alta
Active Member
Posts: 115
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Post by alta on Nov 9, 2008 12:16:28 GMT
I am hoping to go to Russia next summer and was wondering what people's experiences are for the best rivers and also which travel company gave them the best service.
Priority is presence of fish rather than comfort.
All advice welcome!
alta
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conwyrod
Advisory Board
Autumn on the Conwy
Posts: 4,659
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Post by conwyrod on Nov 9, 2008 13:30:21 GMT
The only advice I can offer is that given by Michael Evans on his web site: Because the Kola is so far north, salmon rivers barely ten miles apart can have distinctly different sizes of fish and timings of their runs, so be very careful about when and where and be cautious about bargains. I remember once when our group had notched up over 300 fish in a few days another camp only 50 or so miles away had caught just 3 grayling! www.michaelevans.co.uk/holidays_atlantic_salmon_fishing.asp
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Post by salar76 on Nov 9, 2008 18:09:17 GMT
Firstly, that would depend on your budget and just what you mean by the 'presence of fish'!
If you are after numbers (20+ for the week) then you should look at rivers that flow into the White Sea, such as Ponoi and Varzuga. These rivers have extraordinary runs of fish, albeit mainly grilse (Ponoi has the bigger fish of the two and circa 12.5% of the fish over 10lbs and a 20 pounder is a rare beast indeed). Frontiers, Roxtons and Lax-a are the best bet for these.
If you are after the chance of a fish of a lifetime, without needing to catch several fish / day, then Kola, Kharlovka/Litza, Rynda, Varzina and Yokanga are the places to go, all of which flow North into the Barents Sea. My experience in Russia is only on Kharlovka, Litza and Rynda which are run by the Kharlovka company. Prime time for the big spring fish is generally late June (a week then will set you back best part of £10k on the best rivers, but off peak weeks are to be had for nearer £3k) on these Nothern Rivers when the chances are you will land a few 20+ pounders and contact bigger fish which you may be lucky to land. Come July and beyond, the big fish will still be there, but not running in serious numbers albeit supplemented by fresh grilse and summer salmon up to 20lbs.
Speyducer has also been to Kharlovka and Kola and on 'better' weeks than me, so may be add more to this.
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alta
Active Member
Posts: 115
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Post by alta on Nov 23, 2008 10:16:12 GMT
Thanks for the excellent advice on rivers and times. Are the best fish runs in cold miserable conditions or is it possible to get good sport without freezing your butt off?
alta
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Speyducer
Advisory Board
Release to spawn another day
Posts: 4,123
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Post by Speyducer on Nov 23, 2008 10:39:40 GMT
I would certainly confirm advice as given above, with some additional provisos:
The 'best fishing' is a difficult term:
Most certainly, the best chance of contacting a large fish (even perhaps landing one) is in the northern rivers (Kharlovka/E.Litza/Rhynda/Zolotaya - Northern Rivers Co/ASF) and the Varzuga, also the Kola river itself. That goes for all times of the available fishing times for visiting anglers.
However, the best times in terms of large fish availability and reasonable fishing conditions, June has to be the best month, again reflected in the $$$ you are likely to pay for such fishing. The ASR prices have risen (as the $$$ has fallen in values vs ££), and the best weeks (if available) may set you back well over £10k
July sees larger runs of grilse mixed in with the still present summer salmon, but in the Varzuga and the Kola rivers, huge rivers where the fish can just keep on running up river, by end July, many fish will have already passed by then lower river sections, and fewer fish remain & smaller numbers are running.
The Ponoi remains the river with the largest returns of fish numbers per rod week, due to the huge numbers of fish running, but although a good rod-week may catch 20+ fish individually, very few if any will be over 15lb.
So, first consideration is rod availability, next the depth of your wallet, next the numbers vs size debate with yourself, and possibly whether you wish to go to have the opportunity to catch that fish of a lifetime.
Whilst the 'good, experienced rods' will land more fish, the only realistic way to 'target' the larger fish is to be there when such large fish are likley to be around.
