Sotkajärvi

Character of the water

Sotkajärvi lies in the cold north — a northern nutrient-rich lowland lake.

The surroundings

The lake sits close to town with a road right up to it — easy to reach, but hard-fished and exposed to nutrient runoff from the buildings and fields all around.

Moderately deep (6 m) — shallow bays, the odd reef and a deeper channel through the middle.

Permits & rules

Fishing permit required — Sotkajärvi FVOF. Day permit ~60 kr · annual permit ~300 kr.

• Handheld tackle only. Respect the protected zones at the inlets and outlets.

Fishing Sotkajärvi

perch sit at the top of the food chain in Sotkajärvi, carried by roach. The nutrient-rich water means plenty of baitfish — and predators that grow fat on them.

The fishing here follows the water's own rhythm: dawn and dusk have their windows, fronts close and open them, and the season moves the fish. No two sessions at Sotkajärvi are alike.

General rules of thumb for this kind of water

• Nutrient-rich lakes hold plenty of baitfish but often murky water.