Ice Fishing Adventure

About This Tour

Discover the ancient tradition of ice fishing in the pristine Arctic wilderness of Swedish Lapland. Join us for an authentic experience on the frozen lakes around Kiruna, where the silence is only broken by the crunch of snow beneath your feet.

Your adventure begins with a pickup from your accommodation in Kiruna. Our experienced guide will take you to a carefully selected frozen lake, away from the city, where the ice is thick and the fish are plentiful.

Learn the traditional techniques of drilling through the ice and setting up your fishing gear. Our guide will teach you everything you need to know, from reading the ice conditions to the best methods for attracting Arctic char, perch, and other local fish species.

While you wait for the fish to bite, enjoy the stunning Arctic scenery around you. We'll provide warm drinks and snacks to keep you comfortable in the cold. It's a meditative experience that connects you with nature and the traditions of the Sami people who have fished these waters for generations.

Whether you're an experienced angler or have never held a fishing rod, this tour is designed for everyone. The peacefulness of the frozen landscape combined with the thrill of catching your own fish makes for an unforgettable Arctic experience.

What fish can you catch?

The lakes around Kiruna sit in the Torne and Kalix river systems and hold Arctic char (röding in Swedish), a cold-water salmonid native to these latitudes that is best caught through the ice between December and April. You are also likely to encounter perch (abborre), pike (gädda), and whitefish (sik). Arctic char thrive in deep, clear, cold lakes and are prized for their firm pink flesh. Perch are the most common catch for beginners — they school beneath the ice and bite readily on small jigs.

Ice conditions and safety

We only fish on lakes where the ice has been tested to at least 15–20 cm of solid black ice, which easily supports a group on foot. Our guide carries ice picks, a throwline, and checks thickness at each new hole. Mid-winter (January–March) typically delivers 40–80 cm of ice in the Kiruna region.

Sami tradition

Ice fishing (pilkefiske) has been part of life in Sápmi — the Sami homeland that spans northern Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Russia — for centuries. Before modern tackle, Sami communities drilled holes with hand augers and fished with carved bone lures, using the catch for food and trade during the long polar night. The modern sport-fishing approach we use on this tour keeps the quiet, meditative character of the tradition while making it accessible to visitors. Everything you catch is yours to keep; the guide can help you clean and bag your fish for cooking back at your accommodation.

Tour Highlights