Mike
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klops
Active Member
Posts: 58
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Post by klops on Nov 23, 2008 21:17:57 GMT
Kola is really nice place for salmon fishing but like everything in Russia are extreme: Fish, weather , water and prices. Very depend of weather. Normally begging of June is very good but for example this year still this time was winter. Due to 24h day conditions of river exchange drastically fast . river can drop up 1m during few days and water can increase temperature by almost 10st C by week. Like always nice to be lucky , like we this year on Kola river www.fiskeshopen.com/hem/hemmiddle_Kola2008.htmnormally end of July is not so good and worm (25-30st C) but we had beautiful rain and amazing fishing. There is “only” problem Kola is twice expensive than Canada or Alaska.
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alta
Active Member
Posts: 115
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Post by alta on Dec 14, 2008 10:55:53 GMT
Thanks for the advise mike and klops. Do you recommend any special flies for your russian trips or does it vary much from river to river. I am hoping that tradition norwegian flies would be good but any special advise is welcomed?
alta
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Speyducer
Advisory Board
Release to spawn another day
Posts: 4,123
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Post by Speyducer on Dec 14, 2008 12:30:32 GMT
Whilst I am unsure what traditional Norwegian flies are - perhaps you could enlighten us all, with some names & patterns, & perhaps pictures? - it depends on what time of the season (water height & temperature) you are going to fish.
You should be prepared to use large heavy tubes, or large tubes with sinking lines/sinking shooting heads - black & yellow, Willie Gunn, black & orange - and bottle tube ties for the Russian spring.
Always have some surface or subsurface flies - bombers, wakers, hitch tubes, Sunray Shadows, Scandinavian monkey all season
Always have some Frances shrimps, in ALL sizes from large to almost microscopic, both black & red colours
Smaller flies, sizes 8 down to perhaps size 12 or 14, on doubles for the summer into autumn, with the shrimpy styles - cascade/Ally's/flamethower types, and some black flees (black bear green butt, black bear red butt, stoats tail, silver stoats), and throw in some green highlanders.
These flies will often be added to locally on recommendation of the guides, who will often let you have a few of the local favourites to try out.
That should be a start!
Mike
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klops
Active Member
Posts: 58
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Post by klops on Dec 20, 2008 23:35:44 GMT
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tomba
Active Member
Posts: 31
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Post by tomba on Dec 23, 2008 23:14:50 GMT
I had a week on the Ponoi this last September. The cost is to be truthfull exceptionally high. The weeks fishing at the Ryabaga camp with return flight from and to Murmansk was in excess of $12000. In addition to this you have your return flight to Helsinki with overnight stay and then your charter flight to and from Murmansk. This makes for an expensive week. Next year I believe the cost of the fishing is going up by $3000. However I did manage a few fish for my week in 08 thirty to be exact and I'm pleased to say the the average weight was around 15 pounds and all but two were very fresh some with tide lice attatched. This was in conditions were very cold . Air temp low 40's water temp upper 30's. I have also fished the first and second weeks in June and second week in July in previous years. June is a month of big catches per rod with no bugs but July, take gallons of bug spray, bug suit and anything that you think will keep the wee devils at bay. Their numbers and ferocity are beyond comprehension. I thought the bugs were bad in Alaska but compared to those in Russia. Hope this isn't too bleak a picture and is of some help. Tomba
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Post by sinkingtip on Dec 24, 2008 10:03:57 GMT
take gallons of bug spray, bug suit and anything that you think will keep the wee devils at bay. Their numbers and ferocity are beyond comprehension. I thought the bugs were bad in Alaska but compared to those in Russia. Tomba Hi Tomba - advice like this is hugely helpful to those planning trips to the frozen tundra and wastelands of the far north. As you are no doubt aware, some areas of Scotland (the north and west particularly) suffer badly from midge infestation, especially during periods of damp humidity. Coming from tinker stock, I myself have never had a major problem with midge bites (wasp venom yes !) but I have seen lots of people positively 'explode' as a result. I have tried the various 'potions' which abound but with limited success. I don't know about others but I still believe that, short of encasing yourself in a head to toe bee keepers outfit or lathering on copious amounts of chemicals, SMOKING a large cigar or puffing away merrily on a briar wood pipe does the trick - they don't like smoke ....... "they don't like it up 'em". Non fishing specific advice is just as important as fishing advice when you find yourself on a new water or in a new geographical region IMO eg, health hazards, is there a good tackle shop / bookie ?, what are the local pies like ?, is there a witch doctor within easy reach ?, customs concerning laughter, boundaries of decency etc. regards STip
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