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.

Traditional hook flies – Red But / Silver Doctor /Black Francis / Ally’s Shrimp / The Cascade / Green Highlander / Thunder & Lightning / Willie Gunn / Black Sheep / Hairy Mary / Blue Charm / The Undertaker/Billy But / Black bear Green But / Monroe Killer

Recommendation towards sizes would be in direction of: 2 – 4 from end of May too middle of June – 6 – 8 in late June early July and further down to 10 and smaller in summer. In September we are back again in size 4 – 8. In middle of june towards end of July remember some dryflies etc. Bombers, muddlers and skaters size 4 – 6-

Tube flies – Bring tube flies with a wing length around 1 inches  – 1 ½ inches  – Salmon Junkies suggest a classic “Scandi” design with a long profile in the wing a’la Tempeldog style – Productive colors – Black / Yellow / Orange / Green / Brown. The tube fly Body should be in length 10mm – 20mm – recommended in Brass, Cobber or aluminum.

In Umba, Ponoi and Grand Varzuga our camp shops will keep a good stock of flies tied specially for us and the conditions

Accessories

Measure tape

Leader material (15 lb. Up to 25 lb.)

Clippers.

Repair kit for Waders

Some sinking tip for extreme situations

Pliers

Wading stick

Pocket torch with fresh batteries.

Camera and video. With fresh batteries / recharger. (You can recharge in the camp / 22oV)

Bag or backpack for daily equipment

Mosquito juice

Sunglasses

Plastic bag for wet clothe when travelling back home

Clothes and other items

Fleece trousers and jacket

Warm socks

Fleece gloves

Hat and scarf

Waterproof fishing jacket

Waders (breathable)

Fishing shirts and vest

Cap

It is also advisable to bring: Ear plugs for helicopter flights, snoring partners and screaming fly reels. A couple of plastic bags for wet clothes and booths when leaving. Cash in Euro for Bar and gratuities

MEDICATION

* Travellers should always pack medication for such common complaints as diarrhoea, upset stomach, motion sickness, headache etc. as well as prescriptions.

* Most visitors to Russia don’t experience stomach problems, but it is worthwhile to have treatment available just in case.

See you soon out there

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

Butt: Fine oval gold Tinsel

Tail: Orange and sunburst Tanuki

Body: First half/ golden ice dubbing

Body: Second half/ peacock ice dubbing

Ribbing: Medium oval gold Tinsel

Wing: Black Tanuki

Throat: Yellow hackle followed with a orange badger hackle

Head: Red thread

Hook: Partridge Double Wilson/ Low Water Size 6

Skagit lines were originally developed by the steelhead rats of the Pacific north West to get flies in front of fish regardless of environment. These short high power heads have the ability to make a cast in tight confined spaces, which often means the difference between success and failure.

The new Skagit Flight Shooting Head is the very ultimate design in Skagit lines for maximum flight time, effortless casting strokes and the tightest and sweetest of loops. Based on the extraordinarily successful AFS head, the line features a back end that loads rods deeply and easily and a long, subtle front taper that ensures the energy flows smoothly to the tip, generating gorgeous loops and long, long flight times and distance. The front end has a thick tip that packs a big punch and easily lifts out heavy tips and large flies with supreme ease.

The Pale Orange colored heads, vary in length between 24 ft and 31 ft, depending on the size, and the range of weights ensures that even the most fastidious of casters will be able to tune their rod to perfection. Attach a shooting line to the ultra strong welded loop at the back end and one of RIO’s 10 ft MOW tips or a piece of T-11, T-14 or T-17 (sold separately) to the exceptionally neat, bullet proof front loop.

Rio Skagit MOW Tips are based on the type of sink tips that Skagit maestros Mike McCune, Scott O’Donnell and Ed Ward have designed and used for years. Not only are the MOW tips exceptionally easy to cast, but they give anglers far more precision in depth control, than has ever been possible in the past.

The Rio Skagit MOW Tip concept is simple; keep the tip length the same, regardless of how long the sinking section is. The majority of MOW tips are 10 ft long and feature a combination of floating and sinking line that gives anglers the greatest depth control.

Each tip features RIO’s new skinny welded loop in both ends for the easiest and fastest of rigging. The Heavy MOW tips utilize T-14 in all sinking sections, the Medium MOW tips utilize T-11 and the Light MOW tips utilize T-8 for all sinking sections. As a guideline, Heavy MOW Tips are best on Skagit line of 575 grains and heavier, with the Medium MOW Tips most suitable for Skagit lines between 475 and 575 grains and the Light MOW Tips being most ideal on Skagit lines lighter than 475 grains. Though this is a guideline, fly size is actually most important and big flies will cast easiest on the Heavy Tips, while light flies will respond best on the Light MOW Tips.

