VAAJAVIRTA RAPIDS

Stocked catch speices are freshwater salmon, whitefish and brown trout.   Natural catch speices are brown trout, grayling, pike perch, pike and perch.  

Allowed fishing methods are fly fishing, trolling and spinning. Available services are fireplace, boat for rent, launching place for boats and cafe.

The waterways of Rautalampi, Viitasaari, and Saarijärvi empty into the powerful river Vaajavirta, which is near Jyväskylä. There were three big rapids in the beginning of the century: Yläkoski, Haapakoski, and Vaajakoski. The lowest rapid Vaajakoski was harnessed in the beginning of the century. After that, the river has not been as swift as it used to be. The canal from Keitele to Päijänne was built in the beginning of 1990’s. A lock was built and the rapid was dredged suitable for large boats. Although the rapid has been “tamed”, it is still an excellent fishing ground. The river Vaajavirta is one of the best places to catch big lake trout in central Finland. There is a lot of anadromous lake trout from lake Päijänne, which do not immediately find the way to the spawning areas above the rapid. There is plenty of time for fishermen to catch a lot of trout before fish eventually find the stairs. Several lake trout weighting over 5kg have been caught there. A lot of smaller lake trout have been planted into the river. The grayling population is growing very rapidly, because grayling have been stocked in the lake for ten years. There is a good possibility to catch a grayling weighting 700-800 grams on Vaajavirta. The record up to date is 1,5 kg. The about 5 km long fishing ground begins from the rapid Yläkoski, which begins from lake Leppävesi. The best way to fish in the area is to use a boat. It is also useful to cast the near the stones at the shore, where the fish often hide. Grayling have often been caught from a boat by using a fly. The river there is over 10 metres deep in the middle. The most popular fishing ground of the river Vaajavirta is the rapid Vaajakoski. There is a special shore-fishing zone for fly fishermen above the new power plant. There is plenty of room for casting at the shores, and this makes the area good for practising fly fishing. Wadding is dangerous in the area, because the power plant is located nearby. Below the new power plant there is a 100 metres long area where fishing is not allowed. The most popular casting at the shore is below the bridge at the end of cape Paloniemi. The river is extremely swift there and you have to use extra weights with your lures if you want to fish near the bottom. The bottom seems to be even, but there are a lot of pits and stones, where fish can be found. There are many jetties which you can use for fishing at the end of cape Paloniemi. Trolling is a popular fishing method on the river Vaajavirta. The most popular fishing area begins at the end of cape Paloniemi and continues up to the island Sallinsaari. The best time for fishing is in autumn after the closed season. Fishing in also possible in winter, because the river is not covered in ice. The best way to learn the best lodges and methods is to ask tips from local fishermen. The location of the best lodges varies according to the level of water. In the end of the flood season most fish are in the west below the old power plant, and in other times they can be found in the east bed. You’re allowed to use live baits on the river. Smelt is the best bait to use. There are good services near the river Vaajavirta. In summer there is a café in the idyllic milieu of wooden houses on island Naissaari. There is a fireplace with a cover at the cape Paloniemi. The services of the Vaajakoski population centre are only a couple of hundred metres away. There is jetty for the boats of guests at the cape Paloniemi. There are three places where you can launch your own boat. The dam can be passed by going through the lock.

Hydrology - Vaajavirta Rapids

Lenght  4700 m  ()
Width  33 m  (-100 m virtakohdat)
Mean discharge  141 m³/s  ()
Flood discharge  0 m³/s  (Virtaamaa säännöstelty)
Low discharge  0 m³/s  (Virtaamaa säännöstelty)