LATE SEASON FISHING
WELCOME TO YOKANGA I would like to welcome you to Yokanga. I believe that this very special river has the potential to be the most exciting Atlantic salmon fishery in the world, and my long term aim is for the river to realise this potential. Since I took over control of the fishing on the Yokanga, I have reviewed every facet of the operation, with a view to delivering a truly world-class salmon fishing experience, and a healthy, sustainable fishery that can be enjoyed not only by our generation but also by those to come. I have appointed a new management team of experienced anglers and guides who share my passion for this special river, and together I believe we can make Yokanga a truly superlative salmon fishery. I very much hope that I can share the river with you in the future, and offer a warm welcome from myself and all of my staff. Very best wishes and tight lines
Alexey Strulistov, Lodge Owner, Yokanga Lodges
THE YOKANGA TEAM Owner and Chairman Alexey Strulistov Recognising that Yokanga is one of the world’s most special Atlantic salmon fisheries, Alexey acquired the ownership of Yokanga Lodges in 2019. Alexey immediately embarked on a comprehensive review of the entire operation, and has invested heavily in a determined effort to make Yokanga the very best salmon fishery that it can be. Alexey’s stringent and wide-ranging new anti-poaching measures have very quickly eradicated the threat that in-river netting and catch and kill rod and line fishing have posed, and we should see the results of this program in the years to come, as more of the river’s magnificent salmon are allowed to run the river and spawn. In addition, Alexey has invested in all facets of the company infrastructure. As well as a complete rebuild of the famous Middle River Lodge, Alexey has commissioned a beautiful and luxurious new Lower River Camp overlooking the Pulanga junction, and an exciting new Upper River tented Camp, that will offer exciting fishing for anglers wishing to experience the Yokanga at an affordable price. Alexey’s new team are dedicated to providing the most exciting and memorable salmon fishing experiences that this special river has to offer, while ensuring that anglers are well looked after and are absolutely safe at all times. Alexey is excited to share this special river with you, and very much hopes that he can help as many passionate fly fishermen and women anglers to experience the magic of Yokanga as possible.
THE YOKANGA TEAM General Manager Matt Harris Matt has fished all over the world, from the Amazon jungle to the Arctic Circle, but anyone who knows him well will tell you that Yokanga is his favourite fishery. Matt is absolutely committed to seeing the salmon stocks of the Yokanga flourish so that its special strain of exceptionally powerful fish can be experienced by future generations. Matt will be heavily involved in the development of our new camps on the lower and upper river, and will oversee our new late season programme. Matt is particularly enthusiastic about creating new opportunities for anglers who cannot afford the prime June weeks to experience the Yokanga. As well as the main season, Matt will be hosting our late season weeks in August and early September, and very much wants to see younger anglers and those without the means to pay the high sums required for prime time being given the opportunity to fish this wonderful river. Matt believes that young anglers are the lifeblood of our sport, and that we must encourage the next generation to appreciate and protect the unique and precious Atlantic salmon stocks of the Yokanga River. If your dreams include catching a magnificent thirty pound Yokanga salmon, seeing the Northern Lights and experiencing the stunning beauty of the Kola Peninsula in the late season, get in touch. Contact Matt at mattharris@yokanga.com
THE YOKANGA TEAM Head Guide Vladimir “Vova” Moisayev Vova has been guiding on the Yokanga for nearly 25 years. His knowledge of the river is perhaps unparalleled, and he is deeply passionate about the protection of the Yokanga’s run of mighty salmon. Vova’s warm, friendly and quick-witted personality has made him hugely popular with Yokanga regulars, and his tireless hard work and resourcefulness has established him as a very valuable asset to Yokanga Lodges. Vova will oversee our guide team and will be involved in the recruitment and training of new personnel. Vova’s advice and experience has been invaluable in developing our logistics and in particular our late-season program. Vova is also heavily involved in working with the anti-poaching team to ensure that the Yokanga’s salmon are absolutely protected and allowed to thrive. Vova will be working in close coalition with Alexey and Matt to do the very best for the river, and to help Yokanga realise its true potential as the most exhilarating salmon fishery on the Kola Peninsula and beyond. We are very proud to have him and we consider him a crucial part of our team.
