Air Temp: 5C to 25C
Water Temp: 12C-16C
Water height: -2cm to -17cms
Number of rods: 16
Number fish caught: 95
Biggest fish: 32lbs Lucas Rotllant
No 30+: 1
No 20-29: 13
No 8-19: 72
Grilse: 9
Weather: Fluctuating from a
bitterly cold front end of the week to a blisteringly hot back end.
Cold and windy conditions early in the week
Manager's comments: It was a week
of mixed fortunes with a great start to the week, especially the Monday, when
every single member of the 16-strong party scored. We stood at 50 fish in the
first two days so all was ticking along very nicely. Sadly the week then tailed
off as the week progressed with the arrival of a blistering Kola heat wave when
temperatures soared day after day.
Persevering on a sunny day at Cows Nest
One in the boat and the other on the bank
There were some memorable highlights. Jeremy C started the week on the Saturday evening of arrival with a 14lber, 15lber and 18lber. Chris W managed a 20lber on a hitched Sunray, something that people rarely try. The Monday was the coldest day of the week and Lucas R took advantage of the conditions that we like best on the Yokanga and managed to bank his personal best, a 32lber from Poachers.
Lucas R with his personal best, a 32lber from Poachers
It was a pleasure to be missing the
Brexit fallout and worrying more about weather, tackle and suitable clothing
for the ever-changing conditions that are the norm on the Yokanga. We had a mixture
of nationalities with representatives from Austria, Denmark, Spain, the US and one
very happy Icelander following the nation’s footballing success!
Guides and guests at the start of the week
The entire party deserve a mention
for persevering under harsh conditions and for remaining philosophical about it.
The weather scuppered what could have been a very decent week but sadly these
things are out of our control. It is nevertheless disappointing for everyone
when it is a much anticipated week. Passing through Murmansk and Helsinki, it
was clear that all rivers had had a very similar experience and also struggled
as the week went on. There was some mention that had we been fishing elsewhere
that we would have been having extended lunches or been on the golf course!
I now leave the job of hosting our Yokanga
guests in Toby Burrell’s capable hands. The hot weather seems set to continue
for more days I fear but the good news is that we seem to be enjoying a very
good run of fish on the Yokanga this season and as soon as the weather changes and
conditions allow, we will then get among them.
Henry Mountain
