Yesterday was a busy day at Murmansk. Changeover day is always hectic but it is also great fun as it gives the chance to catch up with the many people who come year after year.
We were actually through the airport in record time and everyone was in camp by at least 4pm. Murmansk airport is now a pretty comfortable experience but the sheer tension and excitement levels mean that any wait feels forever.
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| Brendan - giving it his all as ever |
Once in camp it was time to set everyone up, find out which bits of kit were required and discuss the past week’s events.
Those events were perhaps inevitably dominated by talk of Middle Varzuga where the 12 rods finished their week on 408 fish for the week. A superb weeks fishing with some specimen fish landed.
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| Stewart H with his first Russian salmon last night |
Lower Varzuga started to really pick up in the last few days and the team of 8 who came from Kitza landed 89 for their 3 days here which was a good effort.
At Kitza it is taking longer to get going but some fish are there and the same can be said at Pana. It is hard work and very cold but the old adage of “you cannot catch a fish if your fly is not in the water” was never truer.
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| My mother meeting Feorder - I am not sure what she said but it has me worried |
The new week always brings fresh enthusiasm and the team at Middle had 13 before the cold got to them last night. At Lower, Stewart H went out almost as soon as the helicopter landed and on his second cast caught his first ever Russian salmon. He had another one before we beckoned him into supper and we have got the week off to a good start although it is still really cold and it has snowed all night. Surely it will warm up soon…?
Charlie White
