ISSUE #12 | Q4 2020
IRELAND IN-DEPTH FLY FISHING
FRANCE CORSICA’S TROUT
RUSSIA
YOKANGA THE HEARTBREAKER
GERMANY SECRET LAKE CARP FISHING
+ NEW TACKLE, LATEST IGFA RECORDS, SEEN ON THE WEB, FISHING ART & MORE...
CONTENTS 8 IGFA
Latest records and news
ISSUE#12 Q4 2020
64 What’s new
Our selection of the latest tackle
12 France
68 Russia
28 Germany
96 Fishing Art
Corsica’s trout
Secret lake carp fishing
46 Ireland
In-depth fly fishing
Yokanga the heartbreaker
Nick Mayer
102 Seen on the web Our selection of fishing footage
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12
46
64
68
96
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WHERE ARE WE TAKI
IRELAND
FRANCE
ING YOU THIS TIME ?
GERMANY
RUSSIA
EDITORIAL Dylan Smith Editor in Chief
My very best wishes for 2021 This challenging year finally came to an end, but another tough one lies ahead of us. Our thoughts go to the many different actors in the fishing industry, from lure makers to professional guides around the world. This unprecedented Covid crisis is already causing trouble for many businesses, and we really don’t know what to expect from 2021 yet. We would like to thank our readers, followers, and contributors for their support during this strange year and look forward to showing you more epic fishing articles from all around the globe. We hope our publication allows you to dream about planning your next fishing adventure, even if you’re currently under lockdown. My very best wishes for this new year, may 2021 bring you treasured memories on the water!
Dylan Smith
COVER SHOT: A massive Atlantic salmon, from Matt Harris’ article on Russia, p.68
SPORTFISHING ADVENTURES T H E
W O R L D ' S
B E S T
F I S H I N G
D E S T I N A T I O N S
Editor in chief Dylan SMITH
Contributors Babs Kijewski Rudy Van Duijnhoven Jean-Christophe Barbier Matt Harris Nick Mayer
Special thanks IGFA Iskander Mermet
Sportfishing Adventures magazine, published quarterly, is independently owned and operated by DMS Editions. Opinions expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher. No part of this magazine can be reproduced without prior permission. For inquiries, contact the editor: editor@sportfishing-adventures.com
IGFA NEW RECORDS
IGFA
NEW RECORDS Sanchez’s Pacific Cubera Snapper
Sherbovich’s Subnose Pompano On July 30, 2020, Kostya Sherbovich caught this 3.52-kilogram (7-pound, 12-ounce) snubnose pompano to set the IGFA Male-Junior World Record. Kostya was fly fishing the flats of Alphonse Island, Seychelles and landed the record catch in 12-minutes after it struck an Alphlexo crab fly. Congratulations, Kostya, on catching and releasing a nice fish to set the first junior world record for this species.
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Julieth Castro Sanchez, of Santa Rosa, Costa Rica, set the new IGFA Women’s 24-kg (50-lb) Line Class World Record for Pacific cubera snapper with this impressive fish she caught in September 2020. The massive cubera weighed in at 32 kilograms (70 pounds, 8 ounces) and was caught on a Williamson jig off Esterillos Oeste, Costa Rica.
NEW RECORDS IGFA
McCord’s Largemouth Bass Meredith McCord’s impressive year is continuing to roll with the approval of this massive 3.8-kilogram (8-pound, 6-ounce) largemouth bass that set the new IGFA Women’s 8-kg (16 lb) Line Class World Record. Meredith was fishing Lake Ezekiel, Texas and quickly landed and released the bass after it struck a Zoom Ultra Vibe Speed Craw. Although most of her records come on the fly, we think any of us would be thrilled to catch an 8-pounder on conventional tackle.
Pacchiarini’s Northern Pike On August 5, 2020, IGFA Representative, Paolo Pacchiarini caught this incredible 19.50-kilogram (43-pound) northern pike to set the new IGFA Men’s 10-kg (20 lb) Tippet Class World Record. Paolo was fly fishing in Centro Cadore Lake, Italy and landed and released the record pike after a 10-minute fight. Paolo’s new fly fishing record smashes the previous one set in 1996 by over twelve pounds! Congratulations, Paolo, on an incredible catch. SPORTFISHING ADVENTURES | Q4 2020
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IGFA LATEST NEWS
IGFA LATEST NEWS
Florida Governor Signs Bill Designating Nature Coast Aquatic Preserve
Over the past few months, while the world continues to be rocked by the COVID-19 pandemic, the IGFA Great Marlin Race (IGMR) has continued to improve our understanding of billfish behavior and biology.
Mackerel are some of the most widely targeted game fish species on the planet and the tactics for catching them vary from trolling high-speed diving plugs to live baiting. Yet, despite their global presence and popularity, many anglers are unaware of the variety and scope of the mackerel family. If you thumb through the All Tackle records in IGFA’s World Record Game Fishes book you’ll notice a list of at least 20 mackerel species from around the world with some exceeding 200 pounds!
Read more
Read more
IGFA Great Marlin Race Update November 2020
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LATEST NEWS IGFA
IGFA to Host the Inaugural SoCal Swordfish Open The International Game Fish Association (IGFA) announced that it will host the inaugural IGFA SoCal Swordfish Open on November 11-13, 2021, out of Newport Beach, California.
More info
The 2020 IGFA Permit Invitational A total of 19 teams, comprised of world-class anglers and guides, competed the inaugural IGFA Permit Invitational from October 6-9, 2020, based out of Stock Island Yacht Club and Marina.
See the results
SPORTFISHING ADVENTURES | Q4 2020
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TRAVEL FRANCE
FRANCE
CORSICA’S TROUT Text and photos by Jean-Christophe Barbier
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FRANCE TRAVEL
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A typical Corsican river: no anglers, gin clear water, and a handful of trout!
C
orsica is the closest of France’s distant islands, this old saying is again verified in terms of fishing. Known above all for its beaches, the region offers visitors a complete change of scenery. A true mountain in the sea with many rivers, lakes, as well as very different populations of salmonids. The wild side, the richness and the density of 14
the fish populations give the territory an identity of a distant land. Not only a fishing destination, but also for nature-oriented tourism, culture and history. The territory of Corsica offers the fisherman a hydrographic network of more than 3000 km of rivers and streams in first category (classified salmonid French rivers). The various watersheds in the west as well as in the east occupy a SPORTFISHING ADVENTURES | Q4 2020
Corsica is mainly populated by salmonids, and trout are often from different strains.