Rio Products

A solemn quietness was hanging in the air around the Umba river. Now and then a distance cry from a raven penetrated the sky or a breath of wind would rattle the colourful leaves of birches and aspen. Each time a handful of leaves would drop off and soon – very soon – the winter would march in and wrap the infinite Russian taiga in its white dress. Soon all creatures would have to face the cold and the dark, or retreat to their winter caves. I was once again preparing the retreat from my second home, at the Umba riverside. But I could not pack up my rod before I had visited the Krivetz one last time.

The huge masses of water was thundering into the Junction between the Krivetz and Niezma rivers. From the mighty lake Poncho and 7 kilometres down, the Krivetz is dropping several hundred meters and this part of the Umba has drawn hundreds of salmon-fishermen from all over the world. Up here lies the untouched salmon universe and the true Russian folklore. It is possessing both participants and spectators and will anchor itself deep in your soul. It will fuel your daydreams for years to come and it will give you an irresistibly urge to return – year after year. Umba may seem like a small and forgotten community, but this has not always been so. Through hundreds of years, the Umba was the purveyor of big and fat salmon for the court of the Russian Zars. After the revolution the Umba became an attractive resort for the Party-leaders in the Soviet Union. Less than a decade ago, they where probably walking along the same path, as I do right now – heading for the first holding pool – now known as the Office pool.•

A steady flow is passing through the pool securing a perfect swing in your fly. Each cast will make your imagination shoot off and each yard the fly is travelling, will make you expect a powerful pull from a salmon that turns with your fly in its mouth. I finally gain foothold between the slippery rocks and make the first cast. The small fly hits the clear water with a distinct plop and the blue intermediate line is cutting through the shivering surface. Somewhere out there, maybe only a few yards from my feet, the salmon is hovering on its distended fins. In a few moments it may decide to continue upstream. In a few moment it may decide to grab the small fly that penetrates its universe ! Maybe.

In spite of the low water temperature I was still sending my casts very much across the stream, making the fly travel fast and curving through the pool. This strategy has proved to very successful and it has been a quite shocking fact, for some of our guest with miles of salmon-literature behind them. Salmon-fishing is full of tradition and conservatism, but it sometimes pays to break the rules and think for yourself. I was halfway through the pool when I felt a gentle pull in the line. A salmon had reacted and another cast was made to the same spot, but in spite of my attempt to boost the presentation with the rod tip, nothing happened. “Time to change the fly maestro” and when I looked down into the box, I realised my pulse had risen considerably. My hands where dancing to the rhythm of salmon-fever. It had to be something different from the long-winged Red Butt and my fingers automatically sorted out a Black Francis size 8. It seemed like ages before my shooting head was racing in the air again. Same angle and same length of line, but this time a completely different fly – “Lets see if you can put up with this Mr. Salar” !  Slowly the line tightened and I nearly swallowed my tongue, when the deep-sided Bugger turned with the Francis,  leaving a huge boil and a splash of water.

I took the salmon something like a micro-second to figure out,  that something bad had happened and then everything just went berserk. The fish trashed itself out of the water in a series of uncontrolled jumps and then shot off like a rocket,  towards the foaming outlet of the pool. I desperately held on to the rod and luckily the fish decided to turn left at the end of the pool. 50 yards of line was singing and now started the “heaving and giving” part of the game. 20 minutes had passed like nothing, the steady side-pressure had drained the fish considerably and the fight was now coming to the critical phase. After a few half-hearted runs I could finally clamp down my hand around the tail of a big and beautiful creature.

A deep and silver-dressed salmon was now hanging between my cold hands, its sharply curved head was facing upstream and the gills were pumping steadily. This is the prize – a man-made myth – a key that will open doors to the root of your soul. I gradually loosened my grip and with a powerful stroke from its big tail fin, the fish shot off like a grey shadow, into the main stream. My hands released the fish, but it would stay with me – etched to my hard-disk – fuelling my life, for eyes to come.

On my way back through the Forrest I was faced with the first winter-snow. It was time to pack up the last fly-rod and head south. I had made my final cast for a season once again. But I will return to the end of the world like the whooper swans, when the spring-sun is warming up the Taiga again.

For all our friends going to Grand Varzuga – Bring a bunch of Varzuga Shrimps

Butt: Fine oval gold Tinsel

Tag :  Orange

Tail: Black and sunburst Tanuki

Body: Golden  Flatbraid

Ribbing: Medium oval gold Tinsel

Bodyhackle: Black barred sunburst hackle

Wing: Black Tanuki

Throat: Black barred sunburst hackle

Sides: Jungle cock

Head: Black thread

Hook: Partridge Double Wilson/ Low Water Size 6

This photo was shot today by Nick Podolsky

As you you can see on the two photos Umba river is slowly getting out of its hibernation, and with daily temperature above zero, Umba will be total open within a coupe of weeks. Now just four weeks before we will fish Umba again – Wonderful!

This photo was shot 1 1/2 week ago