My name is Mika Kärkkäinen, born in 1968, and I first fished in Saimaa at the age of four in 1972. Since those first experiences, I have been hooked on the excitement fishing brings and have actively engaged in versatile fishing throughout my life.

In 2006, I established my current fishing guide business and have since diligently developed both my company and professional skills. Today, I earn my living entirely from recreational fishing-related activities, including guided fishing trips, fishing tackle retail, importation, and manufacturing of fishing gear. Among the products I manufacture is the innovative Jackpot bait rig under my own brand, which has become one of the most competitively successful fishing tools in salmon trolling. This patented bait holder made of plastic, where a natural baitfish is attached, offers various enticing swimming actions due to its unique line attachment options. This product has not only won several Finnish Championships and dozens of other competitions but has also twice won the world’s largest Atlantic salmon fishing competition, the Bornholm Trolling Masters in Denmark. You can explore my products at my online store, www.fishinno.fi, or on the Facebook page, Jackpot Fishing.

My fishing focus shifted significantly towards trolling, along with spinning, fly fishing, and ice fishing for many years. Competing in trolling, especially for salmonids, was my main favorite for a long time. I still consider trolling for sea salmon as one of the finest aspects of the fishing hobby and spend a lot of time in the spring season salmon trolling. I’ve achieved competition success and numerous awards, including third and fourth places in the Trolling Masters Bornholm with 420 participating boats. However, through guiding lake fishing, spinning quickly became the top discipline in my personal hobby, especially silicone jig fishing, which has completely captured my heart.

Over the years, my clients and I have caught tens of thousands of fish, and hundreds of my clients have set new personal records with me. My fishing is responsible; we never take more than what is reasonably needed. Selective fishing with rod and line allows for taking only suitably sized fish and in quantities that can be consumed fresh. By operating this way, fishing spots remain productive and in good condition for future years, and the joy of catching does not diminish whether the fish are released or kept.

In the last “Fishing Tourism Business of the Year” competition held in 2014, my company was selected as the best fishing tourism business among hundreds of companies operating in Finland. So, if you want an experienced professional as your guide, here I am.

See you soon! Regards, Mika