Date:
16-23 June
Air
Temp: 4C to 21C
Water
Temp: 9C to 13C
Water
height: -4cm to -13cm to +3cm
Number
of rods: 14
Number
of fish caught: 167
Biggest
fish: 32lbs Martin Vainer
No
30lb+: 2
No
20-29lbs: 33
No
8-19lbs: 119
Grilse:
13
Weather:
We
arrived to a stunningly beautiful blue sky Yokanga and warm summer temperatures
which lasted for a couple of days but then reverted to the sort of variable weather
you can expect when fishing in the Arctic Circle. Low temperatures and the need
for thermals one day, followed by upstream winds, and then shedding layers the
next.
 |
| Sunny start to the week |
Manager’s Comments:
Looking
back at this time last year, the contrast is enormous. Those who have been coming
to the Yokanga for many years since it first opened would consider the timing
this year as spot on for what is considered normal. While last year was exceptional
and something of a record, this year is what many of us remember and is the
reason that this is the prime week of the season. And so the week panned out to
be superb.
 |
| View of Home Pool, June 2018 |
 |
| View of Home Pool, June 2017 |
The
general condition of the salmon in amazing. They are so incredibly fat and fighting
fit. Even the small number of grilse that we landed were of proportions that I
have not seen on waters at home. Where and on what are they feeding? There is
some good food out there somewhere!
 |
| Yokanga salmon in great condition |
The
numbers speak for themselves. 33 salmon between 20-29lbs and two over 30lbs. There
were a lot of fish in the 12-18lb bracket and what the hard numbers above do
not show is what fun it is to fish for multi sea winter fish that really put a
bend in your rod. Even the ‘smaller’ fish would take you into your backing in
many places. There were screaming reels every day somewhere on the river.
 |
| Will it go 20lbs? |
The
headline were catches were Paul I’s 31.5lber a personal best by some margin. Then
after many visits to the Yokanga, Martin V landed the largest of the week a
stunning 32lb fish from Lyliok, again his personal best.
 |
| Martin with his personal best |
There
have been many other notable catches. Henry C had a 28lber on his own in Pump one
evening. Accurate measurements were taken and we have developed our own Yokanga
scale now. Anders H had one of 27lbs from Pump on another occasion. Stephen C
landed a chunky 27lber from Seven Islands and Mark C had a day to remember with
a 24.5lber and 25lber. Apologies for those whose names I have not mentioned but
with 33 fish over 20lbs it would be a very long roll call!
 |
| Anders with one of his many |
There
were Russian fly fishers at the Gremikha Camp which fishes the lower Yokanga this
week and they also did well with 70 fish. Some smaller multi sea winter fish
and grilse seem to be entering the lower river in numbers now.
 |
| An 18lb bar of silver for Robbie DM |
As
is ever the case, the Yokanga salmon do not give themselves up easily and it
requires perseverance and time spent on the water. While it is the reason for coming
here, the Yokanga experience is not all about fishing and numbers. There were a
number of new faces at the lodge this week and hand on heart I can say that we
have all had a tremendous time with the group getting on really well. With representation
from the England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, France, Russia and the USA
there have been many laughs and plenty of fishing tales.
 |
| Sunday morning the first day of fishing |
Much
looking forward to the coming week.
Henry
Mountain
