This guide is built from what we have learned living in Rovaniemi and writing about Lapland travel for years. Every detail below is from first-hand experience or from the live StayLapland product pages — never invented.

The honest answer: can you actually catch fish?

Short answer: yes, and more often than you might expect. We live in Rovaniemi and we’ve been out on the ice more times than we can count — perch in particular are everywhere under the frozen surface, and even first-timers walking away with nothing is actually the exception rather than the rule.

That said, ice fishing is fishing. Nature doesn’t guarantee anything. Water temperature, recent weather, time of day, and sheer luck all play a role. Some groups drill hole after hole and pull up perch after perch within minutes. Others have a quieter afternoon by the fire and don’t get as many bites. Both versions are part of the experience.

What a guided tour in Rovaniemi does give you is access to a local guide who knows which lakes are productive and where to drill. That local knowledge makes a meaningful difference compared to wandering out alone on a frozen lake with no idea where the fish are hiding.

What species are in Rovaniemi’s frozen lakes?

The most common catch on a Rovaniemi ice fishing tour is perch (ahven in Finnish). They’re plentiful in most Lapland lakes, they respond well to traditional ice fishing jigs, and even kids can pull them up. A typical fish runs 15–25 cm, though larger specimens do turn up.

Beyond perch, there’s a solid chance of encountering pike (hauki) — a dramatically bigger predator that often lurks near reed beds and drop-offs. Pike on a jig is pure excitement; they fight hard and look prehistoric when you lift them through the hole. Catching one is genuinely memorable.

Whitefish (siika) is a third possibility, especially in cleaner, deeper lakes. It’s considered the finest eating fish in Lapland — firm, mild, and excellent over a campfire. Landing one on a tour is a bonus worth celebrating.

Trout and arctic char occasionally appear too, though they’re not the primary target on a standard group tour. For those, a private lake experience with specialist tackle makes more sense.

How the ice fishing tour actually works

The Ice Fishing with Snowmobiles5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 starts at 11:00 daily and runs about 5 hours in total. Here’s the flow from pickup to drop-off.

Your guide collects you from your hotel (included from Postmaster Hotel, Aurora Hill Resort, Rovaniemi City, and Santa Claus Holiday Village) and you transfer to the wilderness area by car. Once there, everyone gets kitted out: full winter overalls, boots, gloves, socks, helmet, and balaclava are all provided — there’s nothing to pack for the cold beyond your own thermals underneath.

The snowmobile leg comes first. You ride through frozen forest and open lake scenery for about 1 hour before reaching the fishing spot — a working wilderness lake well away from the city. When you arrive, your guide drills the holes and the fishing begins. You get 1.5 to 2 hours on the ice, with a Teepee shelter and campfire alongside for warming up, hot drinks, and traditional local food included in the price.

The guide teaches technique from scratch — no prior experience required, no fishing licence needed on a guided tour. The tour wraps up with the snowmobile return and transfer back to your hotel.

How long do you spend actually fishing?

This question matters because some activity tours are frustratingly brief on the thing you came to do. On this particular tour, the dedicated fishing window is 1.5–2 hours at the lake — which is a meaningful amount of time.

In practical terms: your guide drills multiple holes across a productive spot, hands everyone a jig rod, and you fish. Some people try one hole for a while, feel nothing, and move to the next. Others find a productive hole early and stay put. The guide is active throughout, helping anyone who isn’t getting bites and adjusting depth and technique accordingly.

The campfire runs alongside the whole fishing session, so you can step away to warm up and come back without losing your spot. Having that option matters in a Rovaniemi winter — even in January temperatures of −15 to −20°C, being able to retreat to the Teepee for a hot berry juice makes the experience comfortable rather than just a test of endurance.

Keep your catch, grill it, or release it?

This is one of the details that surprises a lot of visitors: you actually get a choice. Whatever you catch on the tour, you can keep the fish and grill them on-site at the campfire, take them home to cook later, or release them back into the lake. The guide will help you with whichever option you choose.

Grilling fresh perch over an open fire in the middle of a snowy wilderness is genuinely one of those Lapland moments that stays with you. The fish go straight from hole to fire in minutes and taste better than anything you’d eat in a restaurant. If you catch anything during the session, we’d strongly recommend at least trying a bite this way.

