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FLYFISH YOKANGA
RUSSIA’S TROPHY SALMON RIVER
YOKANGA LODGE, RUSSIA
FLYFISHING
The Yokanga River is the latest of the Kola rivers to be opened to western
fishermen. It is located on the northeastern edge of the Kola about 175
miles from Murmansk, where it empties into the Barents Sea. These
waters are home to some of the largest Atlantic salmon on the Kola, and
provide a challenging environment in which to fish.
Mavungana have secured a special South African rated week on this
fabulous fishery in 2012 again. Our rods from 2011 caught some great fish,
and enjoyed their trip a far immensely. With that in mind, we were quick to
rebook this offer for the coming season.
The impressive waters of the Yokango cascade through a boulder- strewn
course creating some of the most diverse and varied fly fishing water
imaginable. It is almost as though some mighty hand has plucked pools
from salmon rivers around the world and rearranged them into one river
course.
There is everything from the rippled glides of the famous Lyliok pool to the
deep rushing draws typical of the upper Norcamp. Fishing the Yokanga
river is a true adventure from beginning to end. The catches are fantastic as
is the scenery and the challenges you can face.
Location
Dates
Kola Penninsula, Russia
28th July - 4th Aug 2012
Technical
Challenging Trophy
Salmon
Cost
ZAR 49,500 per rod
includes 7 days fishing, all
meals, accommodations
and guided fishing.
Excludes flights, and
gratuities
Gear
#9 - #10 two handed rods
14 to 16 feet in length
Helsinki
Flights
For more info call:
Derek Manson - [email protected]
Jonathan Boulton - [email protected]
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THE KOLA PENINSULA’S MIGHTY ATLANTIC SALMON
The low down:
To many the Kola Peninsula just consists of rivers that are so prolific that it is
almost impossible not to catch lots of fish. A misconception that can raise
expectations to an unrealistic level if the right advice is not sought before
traveling. Yes, the likes of the Ponoi have an abundance of fish but on the north
coast it is a very different story. Here people do not read the catch records for the
numbers caught, instead it is the size that matters.
Yokanga is a raw river that has forged itself through the tundra to enter into the
Barents Sea. The fishing experience is challenging but with our close-knit team of
experienced Russian guides, it is definitely a challenge worth facing. Every season
produces more lies and pools that were previously unexplored.
It is the chance of catching a fish of a lifetime that draws people to the Yokanga
year in year out.
The fishing:
The biggest fish start to enter the river in June and these enormous fish are
caught well into July if you are lucky enough. As these large fish become resident
turning on an off through out the rest of the season the summer run and the
grilse continue to add extra sport to those that fish through the month of July.
It is a short season on Yokanga and by August we are already looking towards the
end, but the fishing can still offer up some wonderful sport as the hot days of
summer cool or revitalising the river and it inhabitants and inevitably some one
lands a big one.
Fishing program - 6 days fully guided fishing on Yokanga
• 8am breakfast
• 9am departure by helicopter
• Lunch out on the river
• 6pm return to the camp by helicopter
• 8pm dinner
• After dinner fishing on Home Pool
What’s in and what’s not:
INCLUDES:
• Return charter flight Helsinki to Murmansk, shared room at Hilton Helsinki
Airport Hotel
7 nights at Yokanga on a full board basis, 6 full days fishing, Fishing licences, Soft
drinks and vodka at Yokanga
EXCLUDES:
• Flight to Helsinki, Russian visa, Meals and drinks in Helsinki, Wine, beer, spirits
at Yokanga. Tips.
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FLYFISHING
Weather:
From late July the weather turns colder with the approach of autumn. At this time of year the weather is
normally cold at night with warmer days. In our experience the weather in any one week can include hot sunshine,
cloudless skies, fog, rain and snow. Therefore clothing that can be layered is the most useful. Bear in mind there is a
daily laundry service.
Getting There:
Most guests will travel to Yokanga via a major European city airport, usually Stockholm or Helsinki. Guests stay
overnight at a hotel in that city and board a charter flight direct to Murmansk the following (Saturday) morning.
Return charter flights are scheduled to return to that city from Murmansk during the early afternoon of the following
Saturday, usually allowing guests to continue their homeward journey that day
Communications:
There is no mobile reception at the lodge, satellite phone communications are available for emergencies.
Equipment List:
The Yokanga river is quite a demanding river and where there is fishing for every ability it pays to be relatively fit as
the wading in places can be quite daunting.
Clothing:
- One pair of Gore-Tex waders.
- One pair of wading boots with felt soles
- Gravel guards. wading socks.
- Thin fleece ‘longjohn’s and thicker fleece trousers, which can be worn
individually or together depending on the weather.
- A wading belt that will do up tightly round your waders.
- Two or three t-shirts.
- A lightweight and a medium weight fleece top, and a warm fleece jacket.
- A Gore-Tex or similar wading jacket.
- A warm scarf and hat and Gloves.
- A backpack, ideally a waterproof daypack, is essential.
- For the evening in the lodge the dress code is casual and a pair of trousers with a shirt is normally adequate as the
lodge is well heated, although a jumper or jersey can come in useful!
Tackle:
- Rods should be double handed between fourteen and sixteen feet capable of casting 10 to 12 weight lines.
- Reels should be good quality with a drag system that works! It should hold the flyline and at least 200 metres of
strong (minimum 30lbs) backing.
- Lines are to some extent a matter of personal choice. They should match your rod, obviously, and the lines with
interchangeable tips are useful.
- Leaders should be short, strong and changed at any hint of fraying. Due to large salmon in higher water conditions
the tippet strength should be no less than 30lbs.
- Flies choice will depend on the time of your visit and the prevailing conditions. We tend to use either tube flies in
aluminium or plastic or hairwings on double hooks.
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