Winter ice cover in Central Finland and South Savo was historically short

This year’s ice season in Central Finland and South Savo was the shortest on record, with lakes thawing exceptionally early, according to the Finnish Environment Institute (Syke).

Fisherman Juha Piilola from Saarijärvi was caught off guard by the rapid ice melt. The Summasjärvi lake became ice-free in early April, leaving him scrambling to prepare his gear for the upcoming fishing season.

“Maintenance work was delayed—everything should have been ready two days ago,” Piilola said. He now faces a rush to repair nets and equipment to begin fishing for pikeperch as soon as possible.

The early thaw disrupted traditional fishing patterns, particularly during Easter when unsafe ice conditions prevented both ice fishing and open-water fishing. “If we could have gotten onto the lake just a week earlier, we would have had fish for the Easter season,” Piilola noted.

### Climate change reshapes winter traditions
Hydrologist Merja Pulkkanen from Syke confirmed that this year’s ice departure before Easter is unusually early. Historical data, dating back to the late 1800s, shows a clear trend: lakes are freezing later and thawing sooner, with the shift accelerating in the 21st century.

“Traditional schedules no longer apply,” Pulkkanen warned. “Flooding from rain and snowmelt may occur earlier than before, and ice safety can no longer be judged by past experience.”

### Fish stocking races against warming waters
The abbreviated winter has also created urgency for fish stocking programs. Timo Meronen, director of Central Finland’s Fisheries Centre, described this year’s ice season as lasting just over two months—about a month shorter than average.

“Water temperatures are rising rapidly,” Meronen said. “Once they reach around 10°C, disease risks for young salmon increase.” Coldwater releases are critical for survival, but warm conditions threaten fish with fungal infections, particularly in newly stocked, stress-vulnerable populations.

“We’re in a race against time—there’s only a two-week window to release this spring’s fry,” Meronen added.