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wide variety of altitudes. Indeed, the central chain of the island culminates between 2000 and 2700 meters, where you can find glacial lakes with salmonids and also formations of pozzines (grassy formation dotted with water holes that can be found at altitude following the filling of a glacial lake) between 1600 and 2000m of altitude. This area is sporty and accessible only by hiking. There are
trout and also brook trout in some lakes, but due to the altitude, fishing is only possible from the end of May to June for the lakes. Otherwise the snow and the lakes are often frozen. The lower area between 800m and 1600m is characterized by mountain streams and rivers. This area is the most suitable for finding the endemic and emblematic trout of
Corsica, the macrostigma. Corsica is mainly populated by salmonids, and trout are often from different strains. This is the result of a stocking campaign, which has stopped since 2006. All the fish are therefore from natural reproduction. There are Atlantic strains which hybridized with local strains, a Mediterranean strain, and the ancestral strain (macrostigma) on
The view from the author’s lodge. SPORTFISHING ADVENTURES | Q4 2020
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An example of the elusive and endemic trout of the Coriscan watersheds: the macrostigma trout.
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FRANCE TRAVEL
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a few isolated sites. You can also fish for brook trout on certain lakes.
Rivers between 700-800m will be the easiest areas for fishermen.
Accessing this area can be challenging, but there are places where the road network sometimes allows a little easier access. However, the fly fisherman will be rewarded with a relatively easy area compared to the reputation that the Corsican maquis (wild backcountry) can have. The density of these populations is often remarkable and offers the fisherman the advantage of having partners
for their sporting activity throughout the day. The disadvantage of this high density of fish is it often influences the size of the fish. The fishing period in this area varies according to the weather conditions of the moment, but between April and September is the best time of the year to fish on this type of ground. Rivers between 700800m will be the easiest areas for fishermen. There you will find the main and biggest rivers of the island, with larger fish sizes than the high-alti-
During summer, a lighly colored parachute is the go-to fly on most Corsican rivers. 18
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Corsica offers a wide variety of landscapes and rivers. Some fishing spots require a bit of hiking, but the effort is always worth it.
The surubi catfish not only have amazing patterns, they also put on a great fight! 20
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FRANCE TRAVEL
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Big or small, catching a macrostigma trout is always a very special moment.
tude sectors. The closer we get to the sea, the more this trend is confirmed. Fishing is less tiring here, and the fish are bigger but more difficult to catch. Only a good reading of the weather forecast will allow the fisherman to get there at the right time. 22
Fortunately, surprises are not uncommon and the decor is well established. It’s part of the wonder that generally inspires the entire territory of Corsica. Corsica is a wild southern destination where we can SPORTFISHING ADVENTURES | Q4 2020
practice dry fly fishing from March to September very easily if we know its territory. Natural bait fishing, ultra-light lure fishing are also allowed, but the use of minnows is prohibited. Guests have the possibility
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to stay in the Western center of Corsica between sea and mountain, in a new detached house with equipped kitchen and 2 beds provided for 4 people maximum. A real feeling of isolation in the Corsican maquis with amenities 2 km away, 5 minutes from the Gravona river and close to many great streams. This lodge does not have an exclusive vocation for fishing but it is very convenient as a fishing guide to welcome my guests near my home. This facilitates meetings, activi-
ties with the rest of the family, discussions concerning ancillary activities (beaches, hiking, canyoning, etc.) The opening day took place on March 14 and my fisherman, a Swede who came before the Covid confinement, asks me on the phone if we can fly fish, ÂŤyes of course, dry fly fishing will be possible this week, the levels are good.Âť Our Nordic inhabitant who came for three days at the lodge during his week of vacation, discovers the island.
On opening morning, we were all excited by the atmosphere, the river was perfect, clear as usual with a perfect level to start.
Corsica is the perfect place to enjoy a peaceful family vacation. SPORTFISHING ADVENTURES | Q4 2020
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The macrostigma is distinguished from other trout species by its pigmentation, which consists of large red spots. In France, it can only be found in Corsica.
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A perfect example of a Corsican mountain stream.
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On opening morning, we were all excited by the atmosphere, the river was perfect, clear as usual with a perfect level to start. A small parachute in size 14 should do the trick. After a few casts, the first fish come quickly to the net, and all the shallow areas give us satisfaction with a few active fish despite the still cold season. Where he lives, it’s snowy and cold at this time of year, but here in Corsica, we can already catch fish on dries!
territory with great success. I like to practice this technique, where I would do everything possible to catch a fish cleanly without harming it. The techniques to achieve this are a bit like nymph fly fishing.
Fishing with natural bait can be practiced throughout the
Right in the center of the Mediterranean, Corsica expe-
Ultra-light fishing is also practicable, but generally a little later, from April 15th. It is often possible to alternate the 3 techniques in the same day depending on the profile of the river.
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On hot days there are sheltered areas in the cool under the trees next to rivers full of fish.
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riences generally a quite rainy spring. The wet days are often intense but short, and it will be necessary to play with time to find the right sector. There is always a possibility to catch fish, even when it seems complicated. The summer is hot and drier, but Corsica is a mountain which gives us more diversity. On hot days there are sheltered areas in the cool under the trees next to rivers full of fish. On August 11, 2020, we had a 38 °C heatwave in Ajaccio. My fisherman calls me: «It seems complicated for tomorrow, is it too hot?». I always have a few little secret places. «No worries, tomorrow we’ll drive 1 hour, walk 45 minutes and we will find
a small shaded river. With an 8-foot rod it will be perfect». That day, we fished in 25°C with small caddis flies from 9am to 5pm, with regular activity and lots of fish brought to the net! If we summarize, we can practice fly fishing from March to September. However, between April 15 and July 15, we have a better chance to have good conditions to fish the majority of the rivers before the summer heat. The period of September is also interesting when the first rains return. From canyoning, snorkeling, hiking, boating, to trout fishing, Corsica is a great outdoors destination for a fisherman and his family, a true gem on the Mediterranean coast of France
TRIP CONTACT Jean-Christophe Barbier revedepechecorse.com E-mail: Jeancribarbier@ gmail.com Tel: +33 6 09861830
The famous Capu di Muru tower, in Coti-Chiavari. SPORTFISHING ADVENTURES | Q4 2020
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TRAVEL GERMANY
GERMANY
SECRET LAKE CARP FISHING Text and photos by Babs Kijewski
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A nice batch of homemade boilies in coarse salt.
