Short stories of fishing tourism and true Finnish stubbornness

Sport fishing company Old School Trolling was established in June 2010, but the seeds of the company had been planted during the economic depression of 2008 to 2009. I was unemployed and spent over 800 hours of my time fishing on Lake Saimaa during the open water season 2009. When the season ended, I felt depressed and needed something as an aim in my life and an outlet for my energy. A new beginning with a sport fishing company owned by me seemed like a viable idea. Well, it was designed with rose-tinted glasses over my eyes.

Chapter 1. If it ain't hell, they ain’t happy

After hard work on negotiations on company funding and after many disappointments and sleepless nights I was finally able to start putting it all together in April – May 2010. Looking back, I can say it was a kind of miracle to get there in such a short time with such an unrealistic business idea. The authorities told me the only reason I made it was my stubbornness and relentlessness. Today I would call that period of my life as a mental health problem. I wasn't manic, but completely unyielding in my pursuit of my goal of turning a hobby into a financially viable job. For the next five years I really needed that drive to get through everything.

To be honest, I do not have very clear memories of my first open water season as an entrepreneur. I worked hard trying to make my services known locally, finding accommodation partners who would be willing to offer my services for their clients and of course learning how to be a guide. It is much easier to do fishing by yourself or with your friends than guiding others for money and feeling the pressure of having to deliver good results. I hosted only ten fishing gigs during that first season. It was an absolutely unprofitable season.

For the first three seasons I can remember it was a financial struggle all the time, even though the sales and the number of gigs did increase year by year. I turned all the rocks and stumps trying to make it financially profitable, but it did not work. I was exhausted and bitter, knowing I needed to make more money to continue. It was time to invest into getting a rental fishing cottage of my own included the business. These negotiations of extra funding were even harder than three years earlier. The numbers were against me, but I wanted to keep it all and continue. I was lucky enough to find a bank manager willing to invest in business aimed at fishing customers. In 2013 I was able to start with my first rental cottage and in 2024 I purchased more room near my main cabin. This time I did not need weeks or months to get funding. The whole process was over in less than seven days after making an offer of the price. However, I never quite managed to turn this into a full year-round source of income for myself: it remains a serious side business alongside my main job, which is working on construction.

Chapter 2. There's no business like fishing business

Working as a fishing guide and tourism were categorized as occupations without future in my area of Finland. As in every branch of industry, big companies that create employment are more tempting for financiers and decision-makers as well as for local and foreign travel agencies and media. It was quite difficult to find other companies interested in working with me, and there were also challenges to make my services locally known. Looking back I can say that the ten gigs during my first season in our area with almost zero publicity was better than many people expected. Contacts were made by meeting cottage owners face to face and spreading fliers everywhere possible. Doesn’t that sound similar to a rock band starting out before they become famous?

During my first three seasons I didn’t have my fishing cottage yet, so I got fishing clients from a couple of local cottage owners as well as several travel agencies, and at least half of my clients found me through the internet or fliers spread by me. In the end, during my first five years the biggest number of gigs done in one calendar year was 30. It was absolutely not enough. I made calculations showing I need to run 3–5 guiding trips a week to be able to work as a full time guide. So, after a couple of years of trying to do it full time I switched to working as a guide in the summer only. It was the only way to keep the company alive and survive economically. I did also end co-operation with travel agencies due to the small number of clients they offered. Co-operation with other cottage owners ended naturally when I started to offer accommodation of my own. From then on I did my marketing through the internet, tried to improve the visibility of my internet pages with optimization and realized that satisfied visitors are the best marketing channel. Progress was slow but created a stable basis for this operation. Many thanks to all of you spreading information of our services.

Fishing guides are competitive people who very often have long experience with fishing before becoming professionals. They can be arrogant towards each other in competitive situations, but basically they are very attentive to their customers. Some do all possible fishing methods, some have specialized. When I started in 2010 I specialized in salmon trolling. I had grown in an environment where it was the most prestigious type of open water fishing. The true value and importance of white-fleshed fish for business had not yet dawned on me. I also learned that clients were much more interested in various spinning methods than trolling. During the first season we did a lot of trolling trips, in the following years more and more spinning trips. One very important reason for that was the growing awareness of the endangered status of the Lake Saimaa salmonids and a generally growing will to promote conservation measures. I for one totally quit salmon and trout fishing in 2014. Now we have come to the point where salmon fishing will be totally forbidden in 2025 on Lake Saimaa, to promote conservation activities. I am very happy about that.

Fishing electronics have became more and more important tools for fishing guidances due to the visual possibilities they give us. The first big step for me was purchasing a trolling motor with a GPS anchor, and after that a mega class side imaging sonar, and finally a live sonar. These days it is a given to have a live sonar in the guidance boat or when organizing an ice fishing event. In my country many people do not understand any kind of C&R fishing or usage of live sonars, thinking all the fish caught should be killed and the usage of live sonars forbidden. There are still a lot of people in this country who believe the only proper way to fish is to use a fishnet through the year, a method which does not make it easy or usually even possible to release the fish alive. Can you see a cause and effect equation here?

