Kemi: Ice Fishing on the Bothnian Bay

Your adventure begins at the edge of the Bothnian Bay, where the vast frozen sea stretches as far as the eye can see. After meeting your local guide, you’ll be provided with warm thermal clothing and introduced to the basics of ice safety and fishing techniques. Armed with traditional tools, you’ll walk out onto the frozen bay — a unique and surreal experience in itself — before settling at a spot chosen for the best chances of a catch.

The guide will show you how to drill a hole through the thick ice and prepare your simple fishing line. Ice fishing is not just about catching fish — it is about embracing the slow rhythm of Arctic life, listening to the silence of the frozen wilderness, and feeling the connection to nature. The fish commonly caught in the Bothnian Bay include perch, pike, and whitefish, all staples of Finnish cuisine.

While you wait for a bite, your guide will share stories about the traditions of ice fishing, its importance to local life, and how it has been a source of food and community for centuries. To keep you warm, hot drinks and Finnish snacks will be served, and if the conditions are right, you may even grill your fresh catch over a small fire — a reward that connects you directly to Lapland’s way of living off the land.

The Bothnian Bay provides a spectacular backdrop to this activity. Unlike ice fishing on lakes, here you are on the open sea, with vast, uninterrupted views of the frozen horizon. On clear days, the sunlight reflects off the snow and ice, creating dazzling landscapes, while on colder days, the moody skies add to the raw beauty of the Arctic.

This activity requires no previous fishing experience and is suitable for beginners as well as seasoned anglers. It is as much about the peaceful experience and cultural insight as it is about the fishing itself. Whether you catch a fish or not, standing on the frozen sea, surrounded by silence and snow, is an unforgettable experience in its own right.

Approximately 2 hours

• Unique opportunity to go ice fishing on the frozen Bothnian Bay
• Learn traditional ice fishing techniques from a local guide
• Drill your own fishing hole through the thick sea ice
• Enjoy hot drinks and Finnish snacks in the Arctic outdoors
• Option to grill and taste your fresh catch (if successful)

Prices start from 129 EUR (exact pricing may vary based on group size and additional services).

• Thermal clothing (overalls, shoes, wool socks, gloves)
• Guided ice fishing experience
• A hot drink

• Operates December–April, depending on ice conditions
• Suitable for families, groups, and individuals
• Children must be accompanied by an adult
• Catch cannot be guaranteed — fishing depends on nature
• Warm layered clothing recommended under thermal gear