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.

To Be Continued....

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