Salmon in Russia

[iainabrach]

I was thinking about splashing out on a trip to the Russian Kola Peninsula (once in a lifetime and all that), anyone got any recommendations or experience to contribute?

[Highwealdwoodsman]

Hi There,

I fished Kharlovka and litza last year and am going back in June and August this year.

The Kola has lots of fish. There is a distinction between the big fish rivers, where you may hope for 10-15 fish in a week but have a good chance of a 20 or even 30 pounder if the conditions are right, and the grilse rivers where you might have a chance of 100 fish to your rod in a week, buit they will be six pounders.

The big fish rivers are the Kola, kharlovka/Litza/Rynda and the Yokanga. The grilse rivers are the Varzuga and its trbutaries and the Ponoi and Umba. there are several others too, but these are the main players.

The season tends to be best in Late May through to early August, depending on the river. I have only fished Kharlovka and Litza, but the fact that I am going back twice this year should tell you what I thought of it. Our week 12 rods took 144 fish of which 20 were over twenty pounds and we had a 34 and a 32lber. The fish were also taking dry bombers, which is the most exciting form of fly fishing I can think of.

check out the web site at kharlovka.com

The Kola River is interesting at the moment. It is near Murmansk, so you can get there by bus and don't need the helicopters, but does suffer from a lot of poaching, but is perhaps the river with more big fish than any other , especially in early/mid June. Because you can use road transport and the poaching is a bit of a problem, it is very cheap by Kola standards at the moment. It is being run by Laxa.

[iainabrach]

Thanks for this, I have heard from others that Kharlovka and Litza are incredible places. What is the accommodation like, how does a typical day pan out?

[trevor]

I have fished all the rivers under Peter Power's control (kharlovka, east tiza and the rynda). They are wonderful. You stand a good chance of a twenty pound plus fish. I really would recommend them. On the rynda you can expect to catch more fish bit on average they will be smaller, but still trump south koal size.

They plans out as a hard fishing day. Helicopters at 9 and then lunch on the river and helicopters back at around six. Sometimes you go out after super in a helicopter or just fish the home pool. On the kharlovka the rooms are very good. all en suite. On the rynda the majority are small cabins and you have to walk to the shower/loo. But there are some double rooms that have en suiite.

Hope i have answered your questions. I really you recommend them to you.

[trevor]

Forgot to say that of you are under 35 you may be lucky and get on the ASR youth program and go for the price of 65 punds times your age to the three rivers. It is an incredible deal if you can get on it!!

[iainabrach]

Thanks very much Trevor, unfortunately I will not see 35 again in this lifetime! Spoke to Gordon the Director of Fishing(what a job!) and I am now looking at 2007, seems a remarkable set up, massive fish, checked the Google Earth, what a wilderness...

Iain

[moustique]

Iain,

I can appreciate the reason why you are thinking about Russia, but have you considered British Colombia?

The salmon runs are incredible and it's a hell of a lot cheaper!

www.freds-bc.com/salmon_fishing.htm

www.britishcolumbia.com/Fishing/

www.sportfishingbc.com/

[iainabrach]

Thanks for this Moustique, great links!

What I am really interested in is the places that people have been to and can recommend. The choice in BC is bewildering for someone as unintiated as me, what I like about the Russian operation is that it seems very well researched and publicised plus people on the board have been there recently.

I'm equally up for BC with some helpful advice.

[moustique]

Hi Iain,

I went to BC in 98, and I'd go back again tomorrow if I had the money.

When we went in 98, most of our time was spent after Sturgeon, but we did have a few hours occasionally fishing for salmon, however, I now regret not spending more time fishing for them.

The salmon runs are simply incredible!

We flew from London to Vancouver, and then drove to Chilliwack 1 1/2 hrs away, and stayed at the Comfort Inn. The accomodation was nice and reasonably priced, and we were picked up outside the hotel every morning at 8, by the guides and were on the river 10 minutes later.

