Yesterday was probably one of the best I have witnessed up here on Varzuga. The weather was perfect with mixed cloud and sun, a light breeze, few if any mosquitoes, the water height at summer level and the water temperature (even on Kitza) at 12⁰C. Ideal floating line conditions and with the huge run of fresh salmon continuing it was difficult to imagine a better place for a fisher to be.
Over at Kitza Tom reported their best day of the season with 59 salmon, Ian B leading the way with 14. After getting his first salmon very soon after arriving on Saturday night Ed B put another three on the bank to get his fishing career off to a remarkable start.
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| Sebastien R with his first salmon |
Pana had 106 to the eight rods with the catch evenly spread amongst the team, some of whom have fished here for many, many years. They tried the float trip for the first time this season with great success and that will now be a much anticipated event for two guests per day.
Here at the Middle Camp Hugh took Sebastien R out in the morning to settle him into salmon fishing and he landed his first two fish in Bear Pool; meanwhile Graham B had his best morning ever with 10 fresh fish from Simmonds. In the afternoon Ian S undertook an extreme wade through Eagle Rock and was richly rewarded with 19 salmon landed and five lost – taking his total for the day to a staggering 30. The camp total was 105, putting them one behind Pana for the day – Hugh is not that happy to be beaten by Pana for the first time this year and there was an air of determination at the morning briefing.
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| Jim R with a typical 2012 chunky Varzuga salmon |
Last night I ran a boat down to the Lower Camp to collect some supplies and on the way back was amazed at the number of fish running and porpoising their way up river. Not only have we had a really good run of salmon this year but the average size has been noticeably larger with many 8lb – 12lb really fit and strong fish.
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| Hugh briefing David, Graham and Ian on Yovas beat this morning |
This morning there was a distinct buzz of excitement at breakfast, Barbara C had landed three and Ian S four before they tucked into their scrambled eggs and bacon. Today we are sending two groups right up Yovas rapids to explore the prettiest beat on the entire river. Once I have this blog posted I’m off to join them!
Christopher Robinson
