A New Ally for Finland’s Top Fishing Guide Debuts in Helsinki Boat Show

Based in Naantali, the gateway to the Archipelago Sea in southwest Finland, Jani Ollikainen is one of Finland’s most active fishing guides. Over the past decade, he has relied on various Buster boats for his work.

The new casting boat, manufactured in Ähtäri, is currently undergoing additional outfitting in Raisio before being showcased at the Vene 25 Båt Boat Show in the Helsinki Exhibition and Convention Centre. The spacious, stable bow rider is ideal for professional use, featuring the same hull design as Jani's previous Buster XXL. However, the new boat includes significant technological advancements, such as Yamaha's DES (Digital Electric Steering) steer-by-wire system with the Yamaha F150 outboard motor.

”The Bow Motor Is the Most Important Tool in a Casting Boat”

For a fishing guide, the bow motor is the most essential piece of equipment in a casting boat.

The new boat will be equipped with a Minn Kota Ulterra bow motor featuring an electric lift and tilt mechanism. It will be mounted to Buster's custom bracket on the side of the bow, which also integrates a mooring cleat. This side-mount position keeps the path from the bow to the dock clear.

“The bow motor is the most important tool in a casting boat. On familiar waters, it’s even more crucial than a plotter or sonar. It allows short-distance movement and keeps the boat positioned for fishing, even in windy conditions when an anchor might fail, moving the boat 20 meters off the target spot,” Jani explains.

• Read more about casting boat accessories: Buster Fishing Boats

Small Changes to Equipment

What other upgrades are being made to the new boat, and how does a professional outfit it differently compared to the previous model?

“The biggest change is removing bait boxes in front of the console on at least one side and replacing them with a fender holder. There’s otherwise no good place for fenders in the boat, and storing them has always been a challenge. I also have an idea for a landing net holder, but we’ll see at the show how that turns out,” says Jani.

To enhance comfort in rough conditions, offshore suspension seats will be added to the boat.

“A foldable backrest for the rear seat has been a fantastic innovation, and the waterski arch has proven to be a great support for those fishing on the rear deck. It prevents accidental steps into the motor well and provides a leaning point for anglers,” Jani lists.

A refrigerator will be installed in one of the rear side benches to store refreshments and food. To ensure sufficient power, dedicated batteries will be added for both the refrigerator and the bow motor. These batteries will be charged via the Mastervolt shore power system and the engine's alternator, which delivers up to 31 A.

The boat’s electronic equipment includes a 16-inch Buster Q smart display with Navionics charts, complemented by a basic 2D sonar and a Humminbird XPLORE side-scan sonar as an additional display.

“In many fishing boats, you see 2–3 screens on the console and another 1–2 on the bow. At the moment, a live sonar is not essential for my fishing methods.”

Fifth Buster Fishing Boat Ready for Summer 2025

Jani Ollikainen’s collaboration with Buster began in 2014 when he was invited to join a product development project for a small casting boat. This led to the launch of the first Buster S Fish in February 2015 at the Helsinki Boat Show.

“The following summer, I received a boat that had been driven over a rock by the team at Hamnen.se (now Skippo). Only the propeller had been replaced,” Jani recalls.

The factory-equipped Buster S was phased out with the release of entirely redesigned Buster S and Buster M models in 2017 and 2018, which introduced a modular casting accessory system. This system allows parts to be purchased and installed separately or removed if the boat's purpose changes.

“In the following years, I worked with a tiller-steered Buster S and then a single-console Buster M1 to guide 2–3 person groups. For larger corporate trips, I rented a Buster Magnum or Buster Cabin from Buster Rent,” says Jani.

Eventually, the boat was upgraded from the under-five-meter M to the over-six-meter XXL. The upgrade was driven by the need for larger group fishing trips and the new fishing accessories available for Buster XL and XXL models from 2020 onwards.

“After four summers with the XXL, I sold it last fall. The XXL is a stable fishing platform, and the dual consoles provide excellent protection from wind and weather. On the other hand, the Buster S and M are much easier to trailer—they can be towed with almost any car and are simple to handle alone,” Jani explains.

Bow Rider’s Wide Windshield Is No Issue for a Professional

Many casting anglers dislike consoles, let alone bow riders with full-width windshields. However, Jani finds the windshield beneficial, and the boat's spacious casting decks at the front and rear offer excellent workspaces for multiple anglers.

“Driving a tiller-steered Buster S in sleet made me long for wind protection. Even the windshield of the single-console M1 isn’t sufficient in harsh conditions, making transitions wet and cold. With a bow rider, you can sit behind the windshield, talk on the phone, and no one would even realize you’re boating,” Jani laughs.

Visit Jani Ollikainen and see the new Buster XXL Fish at the Helsinki Boat Show, Booth 6d48, from February 7–16, 2025. Jani will be there throughout the event to share insights about casting, working as a fishing guide, and outfitted Buster boats.

Jani Ollikainen

• Fishing Guide of the Year in Finland 2021
• Water Safety Ambassador, Finnish Swimming Teaching and Lifesaving Federation & Finnish Lifeboat Institution
• Buster Brand Ambassador since 2015
• https://buster.fish/
• jani@buster.fish 

Helsingin International Boat Show ”Vene 25 Båt”

• Helsinki Exhibition Centre, February 7–16, 2025
• Visit the new Buster XXL Fish at Hall 6, Booth 6d48
• Opening Hours:
  • Friday, February 7: 11:00–19:00
  • Saturday & Sunday, February 8–9: 10:00–18:00
  • Monday to Friday, February 10–14: 11:00–19:00
  • Saturday & Sunday, February 15–16: 10:00–18:00
• Info and tickets: vene.messukeskus.com