Freshwater Spearfishing in Finland

[japppo]

Hello,
I want to share a video of my spearfishing session that is among the best I've had so far.
We all have our own standards, but this made my day.

Here's a clip from the Finnish midsummer fest:

Now the perch is smoke and lager is piss.

 

[japppo]

It's been some good fishing.
Here's a video of my first White Fish catch:

 

[foxfish]

Interesting to see you guys hunting in fresh water, very alien to us UK guys!
I once caught a 5.o1lb perch on a rod.

 

[japppo]

Nice! I'll let you know when I get one...

 

[japppo]

Hi mates!
I made a compilation of some shooting last summer and posted it on a video competition by Il pescatore in apnea - The Spearfishing HUB. I'd greatly appreciate if I got your support by checking out the video and posting some comments on it.

1. Watch this video embed:


2. Go to the video's youtube page and post a comment: (for example: shitty video)

3. Subscribe to Il pescatore in apnea - The Spearfishing HUB and https://www.youtube.com/salaseivastajat

Each view and comment on the Youtube page adds on the ranking.

Thanks in advance and I hope you enjoy.

Feedback has been few and its greatly appreciated, although I doubt my style will change much...

 

[japppo]

The first pike hunt this year and the first catch:

Luckily I did not stab myself, although it might seem like I did on the video...

 

[foxfish]

Interesting videos, do you eat the bream?

 

[japppo]

I eat everything I shoot. Here's the starring character getting cooked over an open fire:

 

[japppo]

Here's a little bit less of self stabbing action than in the previous pike video:

 

[japppo]

Fishing is not as easy as it seems, when based on some shooting videos only.

 

[japppo]

This years first pike shot:

 

[japppo]

Here's a tasty freshwater bream (Abramis Brama) that was smoked later the same day:

 

[japppo]

Pole spearing perch in twilight:

 

[arronthompson]

Hi. I'm moving from the UK to Finland in 2018. Could you let me know if there are any laws and licences that I need in order to go spearfishing in the lakes?

 

[japppo]

Hi,
You need to pay the fisheries management fee, 39€ per year. Here's the link, but it is for 2017 so bear with it...
https://verkkokauppa.eraluvat.fi/en/fisheries-management-fee/fisheries-management-fee/
It covers the whole country and open sea.

Then you need a permission from the local fishing cooperative for the lake or area you are going fishing. It can be difficult just to find the contact information of the person in charge. Few lakes have spearfishing licenses, but most often it can be arranged by contacting the person in charge and sometimes you get permission for free. Best is to go to a local pub or gas station and ask for a regular fishing license, someone will know the village chief, hehe. Then explain to the chief what spearfishing is and how difficult and rare it is to catch anything --> free license. Probably they want to know later if you saw any fish at all.

Spearfishing in rivers, rapids, streams or any flowing water is generally forbidden and requires a special license even for anglers.

State owned areas are listed in the website:
http://www.eraluvat.fi/en/fishing/fishing-permits-and-fees/angling-permit/alueet.html?alue=Other areas
For those areas you need the trap license to spearfish
This is the idea, but spearfishing is not mentioned as such:
http://www.eraluvat.fi/en/fishing/fishing-permits-and-fees.html

Not easy, because spearfishing is quite unknown and not always a recognized way to catch fish. Trap license for the lake will keep you covered in any case.

Local diving clubs can help with good spots and contacts.

Do you know where in Finland are you moving? I can try to provide contacts in that area.

 

[arronthompson]

Thanks for the information; that's really helpful. I freedive and spearfish regularly in the UK, so would really like to keep the hobby going. We're moving to Helsinki. Do you know any deep lakes in the region? We're looking to train for depth too.

 

[japppo]

Clear lakes for freediving, not in, but around Helsinki are Iso-Simi and Iso-Melkutin. Päijänne is one of the biggest lakes and freediving down to 70 m is possible there. Every summer there are events for freediving in Päijänne. Also under ice diving during the spring.
You'll get loads of freediving info here:
http://www.freediving.fi/in-english/
And ice freediving:
http://www.paijanneontherocks.com