Fishing report 18 - 23 JULY 2015

This week our guests were from England. The group comprised, not just first time visitors to the Kola peninsula, but for all bar two, the first visit to Russia. And amongst this group, three of the anglers had not caught salmon before. The weather was perhaps bought from England with them.  Only the first day of the week was Summery. The other days the air temperature fluctuated from 9 to 12 °C, and most days  cloudy and damp. Water temperature in Belousika was a constant 11 °C which at least was promising for the fishing.  Wind direction maintained a northerly  direction which demanded warm clothing to be worn. The water level gradually fell during the course of the week. Fish were in numbers, with salmon seen from the coast to the upper reaches.  The silvery pacific salmon were also now in the river in good numbers, in the lower beats, which assisted in keeping rods bent..

The Atlantic salmon remained in good numbers in all the pools, and where the river slows, on shallower water, many were seen, appearing to be resting after battling up the faster currents. In some places we counted over thirty individuals. We are very pleased to see such big group, and amongst them  five or six fish having the impressive size from seventy five to over one hundred and ten centimetres.

 In the middle of July, the lower  water level allows to watch easily the reaction of fish to flies presented well by the angler, and often at this time of year,  even after a fish is landed, it is very possible to get interest, and hook a further two or three more within the hour from the same pool, in those pools where the numbers of resident fish is large.

The British brought with them a lot of classical British flies, and it was quite interesting to see how the Belousiha salmon reacted to them. Some of the flies worked well, but the absolute star of them all was the Stoat Tail to which fell half of  all hooked fish.

On Glinka beat, was spotted one excellent fish, beginning to show colour,  allegedly  over one hundred and ten centimetres, which stirred passions amongst the group. For three days this fish was pursued with much vigour, but this age wisened fish ignored all attempts. This week all anglers caught, with all three anglers who had not previously encountered salmon enjoying their first ever.  Other big fish were seen, but not landed. Two-three kilogram males were generally caught. Together with an Atlantic salmon this week in lower reaches of the river a lot of Pacific salmon were landed. And this same week, a cracking trophy brown trout of sixty three centimetres, which would put the fish at around 3.5 kilos.

Upon leaving, our British guests made clear that the time spent in the Lodge and on the Belousiha river, will for a long time remain in their hearts and in their memories.

Result of week:

8 fishers.

Landed: 21 Atlantic salmons

Lost: 24 Atlantic salmons

Also Landed: 17 Pacific salmon

Plus that amazing Brown trout.

Best fish of the week - 73 cm Atlantic salmon on a vintage bamboo single handed rod #6 (more than 50 years old and sporting a rich fishing history) with the fly being a Black Francis.