Fishing report 16 AUGUST - 3 SEPTEMBER 2015

From the middle of August, and for the following three weeks, Belousiha river lodge invited guests from the city of Murmansk, plus local friends of the camp, and of course our own guides to enjoy the end of season fishing, on a catch and release basis.

The second half of August was temperate. Until the end of summer temperature held above 10 degrees, and even reached 23 degrees Celsius twice. The wind mostly was a light Southerly, which made the fishing very comfortable. By the end of month this wind changed,  to Northerly and Westerly, which bought with it a transformation of the tundra environment, reducing the birches to the bare tree, also gradually putting a yellow-red mosaic on the reindeer lichen and the tundra mosses. Precipitation was minimal, which affected water levels which continued to fall. Water temperature on average fluctuated from 13 to 14 degrees, with the maximum recorded at 16.5 degrees.
This had the effect of concentrating the fish in the slower, deeper places. Occasional fish were still to be found in the streamier runs, but this was more unusual. The net result of this was that to fish the whole day on a single, slower, deeper stretch was possible, with good rewards, which was welcome relief for those anglers less happy to walk 6 plus kilometres a day. But not for head guide Sergey, who was happy to walk to the small holes and rapids towards the top of the river. And each session he returned with a smile on his face,  and interesting reports on fishing. He reported many fish continued to take, and battle well, with many fish getting aerobatic numerous times.  Although the salmon re colouring up, they were still full of energy, prior to spawning, and even at such a late point in the season, some silver salmon were landed.
Best flies at this time were the patterns Beaver and Cascade, various prawn imitations, and Golden Killer.

The Pacific salmon, spawning complete and unable to return from their grotesque shapes, unlike the Atlantics, were found beginning to die. Although this seems a cruelty from nature, in fact, it helps fertilise the river for future posterity. And another, exciting development which is eagerly awaited by camp staff and guests alike at this time of year, is the arrival of good numbers of sea trout. Sizes vary from a half to three kilograms. In the later autumn, even larger individuals are expected. Skilled fishermen especially come to hunt only for this species of fish, as to deceive the bigger specimens proves to be both interesting and difficult. At the end of the month in a single day, one guest, Victor,  caught no less than twelve fish, which highlights just how good the sea trout fishing can be on our amazing Belousiha.
 

Results of 19 fishing days:

Landed: 61 Atlantic salmons.

Lost: 41 Atlantic salmons.

Best fish during this period - Atlantic salmon of 77 cm caught on a #7 single handed, with fly a prawn pattern.