DATE: 5th July 2017
Air Temp: 12’C - 16’C
Water Temp: 14’C
Water Height: +.7m
Number of Rods: 16
Number of fish Caught: 5
Biggest fish: 17lbs x 2 by Charles Barrett & Andy Britton
No 30+: 0
No 20-29lbs: 0
No 8-19lbs: 5
Grilse: 0
Weather:
A cloudless morning which quickly turned into a very cold, cloudy day with a strong upstream wind.
Managers Comments:
Today was a very odd day in terms of conditions. The Kola is certainly a place where four seasons can happen in one day. When we headed out onto the river this morning it was a windless morning with not a cloud in sight and warm rays pumping down on our backs - T-shirt weather! By midday, vast black clouds rolled in on top of us bringing a vicious upstream wind which you could really feel right through to the core.
This morning, almost first thing, Charles B managed a quick hook up with a fine fish in Beach. Charles is using a relatively small rod and relishes the challenge of Yokanga fish on the 12ft Sage. This particular 17lber put up a cracking fight, taking him on a few good runs around Beach (a giant pool). The fish was as fresh as could be, blinding silver flanks and a green back. An epic fish by all accounts.
Andy B had an active morning hooking two fish in Pump and Lyliok, one weighing in at 14lbs and the other at 17lbs, again both very fresh indeed and good quality. Andy’s fishing partner Geoff reported back with numerous good long pulls from Lyliok but sadly couldn't manage to get any to stick.
We now have an unusual combination of high, warm water in the river. Often in early season we have very high water but 99% of the time the high water is very cold which makes the fish stick to the banks and keeps them fairly channeled, which makes them easy to get at. Then, in theory, the river drops off as it warms up leaving a smaller, warm river. Today we have an extremely large river, with pretty warm water, meaning the fish have absolutely no reason to run up the side channels of the river and are perfectly able to cruise through the middle, or wherever they like. This just adds to the dispersion of fish meaning they are harder to come by. As you know, the Yokanga is a vast old river and in this scenario makes your size 5 cascade feel rather like a needle in a haystack.
It has not been easy going for the team but they really have stuck at it well, as this water drops off we should start to see a serious increase in catch rates and hopefully a lot more fishing coming through. Gremihka had another good day today with over 10 fish between the 7 rods. Also rumours that they are hooking a lot of big fish but unable to land them in this raging torrent (even more so than here at Gremhika). The fish are obviously stacking up down there and hopefully a slight drop in water might push them on up.
Weather:
A cloudless morning which quickly turned into a very cold, cloudy day with a strong upstream wind.
Managers Comments:
Today was a very odd day in terms of conditions. The Kola is certainly a place where four seasons can happen in one day. When we headed out onto the river this morning it was a windless morning with not a cloud in sight and warm rays pumping down on our backs - T-shirt weather! By midday, vast black clouds rolled in on top of us bringing a vicious upstream wind which you could really feel right through to the core.
Charles with a silver bar
This morning, almost first thing, Charles B managed a quick hook up with a fine fish in Beach. Charles is using a relatively small rod and relishes the challenge of Yokanga fish on the 12ft Sage. This particular 17lber put up a cracking fight, taking him on a few good runs around Beach (a giant pool). The fish was as fresh as could be, blinding silver flanks and a green back. An epic fish by all accounts.
Charles with a fish on
Andy B had an active morning hooking two fish in Pump and Lyliok, one weighing in at 14lbs and the other at 17lbs, again both very fresh indeed and good quality. Andy’s fishing partner Geoff reported back with numerous good long pulls from Lyliok but sadly couldn't manage to get any to stick.
Andy releasing the beast
We now have an unusual combination of high, warm water in the river. Often in early season we have very high water but 99% of the time the high water is very cold which makes the fish stick to the banks and keeps them fairly channeled, which makes them easy to get at. Then, in theory, the river drops off as it warms up leaving a smaller, warm river. Today we have an extremely large river, with pretty warm water, meaning the fish have absolutely no reason to run up the side channels of the river and are perfectly able to cruise through the middle, or wherever they like. This just adds to the dispersion of fish meaning they are harder to come by. As you know, the Yokanga is a vast old river and in this scenario makes your size 5 cascade feel rather like a needle in a haystack.
It has not been easy going for the team but they really have stuck at it well, as this water drops off we should start to see a serious increase in catch rates and hopefully a lot more fishing coming through. Gremihka had another good day today with over 10 fish between the 7 rods. Also rumours that they are hooking a lot of big fish but unable to land them in this raging torrent (even more so than here at Gremhika). The fish are obviously stacking up down there and hopefully a slight drop in water might push them on up.
Toby Burrell
