Week 7-14 July

Date: 7-14 July

Air Temp: 7C-26C

Water Temp: 12C-16C

Water height: -26cm to -33cm

Number of rods: 14
Number of fish caught: 157

Biggest fish: 26lbs David C and 26lbs Jean Marc F

No 30lb+: 0

No 20-29lbs:  6

No 8-19lbs: 38

Grilse: 114

Weather:

After a reasonably cool start to the week it was a hot finish with some sweltering sunshine.

Bright sunshine

Manager’s Comments:

Looking at the numbers we had a good start to the week with the cooler weather. As you might expect this was when the larger salmon were landed. There were two terrific fish, both of 26lbs, landed by David C Jean Marc F.

26lber from Pump

The increasing sunshine and air temperatures over the course of the week meant increasing water temperatures and consequently the bigger fish were elusive and reluctant to take a fly.

26lber for Jean Marc F

There has been a good push of grilse in the month of July and these fresh silver bullets have provided good sport throughout the week and have kept morale going.

Rob W at 7 Islands

I head home now after an enjoyable three weeks on the Yokanga. There follow a couple of weeks of Russian clients and our final week of the season will commence on 28 July.

Bill Drury

Hot Day in Waders

Date: 13 July

Air Temp:14-26C

Water Temp :16C

Water height: -33cm

Number of rods: 14

Number of fish caught: 19

Biggest fish:

No 30lb+: 0

No 20-29lbs: 0

No 8-19lbs: 0

Grilse: 19

Weather:

Sunny, thin cloud and a warm wind.

Manager’s Comments:

It was another very warm day out on the river. With the water temperature at 16C and bright sunshine, the larger fish have become less aggressive. The odd one can be seen rolling, just enough to keep us focused. Today was another day for the grilse with 19 of these 4-7lb fresh fish landed.

Hot Weather

When the clients returned to the lodge they were very happy to get out of their waders! It was like being in your own personal banya!

Bill Drury

Grilse Galore

Date: 12 July

Air temp: 14-25C

Water temp: 15C

Water height: -32cm

Number of rods: 14

Number of fish caught: 21

Biggest fish: 10lbs David C

No 30lb+: 0

No 20-29lbs: 0

No 8-19lbs: 3

Grilse: 18

Weather:

Warm and sunny.

Manager’s Comments:

A warm bright start to the day was compounded when due to circumstances out of our control we had to quickly draw up a walking program.

Ready for the walk

Despite the day remaining very warm and bright, the rods applied themselves well to the conditions and landed 21 fish. A very respectable number considering. The fresh grilse once again made up the bulk of the catch and comments of the great condition of these fish were spoken about by all the guests.

Changing fly in Home Pool

All is back on track for a normal program tomorrow so we are looking forward to a good final day.

Helicopter service again on Friday

Bill Drury

Hot Sunshine

Date: 11 July

Air temp:13-24C

Water temp: 13C

Water height: -30cm

Number of rods: 14

Number of fish caught :16

Biggest fish: 15lbs Stephen L

No 30lb+: 0

No 20-29lbs: 0

No 8-19lbs: 3

Grilse: 13

Weather:

Warm very bright sunshine.

Manager’s Comments:

Today was a tough fishing day with hot sunshine dominating proceedings. The fish were not in a taking mood and very few fish were seen moving on the beats.

Rob W at 7 Islands

Stephen L landed a fresh 15lber from below Lyliok rapids. Peter E had a 13lb fish from 7 Islands. Elsewhere the pods of fresh grilse running through provided intermittent sport.

Grilse masquerading as a salmon

Bill Drury

Sunny Skies

Date: 10 July

Air temp:10-17C

Water temp: 12C

Water height: -28

Number of rods: 14

Number of fish caught: 34

Biggest fish: 26lbs Jean-Marc F

No 30lb+: 0

No 20-29lbs: 1

No 8-19lbs: 13

Grilse: 20

Weather:

Sunny, cool NE breeze.

Manager’s Comments:

Today was a day of mixed fortune with some beats fairing reasonably well while others were blank. I am sure the quick change from cloudy to clear blue skies played its part.

Yesterday

Today

Jean-Marc F landed a lovely 26lber from Lyliok in the evening topped off with a grilse. A good after dinner session.

 

26lber for Jean Marc F from Lyliok

There were also fish of 17-19lbs caught by Rob W, Gordon A and Branson A. The pods of grilse pushing through the pools continue to provide sport albeit fleeting at times as they are continuously on the move.

Bill Drury

Thick Fog

Date: 9 July

Air temp:10-13C

Water temp: 12C

Water height: -27cm

Number of rods: 14

Number of fish caught: 24

Biggest fish: 17lb Mike M

No 30lb+: 0

No 20-29lbs: 0

No 8-19lbs: 6

Grilse: 18

Weather:

Heavy fog clearing at lunchtime. Sunny with a cool breeze.

Manager’s Comments:

Today’s heavy fog meant that we drew up a walking program for the day fishing from Poachers down to Crow’s Nest.

Thick fog in the morning

The order of the day was a good healthy and sporting crop of grilse, 18 of the 24 fish caught were these well-conditioned little bullets.

Wading the Pots

The biggest fish of the day was caught by Mike M a cracking fresh 17lber from Lyliok.

17lber for Mike M from Lyliok

 The fog has returned this evening. Here’s hoping it has gone in the morning.

Bill Drury

Superb Start

Date: Evening 7 July and 8 July

Air Temp: 7C-10C

Water Temp: 12C

Water height: -26cm

Number of rods: 14

Number of fish caught: 42

Biggest fish: 26lbs David C

No 30lb+: 0

No 20-29lbs: 5

No 8-19lbs: 12

Grilse: 25

Weather:

Partly cloudy, cold upstream wind.

First day

Manager’s Comments:

The evening of arrival was a real success for Peter E who landed a 24lb fish from Pump. Angus C landed his first Yokanga salmon shortly after enjoying his birthday cake!

 

Birthday cake for Angus C

The strong upstream wind was on everyone’s mind this morning and on certain beats it caused some problems.

18lber for Gordon A

The fishing remains steady and some good size fish were landed notably David C’s 26lber from Island. There were three very nice fish from Crows Nest. A 23lb for Rob W who also landed a 14lber and 18lber. There were also two 20lbers for Geoff B.

26lber for David C

The number of fresh grilse caught are rising and they continue to give good sport.

Bill Drury

Week 30 June-7 July

Date: 30 June-7 July

Air Temp: 8C-25C

Water Temp: 11C-14C-13C

Water height: -16cm to -23cm

Number of rods: 15

Number of fish caught: 157

Biggest fish: 34lbs Jim Cochran

No 30lb+: 2

No 20-29lbs: 18

No 8-19lbs: 85

Grilse: 52

The team depart

Weather:

The weather this week was similar to the previous week in that the good cloudy fishing conditions gave way to bright warm sunshine which thankfully changed back for the last three days.

 

Sunny day on the Yokanga

Manager’s Comments:

This week we had a number of anglers who caught their first Atlantic salmon and one, Jim C, whose first Atlantic salmon was a fish of a lifetime weighing 34lbs. Dreams can and do come true on the Yokanga!

 

Jim tells the story of his 34lber

There have been a lot of fun experiences this week and entertaining stories of various wading exploits and even rods taking off with fish on! Almost everyone in the group had a story of a big fish hooked and lost.

One that did not get away

The river temperature has now dropped back a couple of degrees again and the level has remained the same for the last four days following the rain we had earlier in the week. This is all good news and bodes well for the coming week.

Bill Drury