River Teno, flowing on the northern edge of Finland, is one of the greatest freely flowing rivers in Europe. Teno river offers memorable fishing experiences of for example grayling, seatrout, brown trout pike, pink salmon and whitefish. The Teno Valley is not only a fishing destination, but also a rich cultural area where you can experience Sámi traditions and enjoy the beauty of northern nature.
By Teno river, you can choose whether you want to fish on your own or take advantage of local expert guides to take you to the best fishing spots. Recreational fishing permits for Teno Fishery area, can be purchased online or from local permit sales points. Many local accommodation and guiding service providers are also fishing permit resellers, so you can request to include fishing permits in your holiday package by Teno river.
River Teno, Deatnu
River Teno, or Deatnu in Northern Sámi language (Tenojoki in Finnish, Tana in Norwegian), is located in Northernmost corned of the EU and Northernmost Finnish Lapland. The river flows freely in subarctic area within a wide river valley, surrounded by fells.
Fishing for grayling, sea trout, whitefish, pike and pink salmon, is allowed in the main stream and some tributaries of the Teno River. Recreational fishing permits for these species are available online and on site. A total of 12,000 permits are available yearly, split equally between Finland and Norway. The permit costs €20 per day for adults and €10 per day for children. Permits can be purchased from the Teno Fishery Area online store, local permit sales points or as included in most accommodation or guided tours (with request from service provider).
Grayling is a good catch in Teno
River Teno is a good destination for fly fishing grayling, as trophysizes are found throughout the river. A typical size of grayling in Teno varies from 35 cm to 50 cm, and fish up to 60 cm are caught annually.
Whitefish can be found in slow pools using small flies, especially when there is no wind and the water surface is calm. Sea trout are caught both in the early season in June and right at the end of the season in August. Pink salmon migrate into Teno river with high numbers on uneven years and best time for fishing is from mid June to late July. Next mass run of Pink Salmon is expected to occur in 2027.
Teno River area offers versatile fishing experiences
The tributaries of River Teno and the the mountain area wilderness lakes of Paistunturi and Kaldoaivi offer excellent opportunities for fishing. Trout, arctic char, whitefish, pike and perch can be caught with spinner or fly in these scenic and peaceful environments. The wilderness’s remoteness and rugged terrain guarantee a truly peaceful and memorable fishing experience. Careful planning and preparation is required before accessing this remote and ”out of network” fell area. A local wilderness guide or fishing guide is recommended especially for first time visitors in this area.
Located close to the Barents Sea, Teno river area offers also possibilities for fishing at the Norwegian coast. Salt water species, such as Cod, Pollock and Halibut, are common fish in the fjords. King crab can also be caught on specified safaris in the area.
Important river for the Sámi fishing culture
Declined population of Atlantic salmon has challenged the status of Teno as the most important and one of the largest salmon rivers in Finland, but it still is one of the few remaining freely flowing major rivers in Finland. The composition of the salmon stocks in River Teno and its tributaries is complex, consisting of several genetically different sub-stocks. The Teno River is critically important for Atlantic salmon as one of most important spawning river systems, supporting multiple populations. Salmon Fishing has been banned in the river system to allow the recovery for declining Atlantic Salmon stocks.
River Teno is part of the Sami people’s ancient cultural area, where fishing has been carried out as a natural source of livelihood for thousands of years. When regulations allow, the local population still fish salmon using weirs and other traditional tackle. Fishing in traditional ways is passing on cultural knowledge between generations. Visitors arriving at the river valley can sense echoes of the ancient salmon fishing culture. The river itself is also economically important to the region as a source of income via fishing tourism.
Information about River Teno
| Type: | River |
| Length: | 382 km |
Fish Species: Arctic char, Grayling, Sea trout, Pike, Pink Salmon
Because of protection of the Atlantic Salmon, recreational fishing of Atlantic Salmon is currently prohibited.
Fishing Services in Teno River Area
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