snowshoes too; both are on our day trips page.

Staying warm on the ice

Sitting still on a lake is colder than walking. Winter temperatures in Rovaniemi can fall to about −30 °C, and wind makes it feel colder still. Many activity companies rent out thermal overalls, boots, woollen socks, hats, balaclavas and mittens, says Visit Rovaniemi, and most of the tours above include overalls and boots. Wear wool next to your skin and leave room to wiggle your toes in your boots. Our page on what to wear in Rovaniemi goes through the layers.

If you would rather reach the fishing lake by snowmobile, the combined safaris are compared on rovaniemisnowmobiles.com.