Salmon Junkies

Heavy snow and cold weather are what the first groups are facing the first two days in Lower Varzuga. Sunday the river was still rising and there was enough ice coming down to put the guides off boating.

Yesterday afternoon a few intrepid fishers took to the river, Brian Anderson had a lovely fresh 8lber from Duck here in Lower Camp and in the evening Hugh at Middle reported that they had had a couple of fish off the island. Hugh and head guide, Misha, seemed enthusiastic about the prospects; despite the cold water temperature (0.5⁰C) they had seen fish running through Generator Pool and they had established that Clarkes, Beach, Snake Pit, Fortress, East Generator, Birthday and Party Pools were all well clear of ice on the banks.

The forecast promise really warm weather during the rest of the week with temperatures up to 15 – 18 C. Sure that will gives some glorious days for the guys fishing Varzuga right now

Salmon Junkies Grand Varzuga camp will start 27^th May. I’m pretty sure our guests will face the best condition possible after the heavy spring flood.

Kåre and I will be heading Russia tomorrow. Plan to stay some days in Umba in order to get all the equipment ready for the upcoming season in Ponoi, Grand Varzuga and Umba. During the weekend we plan will go to Grand Varzuga to finalize the last details before the first group arrives.

We at Salmon Junkies feel confidence that we are ready for a new wonderful season. For all the many Salmon Junkies travelling with us to Russia in 2012, I want to say that I really look forward to meeting all of you wonderful guys again – Good old friends as well as newcomers. I can assure you, that we will do our best to provide you with an unforgettable and wonderful fishing trip.
Salmon Junkies will of course keep our web page updated with reports and news on the season in Ponoi and Umba, so please stay tuned during the entire season on www.salmonjunkies.com

Salmon Junkies are very proud to announce we have joined forces with leading company of premium Fly rods – The world famous Loomis rod company from Washington

This really is a wonderful opportunity for us to be associated with a company that is revered the world over for the quality, casting excellence and sheer fishability of their fly rods. And also, it’s a chance for us to be with like-minded Salmon and Steelheads Junkies, who are keen to push the barriers of design and performance. We are so thrilled to be part of a team of anglers I admire so much.

Rod business has changed a great deal over the years with increasing emphasis put on material types and component options, but the actual manufacturing process for many rod builders continues to be a very manual process, one that still involves some good old fashioned craftsmanship. There are not many rod manufacturers that still build all of their rods here domestically and premium rod brand G.Loomis is one of those companies on the short list that is still designing and manufacturing rods stateside.

Loomis was instrumental in starting the Spey rod revolution in US. and have been solidly at the forefront of rod design ever since. Using their extensive experience and expertise, they’ve managed to develop series of spey rods to equip casters of any style. It certainly helps that they got several World Champion Spey casters on staff… The Voodoo man himself Mr. Steve Rajeff

There is quite a lot of snow in Varzuga, however it is melting fast and last night the temperature did not drop below 4⁰C, the river continues to rise and although we still have some ice coming down we should be pretty clear of the worst of it by the end of today. Weather forecast promise warm weather during the next weeks

For this coming week at the Lower and Middle section of Varzuga Christopher are expecting quite a high river with low water temperatures, which suits really well for spring fishing. It will be sinking lines or tips of various types and large bright flies. It looks like we are secured by good water conditions far into June.

Now only 4 days before Kåre and I will be heading salmon heaven in the far North. In 3 weeks time we will start our first big filming this season – A film that will be shot in Grand Varzuga with Columbus Leth behind the camera. Together with all the usual gear we normally carry to Russia every season, “tons” of camera equipment has also been squeezed down into the heavy bags, which have occupied the entire office for the last week. Our plan is to spend some days in Umba before we head Grand Varzuga. We will of course try on daily base, to keep you updated with news and reports from the rivers.

The weather is very unpredictable on the Kola peninsula, and it can change dramatically within very short time so it will be very sensible to bring both something that will keep you warm and dry in rainy and windy day and on the other hand something that is more comfortable, when the sun is dancing for 20 odd hours a day.

Most fishing today is carried out with modern double hand rods between 12 ½ and 14 feet for line 8 -10 – Regarding reel. Please remember to bring some reliable reels that won’t let you down when your + 30lbs salmon take off. Reel for double handled rod should contain minimum 200 meters backing – Single handed reel minimum 150 meters backing. (Buy the best available gear to avoid any failure – Cheap gear will always let you down) Lines: Early season sinking line Floating – Intermediate and sink tips. Important: Bring some fast sinking lines if you are fishing May / June – Leaders: 20 – 24 – 30 lbs braking strength.

From end of June summer will manifest itself with high-pressure weather and sunshine sometimes 24 hours pr. Day. Needles to say that these conditions will can affect the fishing, but you may be astonished to hear that it sometimes can improve catches. Dry fly tactics is very worthwhile and it can be absolutely essential in July. Here we recommend singled handled rods 8 – 9 ½ feet for line 7 – 9 OR one of the very popular 11 – 12 feet Switch rods for line 6 – 8

Hereby some of the hot patterns you should bring to Russia. (more…)

Some of you may have the preconception that August is a summer month, replenished with mosquitoes, subtropical weather and swimming in a lukewarm river. Not so. Being so far north and east the summers on the Kola Peninsula are extremely short, and even though one might suffocate in a freak heat wave in July, as was indeed the case last year, August already marks the beginning of autumn in Umba and the surrounding area. The salmon presumably know this by instinct, and they know they have to enter the river before the harsh Russian winter sets in, which is very quickly in these regions. And an autumn run is no different than a ‘classical’ spring run – the big ones tend to arrive first!

When I was there in August there were hardly any mosquitoes, the weather was mostly slightly overcast with a few drizzles and a pleasant temperature of 12-15 degrees Celsius. We even had a couple of nights with below zero temperatures. The water temperature was between 10 – 14 degrees, absolutely perfect for salmon fishing! And the fish came – big ones.

Most of you experienced junkies have learned that salmon fishing in reality is a fine balance between stress and pleasant relaxation.  That certainly applies to me. And more so when I am in a place, where anything can and will happen – like Umba! One lovely afternoon I was sitting by the bank at the Home Pool just enjoying the view and smoking one of my hand rolled Norwegian tobacco cigarettes. The day had already been great with guests landing salmon all along the river.  Nobody was fishing the Home Pool and it was almost time to go for the hearty dinner meal at the lodge. Out of the corner of my eye I spotted two large salmon head and tailing in the middle of the pool. The fish were clearly on the move. It only took one cast to hook a big salmon that took the fly right towards the bank and raced downstream towards the ocean. 22 pounds fresh, silver salmon, which is now immortalized in my picture album.

This short account is really a description of much of this wonderful August week. The salmon came in pods all week. Not constantly but at nature’s own mysterious pace. Sometimes nothing was moving for hours and we’d mostly hook and land stationary fish. Other times the river was alive with aggressive, sea-liced salmon display brutish force and energy. Most fish were between 11 and 20 pounds, awesome fat and strong Umba salmon that would fight us to the brink of their and our exhaustion. Bigger ones were lost in titanic battles. The fragile balance between adrenaline induced stress and excitement and zen-like meditative relaxation was locked in a thrilling and life-affirming challenge, which only a true salmon junkie could appreciate.

Need I say more? August in Umba is just awesome! Go!

Jan Delaporte