I
love it when a plan goes smoothly! But unfortunately, life sometimes decides otherwise and you have to know how to bounce back. This is the story of a long session in France that turned into 2 short sessions not far from my home in Germany, with great results. When destiny chooses the best for you... We are last summer, it is hot, very hot and my house is inhabited by a strong smell of hazelnut! No, I have not decided to host a colony of squirrels, I simply spent 2 days rolling my own boi-
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lies for a session in a wellknown lake in France. It’s about thirty kilos of a personal mix, with a large number of nuts of all kinds that I roll by hand, dry in the house and store in salt. I cannot say if this is the key to success, but having quality, fresh, preservative-free baits in which I believe so much has been a big plus for me. In terms of conservation, there is nothing more than coarse salt. Primitive, but very effective! Change of plan Once the bait part is completed, I prepare psychologicalSPORTFISHING ADVENTURES | Q4 2020
I decided to cancel my trip and plan a fishing session in a local lake instead.
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The author with a hefty German mirror carp. To obtain the German fishing licence (Fischereischein), an exam has to be passed. The knowledge for passing the fishing exam includes fishing rules and regulations like size limits and general angling law.
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ly to face the 1150 km of car travel for this week of fishing but unfortunately my beloved cat, the one with whom I have shared my life for 18 years, is in bad shape. I have to be focused on fishing and it just isn’t possible. I have 10 days before my next fishing trip, a dying cat and 30 kilos of boilies waiting in the salt...What should I do? I decided to cancel my trip and plan a fishing session in a local lake instead, close to my home, so I can take care of my poor cat. The fishing pressure is strong there, but I give myself some additional
chances by pre-baiting every 2 days in a very precise way, thanks to the GPS points on my depth sounder and the marks I’ve memorized on the banks. This is enough to be very precise but also very discreet to avoid attracting the curious! I know the spot because I have been fishing it regularly for several years, especially during the summer period. For a full week, I spend my days taking care of my cat and pre-baiting this big plateau near the spot where I will set my 3 rigs: one on
I am quite confident for this quick session that is looming.
The secret hemp seed mixture was perfect to keep the fish around the bait. 34
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Sometimes the wait between two fish can be very long, but this also allows you to fully enjoy the area and contemplate nature, read a book or simply relax.
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Can’t beat catching fish on homemade bait!
the top of the plateau, one on the drop-off, and another one near the bank because I am convinced that the carp are constantly moving. Unexpected fishing I am quite confident for this quick session that is looming. Quick, because I will be able to offer myself one night but not much more since in 2 days I will be fishing for predators 38
in Holland. My arrival on the spot is a bit late and can only be done after 15 minutes of rowing since it is not accessible from the bank and motorizations, even electric, are prohibited. The turmoil from kayakers at evening’s end apparently got the best of the carp present in the area since I didn’t see any signs of activity before I went to bed. Nothing in the first part of the night, nothing in the middle SPORTFISHING ADVENTURES | Q4 2020
The next 3 hours will go in the same way and it will no longer be possible for me to sleep before sunrise!
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of the night but it was early morning that things got carried away!
area and I caught 4 superb fish overnight!
The first fish makes the detectors sing and after a fight full of emotion, I finally put the beauty in the net which comes to reward my efforts. No time to procrastinate, I cast my line again precisely and throw bait around the spot to take advantage of the presence of fish. The next 3 hours will go in the same way and it will no longer be possible for me to sleep before sunrise! The strategy paid off, the fish visited the
We’re now a few months later, I have a little time in front of me and some boilies which diffuse their smell in the house and which are waiting patiently to be sent to the bottom of the water to attract carp! This fall is practically like summer and if the days are shorter and shorter, the temperature is still mild in early November. I am preparing a new session on the same lake, but this time I’ll
Use the last boilies wisely
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try a new spot never fished before. We are certainly very few to fish it since it requires rowing for 45 minutes to reach it! 45 minutes to get there, 45 minutes to return which all in all costs me two and a half hours of my time every 2 days for 2 weeks, strictly devoted to pre-baiting this new spot. This time I’m going to fish a shallow in…9m of water! It’s a large sandy plateau with a gradual slope down to 15m-17m deep. After my second pre-baiting trip, I could already see carp in the area! My pre-baiting
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Promising-looking water at the Claggan peninsula. Beautiful summertime common carp. The IGFA AllTackle world record is a 34,35 kg (75 lb) specimen caught in 1987 on the Lac de St. Cassien, in France.
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strategy is to spread my homemade boilies by creating a line on the plateau. I also add smaller bait, like hemp seed, to keep the carp longer on the spot. I am more confident than ever and as the days go by, my pre-baiting strategy attracts more fish in the spot. I really want to see the biggest of them in my arms! The timing seems very good to me since the first big cold snaps are announced for the following week, so this is the perfect time to stay a few days and nights by the water. Really crazy 48 hours! The arrival and installation are done in the early morning
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and at noon everything is ready. Let’s get into action. It only takes a few hours before having a first take and it is a pleasure to fight this fish in the crystal-clear waters of the lake! The strategy of fishing with very large baits seems like a good choice since it’s a beautiful 17kg carp which visits me! A few hours go by and a slightly larger 20kg fish comes in turn. It looks very promising for the rest of the session and I’m already thrilled with these first fish. The night goes on peacefully and allows me to sleep well. The weather is ideal because it’s not too cold, the nights are long and I sleep comfor-
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After a forceful fight, it’s an even bigger fish which meets the landing net and the scale will indicate 22 kilos!
