Recreational fishing is the most important nature activity for Finns. About 40 per cent of the Finnish population, more than 2 million people, take part in fishing events at least once a year. Today leisure-time fishing is for the most part a recreation, instead of being based on the household needs. Fishing with various kinds of rods has become increasingly common.

The catch of recreational fishing accounts for about a third of the total catch of fish in Finland, and in the inland waters its share in the catch is almost 90 per cent. Free time fishing provides a significant share of the fish used in the Finnish households.

The annual catch of recreational fishing totals about 50 million kg, and almost half of this is caught by nets. In quantitative terms the most important species of fish are perch, pike and roach.

Recreational fishing is mainly concentrated in areas close to major population centres and to the lake district, where most of the holiday homes are located.

When fishing in Finland both Finns and foreigners alike have to buy fishing licences and pay pure-fishing fees. If, however, you only inted to ice fish or angle with hook and line there is no need to pay anything, because this is covered by public right of access.