Jänkäkoira is
Lapland's own
slang for a truly
enormous pike.
Lapland's own
slang for a truly
enormous pike.
Jänkäkoira proudly presents: the clearest reaches of Lapland's longest river, its richest rapids, and its most generous drifts.
Lapland's finest water
for lure and fly
Kemijärvi, Salla, Savukoski ja Pelkosenniemi
Where the Kemijoki and Lake Kemijärvi gather their eastern tributaries, they form the largest unbroken lure- and fly-fishing water in all of Finland. Rivers and lakes here don't run out of secrets — not in a lifetime. The old kalamiehet, the river-men, say it plainly: fish here every day you're given, and you'll never need to cast the same pool twice unless you choose to. New water, clear water, fish-rich water — it stretches on, nearly without end.
A magnificent haunt of
the great pike
The Kemijoki and the Kemijärvi watershed are equally famed as trophy-pike water. Most of the big-pike fishing happens on the roughly 50-kilometre river stretch between Kemijärvi and Pelkosenniemi, where the current unfolds into a maze of coves, backwaters, and feeder streams. Average depth runs 5–6 metres, though holes plunging past ten metres are not uncommon — the kind of dark water where something ancient can wait undisturbed for years.
The riverbed is mostly sand. Islands scatter the reach, their sheltered flanks giving even the largest fish somewhere to lie in ambush. Pike, perch, pikeperch, brown trout, and grayling all swim these waters — though trout and grayling are the rarer prizes, better sought in the nearby tributaries. Pike, on the other hand, run thick through the Kemijoki, the biggest specimens topping 15 kilos.
Build a fishing trip together with us that you'll never forget:
Join a fishing trip that will glimmer in your memory for the rest of your life
The vast waters of the Kemijoki offer the angler something real: untouched wilderness, abundant fish stocks, and experiences that lodge themselves permanently in memory. Every trip is tailored to you — from a two-hour taste of the river to a full day deep in the wild
”River is the real teacher, I´m just listening”
– Junnu Korpela, your host and guide
Your guide is Juhani Korpela — an authorized fishing guide and seasoned expert on the waters of Lapland.
No prior experience? Doesn't matter. Your guide teaches everything from the ground up — how to hold the rod, how to cast, how to read water. For many, that first guided trip has also been their first time with a rod in hand, and their first catch. That feeling is a rare one, and we want to be part of it. For the experienced angler, a guide becomes an equal partner — talking species, local knowledge, and tackle optimisation that lift the fishing to a new level even for those who've been at this for decades.
Jänkäkoira is based in Vuostimo, cradled in the arm of the Kemijoki
It's hard to imagine a better home for a fishing-focused outfit than Vuostimo, tucked against Pyhätunturi fell. The historic village school has a new headmaster: Junnu Korpela now runs its old staffroom and office. The former principal's study has become a proper man cave, and fishing trips can launch straight from the neighbouring jetty — one leap and you're in the boat.
Comfortably and safely out on the water
Experience the clear waters of the Kemijoki and Kemijärvi, with all their sweeping scenery, comfortably and safely from the deck of our purpose-rigged Sun Tracker fishing boat.
Guarding pure nature and Lapland's clear waters
We fish selectively and follow catch-and-release for the trophy fish. The biggest pike and the largest grayling go back — they're the natural capital of the Kemijoki watershed, and they belong to the fishermen who'll come after us too. Fish suited for the table can be taken home with a clear conscience.
"No nyt on oikia meininki ja tämon taivahan tosi." ("Now THAT'S the real deal — this here's heaven's own truth.") — Junnu Korpela, guardian spirit of the fish
"No nyt on oikia meininki ja tämon taivahan tosi." ("Now THAT'S the real deal — this here's heaven's own truth.") — Junnu Korpela, guardian spirit of the fish
That's how you get the pike rising.
That's what we always say around here — you ought to come too.
A hell of a lot of fish comes, so long as you drop the picture in the water..
There is LOT of fish in these waters