Hundred kilometres long River Vantaanjoki

The River Vantaa is approximately one hundred kilometres in length. The river flows through seven municipals from its origins in Hausjärvi, all the way to Helsinki, where it drains into the Gulf of Finland.

The River Vantaa is home to one of the most significant seatrout populations in the Gulf of Finland area. Improvements in water quality, coupled with river habitat restoration projects have resulted in growing fish stocks and excellent recreational fishing opportunities. Today salmon and seatrout are able to reach the up-most parts of the river-system and both species reproduce naturally in the river’s many rapids. The river also has several special fishing zones, which are frequently stocked with gamefish for anglers to catch.

The river’s largest tributary is the 65 km long River Kerava, that connects with the River Vantaa main basin in Helsinki. The Kirkonkylänkoski and Tikkurilankoski rapids (fishing is prohibited in both rapids) in the lower parts of river River Kerava are equipped with fishways that allows salmon and seatrout to migrate upstream all the way to Järvenpää, where the Haarajoki dam forms a migration barrier.

About fishing destinations

The waters of River Vantaa are naturally turbid, but especially during the summer the water in the middle- and upper-parts of the river can be quite clear. The headwaters of the river are located in Riihimäki. Fishing in these areas closely resembles brook-fishing. As the river flows seawards and grows in size, also the width and the length of the fishing areas grow.  The middle-sections hold several fishing areas that are located around rapids. The terrain is characterized by lush broad leaf woodlands and one can go through an entire day’s fishing without encountering other fishermen. The fishing areas are equipped with public places, where you can start a campfire.

Near Helsinki, the capital of Finland, the river is readily accessible. The distances between fishing zones are short and some areas can be reached with ease using public transportation. Despite the urban surroundings one can connect with nature, while being at the river.

Popular fishing destinations:

• Vanhankaupunginkoski rapids and pool
• Vantaankoski rapids
• Pitkäkoski rapids
• Nukarinkoski rapids

Species to Catch

Over 6 000 fishing licenses are purchased and over 20 000 kilograms of fish are caught by recreational fishermen annually. Brown trout is the most sought-after species by anglers. The most common catches are rainbow trout, pike and perch. Other possible species to catch are for example salmon, grayling and different species of cyprinids.

More information (in Finnish): ww.vantaanjoki.fi

The Water Protection Association of the River Vantaa and Helsinki Region was founded in the spring of 1963, when the municipals and factories around River Vantaa decided to take voluntary actions to stop the decline and contamination of the river. During the past half a century water quality has improved significantly in the main basin and the affluent streams, but much remains to be done. In addition to its notable recreational aspects River Vantaa also serves an important role by proving a back-up water supply for the Helsinki area, when the primary water source is out of use.

Today the Water Protection Association’s area of operation covers the entire River Vantaa drainage basin, spanning from Riihimäki in the north to the sea-areas surrounding the City of Helsinki.

The Water Protection Association’s tasks include:

• promoting water and environmental conservation
• developing and improving recreational use of the watershed
• monitoring water quality
• monitoring and guiding the usage of wastewater treatment plants
• monitoring  the effects of diffuse load and the general status of the watershed
• groundwater-related issues
• various projects aimed at improving the status of the watershed
• providing advice and education
• providing separately ordered scientific investigations for the association’s member organisations

The River Keeper

The River Keeper project was initiated in 2014 by The Water Protection Association of the River Vantaa and Helsinki Region. The project aims at developing the recreational use of the river-system and improving the living conditions of migratory fish in the River Vantaa drainage basin.

The River Keeper’s working area covers the entire main basin. The River Keeper’s working methods consist of hands-on approaches to fisheries management, which includes for example the maintenance, scientific investigation, and making an inventory of salmonid spawning grounds in the river.

The River Keeper serves as the eyes and ears of the river, making notes of the rivers current status and informing the projects collaborators, when necessary.

In 2015 the River Keeper inspected the fishing licenses of over six hundred fishermen.

Fisheries Control

Fishing in River Vantaa is supervised by the employees of the River Keeper project and the fisheries controllers appointed by the surrounding cities and local fishing zones. The revenue from the license sales are used for stocking gamefish, fisheries control, maintaining riverside facilities (campfire spots, path system etc.), arranging fishing-related activities for children and other events.

Not complying with the fishing regulations is punishable by law and all unlicensed fishermen are reported to and investigated by the police. Make sure to familiarize yourself with the fishing regulations of the area that you are fishing, and buy all necessary licences before you start fishing.

As a fisherman your duty is to know the local rules for fishing and to be able to present all necessary fishing licenses and an identification document to a fisheries controller, when asked.

Fishing fees

Everyone aged 18 to 64 years, fishing with a rod and reel in Finnish waters must pay a fisheries management fee to the Finnish government. This fee covers all waterbodies in Finland and is always required, when fishing with a rod and reel. The fisheries management fee can be purchased on the internet at www.eraluvat.fi/en/fishing.html, by phone during weekdays 8-16 o’clock (020 692424), or at your nearby R-kioski kiosk.

River Vantaa is classified as river containing migratory fish stocks and therefore fishing in the rapids also requires a local, fishing zone-specific, fishing license. These local licenses can be purchased from license vendors, appointed by the fishing zones. Information about local fishing licenses and the locations of the license vendors are listed in this brochure.

The Finnish Fishing Act

The Finnish Fishing Act of 2016 and its implications on fishing in the River Vantaa

All fishermen aged between 18 and 64 years, fishing with a rod and reel must pay a fisheries management fee to the Finnish government (read previous chapter for more details).