WHY CHOOSE YOKANGA? The Yokanga originates in Lake Alozero and flows into the Barents Sea. Its biggest tributary is the Suhaya. The river is over 200 km in length, and its drainage basin extends to 6,020 km². Perhaps the most obvious reason to target the Atlantic salmon of the Yokanga is simply that they are big. Sometimes, very big indeed. The river’s salmon have been classified as the largest genetic strain on the Kola Peninsula by the Russian scientific organisation PINRO (The Polar Research Institute). Every season, numerous trophy fish are landed. In 2019, in one week alone 11 fish over 30 pounds were caught by our guests. However, the fish are not only large. The Yokanga’s powerful currents, huge boulders, and numerous grade 5 rapids have forged a race of salmon that are magnificently proportioned and formidably strong. To anglers that have fished the river regularly, the fish have acquired an almost cult status, and stories of epic battles with these formidable fish are legion. We want more anglers to have the opportunity to experience the special salmon fishing that these fish can offer. While the prime June weeks command an understandably high price, we at Yokanga Lodges are very keen to offer a chance to catch one of the river’s notorious leviathans to a broader number of anglers. Catching one of the river’s trophy salmon at any time of the season is an unforgettable experience, and by extending our season, we also aim to accrue additional revenue, with which we can fund our aggressive anti-poaching measures. By reviewing our logistics, we believe that we have established a safe and effective way to fish Yokanga for a much lower cost than has previously been the case, and we are excited to offer our late season programme at a very competitive price.
WHY FISH LATE SEASON YOKANGA? Spend a few moments studying the two fish on the opposing page. The salmon in the lower image was caught in June, and the fish in the upper image was caught in September. While many salmon anglers will tell you that it is impossible to beat the thrill of a big spring fish, sparkling silver and fresh from the sea, the big resident fish of late season undoubtedly have a charm and a magnificence all their own. Our late season fishing can offer a very special experience. Up here on the tundra, high in the arctic circle, the transition from late summer into autumn is a very special time. The leaves start to take on a golden hue, and rich red and blue berries jewel the riverbank. As the nights draw in, the surreal magic of the aurora borealis lights up the arctic skies, and the temperature drops. This sharpens up the big resident Yokanga salmon, making them more active than they have been through the hot period of midsummer, during which the river is rested. The small number of late run fish start to come into the river, grabbing a well-presented fly with gusto, but the residents offer tricky, technical fishing. The resident fish are undoubtedly less enthusiastic to grab a fly than they are when first entering the river, but solving the conundrums of how to make them take is one of the most stimulating challenges for the experienced salmon fisherman. The resident fish are rested, and if you can manage to dupe one into taking your fly, expect a wild ride. The Yokanga fish are celebrated for their incredible power, and most regulars will tell you that hooking one is the easy part. The late season means that that it is dark in the evenings, but the lodge offers a warm convivial atmosphere in which to celebrate epic captures, commiserate with those who have lost big fish, and to just spend special moments over a dram or two with kindred spirits who share a passion for our great sport and for the magnificent salmon of the Yokanga River. ***Note that we handle all fish with extreme care THROUGHOUT THE SEASON, and stop fishing well before the fish start spawning at the end of September.
IS THERE A CHANCE OF A FRESH FISH IN LATE SEASON? The short answer is yes. The fish in the images to the right were caught in August ( top ) and September ( bottom ), during our 2020 season. That said, be aware that the late season fishing on Yokanga is predominantly for resident fish. The females rarely take the fly but the big kyped up male fish become extremely aggressive, and will often respond to a well-presented fly with extreme and memorable violence. The river is full of fish, and after a break between mid-July and early August, they are well-rested. As the water cools, the fish often start to move out of the deeper lakes and start to take up lies in the well-oxygenated tails, riffles and rapids, providing excellent opportunities to tempt them with a fly. In addition to the resident fish, there are also some late run fresh fish, that arrive throughout the late summer and autumn, and also a few of the legendary “osenkas”, deep-bodied fish that will stay under the ice and spawn the following autumn. While these fish are extraordinary fighters, do note that they are limited in number, and we are still assessing just how many of these fish we can expect. As the aggressive anti-poaching regime starts to show results, we may find that more of these special fish start to show up, as they do on other rivers of the Kola Peninsula. Yokanga’s fishery, like all others, is constantly evolving, and we will monitor possibilities as we learn more about the river in the coming years. We intend to involve scientific study to learn as much as we can, in order to nurture and protect the special strain of fish that run our river. Note that we insist on single or double barbless hooks, and all fish are handled with extreme care, so that they can go on to reproduce and continue to offer superlative sport to the next generation.