If you don’t catch anything — or you’d simply prefer to release everything — that’s absolutely fine too. The experience of drilling holes, sitting quietly by a frozen lake, and waiting for a bite is rewarding regardless of what ends up on the ice.

Do you need any fishing experience?

None at all. The guides on this tour treat every group as beginners unless told otherwise. They’ll show you how to lower the jig, how to move it to attract perch, and how to read the subtle tugs through the thin line. Most people who have never ice fished before hook their first fish within 20–30 minutes.

A driver’s licence is required if you want to operate your own snowmobile on the way out — but not to fish. Children and passengers ride in a sled behind the guide’s snowmobile, so families with younger kids (minimum age 3, and children under 140 cm must ride in the sled) can still do the full tour. Kids often catch more fish than adults, partly because they sit still and fish patiently while everyone else is wandering between holes.

Tips to improve your chances of a catch

Listen to the guide on hole placement. They know the lake. When they suggest moving to a different spot or drilling a fresh hole a few metres away, act on it — fish school in specific depth bands that aren’t obvious from the surface.

Move your jig slowly. The most common beginner mistake is jigging too aggressively. A gentle, rhythmic 5–10 cm lift and drop is usually more effective than fast twitching. Perch in cold water are sluggish and prefer a slower presentation.

Fish right after the hole is drilled. Fresh holes in undisturbed ice often produce bites immediately — the noise of drilling and the light coming through the fresh opening briefly attracts curious fish. Drop your jig quickly after a new hole is opened.

Stay warmer than you think you need to. Cold fingers and feet shorten your attention span and reduce how much time you actually spend fishing. Use the campfire earlier rather than later; you fish better when you’re comfortable.

Book with enough people or on a weekday. The tour runs with a minimum of 2 people on weekdays and Saturdays, and 4 people on Sundays and public holidays. Smaller groups often get more personal attention from the guide, which directly helps your catch rate.

Frequently asked questions

What fish can I catch on a Rovaniemi ice fishing tour?
Primarily perch, which are abundant in Lapland lakes. Pike and whitefish are also possible depending on location and conditions. No specific catch is guaranteed.

Is it catch-and-release or can I keep the fish?
Both options are available. You can keep your catch and grill it on-site at the campfire, take it home, or release it — the choice is entirely yours.

Do I need a fishing licence for a guided tour in Rovaniemi?
No. In Finland, fishing on ice with a jig rod (pilkki) on a guided tour is covered by the tour operator’s arrangements. You do not need a personal fishing licence.

How long do we actually spend fishing versus snowmobiling?
The snowmobile ride to and from the lake takes about 1 hour each way. The ice fishing session is 1.5–2 hours at the lake, with campfire and food included throughout.

What if I don’t catch anything — is the tour still worth it?
Yes. The snowmobile wilderness ride, the Teepee campfire, the hot local food and drinks, and the genuine winter-nature setting are rewarding regardless of what bites. The fishing is the highlight when it happens, not the only reason to go.

What’s the minimum group size and can I book solo?
A minimum of 2 people is required on weekdays and Saturdays, and 4 on Sundays and public holidays. Solo travellers can contact StayLapland directly to be added to an existing departure.

Our honest take — is the tour worth it?

We’ve done a lot of winter activities in Rovaniemi, and the ice fishing tour consistently delivers something the bigger-ticket experiences don’t: genuine quiet. Out on a frozen lake in the middle of the day, far enough from the city to hear nothing but wind through the pines and the occasional crack of ice — that’s what Lapland actually feels like to us when we’re not in tour-guide mode.

The fish are often a happy bonus. But even on a slow day for bites, the combination of snowmobiling through the wilderness, sitting around a proper campfire, and eating real Finnish food in a Teepee makes the five hours feel full rather than padded. At from €149 it’s one of the more honest-value winter experiences in Rovaniemi — not cheap, but you’re paying for the full Arctic package, not just a fishing hole.

One practical note: book a weekday if you can. Groups on weekdays tend to be smaller, which means more guide attention, more flexibility on hole placement, and usually better catch rates. And use the code HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 for 5% off when you book through the Bokun link above.