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Teno – the best Atlantic-salmon river in the world |
 There´s hardly any other international border in the world as
open and free as the border between Finland and Norway, which
for a long stretch follows the River Teno. You´ll not find
barbed wire or border guards there but just the freely-flowing
river and its tributaries, up which the salmon swim for over a
thousand kilometres. The River Teno is at its most beautiful
during the Arctic summer when the midnight sun provides 24
hours of daylight.
An angler´s paradise The River Teno is the queen of the northern wilderness, and the King of Fish, the Atlantic salmon, swims up its channel. The red-fleshed salmon attracts thousands of anglers to the River Teno each year, the Teno salmon being in a class of its own. The Teno salmon is a big wild fish. While average salmon weigh 7-10 kg, several fish weighing over 20 kg are caught in the Teno every year, the best summers yielding dozens of such giant salmon. In recent years, the annual catch from the River Teno has totalled over 200,000 kilos, which makes the Teno unquestionably the world´s best river for catching Atlantic salmon. The magnificent natural environment of the Teno complements the splendid fishing experience and is one of the reasons for that visitors frequently return there. How to get there? The best way to travel to the River Teno for salmon fishing is to fly from Helsinki to Ivalo. You can hire a car in Ivalo and head north towards Utsjoki. Another alternative is to buy a fishing package whereby the activity organiser collects you from Ivalo Airport, looks after you during your visit and drives you back to the airport to catch a flight for Helsinki. An all-inclusive fishing package is naturally very convenient because the angler does not have to worry about any of the arrangements. It is worth reserving your accommodation in one of the holiday cottages along the river. Boats and fishing guides can also be hired through cottage owners. It is absolutely impossible for a novice to try boat fishing on his own on the Teno, because the shallow, rocky river poses a danger to anybody who is not familiar with it. Local fishing guides know their home river and can safely drive the boat to the starting point and work it down the river along the best and safest routes. Peak fishing times There are three peak times for salmon fishing on the River Teno. The first peak time is in June around the summer solstice, when fishing is concentrated on the lower stretches of the river. This is the time for the first run of big salmon, weighing 8-20 kg. The rapids of Alaköngäs are the most famous place and the area below the rapids is good for boat fishing. The actual rapids are excellent for bank fishing in the early season when the salmon stop in the eddies behind rocks when swimming up the river. The second peak time is during the first two weeks of July. The main salmon run occurs at that time and the best place for fishing is the stretch between the rapids of Yläköngäs and Alaköngäs. Piltamo, Aittisuvanto and Vetsikkosuvanto are also famous fishing spots. While the weights of the fish will range from one to twenty kilos, the catch will mainly comprise grilse, weighing 1-3 kg, and two-sea-winter salmon, weighing 3- 7 kg. The third peak time is during the second week of August. At that time, there is already plenty of fish in the river that have swum upstream earlier, and the last run of bright-flanked salmon will make all the fish in the river more active. Fishing is best at the rapids of Yläköngäs and in the river stretch upstream of them as far as Karigasniemi. The biggest salmon on the Teno are usually caught in August, and you might catch a real whopper, a cock salmon with a hooked jaw weighing over 20 kg. Fishing tackle Grilse weigh 1-3 kg and two-sea-winter salmon 3-7 kg, while mature salmon can be anything above 7 kg. The biggest salmon of the River Teno weigh around 30 kg, and therefore you need to choose the tackle accordingly. You do not need your own equipment at all if you hire a local rower as your fishing guide, because he will provide all the necessary tackle. If you, however, wish to bring your own personal tackle, the following is recommended: A carbon-fibre rod that is at least 10 feet long, an Abu Ambassadeur 7000 reel or equivalent and at least 200 metres of monofilament line, 0.45-0.55 mm in diameter. A fly fisher will choose a sturdy rod that is at least 14 feet long and a fly reel that can store at least 200 metres of backing line, in addition to the fly line. The fly reel should also be equipped with a high-quality, smooth brake. Chest waders are necessary, so that you can go out and cast your flies in the salmon´s path upstream. A lifejacket is a compulsory accessory, and if you hire a rower he will provide