LOGISTICS IN LATE SEASON We are very conscious that many anglers are unable to afford the high prices of the prime weeks in June. Thus, in order to make the late season fishing available to as many anglers as possible, we have looked at how we can optimise our logistical costs. Our first major decision was to invest in a small fleet of Solar Jet Boats. These inflatable “go anywhere” rafts have revolutionised the way that we access Yokanga. We are now able to safely access the majority of the middle and upper river without the need for hugely expensive helicopter fly-outs, and this has allowed us to bring our fixed costs down considerably. In addition, the new tarmaced road from Murmansk to Lovozero allows us to bus our late season anglers closer to the fishery prior to taking the Mi8 helicopter ride to the camp, which is another way that we are able to reduce our fixed costs and offer the late season fishing at a more realistic price. The lower and middle camps are being rebuilt to the highest standard, and all rods will be offered single en-suite rooms with their own hot shower and comfortable double bed. We are building a new Upper River Camp that will offer what might be considered “glamping” - warm and relatively luxurious tented accommodation with the exciting opportunity to explore miles of virgin water, using both the solar jet-boats and a new specially designed and adapted hovercraft. We will be limiting numbers to ensure that there is not too much fishing pressure on the river, with ten rods on the middle camp and just six rods in the lower and upper camps. This will allow us to rest beats and offer our anglers the chance to fish for salmon that are not pressured in the way that they are on many other fisheries. In short, we are doing everything we can to make Yokanga accessible to more anglers, and we very much hope that we can welcome as many passionate salmon anglers as possible to the river in the future.
THOUGHTS ON FISHING THE YOKANGA IN LATE SEASON Once we enter August on the Kola, the long bright days of midsummer give way to shorter days, with nights that often cool the water temperature and offer ideal salmon fishing conditions. The first few weeks of August often see the river level at its lowest, and now is the perfect time to experiment with riffle hitch and dead-drift or skated dry fly tactics. Both techniques can provide unforgettable sport, with violent surface takes that will make even the most jaded veteran angler jump out of their skin. As the first rains of autumn set in, the river starts to rise. With the longer nights of early autumn, the water becomes cooler, and now is the time to fish out bigger, bolder patterns. Classic autumn patterns like the Willy Gunn and Ally’s shrimp come into their own, while flies featuring plenty of flash like the Cascade or the Yokanga “Golden Gunn” will take the late run fish including the “osenkas”. As we move into September and head towards the end of the season, the classic Red and Black Frances patterns, fished slowly with a big upstream mend, can provoke the big cock fish into a savage take. These well-rested fish can be astonishingly powerful adversaries, so make sure you check all knots and backing very thoroughly, or you may be just another hard-luck story in the lodge later that evening, as the single malt does the rounds. The fish will often betray themselves, rolling or porpoising gently through the surface, and once spotted, fishing for these big resident “crocodiles” can be extremely stimulating. I would urge any keen salmon angler to come and have a go at catching these majestic late-season fish, resplendent in their tartan livery. Treat the fishing as hunting, and look for rolling fish, especially in front of the many rocks that stud the pools. The fish aren’t just resident in Yokanga’s many classic pools. Small pockets in areas like Boulder Alley, Lilyok Rapids and Nahodka can reward those anglers willing to take the time to fish them. In addition to the resident fish, look out for the late runners - they will often show themselves as they leap through the rapids at the bottom of the pool. If you see one, it is probably not alone, so put down your coffee and get in the river - these fish are willing and aggressive takers, and can provide unforgettable sport in the low autumn sunshine. We are still learning about the autumn fishery, and we really hope that we can attract as many keen anglers as possible to help understand what we believe will become a very special part of the Yokanga season
RESPONDING TO CONDITIONS Like all salmon rivers, the fishing on Yokanga can be hugely effected by the weather, particularly rainfall. Although the Yokanga is rarely rendered completely unfishable by rain, a thunderstorm in the headwaters will bring the river up rapidly.Most salmon anglers will know that although a rising river is not normally conducive to good fishing, the first hour of the rise can often bring the chance of a fish or two. As the water takes on a tinge of colour and the cool rainwater enlivens the river, the fish will often come on the take, and now is a time to fish hard. A big spate can be a godsend in August, cooling the water and invigorating the fish. As the river starts to fall and clear, the fish often seem to become extremely bold, and now is the time to do away with the subtlety of low-water summer fishing, and offer them something correspondingly aggressive. A big German snaelda jigged provocatively through the pool can be