FISHING SITES ACROSS SOUTHERN KONNEVESI
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Fishing regulations in Finland
Angling with a hook and line, ice-fishing and herring fishing with a rig are exempt from licenses under public rights of access. In addition, lure fishing with one rod is free of charge for people aged under 18 or over 64.
Other types of fishing always require fishing licenses. A fee is personal and a fisherman has to have a receipt to show if asked by an authority. People aged 18 to 64 must pay at least the state fisheries management fee, that entitles angler to fish with one rod and lure with the exception of river and rapids sites and other special fishing sites. The fishing rapids and rivers have their own licenses usually obtainable by the nearest kiosk or village shop. Ask your host! Your host can also assist in paying the fees for you.
The price of some holiday cottages include the lure fishing permit but even then the Fishing Management fee must be paid. If you only assist in fishing (e.g. by rowing) without handling the fishing gear you do not have to pay any fees.
Fishing licenses in Finland - more information in different languages:
English: http://www.fishinginfinland.fi/licences
Russian: http://www.fishinginfinland.fi/ru_licences
German: http://www.fishinginfinland.fi/angelscheine
Chinese: http://www.fishinginfinland.fi/cn_licences
Where to buy fishing licenses for Southern Konnevesi (in Finnish and English):
http://etela-konnevesi.fi/luontomatkailun-koordinointihanke/kalastusluvat/

Hankavesi Lake
Hankavesi is a lake in Northern Savo, part of the Rautalampi route. Hankavesi consists of numerous islands and narrows and part of it belongs to Southern Konnevesi National Park. The lake is well suited for throw fishing, trolling and winter fishing. Fish species are eg. pike perch, pike, perch, trout and whitefish. The best fishing time fot throwing and trolling is the period from May until September. From Hankavesi the water route continues down through Konnekoski rapid to Southern Konnevesi Lake.
Konnekoski Rapid
Konnekoski rapid goes down from Hankavesi lake to Southern Konnevesi lake. The length of the rapid is about 600m, width about 20 m (and average flow 48 m³/s). The rapid has been restored to the needs of fisheries in the 1980's. Seedlings are trout and grayling. The natural species of the rapid are trout, whitefish, perch and pike. Trout is the main catch of the rapid and its fishing is prohibited between 11.9.-15.1. for preservation reasons. Konnekoski is also an important breeding area for trout and whitefish. Permitted fishing methods in the rapid are fly fishing, throw fishing and trolling. The upper end of the rapid is well suited for surface fly fishing in spring and summer. Konnekoski is also equipped with a throwing pier.
Southern Konnevesi Lake as a fishing site
Southern Konnevesi Lake consists of numerous disorderly spread islands and separate depressions. The large landscape variations are created by open waters with their tiny islands and rocky islets and, on the other hand, several large forested islands and lush water areas with their narrow bayes and straits. Southern Konnevesi Lake is almost twice as big as Northern Konnevesi Lake and clearly deeper. Southern Konnevesi Lake has an area of 199,5 km2, a maximum depth of 56m and an average depth of 12,5m. The largest visibility depths of the lake are about 6,5m. In 2014 the Southern Konnevesi National Park was established.
Fishing in Southern Konnevesi offers a diverse framework. Throw fishing, rod fishing, winter fishing, trolling and net fishing are popular. The catches include: trout, pike perch, pike, perch, whixhfish and vendace. It is not advisable for a visitor to rent a boat and explore the rocky waters of Southern Konnevesi independently. The fishing should be rather practiced as a guided activity.
More information about Konnevesi Lake in different languages:
English: http://www.fishinginfinland.fi/lake_konnevesi
Russian: http://www.fishinginfinland.fi/ru_konnevesi
German: http://www.fishinginfinland.fi/de_konnevesi

The Rautalampi Route and the Seven Rapids of Konnevesi
Located in the headwaters of the River Kymijoki water body, the Rautalampi route is the most famous rapids route in Finland. The route covers several pristine rapids protected under the Act on the Protection of Rapids, where the primary target species is brown trout, the regional fish of Central Finland.
Between Lakes Konnevesi and Kynsivesi, runs a series of seven intriguing rapids. Until recently, almost all of these used to be closed fishing sites for small groups, but the Municipality of Konnevesi acquired majority ownership in the rapids in 2012 and started to open the sites up to the general public.
The most famous of the septet is the limpid Siikakoski Rapids, right at the outlet of Lake Konnevesi, where the late President Urho Kekkonen was a regular visitor. A hundred metres wide and a couple of hundred metres long, this rapids site offers excellent chances of tricking even quite big trout and grayling, as fishing is only allowed on the ‘catch and release’ principle.
Next in line when moving downstream run the smaller-scale Karinkoski and Taikinainen Rapids, followed by a longish leg of quiet waters leading to the racing surge of the Kellankoski Rapids, the fastest and most handsome site of the route. There are several hot spots within this 600-metre stretch, but the largest trout are generally caught in the upper section of the rapids. In the downstream pool, your lure may even be snatched by a ten-kilo pike.
After a couple of lake basins starts a trio of rapids known as the Korhola Rapids, the lower two of which – Keskisenkoski and Hannulankoski – are open to anyone with a licence. Perhaps the best chances of catching big trout are on the Hannulankoski Rapids that empties into Lake Kynsivesi, right at the beginning of the fishing season when smelt-hunting trout enter the stream. The Keskinsenkoski Rapids, in turn, is a better spot for catching grayling.
More information about the Rautalampi Route and the Seven Rapids of Konnevesi in different languages:
English: http://www.fishinginfinland.fi/central_finland_rapids
http://www.konnevedenkosket.fi/en/21/home
Russian: http://www.fishinginfinland.fi/ru_central_finland_rapids
http://www.konnevedenkosket.fi/ru/23/
German: http://www.fishinginfinland.fi/stromschnellen_in_mittelfinnland

Fishing services in Southern Konnevesi
- Erä’s Pete – fishing at the 7 Rapids of Konnevesi, Liesvesi lake, Southern Konnevesi lake
http://en-eraspete.weebly.com/fishing.html
- Lohimaa Fishing Services – fishing at Southern Konnevesi lake, Hankavesi lake
http://lohimaafishing.com/en/
- Kajamo tmi – fishing at Southern Konnevesi lake, Hankavesi lake, Konnekoski rapid
https://www.facebook.com/Venetaksi/?fref=ts (only in Finnish)
- Erä- ja hevospalvelut Huttunen Ay - fishing at Southern Konnevesi lake, Hankavesi lake, Konnekoski rapid
https://www.erahevonen.fi/ohjatut-retket (only in Finnish)
- Äijänkäppyrä – rapid fishing
https://markoaijalainen.wixsite.com/aijankappyraenglish/fishing
- Salmenharju – fishing at Liesvesi lake
http://www.salmenharju.com/engsalmenharju.htm (no information in English about fishing on the website)