Fishing in the Åland Islands, Finland and Sweden – A Complete Guide

If you are looking for a genuine Scandinavian pike fishing adventure, the Åland Islands, the Finnish archipelago and Sweden's coast are destinations every lure angler should experience at least once.

Thousands of islands, bays, reed beds, rocky shoals, weed beds and underwater drop-offs create nearly ideal conditions for pike. For many anglers travelling from Latvia, pike is the main target species.

This NGT.LV guide covers the journey from Latvia, ferries, costs, accommodation, boat rental, local waters, seasons, pike locations, rods, reels, baitcasting tackle, lines, lures, clothing and other essentials.

How to Get from Latvia to the Åland Islands

One of the easiest options is to travel in your own car.

A popular route is Riga → Pärnu → Tallinn → Helsinki → Turku → Åland Islands.

On certain dates, ferry connections to Mariehamn are another option.

With four anglers sharing one vehicle, splitting fuel and ferry costs can make the trip quite affordable.

Driving also makes it much easier to transport long big-bait rods, tackle boxes, landing nets, clothing and other equipment.

Waters Around Åland, Finland and Sweden

In the Scandinavian archipelagos, you can fish very different conditions in a single day:

• Shallow bays just 0.5–1.5 m deep
• Reed beds
• Submerged vegetation
• Rocky shoals
• Channels between islands
• Underwater drop-offs
• Depths of 3–6 m
• Rocky shorelines and cliffs
• More open water

Water clarity is relatively good in many areas. Natural lure colours often perform well on sunny days, while windy or overcast conditions can favour strongly vibrating lures such as spinnerbaits, chatterbaits and large soft plastics.

When Is the Best Time to Catch Pike?

Spring

In spring, look for pike in shallow bays, old weed beds, reeds and near spawning areas. Dark-bottomed bays with slightly warmer water are particularly interesting. Slowly retrieved jerkbaits, swimbaits and soft plastics can be effective.

Summer

Some larger fish move into deeper water. Target outer weed edges, rocky shoals, depths of 2–6 m and areas holding concentrations of baitfish.

Autumn

Autumn is one of the best seasons for trophy pike. As the water cools, fish feed actively. This is the time for big baits, large soft plastics, jerkbaits and swimbaits.

Baitcasting or Conventional Spinning?

For large pike lures, my preference is baitcasting, especially if you spend the whole day casting lures weighing 80 g, 100 g, 150 g or even over 200 g.

A baitcasting setup makes it easier to use heavier line and more powerful rods while maintaining control over large lures.

Baitcasting Reels

Budget Option – Delphin

From the Delphin range at NGT.LV, consider the Delphin RYDAX SH.

Mid-Range – Shimano SLX

Excellent value for money: Shimano SLX 150 A HG or Shimano SLX DC 151 XG. The SLX DC is especially interesting if you want digitally controlled casting brakes.

Premium Option – Shimano Curado

A dependable choice for serious Scandinavian pike fishing is the Shimano Curado 201 DC HG. For particularly large lures, also consider the larger Curado 300/301 sizes.

Baitcasting Rods

Delphin QUEST B'CAST

Delphin QUEST B'CAST – an affordable option for large soft plastics, swimbaits and jerkbaits.

J Fishing Big Bait

J Fishing Big Bait 270 cm, up to 150 g – ideal if you want a longer rod capable of casting heavier lures.

J Fishing Jerk

J Fishing Jerk 165 cm, 30–95 g – a shorter rod particularly well suited to classic jerkbait fishing.

Sportex Jig Xpert Baitcast

Sportex Jig Xpert Baitcast – available in several casting-weight classes, including models rated up to approximately 85–97 g.

Sportex Jig Xpert

If you prefer a spinning reel, the Sportex Jig Xpert is also available in powerful versions rated up to 95 g, 117 g and even 225 g.

Sportex Hydra RS-3

Sportex Hydra RS-3 – also available in 75 g and 95 g classes suitable for pike fishing.

13 Fishing Fate Black Casting

13 Fishing Fate Black Casting – the XH models rated up to 130 g and 170 g are particularly interesting.

BFT Raptor

BFT Raptor G2 Pike Casting, up to 100 g – a powerful casting rod designed specifically for pike.

Spinning Reels

If you do not want to switch to baitcasting, a conventional spinning setup can still work extremely well. Choose a sufficiently large reel and a rod with the right power.

Delphin SHARX

Delphin SHARX 4T – a powerful size-4000 reel for heavy spinning.

Shimano Nasci FD

Shimano Nasci FD – for Scandinavian pike, I would mainly consider sizes 3000, 4000 or C5000.