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The biggest fish of the two sessions: a 25kg behemoth!
tably in my tent. In the early morning, I’m back to business as one of my detectors urges me to get up as quickly as possible. After a forceful fight, it’s an even bigger fish which meets the landing net and the scale will indicate 22 kilos! Still on the pre-baiting periphery, still using big baits, always on the same spot. We don’t change a winning team and I’m confident
for this day which is just beginning. After an exhausting photo shoot for the arms, I need to regain some strength since a fish is once again caught around 11:00 am. It’s the same combat ritual but this time I feel like I have a serious customer at the end of the line. The clear water quickly proves me right because the fish is again quite big! After a mighty fight, my SPORTFISHING ADVENTURES | Q4 2020
arms that are starting to hurt, but I finally put this massive fish in the landing net. Back on the bank for the photo session and the weighing, these 25kg of power give me the biggest smile. There’s still almost 24 hours of fishing left and I have the impression that the biggest fish in the lake are gathered in the area, so why not dream 43
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of even bigger? The adrenaline is at its peak during the next take which happens at the end of the afternoon. The pleasure of having the right strategy and catching fish after fish is still here and it is a pretty carp that reaches me, smaller this time but still above the 20kg mark! Unbelievable! The following hours will bring me 2 more fish that will close this incredible session with a total of 6 fish, all of beautiful sizes! 2 carp of 17 kg, 3 carp between 20 and
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22 kg and a fish of 25 kg. My efforts were rewarded, I was lucky to be there in the right place, at the right time and to have found the fish. With a few hours spent accustoming them to my bait, I was able to enjoy the greatest big-fish session that I’ve had in recent years. Fate chose not to use the boilies in France, but ultimately, I had the opportunity to have two very beautiful sessions with them so I can only be happy with what fate has chosen for me
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MORE ABOUT THE AUTHOR
IRELAND EGYPT TRAVEL
Tailored jigging and poppping trips in the Red Sea, Egypt.
hello@kbeteam.com Office 3202A, Ocean View, Abu Tig Marina, El Gouna, Hurghada, Egypt.
www.kbeteam.com
SPORTFISHING ADVENTURES | Q4 2020
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TRAVEL IRELAND
IRELAND
IN-DEPTH FLY FISHING Text by Rudy van Duijnhoven, pictures by Rudy van Duijnhoven and Jos van der Wouw
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Fighting a salmon on Carrowmore Lake.
W
ith a flyrod and a floating or intermediate fly-line it is easy to present patterns in or near the surface of the water, but with the modern fast sinking fly-lines it is also possible to reach depths over fifteen meters. In the north-west of Ireland it is necessary to search through all layers of water to be successful. After about a week without 48
rain, little more is left over of the Owenmore salmon river than a skeleton of stones with water as a life elixir in some small runs gushing over the gravel. The salmon are there in the pools, but they will not and can not move on; only every now and than one is hooked on a small salmon fly. Even though Carrowmore Lake, which is to be found to the north of Bangor and belongs to the same water system, is mainly known for the bright silver salmon that are SPORTFISHING ADVENTURES | Q4 2020
In the north-west of Ireland it is necessary to search through all layers of water to be successful.
IRELAND TRAVEL
The salmon are released here in most cases. SPORTFISHING ADVENTURES | Q4 2020
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No longer silver in colour, but still a pretty fish.
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caught here each spring, she is often well worth a try in the summer months too. Especially when the wind has gone down for a number of days, the lake will turn beautifully clear and one can hook into a nice salmon all across the lake. Fish that show some colour perhaps, but which have not been on the lake for too long and are therefore still beautiful fish to bring to the net. Carrowmore is in general only about two meters deep,
when a fresh wind blows across the lake (not unusual in Ireland), the waves spread the mud and sand on the bottom through all water levels and the lake looks like a big cup of coffee with plenty of milk in it. In those circumstances it is useless, unfortunately, to wet a fly there. In the warmer time of the year, quiet periods will happen more often, but fly-fishers are seldom to be seen during that time of year on the lake. Drifting together with Markus MĂźller and Jos
A two pound seatrout, to make up for the lost salmon... 52
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The lake is usually fished with fly-rods in lengths of 3 to 3,5m for a lineclass #7 or #8.
IRELAND TRAVEL
Pollack on the fly!
van der Wouw in a classic Irish drift-boat, we had the lake all to ourselves on the two days we fished here. Drawing attention The lake is usually fished with fly-rods in lengths of three to three and a half meters for a line-class #7 or 8. Connected to a floating or intermediate fly-line is a nylon or fluorocarbon leader of about four meters in len-
gth that is knotted from 28 or 30/00 and to which two springers are added. The top dropper, the fly that is closest to the fly-line, is tied somewhat more rough than the other two salmon or wet flies that are used. With the top fly the aim is to make some movement in the surface of the water before picking up the line for a new cast, thereby trying to draw the attention of a salSPORTFISHING ADVENTURES | Q4 2020
mon, seatrout or brown trout on the lake. Salmon flies tied on small doubles or trebles in dark colours (black, brown, dark red) are the standard on Carrowmore. As an alternative I often knot a lightly coloured salmon fly like a Silver Wilkinson as the middle fly to my leader. Because long fly-rods are better balanced with a heavier fly-reel, I will use fly-reels made of aluminium for this 53
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Hooking and landing pollack are clearly two different things when fly-fishing from the coast.
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I like to fish different layers of water, trying to determine at which level the salmon prefer to see the flies presented.
fishing, preferably with an excellent drag-system and of the large arbour type to be able to recover the line more quickly after the run of a hooked salmon. When you do hook a salmon, try to put the loose line in front of you back on the reel as quickly as possible, so that the rest of the fight can be handled from the reel. When a jumping and running salmon is on the other end of the line, you do not want to have a lot of fly-line lying in front of you. The brown trout and small seatrout that will take your fly here as well (the average
The rib turned out to be fast and stable. 56
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weight of these lies below a pound), do not have to be fought off the reel. Ripples in the surface While the boat is pushed forward by the wind, one can fish a broad stretch of water with the team of three salmon flies. After the cast, let the flies sink down a bit if desired and than begin tot strip them back to the boat. I like to fish different layers of water, trying to determine at which level the salmon prefer to see the flies presented. The boat drifts in the direction in which we are casting, so strip a little faster than the
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From the coast it’s also possible to catch pollack at different locations.