lethally effective. Once the river drops back again, a big sunray shadow stripped across the surface will often bring astonishing results. The main thing to remember when targeting resident fish is to stay creative. Experiment with tactics and you may well convince one of the Yokanga’s legendary monsters into making a mistake. Yokanga salmon are spectacular and powerful fighters, and will often take off out of the pool, so ensure that your gear is up to the job. Employ stout and reliable tackle, and be ready to jump into the boat in a hurry if you need to. For tippet, we favour Seaguar 25lb, 30lb and 35lb fluoro for wet flies and Stroft ABR 14kg and 17.5kg Copolymer for riffle-hitching and dry flies. Use good, strong hooks - Ken Sawada or Loop tube doubles are both excellent. We also like to use large Owner SSW singles when using large sunray shadows, as the long wing seems less prone to tangling than it does when fish with doubles.
WATER HEIGHT AND TEMPERATURE In lower water conditions, we particularly like to use long, tapered leaders and often use a 17ft tapered leader. This casts beautifully, lands gently and gives the fly a much greater degree of life. I strongly believe that resident fish should be approached with stealth and guile. They will almost certainly have seen a few flies before, although nowhere near the number that you would expect on harder fished waters elsewhere. In lower water, a full floating “Scandi” line and a long leader is all you need - you can vary your presentation simply by switching from a hitch, dry fly or wet fly to a small cone head to cover the entire water column from top to bottom. For instance, if you move a fish on a hitched sunray, a quick change to a small conehead Black Frances and an upstream mend to slow the presentation right down will often bring results, without the need to change tips. In higher water, a floating skagit line with a range of MOW tips can be invaluable to “boss” big flies and heavy sink tips. MOW tips get your fly fishing straight away and are especially useful in pocket water on the lower river and in the infamous “Boulder Alley” just above the main camp. Skagits are also good when the wind blows hard off of the Barents Sea and makes casting a regular shooting head more difficult. We would strongly recommend that you carry both lines at all times. It is very simple to change from one to the other, and you will be able to respond to any sudden change in conditions. We will often fish a particularly prolific pool twice. First, employ a full floating scandi line and a small fly or a sunray shadow “up top”, which will often draw fish to the surface, betraying their presence even if they don’t connect. If you see surface activity, but the fish refuses to take, enjoy a short rest and maybe a tea break, and then go back in with a Skagit and a heavier fly like a German Snaelda or a conehead Black Frances, using a big upstream mend to fish the fly slow and deep in front of the fish. This will often tempt the biggest fish. The Skagit line is frowned on by many Atlantic salmon anglers but treat it as a tool in your armoury. Skagits are the wrong choice for small flies and low water, but they really allow you to “boss” bigger, heavier tubes and large coneheads, and this will make you fish these patterns much more effectively. In conclusion, the angler who is both tenacious and creative will do best when fishing Yokanga in the late season. Pay close attention to your guide and concentrate on fishing quietly and stealthily. Try to anticipate changes in water level and air pressure, and concentrate your efforts when the river is falling and the barometer is rising. Fish hard and be lucky! Tight lines from all the Yokanga staff
LATE SEASON ON THE TUNDRA Salmon fishing on the tundra in the late season offers much more than just the chance to catch one of the Yokanga’s spectacular trophy fish. The Kola is Europe’s last great wilderness region, and simply being here is a very special privilege. As summer fades, the endless golden carpet of sprawling tundra is jewelled with lichen, saxifrage and scarlet cowberries. In the low autumn sunshine, it is breathtakingly beautiful. Periodically, as the days shorten, this bewitching landscape lights up under the magic of the ‘aurora borealis’. For those who have never witnessed the Northern Lights, it really is one of the most unforgettable experiences imaginable. There are no guarantees that you will see the lights, but in the late season, especially in September, it is a very real possibility. You may even see the landscape covered in a first sparkling white blanket of snow. The helicopter flight across the tundra and the daily rides up and downstream in the boats become one of the most intoxicating parts of the trip, and many believe that autumn is the most beautiful time to see the Kola. A quick walk up to the top of the bluffs that sit above the river offers a view across the vast expanse of the tundra, and can be a very humbling experience. As rods enjoy a hot bowl of delicious soup at lunchtime, the crisp autumn air is a premonition of the harsh winter to come, and reminds us how precious these last days of the season are. While the big fresh fish of spring and early summer are undoubtedly the biggest draw on Yokanga, the late season offers a very special experience where every day will live long in the memory, even if you don’t manage to put a 30 pound Yokanga ‘crocodile’ or a broad-shouldered chrome-bright ‘osenka’ on the bank.
