Salmon fishing is, or should be, a contemplative pastime. Competition ought to be reduced to just you and the fish, or perhaps to you and your casting, or to you and the weather; it a personal escape mechanism from the haste and pressure of modern life. There is however always a keen interest here on the Varzuga in the evening radio call. Partly to see what the various camp scores are and partly I guess to understand what the salmon are doing. Is there a big run coming through the lower river? etc.
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| One from the boat at Birthday Pool |
Yesterday the scores were level pegging. Tiffy and I had come up to see the Middle Camp guests and to drop off more kit (and lots more tonic water!). We had not yet had a cast this season so we popped out in the boat to Birthday Pool and shortly had a cracking fish of about 13lbs. Terry agreed not to put it in the book and at the evening radio call the scores were level - 64 salmon to each camp for the day. Not bad! and all were delighted.
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| Laura in action by the banya in Bear |
At Lower Camp Robin M opened up Larder Pool with three salmon in the afternoon. Larder is normally one of the most productive spots at this height, and being directly opposite camp we can watch the fishers and see the glint of sunlight on bent rods. For some reason this year it has been slow, perhaps the river is changing.
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| One of the 60 + fresh silver springers from Middle Camp yesterday - not bad for 7 rods! |
Up at Middle Camp the Bear Pool is out fishing Generator. Normally in the evening everyone is out on Generator, last night when we arrived there were four guests fishing Bear as far down as the camp banya, landing six salmon in a hour or so. The river seems to be changing here too and perhaps Generator will lose its fabled status to Bear.
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| Digby and Sasha |
We have another warm, mild and still day again. The water temperature is up to 7⁰C and at breakfast the air temperature was 12⁰C. Most rods are fishing medium sink tips, if the weather remains warm we might be onto intermediate tips by the end of the week. As always - you are best advised to bring a selection of tips so that you can adjust to water conditions. Flies at the moment are the usual eclectic mix of colours and patterns, the best size being about 1.5" to 2". Bring layered clothing and remember we are a long way North - the weather can be 'changeable'!
I am posting this blog from Middle Camp so have had to compress the photos more than lately.
More news tomorrow from Varzuga.
Christopher Robinson
