Week 24 June-1 July

Date: 24 June-1 July

Air Temp: 3C to 14C

Water Temp: 5C to 7C
Water height: 1.6m to 1.4m
Number of rods: 11
Number fish caught: 33
Biggest fish: 26lbs Geoff Barber
No 30+: 0
No 20-29: 6
No 8-19: 27
Grilse: 0

Weather: A tough start to the week with cold weather and strong winds but finishing on a fantastic clear day with not a breath of wind. 

 Wednesday

Friday

 

Manager's comments: Given the time of the year it was a disappointing score but this is an extraordinary season. It has been widely reported in the Murmansk press that it is a once in a hundred year late spring and certainly none of the most experienced guides have ever seen such a late year or indeed a winter with such a lot of snow. The combination of the two factors together has not favoured the lodge which fishes the middle river. The difference in seasons is clearly illustrated below.

 

 Pinro Pool, Lyliok River, 30 June 2017

Pinro Pool, Lyliok River, 27 June 2016

 

There were a couple of very notable fish landed. Alexey P landed a terrific fresh fish of 24.5lbs up at Poachers having walked all the way up there on the worst weather day of the week. Yokanga veteran, Geoff B, landed the biggest of the week, a lovely looking cock fish of 26lbs. We may take fish such as these as normal for Yokanga but it is worth remembering that these would be fish of a lifetime anywhere else.

Alexey's 24.5lb fish

 

Fresh cock fish

 

One of the great attractions of a week at Yokanga lodge is the diverse profile of guests, all of whom share the same Atlantic salmon addiction. We had visitors from England, Wales, Ireland, Denmark, USA and also Russia this week and as ever there were plenty of fishing tales to tell and much laughter around the bar. There were some amusing, and occasionally late nights, perhaps fuelled by a drink or two.

 

Good team spirit back at the lodge

 

Despite continued high water, and on occasion some brutal fishing conditions with the mid-week storm, the team persevered all week and did well to land the fish they did. All were hard fought for. I would like to thank the team, many who come every year, for remaining positive throughout and for their understanding that not every week in every season can be a record breaker. As ever, fishing can be remarkably unjust and there were one or two extremely competent fishermen who were simply unlucky. A bumper week is surely around the corner for them on another occasion.

Lyliok now producing fish

While the majority of snow has gone and what remains is now melting very quickly, it certainly looks like things are running a month late as things have not even greened up as yet. The biggest and freshest fish were caught in the latter part of the week and I am confident that we will see the run arrive imminently. Logically there should be a backlog of fish from the last month ready to push through the middle river as conditions are right for them. Those who are looking forward to a visit to Yokanga in the remainder of the season should be excited about what is to come!

Plenty of fish like this to come

I said goodbye to the river on Saturday for another year and leave the lodge management and blog in Toby Burrell’s capable hands for the rest of the season. Good luck and tight lines to all.

Henry Mountain

 

Blog correspondent hard at work