TACKLE FOR YOKANGA LATE SEASON Rods: To get the very best out of Yokanga salmon fishery, it is important to be able to spey cast, preferably off both shoulders. We can recommend a number of instructors who can help you to master the required techniques in time for your trip. Aim to pack a minimum of two double-handed rods, to allow for breakages, but also to allow the angler to change tactics with the minimum of fuss. We recommend 14’ to 15’, 9 to 10 weight rods for most river conditions. 6 piece rods are great to carry as a spare in the boat as they can be stowed away safely and unobtrusively in their tube until required. Reels: Make sure you have at least two reliable and well-maintained reels with at least 300 yards of good backing – use a minimum of 30lb Dacron or 50lb GSP and make sure that it is wound on in tight coils and NOT bedded in from playing a previous fish. The Yokanga offers the possibility of hooking a “once-in-a-lifetime” fish, and these fish will test out your equipment. Don’t lose a 50 pounder because your reel is in poor order. Lines: Carry set-ups to fish everywhere from on the surface to deep down in cold, heavy water. We are fishing in the Arctic circle, and if winter hangs on, we may be fishing high, heavy water, but I would not expect this, and would hope that we will be fishing high in the water and possibly on the surface if we have warm weather. We recommend using shooting heads that attach to a running line, so that you can change quickly to adapt to conditions. Note that the Yokanga is a relatively shallow river, so sunk lines are seldom required. We normally fish floating lines with a variety of tips to suit conditions. The floating belly of the line is able to swim over rocks between the angler and the main stream without snagging, while a short sink tip or a weighted fly will get to the required depth quickly. That said, there are a few deeper pools on Yokanga, so a full sinking head is always worth packing in your bag, just in case.
LINES, LEADERS AND TIPPET Cold/High Water RIO Skagit MAX 700 or similar combined with RIO Long MOW Tips for fishing heavy & large flies if we have cold water. Warm /LowWater RIO Scandi “Body” 10/11 with a selection of 15’ Tips from full floating to Type 8 – for fishing lighter tips and smaller flies, and possibly hitched flies and bombers in warm water conditions Running Line: We recommend the RIO Gripshooter 50lb BS, but many prefer a full coated running line – there are many lines available but we suggest that you use nothing under 50lb breaking strain. If you use a stretchy mono running line, let the fish take your fly and then set the hook HARD to counteract any stretch and achieve a good hook-hold. Leaders/Tippet: Unless the water is high and fast, we like long leaders and favour the Loop Tapered 17’ Leaders in 26lb. We are working on commissioning some stronger long tapered leaders. Long tapered leaders make casting EASIER and will present your fly beautifully, giving it as much life as possible, and keeping your fly line well away from your quarry. When fishing deep, we use a shorter leader of 5’ to 8’ made up of a level piece of Seaguar Ace in 30lb, 35lb or even 44lb Breaking Strain. STROFT ABR in similar breaking strains is also good, and is better for surface presentations as, unlike fluorocarbon, it doesn’t sink. Fly Boxes/Tube Fly Wallets We prefer boxes for dressed flies and tube hooks, and fly wallets for our tubes. Our boxes and wallets are bright orange so that they are easier to find if we drop them Scissor Forceps can serve a dual purpose - trimming stout tippet and also invaluable for unhooking fish.