We were well looked after by Fred, and all tackle, including waders was provided. www.freds-bc.com/salmon_fishing.htm

A number of known anglers like John Wilson, have been there recently and made TV programmes, and unfortunately the place is now becoming very popular for the sturgeon.

When we went I organised the trip, and 4 of us paid about £1,500 (+ an additional £500 spends) for 2 weeks, which included accomodation, flights, van hire, and the guiding (2 of us to a boat), I think we fished on 8 days.

I'm not sure what the costs are now? My friends have been back twice since our original visit, and last time they didn't hire a vehicle, instead arranged for the guides to collect them from the airport and so saved them quite a bit of money.

As a rough estimate you can have 10 days on the Fraser and Harrison river system, stayling in luxury accomodation, with more salmon than you can ever dream of for not much more than we paid in 98!

The only thing you have to consider is what species of salmon you want to catch, and time you visit accordingly, we went at the beginning of October.



Once I have some spare money, I'll be back there as soon as I can. I'd like to have a week on the Fraser & Harrison, and then a week somewhere on Vancouver Island.

You can probaly have 3 weeks in BC for the price of a week in Russia! But then Russia would be a different experience altogether!

Apologies if this is going off the original post.

[Charlie]

I did BC this time last year and it is terrific value.

We were out of salmon season but had a great time with the sturgeon and a bit of trout fishing. We went with :

www.greatriverfishing.com/

and they were excellent too.





Charlie

[Highwealdwoodsman]

The fishing out there is certainly amazing, but it isn't quite the same thing as Atlantic salmon. out there you can catch silly numbers of salmon at the right time of year- The Fraser's run is into the millions of fish I believe. I would love to have a go, but it wouldn't be the same as fishing for Atlantics to me. Every atlantic salmon is an achievement and a pleasure.

[iainabrach]

Thanks guys for all the assistance, I think my wife is getting a wee bit worried what I'm up to on the computer at all hours of the day and night. I have researched all the links and I am now much better informed. As a dyed in the wool salmon fisherman first and foremost I think I will try Russia initially as it has a real quality feel to it and I have the chance of beating my PB salmon of 26lbs on a fly!

This being said my next stop is definitely BC thanks to the advocacy of Moustique and others.

Wilderness is at a premium and I intend to get out and about and explore now I have the time!

Thanks again

Iain

[j]

Well I can smugly say that I'm off to Russia for the whole season ;D
I landed myself a posting to manage a camp out there so will return with lots of photos and info for anyone that still needs persuading.

J ;D aka Jammy Git

[Sagecaster]

iainabrach said:

I was thinking about splashing out on a trip to the Russian Kola Peninsula (once in a lifetime and all that), anyone got any recommendations or experience to contribute?

I too have fished the great Kharlovka and Litza rivers and would like to pass on a little bit of advice which I wish I had been given prior to going.

There are big fish and seem to be far more aggressive than their UK cousins, you will probably hook a couple of 25lb plus fish when you are out there, but landing them is a different story altogether. Three main bits of advice:

1. Make sure you take good quality tackle and your reels are up to the job. I had a new system 2, after 30 yards of serious running it would go into free spool. Some pools are hundreds of yards long and I was down to the backing every day.

2. Good strong hooks, don't entertain the low water style we use here, they'll just come back bent and twisted. Mikael Frodin's Salar's are designed specifically for this job.

3. Don't let these big fish get started on a run, play them hard and get their heads up. I lost 3 fish in excess of 25lb which ran and jumped for 70-80 yards then broke my 18lb leader.

Its a fantastic place 3rd week in June used to be the best time.

If you can afford it you must go.

[trevor]

j said:

Well I can smugly say that I'm off to Russia for the whole season ;D
I landed myself a posting to manage a camp out there so will return with lots of photos and info for anyone that still needs persuading.

J ;D aka Jammy Git

J
what river are you going to? How did you get the job and do you have a lot of experience in that field. Or are you just a keen/experienced fisherman? I have always wanted to do something like that....

Cheers
trev