Bait fishing without a reel and ice fishing in lakes, the sea and in slow-flowing water are considered as ‘Everyman’s rights’ (right of public access) in Finland and do not require a special fishing license. Bait fishing and ice fishing in fast-flowing sections of rivers and streams are forbidden.

Bait and ice fishing is forbidden in all fast-flowing sections of the River Vantaa and it is punishable by law. Not complying with this rule will result in a punishment carried out by the police.

Decree on the value of endangered and regressed fish species

Effective since 17.5.2019 decree 614/2019 of the Finnish Fishing Act states that regressed and endangered fish species are assigned with a monetary value. If a fisherman is caught in possession with one of these species, the beforementioned fish and the fishing gear used to catch them are confiscated, and the fisherman is sentenced to compensate the species-specific value to the Finnish government.

Below is a listing of compensation values of species relevant to the River Vantaa drainage system.

• Trout (Salmo trutta) at sea or in a river draining to the sea: 3 260 €
• Adipose fin clipped trout (Salmo trutta) at sea or in a river draining to the sea: 390 €
• Salmon (Salmo salar) at sea or in a river draining to the sea: 3 470 €
• Adipose fin clipped salmon (Salmo salar) at sea or in a river draining to the sea: 170 €
• European eel (Anguilla anguilla): 3 510 €
• Grayling (Thymallus thymallus) in fresh water south: of 67 °N: 300 €
• Noble crayfish (Astacus astacus): 50 €

For fish smaller than 25 cm the value is 10 % of the full value otherwise assigned to the species. Crayfish and lampreys are always assigned with the full value.

The fisherman is sentenced to pay the compensation to the Finnish government, if the fish is taken during a forbidden season, during species-specific protected season, using a forbidden fishing method, from a forbidden area, without a valid fishing license, the fish is smaller than the minimum landing size or protected altogether.

All trout with an unclipped adipose fin are protected by law

• All hatchery raised trout and salmon stocked at age one or above are marked with an adipose fin clipping. An unclipped adipose fin on a trout means that the fish is born in the wild and must be released immediately back into the water, regardless of the size or condition of the fish.
• All salmon and trout (fin clipped or not) are protected between the 1^th of September and the 30^th November (1.9.-30.11.).
• Grayling is protected between the 1^st of April and the 31^st of May (1.4.-31.5.).
• Whitefish is protected between the 1th of September and the 30th November (1.9.-30.11.).
• The bag limit for salmon in Finland is set to two fish per 24 hours per angler, by the national legislation. In the River Vantaa a stricter limit is in use, limiting the catch per angler to two salmonid fish per 24 hours.
• In small brooks and ponds, with no migratory connection to a larger waterbody, brown trout is not protected and the maximum landing size is 45 cm. All waterbodies in the River Vantaa drainage basin have a migratory connection to the Gulf of Finland; therefore all wild (unclipped adipose fin) brown trout are considered migratory and are protected by law.
• River Vantaa is classified as river containing migratory fish stocks and therefore fishing also requires a local, fishing zone-specific, fishing license in addition to the national fisheries management fee.

Minimum Landing Sizes for Different Species of Fish

The length of a fish determined by squeezing together the tail fin of the fish and measuring the distance between the end of the tail fin to the tip of the fish’s jaw. Fishing zone-specific, stricter minimum landing sizes for certain species of fish may be set in place. Be sure to familiarize yourself with the rules and minimum landing sizes in the area you are fishing.

The following minimum landing sizes are set nationwide in the National Fishing Decree. The minimum landing size of all species can be updated by 20% by local authorities. Organisations arranging the fishing also have a right to set stricter landing sizes. Always check the minimum landing sizes of your fishing area, before you start fishing.

• The minimum landing size for fin clipped i.e. stocked trout is 50 cm (50 cm + 20% = 60 cm).
• The minimum landing size for salmon is 60 cm (60 cm + 20% = 72 cm).
• The minimum landing size for grayling is 35 cm (35 cm + 20% = 42 cm).
• The minimum landing size for pikeperch is 42 cm (42 cm + 20% = 50 cm).

Käräjäkoski rapids, Riihimäki

Thanks to years of fish habitat restoration projects the Käräjäkoski area has become one of the most significant trout reproduction sites. Because of the high densities of juvenile trout in the area anglers fishing for rainbow trout must use barbless hooks in their flies and lures. All juvenile trout must be set back into the river. Be sure to do this as gently as possible and wet your hands before touching the fish. Larger fin clipped trout that meet with the minimum landing size criteria, are occasionally caught. These larger sea-run trout individuals are few and far apart and they are essential to the survival of the extremely endangered fish species. A responsible angler will set these gems of the river free, after a moment of admiration.

The fishing license also covers the area downstream from the Käräjäkoski rapids, through the Peltosaari district, all the way to the railway. This slow-flowing part of the river holds a good amount of large rainbow trout and sometimes grayling up to 40 cm in length are caught from the area. The path downstream is located on the right-hand side of the river and the total length of the fishing zone is approximately four kilometres.

Vanhanmyllynkoski and Kittelänkoski, Hyvinkää

In Hyvinkää fishermen are lured in by the peaceful Vanhanmyllynkoski and the pristine Kittelänkoski fishing zones. The catch mainly consists of rainbow trout and grayling. Trout also reproduces naturally in the area.