FLIES FOR LATE SEASON Many patterns will work, and showing the fish something that they haven’t seen before is always a good idea, but we would recommend the following patterns, that are all well-proven on Yokanga: High water: German Snaelda - tube Red, Orange & Black Francis – tube Green Highlander Templedog – tube Yokanga Gold Templedog - tube Ally’s shrimp - tube Gold-bodied Willie Gunn - tube Medium Water: Scaramanga - the “Golden Gunn” this is a “must” fly on Yokanga Green Highlander Templedog Yokanga Gold Templedog Black/Green “Skull” Sunray Rogie Red, Orange & Black Francis – tubes and doubles Sunray Shadow - all sizes Low water: Scaramanga, Cascade and similar doubles in smaller sizes Red, Orange & Black Francis – micro-tubes including some cone-heads Hitched Sunrays and micro-tubes Bombers Tube Hooks Make sure you have really strong tube hooks – Loop or Ken Sawada Doubles are excellent. Longwinged flies like Sunday shadows have the tendency to wrap around double hooks, but Owner SSW 1/0 or 2/0 Singles nullify this issue and are well worth carrying. Note that Treble hooks are not allowed on Yokanga
CLOTHING AND OTHER ESSENTIALS Yokanga is in a remote location, so make sure that you bring anything that you may need during the week. Conditions can change quickly in the Arctic circle, so always bring extra clothing. We will supply a comprehensive packing list to all guests, but suggest you bring the following: Waders and belt Wading Boots Wading Staff - we strongly recommend a strong reliable wading staff for ALL anglers Back support Polarising glasses x2 Regular Glasses/Yellow lenses for fishing in the evening Warm Hat Balaclava/Snood Thermal undergarments - top & bottom x2 Fleece/Puffer Jacket x2 Warm socks x3 Underwear x8 Shirts x3 Waterproof Wading Jacket Warm mittens or Neoprene Gloves x2 Power adaptors Waterproof Rucksack or Tackle Bag Clear Ziplok bags – always useful Rod tape Elastic Bands or Rod Wraps Mucilin/Gink for Dry flies Blackout Eyewear if you have trouble sleeping Laptop & Charger Phone & Charger Washbag, Razors & Toothbrush A SMALL Hip Flask - Yokanga is a dangerous river so stay sober and safe at all times ***Note that safety is our absolute first priority, and we will insist that all anglers wear a life jacket or “life-preserver”, which we will supply
ACCOMMODATION MIDDLE, LOWER & UPPER CAMPS The main lodge on the middle river is well-known in the salmon world, and has ben hugely popular with Yokanga guests over the last twenty years or so. However, in the last few seasons, the lodge had started to show its age a little. This season, it has undergone a complete transformation, and has been rebuilt and refurbished to the very highest standards. When the new lodge is finished, we will be able to offer single, en-suite rooms to all guests, and we believe that the lodge will be the most comfortable lodge anywhere on the Kola. In addition, a new Lower Camp is being built, with a magnificent view of the Pulanga junction, and luxurious new individual en-suite cabins, and a beautifully appointed central dining and living area. We are employing new staff and new chefs, and want to make the experience of fishing the lower river as attractive as our main Middle River Camp. After extensive scouting, we have also decided to build an Upper Camp, which will offer high-end “glamping” in extremely comfortable tents, with a large main tent that will provide a warm and convivial atmosphere after a long day’s fishing on the tundra. Yokanga veterans will know that there was an upper camp in years past, but that it suffered from a lack of mobility and involved long walks to access much of the holding water. The introduction of jet boats and a new customised hovercraft will allow the anglers to access a much greater amount of fishing water, and we are excited about the prospects for this new project. The Upper River will receive the same aggressive protection from our anti-poaching team, and we believe it will be an exciting new addition to what we offer at Yokanga.
