Kemi, a city on the northern edge of the Gulf of Bothnia, puts winter fishing front and center each year as the frozen sea dares anglers to test their mettle. The Winter Fishing Competition invites participants into an environment both fierce and precise: ice sheets thick enough to hold the bold, wind whispering sharp through the serrated skyline, and waters beneath teeming with fish waiting to be claimed. This event is more than sport; it is an intense conversation with winter’s hold, a deliberate challenge to patience and skill on sheets of ancient ice.

The competition spreads along the icy coast, where the frozen sea stretches out under the cold northern sky. Anglers drill holes through the ice, measuring thickness often exceeding 40 centimeters, sturdy enough to support teams and their equipment. The terrain beneath your feet is solid yet unpredictable, requiring careful movement to avoid weak spots. The air is crisp, charged with expectation, and the faint crunch under boots reminds you that this landscape demands full attention.

Beginning at dawn, when the sun peeks timidly above the horizon and colors the sky with cold, pale rose, fishermen brace their lines and ready their bait. The competition runs through the day, typically lasting around six to eight hours — a test of endurance as much as fishing prowess. Layers of warm clothing are essential, especially insulated boots with good grip for moving safely on the ice. Hydration means hot drinks packed in thermoses, warming hands and spirits.

While the fish—mostly perch and whitefish—offer their silent resistance, the surrounding nature plays an active role. Wind gusts whip patterns across the ice, urging you to seek shelter behind resting snowdrifts or makeshift windbreaks. The frozen sea is fiercely itself: unforgiving but open, challenging yet bountiful. Respect for both the elements and competitors around you is paramount.

For the casual visitor or seasoned angler, this competition offers a glimpse into a distinct winter world. Beyond the thrill of the catch, it presents practice in patience, precision, and preparation. Whether watching from shore or casting your line amidst the drama of breaking ice and catching light, the Winter Fishing Competition in Kemi is a raw and riveting experience under the northern sky.