Lake Näsijärvi – a challenge in the Tampere Region

Type:Lakes
Area:255 km²
Length:43 km
Shoreline:759 km
Mean depth:14 m
Maximum depth:61 m
Number of islands:646
  
Game species
Bream
Brown trout
Burbot
Landlocked salmon
Perch
Pike
Roach
Rudd
Whitefish
Zander
Lake Näsijärvi is the largest lake in the Tampere Region. It is rugged and open by nature, with few islands. Lake Näsijärvi is one of the most popular fishing sites in Finland, but occasionally it feels like being in the wilderness.

The most important game species on Lake Näsijärvi are zander, pike, perch, brown trout and landlocked salmon. Due to its depth and small number of islands, it is a challenging fishing site, where it can sometimes be a struggle to find fish.

Lake Näsijärvi is especially popular among trolling enthusiasts.

On the other hand, Lake Näsijärvi also offers chances of catching big fish; people have caught a pike weighing over 17 kilos and almost ten-kilo specimens of brown trout and landlocked salmon from the lake. Zander weighing several kilos are common catches.

Zander snatch from the edges of deeps

Zander fishing concentrates on the wide open mid-lake area in summer, when people go trolling them above deeps and on the edges of shallows close to deep waters. The surroundings of Siilinkari Rock off the City of Tampere and the deep running towards Aitolahti Bay are among the most famous zander spots.

In midsummer, zander bite at the surface at dusk.

Popular fishing grounds include the area around the islands of Pallosaari and Harvassalo in the northern part of the Näsiselkä mid-lake area, the waters off Taulaniemi Point in the Koljonselkä area and Unnekivensalmi Sound towards the Vankavesi area. Excellent spots for spinning enthusiasts include the current spots in Unnekivensalmi Sound. The Vankavesi mid-lake area is also a well-known zander site. In early summer, you can find zander at the mouths of bay areas.

The bay waters of Lake Näsijärvi are the best sites for catching pike. In particular, pike habitats include the rushes and bay waters with plenty of islands in the northern Myyrysselkä and Vankavesi areas. The extensive shallows rising in the middle of the Koljonselkä and Myyrysselkä deeps also offer pike treats and you may even find quite a large predator pulling your rod. It is more difficult to find pike on the rugged shores of the Näsiselkä area.

This fat trout struck a spoon in the Koljonselkä mid-lake area on top of deep water at 5 metres in early summer.

In pursuit of brown trout in December

Brown trout and landlocked salmon bite very much in the same spots in mid-lake areas. The peak season concentrates on late autumn. Lake Näsijärvi is among the last lakes in Finland to freeze over. In many years, people can continue trolling through to late December.

Lake Näsijärvi is one of the most popular ice-fishing sites in Finland, offering good chances of catching perch.

The stock of signal crayfish has strengthened substantially in recent years. Lake ‘Nässy’, as the locals affectionately call it, is one of the best crayfish lakes in Finland.

Peaceful nature to the side of the city

Lake Näsijärvi is easy to reach. It spreads out in front of Tampere, the largest inland city in the Nordic countries, and you can find good fishing grounds right along the shores of the city. Lake Näsijärvi is divided into three major mid-lake areas, Näsiselkä, Koljonselkä and Vankavesi, which are all first-rate fishing spots. Water quality is classified as being good, even excellent in places, making Lake Näsijärvi a very popular destination for boat trips.

The southern part of Lake Näsijärvi is open with few islands, while the northern areas have more islands. The shores grow pine forests. The water has a shade of humus, but it’s still quite clear. Considerable investments have been made in fisheries management.

Zander trolling on a beautiful summer evening is fishing at its most relaxed.

The Lake Näsijärvi route continues through Lakes Ruovesi and Tarjannevesi all the way up to Virrat, with the whole water route stretching more than 100 kilometres.

There are plenty of holiday homes on Lake Näsijärvi, which restricts fishing in shore waters. Spinning on the jetty shore is not the done thing when the cottages are inhabited. Fortunately, there is an unlimited supply of fascinating fishing grounds in the lake’s wide open areas and mid-lake shallows.

The well-stocked waters of the Näsiselkä mid-lake area spread out from the very edge of the City of Tampere.