MORE THAN JUST A SALMON FISHERY The new Upper River Camp offers a genuine chance to catch a trophy salmon. While many of the salmon that run the river tend to take up residence in the lower and middle river, some of the river’s very biggest fish run well upstream, to the Suhaya Junction and well beyond. However, in addition to this fishery, there are also a wealth of other fly-fishing opportunities on the upper river. In test fishing conducted in 2020, our head guide Vova and well-known Russian fly angler Dmitry Drozdov established that there are huge stocks of trout, whitefish and pike in the upper river. The pike fishery is particularly exciting - there are large numbers of pike that range from small jacks to some magnificent fish ranging up to 27 pounds, and possibly beyond. These fish are wild and voracious predators, and the vast numbers of whitefish have allowed them to proliferate in large numbers These fish have been subject to virtually no fishing pressure, and our test fishers experienced some really exhilarating sport. Surface poppers provided some particularly exciting fishing with savage visual takes and some wonderfully hard-fighting, tail-walking fish. The trout fishing also offers a fantastic opportunity for the adventurous angler, with large numbers of stunningly beautiful brown trout willing to take dry flies and streamers. Even the whitefish, which Vova has netted in huge numbers, can grow to 3 kilos and beyond, and are remarkable fighters on light trout gear. We believe that the upper river system offers a really exciting mixed fishery, and with our comprehensive anti-poaching regime, the fishing should only improve in the years to come. We are keen to offer this fishery throughout the season to adventurous anglers, and have set a very competitive price-point in order to attract people looking for a real tundra adventure. **For those interested in this exciting new fishery, we will advise on all aspects of tackle and kit.
LATE SEASON ITINERARY We will limit the number of rods as follows, so as to restrict pressure on the fishery: LOWER CAMP: 6 Rods per week MIDDLE CAMP: 10 rods per week UPPER CAMP: 6 rods per week Rods will need to be at Murmansk airport by 9am on Saturday morning. We can help with all aspects of travel to and from Murmansk. Each fishing week will run as follows: Saturday Morning: Drive Murmansk > Lovozero Helicopter Lovozero > Yokanga Lodges Saturday Afternoon Half Day Fishing Sunday > Friday Six Days Fishing Saturday Morning Fly Yokanga Lodges > Lovozero Drive Lovozero > Murmansk
SUSTAINING THE YOKANGA FISHERY We at Yokanga Lodges are really keen to show you what we think is potentially one of the most exciting fly fisheries in the world. We want to bring more anglers to Yokanga not only to share the special fishing that it can offer, but also so that we can re-invest in protecting and sustaining the fishery for the long term. Our anti-poaching program is in place and having a very positive effect already. Funds from visiting anglers will be employed to increase its success and see a larger run of salmon returning to the river year on year. We will oversee 100% catch and release fishing, and insist that all anglers handle their catch with the utmost care. Our guides will be trained to help photograph trophy fish with the minimum of fuss, and all anglers will be encouraged to keep their catch under water except for lifting the fish clear of the water for a few brief moments for a picture. Our long term goal is to see the Yokanga fish return in increasing numbers, which in turn will create very special salmon fishing for the next generation. We very much hope that all visiting anglers will do their best to help us sustain our unique trophy fishery, and look forward to seeing younger anglers taking advantage of our more affordable late season program to gain their first experience of Yokanga. Our first season will teach us much about what Yokanga can offer in late season, and we think that the fishing will only improve year on year as our efforts to protect and nurture the stocks bear fruit. We very much hope you can join us on what we see as a long journey to making Yokanga a truly sustainable trophy Atlantic salmon fishery
DATES AND PRICES Our late season will run from August 07, 2021 to September 18, 2021, and prices are as follows. Rods on Lower Camp will retail at $4,000usd ex Murmansk This price is exclusive of drinks and gratuities Rods on Middle Camp will retail at $6,000usd ex Murmansk This price is exclusive of drinks and gratuities Rods on Upper Camp will retail at $3,000usd ex Murmansk This price is exclusive of drinks and gratuities Please contact Yokanga Lodges to reserve your spot or to discuss any facet of our late season program by mailing Matt Harris at mattharris@yokanga.com or calling Matt on +44 7850955585 We very much look forward to welcoming you to Yokanga Very best wishes
Alexey Strulistov, Matt Harris, Vladimir “Vova� Moysayev and Valera Smirnov
THERE IS ONLY ONE WWW.YOKANGA.COM
MATTHARRIS@YOKANGA.COM
+44 7850 955 585