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Drift fishing technique on Carrowmore Lake.
speed with which the boat is drifting in an effort to keep some ‘life’ in the flies. At a distance of some six to eight meters from the boat, raise your rod tip to bring the top dropper to the surface of the water. Make sure that she makes some ripples in the surface, even if the fly itself may not be grabbed, she draws attention to the other flies in the water. When no60
thing happens, make a roll cast forward, followed by a back and forward overhead cast and the flies are back in the water already again. The more casts you make, the bigger the chance that your leader will tangle up and your flies will only produce fish when they are in the water anyway... After making drifts for about SPORTFISHING ADVENTURES | Q4 2020
an hour, during which we only had some takes of small brown trout, I suddenly feel a heavy take on the rod. I make a fast strip to set the hook upon which a big swirl appears on the surface some ten metres from the boat. The line cuts through the water when the salmon moves at high speed to the right. The fly-line that I had stripped in at the moment of the take
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disappears in the blink of an eye and I can fight the fish of the reel straight away. The salmon produces more swirls, jumps clear out of the water twice, it looks like she is around the ten pound mark. While I try to bring her closer to the boat, she hangs heavily on the rod. Even though she is visible just below the water surface, the fish is not ready to be landed yet. Markus makes an attempt anyway, one of the other flies catches up in the landing-net, the salmon manages to free it self of the hook and disappears into the depth; leaving the three of us disillusioned back in the boat. Out to sea Luck returned to us soon thereafter when Markus managed to hook and land a salmon of around seven pounds in weight. My payback time came the next day when I managed to land a nice, dark seatrout of around two pounds in weight. Seatrout of this size are quite unusual on Carrowmore Lake.
We also used the calm summer weather to go out to sea.
We used the calm summer weather also to go out to sea. From Blacksod we went out with a charter-boat and a rib with the intention to fly-fish for pollack and even blue shark. With the charter-boat we stayed close to the islands along the coastline, in waters that were twelve to SPORTFISHING ADVENTURES | Q4 2020
fifteen meters deep. At first we were in deeper water, but the tidal flow prevented us from reaching the bottom with our extra fast sinking fly-lines, with the result that we got hardly any takes. Once we reached waters of the correct depth, things went fast and the fly-rod turned out to be an excellent ‘weapon’ to fish for pollack. We fished with nine foot rods for line-classes #9 and 10 in combination with 300 to 400 grain shooting head lines (Teeny Nymph Line, Rio Sinking Tip 24 ft Density Compensated, Rio Outbound S6, Airflo Forty Plus Di7, Mastery Wet Tip Express) or full sinking flylines (Airflo Sixt Sense WF9 Di7). Our leaders were only one and a half meters long, with a tippet of 30 to 35/00 fluorocarbon. To the tippet we knotted a Clouser Minnow, Whistler or some other, with brass eyes, weighted fly in a length of ten to twelve centimetres and in different colour combinations. Trying to stop After making a cast it was necessary to let the line sink long enough. A fly-line that sinks twenty centimetres per second still needs about a minute to reach a depth of twelve meters. Part of the line is than stripped back. Do not try to set the hook with every small tap on the 61
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Markus MĂźller with a nice pollack.
line. Pollack will often follow a streamer (even all the way up to the surface) without taking the fly full in their mouth. Pollack have no teeth in the mouth, so the only way in which they can intercept a prey/streamer is by swallowing it completely. Therefore it is better to wait with setting the hook until you do feel a solid resistance. When you do hook some seaweed on the rocky bottom and the fly can be pulled free, than you will often get a take of a pollack immedia62
tely. The first thing a pollack tries to do when it is hooked, is to dive straight back to the bottom. Something that we must try to prevent under all circumstances, because when the tippet that is under full tension hits some sharp mussels or shells, it will be cut straight away. Only when we can stop that first run of a pollack, do we have a chance to land the fish. This is the reason why we use rather heavy outfits and still, it was impossible to stop some of the fish we hooked. SPORTFISHING ADVENTURES | Q4 2020
The heaviest pollack that we were able to land were some seven to eight pounds in weight, I am sure that much larger specimens can be caught here. Among the three of us we managed to land between forty and fifty pollack, at least twice that many threw the hook, were lost or could not be hooked. It is clear that we sacrificed several streamers to the bottom as well. Mackerel imitations We used a fast, twelve per-
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sons rib to reach some of the most westerly islands in this area. A box of mackerel was transformed into rubbydubby and went overboard in onion bags at both ends of the boat. The weather could not be better, no wind and a calm sea. Despite the thin clouds in the sky, we could see several meters down into the water, the blue shark did not show themselves this time unfortunately. The line-class #12 outfits, with fast-sinking shooting heads and big imitations of mackerel, remained untouched against the centre console. Perhaps we should
have gone past the last island, nobody knows. I know that, in the next few years, we will repeat our attempts of 1997 and 2000, when we managed to hook and land several shark on the fly from John Brittains boat the Blue Water that goes out to sea from Clifden. We have been very successful fishing with Tom Collins from Union Hall in 2016, landing shark up to sixty pounds on the fly-rod; but there is more in the pipeline. Everything depends on the weather and that is an unpredictable factor along the west and north-west coast of Ireland
TRIP CONTACT www.bangorerrisangling.com (licenses for salmon fishing, renting a boat on Carrowmore Lake) Inland Fisheries Ireland - Markus MĂźller markus.muller@fisheriesireland.ie www.fisheriesireland.ie Boat charters in Mayo: fishinginireland.info/charterboats/mayo
Flyyshing Blog
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TACKLE NEW GEAR
?
WHAT’S
NEW
HARDY ULTRACLICK UCL REEL
FISHLAB BIO-SHAD WAKE BAIT The Bio-Shad Wake Shad is a hard-bodied single-jointed topwater bait with a classic wake action at any speed. Available in 4” and 6” sizes, these lightweight topwater baits are great for drawing big strikes. You can work them at a slow crawl all the way up to a fast burn and you won’t get blowouts. The double pinned join connection strengthens the bait and keeps the bait running true. BioShad baits are a double hooked bait and feature a rear treble hook as well as a pre-rigged nose split ring.
$13.99 | fishlabtackle.com
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With the Ultraclick, Hardy presents the lightest fly reel that has ever left the gates of the traditional reel manufacture in Alnwick/England. The lightest model in the series weighs less than 60 g. Absolutely impressive, what the reel developers at Hardy have achieved here! This low weight is made possible by an innovative frame design, the highest quality materials and a new type of all-metal clicker system. Especially therefore this reel makes the hearts of minimalistic trout and grayling fishermen beat faster - and it is the perfect addition to the Hardy Ultralight fly rods. You can’t get more filigree in the classes #1 to #6 on the fishing water.
$250 | purefishing.com
NEW GEAR TACKLE
FIIISH BLASTER SHAD The Blaster Shad is a lure dedicated to pike fishing. After 5 years of research and development, we present to you this concentrate of innovations that will allow you to adapt to many fishing conditions. Equipped with the Player Concept, which allows you to adjust the weight of the head according to your needs, you can fish in different depths, at different speeds, with several body options on one and the same head. A lot of work has been done on the design of the body, to allow it to swim at very low speed while moving as much water as possible, hence its name «Blaster Shad».
