I had long planned to explore the shores of Lake Martimojärvi in more detail. I happened to notice online that it was possible to rent a rowboat there. That would make getting around easier, since we wouldn’t have to trudge through wet bogs with backpacks on our backs. Fishing would also be easier. We decided to take the opportunity and rent a boat so we could explore the western side of Martimojärvi.
We rented the rowboat for the weekend from Lapinkoski Outdoor. We brought fishing gear and a tent, and headed out rowing on Martimojärvi. This time, the plan for meals was to try some new recipes and prepare fish with some new flavors. We were also prepared for the possibility of not catching fresh fish — we had canned fish as backup.
We set off from Hangassalmenaho at around four o’clock on Friday afternoon. The sun shone through fluffy clouds, and the temperature was around twenty degrees. We reached the shore and loaded our backpacks and other gear into the boat. The wind was fairly brisk, but the boat was fortunately stable. Rowing was tiring at first for someone not used to it. We had intended to take a longer route around the lake, but decided to head directly to a spot we thought might be suitable for the tent. The weather forecast promised calm winds in the evening, so we left the scenic rowing tour for later.
Our campsite was on the western side of the lake. We chose the spot after studying a topographic map and aerial photos from various years. We unloaded the gear from the boat and first set up the tent in the shade of trees. We found a small rocky beach that made for an easy landing spot with the boat.
For dinner, we had fried funnel chanterelles (from dried mushrooms) with noodles. I had prepared the mushroom sauce at home in advance. It included soy sauce, fish sauce, garlic, chili, ginger, and coriander. It turned out delicious — even my spouse liked it, despite not normally being a big fan of mushrooms.
After filling our stomachs, we set out for an evening row. The wind had calmed down and rowing was easier. We paddled around Pikkujärvi, occasionally casting with the fishing rod and enjoying the beautiful sunset and atmosphere. We caught a couple of small pike during the trip but released them to grow. One pike, however, was kept for a late-night snack.
Before going to bed, we sat on the shore admiring the sunset and watching passers-by. A jingling herd of reindeer passed close by. We also observed four swans and some terns on the opposite shore, as well as a pair of ducks swimming nearby. The calls of curlews, red-throated divers, and cranes carried from afar. A hobby falcon also flew over us several times, carefully keeping an eye on our activities.
For breakfast, we fried eggs and bacon. A frozen water bottle had kept our food cool through the night. After breakfast, we took a walk in a nearby forested island and bog. We cast from the shore and caught a few perch. We made perch soup inspired by the “Three Onion Pike Soup” recipe from kalaruoka.fi. It was delicious and a nice change. For dessert — a nap.
After our nap, we brewed coffee and then headed out rowing on Martimojärvi again. There were other anglers out on the lake. We rowed along the western and southern shores. At one point, we ran aground on shallow rocks, but by lightening the stern we managed to get moving again. The surrounding shores, headlands, and bogs were beautiful. Seeing familiar bogs from a new perspective was fascinating.
In the afternoon, we cast from both the boat and the shore, catching more perch. From these, we made Vietnamese-style turmeric fish. It was delicious. We had canned fish as a backup, but luckily didn’t need it.
In the evening, we enjoyed tea and admired the sunset before going to bed. After lying down for a while, we noticed mist rising beautifully over the bogs. We just had to get up again and capture the magical atmosphere.
In the morning, we fried eggs, spring onions, and perch to have on bread, and enjoyed our morning coffee. We packed the tent and backpacks into the boat, then started the journey home. On the way, we tried casting again, but either the fish weren’t biting or we didn’t happen to find them. The wind was once again brisk, making the rower break a sweat.
We returned the boat and walked back to Hangassalmenaho via the southern side of the nature trail. The duckboards built in 2004–2005 are in quite poor condition now. Rumor has it they won’t be repaired anymore due to budget cuts.
It was a wonderful trip, getting to know Martimojärvi and Pikkujärvi better. The god of the sea kept us well-fed, the new recipes proved tasty, and nature showed us its best side.
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