you with one. Unpredictable weather conditions While fishing on the River Teno, several hundred kilometres north of the Arctic Circle, you should be prepared for all kinds of weather conditions. While it may still snow in June in the valley of the Teno, the area could be the hottest place in Europe in July, with the temperature creeping up to 30 degrees Celsius. The water temperature in the river may reach 20 degrees Celsius in summer, but it can cool down fast in hot weather as the snow on the fells starts to thaw and the meltwater running into the river is freezing cold. Therefore it is recommended to wear a rescue suit or a float suit when boat fishing, in addition to the compulsory lifejacket. Boat fishing is the most popular and effective method You have to hire a boat for fishing on the Teno. Make sure you reserve one well in advance because during the high season from mid June to mid August all boats in the river valley are being used. For a visiting angler, it is definitely well worth hiring a local rower who knows the best rowing routes and can give advice on salmon lures. Because of the high demand, it is advisable to book the fishing week in January or February. Fishing itself is easy. First the fishing guide drives the boat to the starting point. Then he selects the lures, checks their action in the water and ties them on the lines. When it´s time to start fishing, the angler sits down at the stern of the boat and lowers the lures as instructed. The rods are placed on rod holders and rowing can start. Boat fishing for salmon is in fact quite simple, with the rower holding the boat against the current and at the same time steering it back and forth across the river. With each crossing the boat drifts downstream. The turns close to the riverbanks are the most crucial because the salmon often lies where the river´s current meets a back eddy. If a lure is presented in this spot the salmon is likely to strike it. The rower has to work hard on the oars, especially where the current is strong, but the angler will have time to admire the magnificent scenery of the river valley. The best time for fishing in summer is at night, when the Arctic sun never sets. With the boat travelling from one riverbank to another, the lures drift through the water, teasing the salmon into striking. All you can do is wait. And sometimes it can be a long wait. When the fish strikes, the angler places the rod upright in a tube in the boat and reels in the other rods. After that, the real thriller - playing the fish - can start. With an experienced fishing guide, playing the fish is no problem even if you are a first-timer. He will tell you what to do and how. The guide will also net the salmon and lift it into the boat. Traditionally, the angler and the rower share the salmon, but nowadays the angler usually buys the rower´s share of the fish. Instead of boat fishing, you can go fly-fishing from the bank almost along the entire length of the river, and spinning from the bank is available on the designated beats at Yläköngäs and Alaköngäs. Whatever method you use, remember that the salmon can be capricious. You cannot decide when the salmon strikes - it is up to the fish itself. Set out to the river with a humble mind and give the salmon the opportunity to swim to your lures and take them. Do not lose your patience if it doesn´t happen on the first or second day. The salmon will strike when it pleases. Some anglers land their first salmon within a few days while for others it may take years. This is part of the territory of salmon fishing. Persevere with your fishing and enjoy your stay in the Arctic far north, away from the everyday hustle and bustle. In this day and age, it is a true luxury. And to crown it all, you might catch a bright silver-flanked Atlantic salmon, the King of Fish. It is the finest freshwater fish in the whole world. ´The salmon is a fish that is not caught but is given as a gift to an angler.´ Fishing regulations on the River Teno The River Teno fishing season: June 1-Aug 20.The river is closed for fishing weekly from 19.00 on Sunday evening until 19.00 on Monday evening. Visiting anglers are permitted to go boat fishing on their own only between 21.00 and 14.00. At other times a local fishing guide must accompany the boat. Price of a fishing permit per day: €35; in addition the National Fishing Management Fee must be paid. Hire of a boat and an outboard motor: approx. €40 per day. Hire of a rower with a boat and motor: €70-€100 for 3 hours. Hire of a rower: €20-26 per hour. Traditionally, the catch, except for grilse, is equally shared between the angler and the rower. Inquire about accommodation and rowers at the Metsähallitus Information Cabin, tel. 358 16 6778450, or at Kylätalo Kiisa, tel. 358 40 8228889. |
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