21,90€ | fiiish.com
NOMURA SENSHI SP A true uncompromising war machine, compact, light but at the same time reliable and salt-proof, designed primarily for slow pitching and also for trolling with live bait using braid lines. Soft micrometric lever clutch with gradual release of the spool.
$357.99 | nomuralures.com
AFTCO REAPER CAMO SWEATSHIRT Based on AFTCO’s best selling original reaper, this camo fleece hoodie easily converts to your favorite hunting sweatshirt when not on the water. Available in Break-Up Country and Bottomland, anglers of all kind cannot get enough of this camo fishing sweatshirt and can now wear it straight from the water to the tree stand or duck blind. AFTCO delivers with technical features like laser cut ventilation on mask and underarm area, a hood with our cinch shock cord anchoring system designed specifically for both bass fishing and saltwater fisherman when running in boats at high speeds. Made of 100% Polyester tech bonded Microfleece, Reaper Mossy Oak® tech hoodie will sure keep you toasty when the temperatures drop.
$79 | aftco.com
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TACKLE NEW GEAR
DELALANDE DART SHAD This little 9cm Shad has been developed to meet the expectations of many freshwater fishermen! Fairly light lure, it is designed to swim slowly, linearly. It can also be retrieved quickly with small jerks to make it «dart» for more active fish. The shape of its paddle and the flat face it has on the underside makes it hovering and it is not uncommon to get hits during the descent phases. The Dart Shad is a real multi-species masterpiece that will appeal to perch, trout, pikeperch, black bass, but also seaside predators such as sea bass.
3€/piece | delalande-peche.fr
EAGLE CLAW TK3XL CIRCLE HOOK With Eagle Claw Trokar series Surgically Sharpened Technology, the TK3XL wide-gap, medium-wire, lancet circle hook requires half the pressure of conventional hooks for penetration. A welded eye and black chrome finish lend durability to this cold-forged, high-carbon hook. Available in a 50-count pack and smaller quantities, in sizes 1/0 to 9/0.
OKUMA ITX REEL The lightweight and rigid C-40X long strand carbon fiber featured in the body, side plates, and rotor give extra strength where it is needed the most. The machined aluminum handle screws directly into the reel assuring maximum security and stability. The 7HPB +1RB high performance ball bearing system keeps the reel running smoothly in freshwater and inshore with the precision machine cut brass pinion gear. The machined aluminum 2-tone anodized spool is surrounded by Okuma’s Cyclonic Flow Rotor system that increases air flow through the ported rotor, increasing drying time and minimizing corrosion throughout the reel. Housed in the spool is the multi-disc, carbon fiber drag system with hydro-block asket keeping water out and your drag running smoothly.
$119.99 | okumafishing.com 66
$9.99 | eagleclaw.com
NEW GEAR TACKLE
LEW’S KVD LFS SERIES Built with exacting specifications, the new KVD Series reels will give anglers the ability to make long casts, feel what the lure is doing with their smooth retrieves, have the power to handle the biggest bites, and durability to last for years. The KVD Series feature all aluminum frames, strong drags and will be priced so that every angler will be able to fish with the same product the most accomplished professional angler in the world uses every day.
$139.99 | lews.com
ST CROIX MOJO INSHORE Designed for inshore specific techniques, the Mojo Inshore series puts exceptional performance rods in angler’s hands at an affordable price. Features premium-quality SCIII carbon, integrated Poly Curve® (IPC®) mandrel technology, Sea Guide Hero Hi-Grade guides with slim aluminum oxide rings and SS316 stainless gun smoke frames, Fuji® DPS Deluxe reel seat with gun metal hoods on spinning models, Fuji® ECS and TCS Deluxe reel seat with gun metal hoods on casting models.
The Alcor boots feature a waterproof breathable hydroguard membrane, a rubber toe protector, and a molded TPU heel stabiliser. The integrated eva midsole makes for great comfort and its aggressive rubber outsole provides an excellent grip. Built with moisture wicking lining.
stcroixrods.com
85£ | speerotackleshop.co.uk
SPEERO ALCOR BOOTS
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RUSSIA
YOKANGA THE HEARTBREAKER Text and photos by Matt Harris
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The Yokanga is home to one of the wildest and still intact Atlantic salmon fishery on the planet.
O
ging. It’s late.
utside my window, a wild winter storm is ra-
The house is sleeping, as I take another big slurp of Macallan and sit back to admire my handiwork. There in the vice, the last gleaming little “Bobby Clarkson” fly is finished, and is ready to join its brethren for a dab of varnish and a berth in the fly box. Six long months from now, 70
that fly might just be swimming across the wide waters of the mighty Yokanga, my favourite river in all the world, high up in Russia’s arctic circle. I take another swig and wonder if perhaps it will be this same fly that will conjure a monster from the Yokanga’s icy, tannin-stained waters. The storm is reaching a crescendo, and it inspires my imagination to go flying out through the night, up above SPORTFISHING ADVENTURES | Q4 2020
Far out across the world in the frigid waters of the northern seas, the big silver monsters of the Yokanga are out there right now.
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The fight is coming to an end for this massive fish. The Kola peninsula is one of the last places on earth where Atlantic salmon still thrive.
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the huddled-up, domesticated little towns and villages of England, out over the wild waves of the Atlantic to the perpetual bible-black night of the Arctic winter. Far out across the world in the frigid waters of the northern seas, the big silver monsters of the Yokanga are out there right now, gorging on the hapless baitfish as they pack on the muscle required to make that epic homeward voyage to the mighty river of their birth.
vast fifty-pound behemoth, muscling its way through its lesser brethren as it prepares for its epic journey back to its birthplace on the Northern Kola Peninsula. I imagine the perfect coincidence that will bring it nosing into Gremikha Bay as I playfully dig my old mates in the ribs and climb aboard that hulking great Mi-8 helicopter on the grey tarmac in Murmansk.
As I sit nursing the last of my whisky, I picture one, a
Perhaps lady luck will even choose to bring it barrelling
A beautiful Yokanga female caught on a hitched sunray. 74
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I’ve experienced some of the most exciting, and some of the most heart-breaking moments of my fly-fishing life on this special river.
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Amazing details on this Yokanga brown croc. An absolute work of art!
