21/10/2026
A Look Back at the Season & the GUIDELINE Simojoki Salmon Competition Winners 2026!
This year, good numbers of smaller salmon, around 80–90 cm in length, entered the river, and the water and weather conditions for salmon fishing were generally very good throughout the season. Towards the end of the season, however, the river experienced a record flood, with the flow rate reaching almost 300 m³/s. The flood lasted for approximately one week.
Once the flood subsided, the final days of the season offered some very active and rewarding salmon fishing. Trophy pike fishing was also in a good level during late spring and autumn time.
The longest salmon entered in the 2026 Simojoki GUIDELINE Salmon Competition measured 108 cm. Once again, the biggest fish were caught early in the season, although salmon were caught at a steady pace throughout the summer.
Top three in 2026 – GUIDELINE competition winners:
🥇 Elmeri Miettinen, Oulu – 108 cm salmon
Caught on 11 June 2026.
1st prize: GUIDELINE NT11 14'9" #10/11 salmon fly rod, worth €1,199.
🥈 Petri Moilanen, Suonenjoki – 105 cm salmon
Caught on 2 June 2026.
2nd prize: Royal Wulff Ambush fly line, interchangeable tips and an original RW cap, worth €200.
🥉 Sampo Halttunen, Joensuu – 104 cm salmon
Caught on 18 June 2026.
3rd prize: LAPINKOSKI accommodation gift voucher, worth €200.
Prize draw winners:
🎁 Martti Halttunen – 77 cm salmon, caught on 6 August 2026.
Prize: €400 GUIDELINE gift card.
🎁 Aki Tyni – 89 cm salmon, caught on 2 June 2026.
Prize: Royal Wulff Ambush fly line, and a legendary Royal Wulff cap.
🎁 Jari Alajuuma – 76 cm salmon, caught on 6 July 2026.
Prize: Lohiranta accommodation gift voucher.
A big thank you to everyone who took part in the competition and shared their fantastic catch photos with us! The competition also provides valuable information about the annual salmon situation and helps us monitor how the salmon run develops in the Simojoki River from year to year.
Thank you, and tight lines!
