Lake Saimaa is the fourth largest lake in Europe

Lake Saimaa in Finland is the fourth largest lake as well as the largest contiguous lake district in the whole Europe. It is a national treasure of over a hundred lakes and thousands of islands, a unique collage of big open lakes, steep rocky shorelines and an abundance of islands.

The vast Saimaa archipelago has more than twice the length of shoreline that Brazil has, and the area is also under consideration to be added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. One of the rarest freshwater seals, the Saimaa Ringed Seal, lives only at Saimaa.

Our fishing areas on the northern parts of Lake Saimaa

We operate on the areas of Northern Karelia (towns/villages of Joensuu, Rääkkylä, Liperi) and Southern Savonia (towns/villages of Savonranta, Enonkoski, Kerimäki, Savonlinna, Punkaharju).

Lake Paasselkä in Savonranta is a lake that lies in a crater caused by a meteorite millions of years ago. It is known nationwide as a great salmon lake but it’s also good for pike, perch and zander.

Lakes Savonselkä and Orivesi on the border between Savonranta and Rääkkylä are known as fine zander fishing areas. They are also good for pike, perch and ide.

Lakes Samppaanselkä and Kuhakivenselkä are known for their big zanders, but also for pike and perch.

In Liperi, Lake Ukonselkä is known for big pikes, and lakes Jänisselkä and Tikanselkä are good for catching zander and perch.

Lake Pyhäselkä in Joensuu is a fine area for zander and perch. It is also conveniently near to the many shopping and accommodation services of the town of Joensuu.

Fisherman’s calendar of Lake Saimaa

May-June

Lake Saimaa is freed from ice usually around the 15th or 20th of May. Up until about the 20th of June it’s a great time for trolling of salmon or brown trout as well as casting for pike and zander. From mid-June on we start to troll for zander and pike and jigging for zander. Ide can be angled from mid-June until the end of July.

July

July is the season for night-time fishing. During the night we troll for pike and zander, during the day we use casting and jigging for catching pike, perch and zander. Hot July days are ideal for jigging for zander, pike and perch from the bottom of the lake.

August

In August we troll for pike and zander more in the daytime but still also during nights as well. The month is excellent for daytime jigging and casting of pike, perch and zander.

September

September is a great month for jigging of perch and zander as they gather into big shoals. It’s also a good time for trolling pike and zander.

October

October is the best month of the autumn for trolling salmon and brown trout. Perch, zander and pike can also be found in bigger shoals. October is also great for jigging and casting.

November-December

The end of the year is most suitable for trolling. As the waters get colder, salmon, brown trout and pike move to the bigger open water areas to hunt for food and can be best caught by trolling. The season lasts until Lake Saimaa freezes over.

Wintertime fishing may also be available. Please feel free to ask!

Main seasons of fish

Trolling of salmon and brown trout: May-June and September-November.

Pike: all season. Best season for casting is May-June, for trolling July-September.

Perch: all season. Best season for shoals of perch July-September.

Casting and trolling of zander: June-September.

Ide: end of June and July.

Old School Trolling • Jari Käyhkö
GSM +358 400 523 819 • jari@oldschooltrolling.fi
Business ID 2326440-4