Saturday 9 June 2018

Fresh Fish Landed at Sand Island


Date: 8 June

Air Temp: +2 > +8 C
Water Temp: 6C
Water height: +8cm
Number of rods: 8
Number of fish caught: 4 (+sea trout and ++kelts)
Biggest fish: 26lbs Eric B
No 30lb+: 0
No 20-29lbs: 2
No 8-19lbs: 2
Grilse: 0

Weather:

Slightly softer wind around 3-5m/sec but still cold.

Manager’s Comments:

The final day of Week 0 and hopes were high after hearing of decent catches at the lower camp yesterday.

Charlie and Jake headed down to Waterfall, Eric and Alan to Home/Lyliok, Dean and Chris to Poachers. Pete and Michael decided not to worry about targeting new fish and wanted to see a nice stretch of the river, therefore we dropped them at Sand Island with a view to collecting them at Island or Norcamp at 6pm.

Waterfall saw no action, the same for Poachers other than a 120cm kelt! However, Eric landed the fish of the week from Boris’ rock (Home Pool) – a stunning 26lb fresh fish and a first fresh Atlantic salmon for the delightful Bozeman resident.

26lb salmon for Eric in the Home Pool
The story of the day was really the action at Sand Island and 7 Islands. Michael hooked three fish in the small (left) draw at Sand Island landing a fresh 23lber, losing a similar fish and then, after a long fight, losing a fresh fish of 45lbs+. This fish jumped several times, cartwheeling along the back of the draw in full view of Michael, Pete and guide Old Sasha who said it was by far the biggest fish he has ever seen on the river. Sasha has guided fishers to several fish in the high 30s and early 40s. Lets hope someone lands that fish in the coming weeks!

Michael F with one of his fresh fish
They then dropped down through Cliff and onto the top island of 7 Islands where Pete landed a stunning 13lb fresh hen and Michael a further 18lb fresh fish. The first wave of fish clearly slipped past the lower middle river heading directly for the upper beats. Good news.

Stunning fresh Yokanga salmon
Further good news from down below at Gremikha Camp. James reported the first two groups in and who had landed six fish on the less productive beats,. I am yet to hear the final tally for the day/week but await with great interest.
Gremikha Camp, Lower Yokanga
The leaves are still not out but surely the forecast of a couple of days of greater than 5C will force their hand and with that the next wave of big fresh springers will be here for the rods arriving tomorrow……..hopefully!

Peter Rippin