Shimano Twin Power FE

For a premium reel, consider the Shimano Twin Power FE. It is an excellent choice for intensive fishing where power, rigidity and reliability matter.

Pike Lures

Whirlwind Lures

Smaller option: Whirlwind Piccolo 20 g. More powerful option: Whirlwind Little 48 g. Both are interesting for shallow areas and provoking less active pike.

Strike Pro Guppie

Strike Pro Guppie 13.5 cm / 120 g – a genuine big-bait lure for pike.

J Fishing Jerkbaits

A good option is the J Fishing Chunk JR 16 cm / 30 g. NGT.LV also offers other J Fishing jerkbait models.

OSHELure VBone

Check out the OSHELure VBone lures. The VBone 14 cm / 30 g is particularly interesting for pike.

NAYS GHST

NAYS GHST 100 – its substantial tail creates strong vibrations, making it attractive to larger pike.

Shimano Yasei Soul Swim

Shimano Yasei Soul Swim – a jointed swimbait with a natural S-shaped swimming action.

Weedy Areas – Spinnerbaits and Chatterbaits

In heavily overgrown bays, traditional jerkbaits and soft plastics can repeatedly pick up weeds. Two effective alternatives are:

Spinnerbaits

NAYS MZ RNNR 2.0 L 21 Spinnerbait or the smaller NAYS MZ RNNR M 2.0 10 g. Spinnerbaits pass through vegetation well and create strong vibrations.

Chatterbaits

Try the CWC Pig Hula Chatterbait 10 g or Pig Hula Chatter 11 g. These lures can be particularly effective along weed edges, in gaps between weed beds and over hard bottom.

A Large Landing Net

A small perch net is not suitable for Scandinavian pike fishing. If your target is a pike over 100 cm, you need a proper landing net.

Sportex Predator

Sportex Predator Landing Net – available in several sizes, up to 80 × 70 cm.

Sportex Monster

For an even larger option, choose the Sportex Monster Landing Net 95 × 86 cm, with a 100 cm deep rubber-coated mesh – well suited to trophy pike.

Rainwear

Scandinavian weather changes quickly. You may experience sunshine, wind, rain and sunshine again within the same day. If you plan to spend 8–12 hours in a boat, quality waterproof clothing is essential.

Finntrail Thor

Finntrail THOR Graphite 3420 – 17,000 mm waterproof rating and a four-layer construction.

Finntrail Tournament Insulated

Finntrail Tournament Insulated Graphite – especially suitable for cold autumn weather and long days fishing from a boat.

Finntrail Excalibur

Finntrail Excalibur 4032 – a great option for active fishing in rainy and windy conditions.

BFT Boat Gloves

Cold wind, wet hands and changing lures all day can quickly become uncomfortable. In autumn, I would pack the BFT Atlantic Glove – full-finger waterproof neoprene gloves with a fleece lining.

Another Essential – Pliers

When handling large pike with big treble hooks, quality pliers are essential. The BFT Split Ring Pliers with Cutter let you replace hooks, cut line or wire, and unhook fish more safely.

How Would We Build a Setup for Åland?

Versatile Baitcasting Setup

Sportex Jig Xpert Baitcast
+
Shimano SLX DC
+
Strong braided line.

Big-Bait Setup

J Fishing Big Bait, up to 150 g or 13 Fishing Fate Black Casting, paired with a larger baitcasting reel.

In my lure box, I would pack:

Strike Pro Guppie
Whirlwind Little
J Fishing Chunk JR
OSHELure VBone
NAYS GHST 100
Shimano Yasei Soul Swim
NAYS Spinnerbait
CWC Pig Hula Chatterbait.

Most Important of All – Good Company

Of course, everyone dreams of catching a 100 cm, 110 cm or even 120+ cm pike. But Scandinavian fishing is about more than centimetres.

It is a cold morning on the water. Mist drifting between islands. Coffee in the boat.

It is that one bay where your friend says, “There has to be one here!”

And a few casts later, a pike emerges from the weeds and attacks your lure right beside the boat.

So bring not only good tackle but also great company and a sense of adventure. Enjoy the stunning scenery of Åland, Finland and Sweden.

Get Ready for Scandinavian Pike Fishing at NGT.LV

At NGT.LV, you will find everything you need: baitcasting rods and reels, Shimano reels, Sportex spinning rods, big baits, jerkbaits, swimbaits, spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, braided lines, leaders, large landing nets, Finntrail rainwear and other pike fishing accessories.

Browse our selection at NGT.LV or visit us in person:

NGT.LV
Duntes iela 5, Riga, Latvia

We will help you put together anything from your first affordable baitcasting setup to a serious big-bait outfit for pike fishing in Åland, Finland and Sweden.

TIGHT LINES FROM NGT.LV!
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