Inari (Inarijärvi) - a large lake in the north of Scandinavia, belongs to the territory of Lapland (Finland). This reservoir is located beyond the Arctic Circle. The area of the lake is about a thousand square kilometers. The bottom goes to a depth of 92 meters in some places. The volume of water in this natural body of water is 15.9 km 3 . If we compare its area with that of other lakes, it will be 17.7 times less than that of Lake Ladoga, 9.7 times smaller than Lake Onega and 1.3 times smaller than Beloye. Thus, this is far from the largest of the lakes existing in this region.
Geography
The lake is located in a hilly area, at an altitude of about 120 m above sea level. The total length of the coastline is 3,308 km. The average water depth is 15 meters. The distance from coast to coast is 80 km in length and 50 km in width. The lake itself is stretched from southwest to northeast.
The climate in this region is cold, with long, moderately frosty and snowy winters and cool summers. Continentality is poorly expressed. The climate is affected by the warming effect of the warm Gulf Stream and the proximity of the Atlantic Ocean. Often strong winds blow and waves rise. The severity and remoteness from civilization make this lake wild and inaccessible for visiting and fishing. The pond is under ice from November to March.
Hydrology
More than twenty rivers flow into Inari Lake (Finland), the largest of which are Ivaloyoki and Kaamasyoki. In this case, the reservoir is the source of the Patsoyoki River. At the exit, a hydroelectric power station was built, which is regulated by Russian operators. The salinity of Lake Inari corresponds to freshwater bodies of water.
Nature
Along the shores and on the islands pines and birches grow. They form forests and woodlands. The total number of islands is 3318. One of them was a cemetery island, where ancient Sami were buried. Another is known for being a place for sacrifices of long-time inhabitants of these harsh lands. One of the islands may be on the UNESCO list.
The bottom of the lake is uneven, with the presence of deep depressions and rocky ridges. The islands also have a rock base. On the map, the lake looks very fragmented, with a very rugged shore, and this is typical for both the northern and southern parts. There are swamps along the shores.
In the waters of this reservoir such species of fish as perch, pike, trout, freshwater salmon, trout, grayling, Arctic char are found. The presence of valuable fish attracts many anglers here.
Thanks to the sparing attitude to nature, the lake practically does not change and remains the same as hundreds of years ago.
Fishing features
This object is very far from civilization. Therefore, the economic use of Lake Inari is small. And those who want to fish in it should know the following:
- The distance from the object to the border with Russia is 45 kilometers.
- If you go from St. Pererburg by car, you will need to overcome more than 1000 kilometers.
- The airport closest to the lake is located in Ivalo.
- The infrastructure on the shores of the lake is poorly developed. There are a few cottages, but the conditions there are much worse than those in the southern part of Finland. There may be no water supply, electricity and even solar panels familiar to Europe. The toilet may be outside. However, for seasoned travelers, all these inconveniences are, of course, not a hindrance. After all, you can stock up on candles, lanterns, which are plentiful in the modern market, and take water on the street (it is an ecologically clean area).
- There are some hotels with comfortable conditions, but there are very few of them, and therefore renting a room can be a big problem.
- The weather on the lake is very unstable and may not be very comfortable. Here, in summer, there are cold, long rains, bothering winds. For seasoned fishermen, all this, of course, is small things, but still it is better to choose the period from July to October.
- For those who prefer motorized water transport for fishing, there are no suitable conditions.
- Before you get permission to fish in Finland, you need to pay a state tax, and also obtain two territorial licenses: for lake and river fishing.
- Accessories for fishing can be purchased in the city of Inari, which is located on the west coast of the reservoir. You can also buy local souvenirs there.
Fishing methods
Inari uses fishing methods such as casting, trolling, and fly fishing. For trolling use baits such as silicone, wobblers for great depths and dynamic spinners with a size of 10 or a little more than centimeters. Trout flows in abundance in the rivers flowing into the lake. Good places to catch it are their mouths. Grayling fish is found in coves near islands at a depth of about 3 meters. It can be caught using fly fishing or spinning spinners. The optimal depth for trolling is 10 meters or more. Therefore, baits should be used in conjunction with a deepener.
Thus, with all the inconveniences, fishing on Lake Inari will give you an unforgettable experience and excellent outdoor recreation.