Beginner guide
Start fishing
Everything you need for your first trip. Float fishing is free and takes 30 minutes to learn — fishing doesn't need much, just knowing where to start.
Which technique suits you?
+ Cheapest · easiest · free
– Small fish, slow
Kids, beginners, family evenings
+ Most active · biggest catch · versatile
– Requires practice + fishing fee
Adults who want to learn properly
+ Big fish · less casting
– Requires boat · most expensive
Boaters after walleye/salmon
+ Easy · free · social
– Winter only · ice safety
Winter season, tradition
Don't know where to start? — Float fishing.
Cheapest (€20–40 full set), easiest to learn, and free for everyone (no fishing fee required). You'll catch your first fish — then decide if you continue.
Float fishing starter gear · €30–50 total
Telescopic rod 3–4m
Right length, portable
€15–25 Mono line 0.20mm
Durable but invisible
€5–10 Hooks size 8–10
Universal worm hook
€2–5/pack Float stick 3g
Visible, sensitive
€2–5 Split shot weights
Adjust depth
€3–5 Worm jar
Worms for 1–2 trips
€3–5 Casting starter gear · €150–300 total
Spinning rod 2.4m, 5–25g rating
Universal for small predators
€40–80 Spinning reel size 2500–3000
Matches the rod, good capacity
€40–100 Braid 0.12mm + fluoro leader 0.22
Sensitive + invisible
€20–30 Starter lures (5–8 pcs)
Mepps spinners + jigs + crankbait
€30–50 Tackle box
Keeps everything organized
€10–20 Pliers + line cutter
Required safety tools
€10–15 Where to buy
For beginners: big hardware/department store chains sell ready float-fishing packages €15–30
Specialty store: fishing shops — quality + personal advice, slightly higher price
Online stores: widest selection and usually best price — compare several
Used: Tori.fi, Facebook Marketplace, fishing club sales — starter gear often half price
Affiliate partners and recommendations will be marked separately in the future.
Regulations & licenses — must know
Common right = free
Float and ice fishing are free for everyone without licenses or fees, on any public water. Regardless of age.
Fisheries fee €47/year
Required for lure fishing + trolling if you are 18–64. Buy from eraluvat.fi or R-kioski. Includes lure license.
Local permits (sometimes)
Some lakes + salmon/trout waters require an additional local permit €5–25. Check before your trip. BiteWave shows automatically what you need at the chosen lake.
Size limits & closed seasons
Release small fish. Check each species' minimum size + seasonal closure before your trip (e.g. zander 42cm + closed 1.4–31.5).
First trip — packing list
Check weather and wind (Open-Meteo / Foreca)
Pack life jacket if going on water
Fishing fee paid (if lure fishing + ages 18–64)
Bring water + snacks
Rain gear (always in Finland)
Sun protection + insect repellent in summer
Catch bag or live well
Reserved fishing spot used (respect the environment)
6 most common beginner mistakes
× Too heavy line
✓ Lighter = more bites. Start with 0.16–0.22 mm
× Too big hook
✓ Start with sizes 8–14. Small hook = small & big fish both
× Casting blindly
✓ Before casting: where is the fish likely? (shores, weed edges, drop-off)
× Too fast retrieve
✓ Slow + pauses. Let the lure do the work
× Going at midday
✓ Morning (5–9) or evening (17–21) — fish feed when humans can't see
× One lure
✓ Bring 5–8 different. If no bites → change color/size/depth
Glossary — terms explained
Minimum size
Smallest legal fish size you may keep (e.g. zander 42cm)
Closed season
Period when a species cannot be fished (spawn time)
Drop-off
A place where the bottom drops sharply deeper (fish love it)
Thermocline
Temperature layer in water — fish often just above it
Solunar
Moon and sun influence on fish feeding times
Cadence / retrieve rhythm
How the lure is moved (speed + pauses)
Leader
Short invisible line between lure and main line
Fluoro
Fluorocarbon — least visible line in water
C&R / Catch & release
Releasing the fish back to the wild
Got no fish? — That's OK.
Everyone starts here. Even pro anglers get skunked regularly. Fishing is more than the catch — it's being in nature.
BiteWave helps: log a few trips, the app learns your spots and improves. Two weeks later you get recommendations that really work at your lake.
Go to Today view → plan your first trip BiteWave · Beginner guide v0.1