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upstream into the lie above the Lower Norcamp rapids for a breather, just as I send that same little fly now sitting in the jaws of my tying vice whistling out across the icy, early-season waters. Perhaps... I’ve been fortunate. I’ve fished far and wide, and cast a fly in over thirty countries. I love fishing for just about anything that swims, from the humble chub of my local River Cam in England to
the piranhas of the Amazon Jungle, but the monsters of the Yokanga still haunt my dreams like no other fish that swims. I’ve experienced some of the most exciting, and some of the most heart-breaking moments of my fly-fishing life on this special river. I’ve chased fish for over a mile on five separate occasions, and collapsed in an exhausted, broken heap after losing fish after 90 minutes of stumbling downstream
Two friends and a 37lb chrome beast! 78
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The rivers of the Northern Kola are celebrated by Atlantic salmon fishing aficionados as the last true sanctuary for trophy salmon.
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A helicopter is the only way to access most beats. This just adds to the incredible Yokanga experience.
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On the uttermost edge of the salmon’s range, on the far Northern coastline of Russia’s Kola Peninsula, Atlantic salmon are thriving.
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and swimming across bays and feeder streams, only to see the running line snap or the hook pull free. These fish will break your heart like no other. In truth, Atlantic salmon are not a sensible choice as a chronic addiction right now – their numbers are being ruthlessly diminished by man’s refusal to respect and nurture their fragile habitat. An ugly cocktail of manmade factors, including salmon farming, indiscriminate and unregulated drift-netting, and countless environmental issues engendered by man’s
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insatiable desire for financial gain above all other considerations has led to a dramatic decline in their numbers. The catastrophic sea-lice proliferation engendered by salmon farming in particular has had a devastating impact on salmon stocks all over Europe. However, on the uttermost edge of the salmon’s range, on the far Northern coastline of Russia’s Kola Peninsula, Atlantic salmon are thriving. The rivers of the Northern Kola are celebrated by Atlantic salmon fishing aficio-
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Aerial view of the Yokanga.
nados as the last true sanctuary for trophy salmon. The rivers of the Kola are the last that can boast a genuine wilderness setting. The rivers are untouched by salmon farming or pollution, and their fish are as wild as the wind. Many of the rivers are famed for their big fish, but one savage, uncut diamond stands out. The Yokanga is a very special salmon river. The river’s salmon have been classified as the largest genetic strain on the Kola Peninsula
by the Russian scientific organization PINRO (The Polar Research Institute). Every season, numerous fish of thirty pounds and more are caught. In 2019, in one week alone, 11 fish over 30 pounds were landed. The fish are not only spectacularly large. The Yokanga’s powerful currents, huge boulders, and numerous grade 5 rapids have forged a race of thick-set, broad shouldered salmon that are magnificently proportioned and in my opinion, uniquely strong. While I have fly-fished far and wide in over thirty countries SPORTFISHING ADVENTURES | Q4 2020
over the last two decades, I have fished the Yokanga every year since I first visited it in 2001. It’s not just the monstrous size and power of the Yokanga fish that brings me back year on year. I love the wild, unfettered environment of the tundra, and I love the savage beauty of the river itself. This isn’t a classic salmon river, made up of long pools, to be mechanically covered by repetitive, cast and step fishing. In this brawling brute of a ri83
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Early morning beast caught on a tungsten black Frances fly. The late season fish can sport spectacular colors.
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The fly of choice for autumn on the Yokanga : a tungsten Frances.
ver, the fish can be anywhere; in one of a million little glassy pockets hidden in one of the thunderous rapids that can easily be walked past in a rush to get to more obvious holding water. This is salmon hunting This isn’t fishing for the fair-weather angler. This is hard-core stuff. Look hard and whenever you see a pos86
sible holding spot, have the self-discipline to wade out and cover it. If the current whisks your fly away too quickly, find a way to present it properly. Throw in an upstream mend, tie on a heavier fly‌do whatever it takes and you may just be rewarded. A good presentation will often bring a brutish Yokanga trophy exploding out of your dreams and SPORTFISHING ADVENTURES | Q4 2020
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into your consciousness in a wild silver blur.
Weighted tube flies like the German Snaelda are key to getting into the salmon’s eyeline before the river’s brutal currents whisk it away.
Work at it. Explore every pocket, wading out where necessary to target each and every lie with tenacity and discipline. Act on your hunches: switch flies and sink tips whenever your experience and intuition tells you to. Turn over your fly consistently, and don’t try to cast further than you are able to. Listen to your guide, but fish each and every spot that might just hold a fish.
What to pack 15’ 10 weight spey rods are the standard gun here, married up with a big, high capacity reel filled with at least 350 yards of well-maintained backing. In the high, cold water of early season, the RIO Skagit Max Long in 700 grains will boss even the heaviest tips and flies, and a range of RIO’s Long MOW tips will get that big fly down and fishing fast in the small pockets that of-
The battle is only over when the fish is in the net. The Yokanga can teach you that the hard way! SPORTFISHING ADVENTURES | Q4 2020
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Swinging flies with nature’s exploding colors as a background, in search of a matching color beast!
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ten produce a big fish. Weighted tube flies like the German Snaelda are key to getting into the salmon’s eyeline before the river’s brutal currents whisk it away, and the Skagit features a big thick belly that is perfect for mending upstream to slow the fly’s progress in the cold water. A stout leader of 35 pound Seaguar fluorocarbon is the
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money, but it is not always sufficient to hold one of these runaway brutes from heading back to the sea. As the season progresses, it pays to switch to a more graceful presentation, and the RIO Scandi Body will throw smaller, lighter flies and slow-sinking tips with a stealth and delicacy not possible with the Skagit. That said, it pays to keep the Skagit to hand in case you
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want to throw a big heavy fly to a fish that refuses to commit to a smaller surface presentation. When to go? Yokanga can provide remarkable fish on any given day of the season, from the bitterly cold early season days of early June until the last days of the season in mid-September. While the prime weeks of
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The author with a fresh chrome bar.
the season at the end of June are the most prolific, I love the very early season weeks, when the brutal winter has yet to fully relinquish its icy grip on the Kola, and the fishing often involves battling through icy showers or stinging white blizzards. If you find the courage to brass it out on these brutal early-season days, your reward might well come in the form of a perfect chrome springer, flushed with a band of iridescent sapphire and peppered with
long-tailed sea-lice. Those lice will betray that your prize was swimming in the Barents Sea while you were drinking your morning coffee in the lodge, just a few short hours ago. As the river drops and clears into late June and July, the pools fill up with fish, and now is the time to tempt them with the magic of the riffle-hitch. Seeing one of these monsters crash through the surface to SPORTFISHING ADVENTURES | Q4 2020
These leviathans now don their deep, rustred coats, and their gill plates are crazed with delicate magenta and purple motifs. 91
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Over the years, the Yokanga has built a solid reputation as one of the best salmon fisheries in the world. It has produced more 30lb fish than most of the other rivers on the Kola peninsula.
