Air
Temp: -3 > +2C
Water
Temp: 5 > 6C
Water
height: -1cm
Number
of rods: 16
Number
of fish caught: 19
Biggest
fish: 24lbs Carl Ahlstrom, 23lbs x 2 David M and Stefan G
No
30lb+: 0
No
20-29lbs: 7
No
8-19lbs: 12
Grilse:
0
Weather:
12-14m/sec
northerly wind, sleet and snow in late afternoon.
Manager’s Comments:
We
all woke up cold!
The
northerly upstream wind howled, squeezed under low cloud, which meant the
helicopter did not fly until 1pm. The three pairs of rods on Poachers, Home and
Lyliok went out shortly after 9am, the remaining fishers relaxed and watched
replays on old world cup matches, slightly frustrated by the weather.
When
we did head out for the remaining half day it was a battle against the
elements. Trying to get a line out from either bank was a challenge, and from
the boat near to impossible as the longer the anchor rope, the further up or
across stream the boat would move – never downstream towards the lies.
Having
said all that, the fresh fish are piling in now. Despite a late morning air
temperature of 0 C and a wind chill taking it down to -2/3C, fish were
aggressive and even came up to the surface.
David
and Graeme landed four fish averaging 20lbs+ from Poachers, Graeme having a
serious downstream scramble with one of them. Kaj and Carl landed five fish
from Lyliok in 2.5 hrs then called it a day to relax for the afternoon in the
lodge. Stefan landed a fantastic 23lber from Norcamp. Marcus a lively fish from
7 Islands. Dan and I landed three from Sand Island (which felt pretty exposed
up there on the flat tundra of the upper river, but also fairly exhilarating),
Markku landed a fish very quickly in Home, before relaxing for the rest of the
day and watching fishing partner Steffan.
All
things considered, with those starting at 9am finishing around lunchtime and
the others not flying out until lunchtime, it was a very productive half day!
I
know I keep going on about it, but the fish are in the best condition I have
ever seen. Flawless, fat, broad fresh fish. The 12-16lbers are like bionic
grilse – small heads, small wrist, hugely deep. The larger fish are just
brutally thick set. If Carlsberg made salmon…
Peter
Rippin