The World Championship Coarse Angling for Clubs will be staged for the 45th time this year, the span reflecting the dedication and attentiveness the competition receives among anglers worldwide. In 2026, the event will debut in Finland, and will be organized by the Finnish Federation for Recreational Fishing (FFRF). We will do our very best to make it a joyous and memorable experience for everyone.
FFRF is Finland’s only nationwide angling organisation. We promote sustainable sportfishing and serve as an umbrella organisation for 420 fishing clubs. Our values are community spirit, responsibility, experientiality, and expertise, and we are working tirelessly for better fishing. The 2026 championship is organized with the help of our active and dedicated coarse anglers, and supported by enthusiastic and dedicated partners.
ORGANIZING COMITTEÉ
Name of the organizing comittée: Finnish Federation for Recreational Fishing (FFRF)
You may find the official Facebook page for the competition HERE.
Sinun tulee hyväksyä markkinointievästeet nähdäksesi tämän sisällön.
Where the competition is held
CITY OF LAPPEENRANTA
The cozy city of Lappeenranta is situated in the southeastern part of Finland, by the shore of Lake Saimaa. Lappeenranta is the regional capital of South Carelia and the population is appox. 73 000 people. It is one of the most important urban centres in the Saimaa region, alongside the cities of Imatra, Mikkeli and Savonlinna. Saimaa canal is a transportation canal that connects lake Saimaa with the Gulf of Finland near Vyborg in Russia. The canal opened in 1856 and was overhauled and widened between 1963-68. The total length of the canal is 42,9km (26,7 miles) and the Finnish part is 23,3km (14,5 miles) long. The width of the canal lies between 34 and 55 meters (112-180 ft). There are eight locks in the canal – three on the Finnish side of the border and five on the Russian side – raising the water level by approx. 76 meters (250 ft).
The Saimaa Canal offers kilometres of even, accessible shoreline ideal for competitive angling. Within the competition area, the canal is approximately 50–60 metres wide. The rocky shoreline slopes steadily down to a depth of 13–15 metres before continuing as a flat bottom. The deepest points reach around six metres of water.
As a competition venue, the Saimaa Canal has been a favourite among anglers for decades. Each year, the area hosts both Finnish national championships in competitive angling and national team qualification events. Thanks to the canal’s diverse fish stock, a variety of angling techniques are used. The most common catch species include roach, bream, white bream, bleak, perch and the rarer belica, which thrives in the flowing parts of the canal during summer.
The recent actions and consequences stemming from our neighbouring country have also affected the Saimaa Canal. Waterborne traffic has collapsed entirely, causing the canal’s water to become largely stagnant, and the areas between the locks are gradually transforming into small lake-like sections. This can be seen in the increased abundance of fish and the spread of algae along the stone embankments.
The section of the Saimaa Canal between Soskua and Kansola still offers excellent conditions for hosting an international angling competition. The same shores have already been the venue for two successful World Championship angling events.
The canal holds a variety of different fish species, the most common being common perch (Perca fluviatilis), common roach (Rutilus rutilus), common bream (Abramis brama), bleak (Alburnus alburnus), sabrefish (Pelecus cultratus), silver bream (Blicca bjoerkna), northern pike (Esox lucius) and zander (Sander lucioperca).
Please note that trout with its adipose fin intact is protected by law, so if caught, it shall be released alive back into the water immediately. Trout with its adipose fin cut is restricted to a minimum length of 50cm. In addition salmon has a minimum length of 60cm, and grayling a minimum length of 35cm. The minimum length for zander is 42cm.
Preliminary programme
12:00 – 19:00hrs Team registration at Disas Cafeteria
19:30hrs The draw and distribution of box-numbers for the official training will take place at Disas Cafeteria according to the official FIPSed grid. For absent nations, the draw will be carried out by a FIPSed representative.
07:00hrs Late arrivals; team registration at Disas Cafeteria
09:50hrs Heavy baiting, no fishing
10:00hrs Start of training
14:00hrs End of training
18:15hrs Teams to assemble at the address Satamatie 5 A, Lappeenranta as designated
19:00hrs Opening Ceremony at Lappeenrannan Kesäteatteri
09:50hrs Heavy baiting, no fishing allowed
10:00hrs Start of training
18:00hrs End of training
09:50hrs Heavy baiting, no fishing allowed
10:00hrs Start of training
18:00hrs End of training
09:50hrs Heavy baiting, no fishing allowed
10:00hrs Start of training
18:00hrs End of training
09:50hrs Heavy baiting, no fishing allowed
10:00hrs Start of training – COMPULSORY
14:00hrs End of compulsory training
15:00hrs The whole venue must be free of all competitors
17:00hrs 1st Captains´ Meeting at Disas Cafeteria
07:00hrs 2nd Captains´ Meeting at Disas Cafeteria, draw of the positions for the first leg and distribution of back numbers
08:00hrs First Signal – Competitors may enter their boxes
08:45hrs Second Signal -Baits/groundbaits check to begin in 5 minutes
08:50hrs Third Signal – Control of baits/groundbaits starting from peg 1 of each sector or subsector
09:50hrs Fourth Signal – Heavy baiting, no fishing allowed
10:00hrs Fifth Signal -Start of the 45th World Coarse Angling Championship for Clubs
13:55hrs Sixth Signal – 5 minutes of fishing left to the end of the leg
14:00hrs Seventh Signal – End of first leg and weighing operations
17:00hrs Publication of results of 1st leg and 3rd Captains´ Meeting for draw of sectors at Disas Cafeteria
07:00hrs 4th Captains´ Meeting at Disas Cafeteria, draw of the positions for the second leg and distribution of back numbers
08:00hrs First Signal – Competitors may enter their boxes
08:45hrs Second Signal -Baits/groundbaits check to begin in 5 minutes
08:50hrs Third Signal – Control of baits/groundbaits starting from peg 1 of each sector or subsector
09:50hrs Fourth Signal – Heavy baiting, no fishing allowed
10:00hrs Fifth Signal – Start of the second leg
13:55hrs Sixth Signal – 5 minutes of fishing left to the end of the leg
14:00hrs Seventh Signal – End of 2nd leg and weighing operations
20:00hrs Gala dinner at Kesäravintola Lalli (address: Kristiinankatu 2, Lappeenranta)
ACCOMMODATION
There is a variety of options for accommodation available in Lappeenranta and its surroundings; cottages, hotels, camping sites, hostels, a B&B and more. The following list includes just a few examples. Please visit the sites VisitLappeenranta and GoSaimaa to discover even more options.
