40% of salmon over 20lbs

Date: 15-18 June

Air Temp: 6C

Water Temp: 8C
Water height: +20cm to +5cm

Number of rods: 12

Number of fish caught: 30

Biggest fish: 43lbs Colin J

No: 40lbs+: 1

No 30-39lbs: 3

No 20-29lbs: 8

No 8-19lbs: 18

Grilse: 0

Weather:

It has been stable but cool weather for the first three days. Winds have been strong at times, mostly upstream. There has been cloud cover for the most part, so that element at least has been ideal for fishing.

Manager’s Comments:

The team arrived at the lodge in good time on Saturday and after a late lunch/early dinner it was off to the river for most of our new guests. The first evening is unguided and is always a bit of a bonus to check that the kit is working and to get back into the casting rhythm. However, when everyone returned after fishing there was an air of excitement back at the bar…

Playing a fish above Boulder Alley

Alexey S kicked off the day with a 26lber from Home Pool but better was to come for the team. Colin J started off with a 20lber from Pump, one of his favourite spots. He then dropped down into the Home Pool where myself and Bill Drury were keeping an eye on others. Colin felt that he did not need to fish so deep (he had only been on an S1 S2 anyway) but took the trouble of walking all the way back up the hill to get his other reel with a float/hover/intermediate. Most of us would just have battled on and unhooked the occasional bit of snagged weed!

Alexey S with his 30lber from Lyliok

Having resumed fishing, with the same size 9 double, he swiftly hooked a second fish which unfortunately came off. Undeterred he carried on and hooked a third fish, this time a short distance after Heron Point. Sadly, I had headed down to Lyliok to see what was going on there, but Bill Drury was with Colin and from the beginning they were both aware that it was a good fish. That could mean anything from the mid-twenties upwards on the Yokanga and you never quite dare to dream.

Given the water height these salmon have some significant current to play with and it was after a 45-minute battle that the fish was in the net. Bill had serious trouble getting it into one of the big nets! It was huge and measured a whopping 46.5 inches in length by 26.5 inches in the girth. By far the largest of the season and 43lbs. A fish of this size is next to impossible to hold so the photo simply does not do it justice. However, look closely and you will see the girth of this magnificent salmon. You will also see the surprise on Colin’s face at what had just happened! On releasing this fish of a lifetime, with one flick of its tail it unleashed a wave over Colin and was gone.

46.5 inches by 26.5 inches and 43lbs

Sunday saw a total of nine fish landed, notably a 25lber for Marc C from Sand Island and then a 26lber for Phil W from Lake upstream of Boulder Alley.

Phil W with a deep Yokanga 26lber

Monday was the day of the 30lbers with two landed. A 30lb fish for Alexey S from Lyliok. Then long time Yokanga fisherman Rob G landed a 22lber from Island followed by a 30.5lb salmon, his personal best.

Rob G with a fresh 22lber

A personal best at 30.5lbs for Rob G

A further seven salmon were landed Tuesday. Notably John H caught a 31lber first thing in the morning at the first pool on Lower Norcamp. Then Valery N landed a remarkably honest 29lber at & Islands.

John H adding to his tally of Yokanga 30lbers

With 40% of fish being over 20lbs, it would appear that the main run is still to come. Perhaps the unseasonably cold weather and resulting cold water is delaying them. It will be interesting to see what the coming days bring. Rob G had a run down Lyliok after dinner, saw a fish move when he was just starting, and then promptly landed two salmon of 17lbs and 15lbs. An encouraging sign we hope.

Henry Mountain

Some impressive weights from the first day and a half