Netfishing Under Ice in Finland

[Sharp]

We made divingtrip to the Puruvesi lake which is part of the biggest lake of Saimaa in the Finland. That part of the lake is very well known of the very good visibility. On that day we vere unlucky because there was very thick fog. We where able to see only 100meter/300 feet abov the ice. Local fishermans was fishing whitefishes ( Coregonus albula) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coregonus_albula)with net. We are making all kind of traditional foof of those fishes like fishsoup and also kalakukko (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalakukko).

First we had to go to the fishermans with snowmobile about three kilometer.

http://www.pasilensu.com/kuvagalleriat/Netfishing%20Under%20Ice%20on%20the%20Puruvesi%20t he%20Lake%20of%20Saimaa/slides/snowmobile_puruvesi.jpg

http://www.pasilensu.com/kuvagalleriat/Netfishing%20Under%20Ice%20on%20the%20Puruvesi%20t he%20Lake%20of%20Saimaa/slides/seppo_and_henry_on_the_sledge.jpg

http://www.pasilensu.com/kuvagalleriat/Netfishing%20Under%20Ice%20on%20the%20Puruvesi%20t he%20Lake%20of%20Saimaa/slides/divers_on_the_sledge.jpg

[Sharp]

It take four hours to finnish the hole thing for the fishermans so first we had to wait that net is close enough to start our dive.

http://www.pasilensu.com/kuvagalleriat/Netfishing%20Under%20Ice%20on%20the%20Puruvesi%20t he%20Lake%20of%20Saimaa/slides/divers_and_fishermans_2.jpg

Fishermans are using these kind of underwater propulsion vehicles to get the net under ice.

http://www.pasilensu.com/kuvagalleriat/Netfishing%20Under%20Ice%20on%20the%20Puruvesi%20t he%20Lake%20of%20Saimaa/slides/fishermans_on_the_lake_of_puruvesi_2.jpg

Here is important tools for making the iceholes. Ice was 40 centimeter thick.

http://www.pasilensu.com/kuvagalleriat/Netfishing%20Under%20Ice%20on%20the%20Puruvesi%20t he%20Lake%20of%20Saimaa/slides/fishermans_on_the_lake_of_puruvesi_of_saimaa_2.jpg

Fishermans are using motoricedrills.

http://www.pasilensu.com/kuvagalleriat/Netfishing%20Under%20Ice%20on%20the%20Puruvesi%20t he%20Lake%20of%20Saimaa/slides/ice_drills.jpg

[Sharp]

Now the end of the net is close enough so we are ready to start our dive.

http://www.pasilensu.com/kuvagalleriat/Netfishing%20Under%20Ice%20on%20the%20Puruvesi%20t he%20Lake%20of%20Saimaa/slides/fishermans_on_the_lake_of_puruvesi_7.jpg

Here is icehole for divers which was made behind the fishermans icehole. Thats how it was safe to do our dives and we dident had to be worry about get stucked to the net.

http://www.pasilensu.com/kuvagalleriat/Netfishing%20Under%20Ice%20on%20the%20Puruvesi%20t he%20Lake%20of%20Saimaa/slides/fishermans_on_the_lake_of_puruvesi_of_saimaa__spli t.jpg

Here you can see our two guidlines, primaryreel and another rope.

http://www.pasilensu.com/kuvagalleriat/Netfishing%20Under%20Ice%20on%20the%20Puruvesi%20t he%20Lake%20of%20Saimaa/slides/pasi_and_primary_reel_under_ice.jpg

Here I am posing with the net.

http://www.pasilensu.com/kuvagalleriat/Netfishing%20Under%20Ice%20on%20the%20Puruvesi%20t he%20Lake%20of%20Saimaa/slides/pasi_and_net.jpg

http://www.pasilensu.com/kuvagalleriat/Netfishing%20Under%20Ice%20on%20the%20Puruvesi%20t he%20Lake%20of%20Saimaa/slides/pasi_and_net_3.jpg

[Sharp]

Here I am posing with my byddy Seppo.

http://www.pasilensu.com/kuvagalleriat/Netfishing%20Under%20Ice%20on%20the%20Puruvesi%20t he%20Lake%20of%20Saimaa/slides/pasi_and_seppo_under_ice.jpg

Here is the end of the net. We get 100 kilogram whitefishes .