What I wanted to start back in 2010 was a sport fishing company using rod fishing methods that makes it possible to release fish unharmed, encourage fishermen to release the large predatory fish and to use the smaller ones for cooking, and to be reasonable in the catch amounts. I wanted to show it is possible to fish in a way majority of our nation doesn’t. All the selective or C&R fishermen are welcome to come and join our services. The paradox is that the majority of the Finnish population considers us animal abusers because we release the fish, and hardcore C&R fishermen consider us butchers because we use some fish for cooking (which for me is the highest level of respect you can show the fish you keep). Quite often I tell my visitors to keep what they need for a meal with their family or friends, and release the rest. I am a strong character who does not try to please everybody. If you agree with my fishing mentality and you are willing to follow the regulations and daily fish quota of my company, you're welcome. Otherwise use your freedom to choose some other location for your vacation and fishing experience.

Are there problems among all fishing methods and mentalities? Absolutely, but little by little we can make a change, learn to handle the fish better and became more tolerant towards each other. It doesn’t mean we all should fish with the same methods, with the same intentions. Leisure time fishing is supposed to be a happy thing, helping us relax in the great outdoors. Let’s keep sharing beautiful pictures of the fish we catch, show how to properly handle the fish we release or keep, enjoy the beauty of nature, and savour our self cooked meals in good company.

Chapter 3. Regulations

If we go through regulations, our fishing law says that we must minimize the pain and stress of the fish caught. All the fish kept must be killed immediately when taken off the lake. It is forbidden to keep them alive for a longer time than you need for unhooking the fish, measuring the length to make sure it is legal and taking a picture of your catch before releasing it. It is highly recommended to unhook the fish either in water or lifting it into a vessel filled with water. To minimize the time the fish is kept out of water, we should be able to do it all from unhooking to releasing and photographing the fish in less than 2 minutes, keeping it out of the water max. 30 to 60 seconds. If you want to get the weight, you can hold the fish in a landing net while weighing it. My personal biggest zander in 2024 was 81 cm long, caught by softbait spinning from a depth of 8 meters. The time I used for unhooking and measuring the length in boat was appr. 30 seconds before releasing it. No pictures or weight were taken. A successful release without problems.

There is a minimum landing length set for zander and salmon fish where allowed to fish. There is also a daily quota for salmon fish. Other fish do not have minimum landing lengths or daily quotas provided for in the law. To make the situation more complex, local area fishing authorities can set protection areas and times, set daily quotas for the fish as well as set a maximum length for the fish caught. Quite often the quotas or maximum landing lengths are given as recommendations. The best way to get familiar with these issues is to ask more information from your cottage owner, who knows the local customs.

Next I will go through the regulations given by my company, based on Finnish fishing law and good fishing manner. If these regulations are violated, I can cancel the cottage rental contract immediately, return the rental sum of the rest of the rental period and ask the visitors to leave the cottage in a time of max. 3 hours. If I notice violations after the rental period has ended, I inform the customers that they are no longer welcome at our cottage destination. If you can not accept these next regulations, you better choose some other location for your vacation.

Do not fish any salmon or trout fish by purpose on Lake Saimaa area. If you catch one accidentally, please release the fish immediately in to the water, dead or alive. Do not take measurements or pictures, simply release the fish as fast and gently as possible. If possible, do it in water by using a landing net. Do not lift the fish onto the boat, if possible. Do not carry the fish by your hands, if possible.

In perch fishing, release perches 40 cm long or bigger. The daily quota for one fisherman is max. 3 kg of unhandled perch per day.

In zander fishing, release the fish smaller than 45 cm long or bigger than 75 cm long. The daily quota for one fisherman is 2 zanders from 45 cm up to 74 cm long.

In pike fishing, release pikes smaller than 50 cm long or bigger than 100 cm long. The daily quota for one fisherman is 3 pikes from 50 cm to 99 cm long.

One of the very first limitations I set was forbidding the use of nets from our visitors. We are a sport fishing company who does not use fish nets or fish traps. Only rod fishing methods are allowed.

I must say, during the years there have unfortunately been groups from different countries, who have behaved so badly that they are not welcome as my guests any more: groups that have drank too much, broken things, violated the good fishing manner or disturbed the local cottage owners. Luckily I have made a lot more new fishing friends from different nationalities who fish and behave smartly. Heavy drinkers, please do go somewhere else. It would be optimal to go boating and fishing sober and use alcohol only afterwards when the fishing day is over and you are back on dry land and at the cottage.

By Finnish fishing law it is forbidden to use live bait for any kind of fishing. Only dead bait is allowed. You are not allowed to store fish alive in an under water sump or other vessels.

To Be Continued....

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