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ingest a big sunray shadow pattern is simply unforgettable, and in the warmer water of early summer, the fish give of their best, often putting up a savage fight that can break both your 35 pound leader and your heart in one wretched instant. Later, as the landscape becomes suffused with the intoxicating golden fire of early autumn, and the river bank becomes jewelled with scarlet cowberries, the big cock fish take on their spectacular prespawning livery. These leviathans now don their deep, rust-red coats, and their gill plates are crazed with delicate magenta and purple motifs. An artfully presented black frances might just see one of these brutes burst up through the surface before cavorting off down the river like a circus
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clown. If you manage to subdue one of these late-season fish, the sight of one of these monstrous, kype-jawed brutes is one you will not soon forget. Whatever time of the season you choose, the Yokanga will almost certainly leave an indelible impression on your soul. You may well suffer the classic Yokanga heartbreak, replete with bruised knuckles and bent hooks. However, get lucky and occasionally everything goes right, and you get to lay your hands on a big Yokanga salmon. Savour that moment Releasing one of these magnificent brutes back into the icy arctic waters and watching it rocket upstream to complete its epic mission is elemental, life-affirming stuff. I cannot recommend it highly enough
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TRIP CONTACT Matt Harris has fished all over the world, but he has returned to the Yokanga every year since he first fished it in 2001. Matt was recently asked to become General Manager by the new owner of Yokanga Lodges, the committed conservationist and passionate salmon angler Alexey Strulistov. If you’d like to discuss fishing the Yokanga, contact Matt at mattharris@yokanga.com
COSTA RICA TRAVEL
ADVENTUROUS MAHSEER FISHING TRIPS IN NORTHERN INDIA’S HIMALAYAN OUTBACK info@himalayanoutback.com himalayanoutback.com
FISHING ART NICK MAYER
FISHING
ART F
ounder of Nick Mayer Art and Predator Fly Gear, Nick has a passion for casting big flies to toothy fish. He is an award winning gamefish artist known for his scientific accuracy and is the illustrator of three books focused on fish: Catalina Island Dive Buddies, Wild Oceans Coloring, and An Angler’s Journal. His work and licensed pro96
ducts can be seen in galleries and stores in over 30 countries around the globe. Nick’s current addiction is fly fishing for sharks off the coast of New England, US. His group of shark addicts, the Flies and Fins Crew (Insta: #fliesandfinscrew), head offshore to the 400 ft mark and chum with mackerel, menhaden, and any other concoctions the crew has been dreaming will be the new magical SPORTFISHING ADVENTURES | Q4 2020
ingredient such as fish oil mixed with cat litter, lobster shells, or hand ground bunker. They use hookless teasers on balloons to get the beasts interested and then start casting hookless teasers to get the sharks really fired up. “After a certain point it usually turns into a feeding frenzy with multiple sharks circling the boat, the surface is being cut left and right with dorsal fins, and often sharks will be
NICK MAYER FISHING ART
fighting with each other. One would think in this situation a fly would be destroyed as soon as it hits the water, but believe it or not these fish are pretty selective!” Mayer says. “We have leadered Blue Sharks up to the 8 ft range and Makos up to the 6 ft range. There is no words that can describe the rush of a Mako leaping 20 ft into the air, doing somersaults in front of you a few seconds after he has crushed your fly at boatside. It sounds like someone dropped a piano into the water! That passion and appreciation is what I bring back to my watercolor paintings and Predator Fly Gear shirt designs” Nick Mayer is a full time na-
ture illustrator whose style embraces the natural beauty of fish and other marine life with a unique scientific perspective. He is a former marine biologist, adventurer, and a lifelong fly fishing addict. A skin of his teeth survival falling overboard off a commercial fishing vessel into the Bering Sea followed by a near float plane crash in Northern Labrador inspired Nick to pursue his true calling as an artist. Painting is his passion and he has developed a celebrated touch. Sporting Art Specialist Fred Polhemus writes, “In today’s world of Sporting Art, Nick Mayer is simply one of the best practitioners in the mar-
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ket. In terms of fish portraits, Nick is among the top two or three practitioners in the world. His work is that good and he delivers renderings of fish that are not only technically accurate, convincing and powerful but are also fresh, spontaneous and full of life.” Orvis’ Phil Monahan publicizes Mayer’s work as follows, “With undergraduate and graduate degrees in biology from Brown University and experience working for fish-and-game departments in Alaska and Oregon, Mayer brings passion, scientific understanding, and precision to his work, which he sees as an aid to studying and helping in the conservation of fish”
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FISHING ART NICK MAYER
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NICK MAYER FISHING ART
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FISHING ART NICK MAYER
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NICK MAYER FISHING ART
MORE ABOUT NICK MAYER Nick Mayer Art Website: nickmayerart.com Predator Fly Gear website: predatorflygear.com instagram.com/predatorflygear/
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MEDIA SEEN ON THE WEB
SEEN ON THE
WEB
TROUT HUNTING NZ EPIC FLY FISHING Exploring new backcountry waters in New-Zealand for some beautiful browns on the fly.
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BLACKTIP H MASSIVE MAHI MAHI FISHING
CATCH MAGAZINE COLORADO
Blacktip H travels to Guatemala in search of big mahi!
Fishing for trout on a small Colorado stream
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SEEN ON THE WEB MEDIA
SAVAGE GEAR EARTHQUAKE WHILE FISHING
A Croatian angler witnessed the recent earthquake from his boat, while fishing on a lake. Scary footage!
BACKWATER OFFSHORE FLY FISHING IN COSTA RICA The Backwater team goes offshore for a fly fishing session.
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Kombi Tours Uganda's Most Adventurous Tour Company
info@kombitours.com +256 (0) 7569 33773
Nile Perch fishing & Wildlife safaris in Uganda
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