http://www.pasilensu.com/kuvagalleriat/Netfishing%20Under%20Ice%20on%20the%20Puruvesi%20t he%20Lake%20of%20Saimaa/slides/end_of_the_net_and_pasi.jpg

http://www.pasilensu.com/kuvagalleriat/Netfishing%20Under%20Ice%20on%20the%20Puruvesi%20t he%20Lake%20of%20Saimaa/slides/end_of_the_net_and_seppo.jpg

Here is close up of whitefish.

http://www.pasilensu.com/kuvagalleriat/Netfishing%20Under%20Ice%20on%20the%20Puruvesi%20t he%20Lake%20of%20Saimaa/slides/whitefish_on_the_net_2.JPG

http://www.pasilensu.com/kuvagalleriat/Netfishing%20Under%20Ice%20on%20the%20Puruvesi%20t he%20Lake%20of%20Saimaa/slides/whitefish_on_the_net.JPG

I hope that next time we get sunny day so that the visibility is much better. Video of pour trip will be ready after few weeks.

[Jonathan Bird]

Fascinating! I have never seen anything like that! What does the propulsion vehicle do with the net? Drive it under the ice?

Jonathan

[scubagirl]

That's a lot of fish. It looks like they just haul it out by hand, too.

Cool photos, Sharp!

[sorvju-f]

Great picture report Pasi...it looks like soon we will get video also...and I think narrated one:D

Jukka

[Andrew]

Great pictures and report Pasi, I have never seen anything like that before. Can't wait to see the video!

Andrew

[Sharp]

Than you all friends for you feedback.Fascinating! I have never seen anything like that! What does the propulsion vehicle do with the net? Drive it under the ice?

Jonathan

Propulsion vehicle pul the net under ice far away of the ice hole. Earlyer days fishermans did all the work without machines. They had to do many little holes to ice and push the net forward with long wooden sticks. Now one fisherman is driving the propulsion vehicle with the remote controlsystem. The vehicle keeps noise so that fisherman know where it is going under ice. When the net is far enough they pull it back very slowly with motor.

Summer time fishermans are fishing with boats ofcourse but winter time they use that method from january to end of april. Netfishing under is is very old tradition and there is only few fishermans in these days how can use this method.

What about scubagirl, does fishermans use this kind of method of fishing in Canada also?

[scubagirl]

Sorry, I have no idea what fishermen use here. I know there are a lot of ice fishermen here, but they just just drive out onto the river or lake and make a small hole in the ice, put up a shelter and catch fish with a pole and line. Sometimes their trucks fall through the ice!

[Sharp]

Hello friends.

Now it´s time for Word Premiere in Underwater Photography Chat of my latest video of Netfishing Under Ice Puruvesi the Lake of Saimaa (http://www.pasilensu.com/video/puruvesi_netfishing_under_ice_11042009_narration_a nd_music.wmv). Size is 82Mt.

Now all ice has melted of our lakes so it is time to shoot new materials with out ice.

[sorvju-f]

Hello friends.

Now it´s time for Word Premiere in Underwater Photography Chat of my latest video of Netfishing Under Ice Puruvesi the Lake of Saimaa (http://www.pasilensu.com/video/puruvesi_netfishing_under_ice_11042009_narration_a nd_music.wmv). Size is 82Mt.

Now all ice has melted of our lakes so it is time to shoot new materials with out ice.

Thanks for having world premiere here...there is not much to comment for doing better...you have a nice UW-story with narration and music from UW-net-fishing, which I ( and I suppose not many either ) have never seen earlier...great work Pasi:D

What is music you are using?

Jukka

[solisti]

Absolutely brilliant video Pasi! I loved the shots of the school of fish inside the net.

I think YLE might be interested...

[Andrew]

Great Video Pasi and very interesting how they fish up there, thanks for sharing. How are these white fish cooked traditionally?

Andrew

[Sharp]

Thank you friends of you feedback.

TWhat is music you are using?JukkaI Get the music strait of my Magix editing program (http://www.magix.com/fi-fi/se/movie-edit-pro/?partnerid=9009&AffiliateID=2&et_cid=6&et_lid=661742&et_sub=fi_mgx_main_100clc_meditpro).

There is many different theme like: harmony, playfull, dramatic, action ext.

I think YLE might be interested...

Yes, I have thought it too. How ever knows if...?

How are those white fish cooked traditionally?


Cooked, fried, fishsoup and especially made Kalakukko (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalakukko).

[Jonathan Bird]

That is really interesting Pasi! I would like to see how the net scooters work underwater!