Fishing on Lake Saimaa
50,000
cottages
Top 5
among the world’s most beautiful lakes
14,000
islands
4,400 km²
the 4th biggest freshwater lake in Europe
Why Saimaa?
Find Finland’s most diverse fishing waters in Lake Saimaa
If you’re planning a fishing holiday in Finland, Lake Saimaa offers the most diverse and authentic experience you can find.
In the heart of Europe’s largest lake district, Lake Saimaa spreads into a labyrinth of sheltered bays, clear channels and pine-lined islands. It’s Finland’s largest lake a true paradise for fish and fishermen alike. Here you’ll find fish of all sizes and colours, from the powerful pike to delicate whitefish and vendace, all thriving in the cleanest of waters.
The lake and its character
Saimaa is first and foremost an open-water lake system, a vast network of bays, channels and island-sheltered coves shaped by the Ice Age.
It is loved by anglers for its variety, and between these open waters lie gentle current zones that certain species prefer.
Thanks to its glacial geology, the lake bottom changes constantly from wave-polished rocks and boulder fields to sandy lagoons and long, shallow beaches.
The water varies from crystal clear to almost black, yet remains clean throughout.
The type of bottom often determines which fish you find where, creating an endlessly diverse fishing environment.
Fish and habitats
Perch, zander and pike are abundant throughout Lake Saimaa.
Zander favour slightly turbid, warmer bays and soft-bottom areas.
Pike hunt along weed edges, rocky points and reed belts, while perch thrive almost everywhere from shallow coves to deeper drop-offs.
Trout, salmon and grayling are found too, especially in cooler, clearer waters and the flowing connections between Saimaa’s sub-lakes.
Vendace (muikku) is one of Saimaa’s most characteristic fish and an important part of local food culture.
In summer it is caught by trawling in open waters, while in winter locals practise the age-old tradition of under-ice seining.
Both can be experienced on guided trips in several parts of the lake.
Burbot (made) is a prized winter delicacy and most active from mid-January to February.
It offers unique ice-fishing opportunities when the lake lies silent under snow and starlight.
Fishing culture and local life
Fishing around Saimaa is more than a pastime; it is a way of life that still shapes how people eat, gather and celebrate.
Locals have always relied on the lake for their daily meals, and many continue to fish for their own table, valuing both the freshness and the tradition of self-sufficiency.
Perch, vendace, zander and burbot are everyday ingredients in local kitchens.
They are enjoyed fried at the cabin, smoked by the shore, or served in restaurants that proudly use fish caught from nearby waters.
Seasonal dishes such as wintertime burbot stew or freshly trawled summer vendace from Puruvesi connect visitors directly to the lake’s flavours and the people who live by it.
Even if you do not catch your own fish, local cafés and restaurants serve the same lake-to-plate freshness that defines life around Saimaa.
Cabin life by the lake
Staying in a lakeside cottage is at the heart of the Saimaa experience.
Here, time slows down.
Mornings begin with mist on the water and coffee on the terrace, and evenings end with the glow of the sauna and a quiet swim in the lake.
Most cabins come with their own jetty, boat, grill hut or fireplace, and often a sauna just a few steps from the waterline.
Beyond the shoreline, nature provides its own pantry.
Forests start right at your doorstep, filled with berries, mushrooms and wild herbs ready to be picked and cooked — the essence of Finnish foraging culture.
It is easy to combine fishing, gathering and cooking in one day and enjoy the flavours of the forest and lake around the same campfire.
For many visitors, the cabin becomes more than accommodation; it is a retreat into Finnish everyday life, simple, peaceful and surrounded by pure nature.
Whether you spend your days fishing, paddling or exploring the woods, cabin life by Saimaa is about rediscovering balance.
On below see our offers and explore more cottages on the region here.
Winter Fishing in Lake Saimaa
Ice, silence and the soft light of a Nordic winter. When Lake Saimaa freezes, fishing takes on a slower rhythm and a deeper calm. Perch, zander and pike wait beneath the ice, and for many locals this is also the season of vendace seine fishing. When shimmering schools are drawn from beneath the frozen surface, a long-held Saimaa tradition that still brings people together.
Guided ice-fishing trips make it easy for beginners and rewarding for seasoned anglers. You can reach the best spots by kicksled or snowmobile, learn local tricks for bait and drilling, and enjoy hot drinks in the quiet of the white lake. For those after something unique, the winter season also offers a chance to catch burbot, a true delicacy of the cold months.
After hours outdoors, warmth and comfort await in your lakeside cabin. The crackling fire, the glow from the sauna and a hearty meal of fresh local fish make the day complete.
Open-Water Fishing in Lake Saimaa
When the ice melts, Saimaa transforms into a living landscape of light and sound. Early mornings are magical as mist rises and the lake wakes with birdsong and rippling water. Long days and late sunsets stretch the fishing hours – pike hunt in the shallows, zander feed at dusk and perch schools flash in the clear depths.
Summer is also vendace season, when the same silvery fish are caught by trawling in open waters – a fresh taste of Saimaa’s pure, living lake. And for anyone just starting out, simple rod-and-line fishing is free under Finland’s public fishing rights, offering the joy of casting from the pier or shore anywhere around the lake. Onkiminen and small-scale lure fishing are especially loved by children, making them perfect activities for family holidays by the water.
More experienced anglers can deepen the experience with a local guide – learning which lures, techniques and lake areas work best in different weather and seasons.
Saimaa Offers for Anglers
Special fishing in Finland deals inspired by AngelWelt Berlin.
Book Lake Saimaa packages directly with trusted local providers and experience real Finnish fishing life, where cabins by the water, clean lakes and genuine hospitality meet.
Explore more about fishing in Lake Saimaa
Guided fishing trips
Catching fish from the pristine waters of Lake Saimaa is an exhilarating experience. A guided fishing trip in the Lake Saimaa region ensures you won’t miss a catch, as the expert guides lead you to the best fishing spots.
Rock and Lake
LakelandGTE
Uhkua
Guided Fishing Trips in Savonlinna region
SaimaaHoliday Oravi
Nature hotel & Spa resort Järvisydän
Ruoke Holiday Village
Naaranlahti Resort
Kuus-Hukkala
Tynkkylän Lomaniemi
Norppamajat
