I have been fortunate to fish almost all of the rivers on the Kola Peninsula. For me Umba is the “Jewel of the Crown”. Umba has so many unique advantages that in my opinion make it the obvious choice for the dedicated salmon angler, looking for high quality regarding accommodation and fishing. The Umba season starts already from ice-out in late May and continues into October. During this period there are five different runs of salmon creating a nearly continuous flow of fish entering the river.
Chances of big fish – and large numbers
Every week during the season there are chances to catch really big Umba salmon – not only great numbers of smaller salmon
Safe water condition
With the Umba watershed being vast and consisting of several large lakes and water absorbing bogs, the water levels are consistent. Lack of water is never a problem on Umba river.
A well-established and safe program
The Umba program is a none Helicopter – our modern busses are never “Fogged in” – beside it keep the price down
Having been on most of the Kola Lodges I say that there is a very special feeling and atmosphere about the Umba lodge. A summer evening on the Lodge veranda overlooking Home pool, often with jumping salmon in sight is a lifelong memory. Or the stories told after fishing in a dark autumn nights in front of the big cosy fireplace, also bring a very outstanding and special value. All this in combination with great food and friendly staff creates one of the nicest Lodges anywhere.
Fair priced
As the Umba program mot is dependent on expensive helicopters Salmon Junkies can offer fair prices compared with other program.
Of course there is so much more to say about the Umba. Like that the Krivetz beat is one of the most classic but also challenging flywaters I ever have fished. Beside Krivetz you will have access to all the famous classic Umba pools like, the Rat’s pool, Brads Pool. Lohkinka, The Bar, Home pool and Doctor’s pool, together with all the other smaller or bigger pools. And all pools are in a short distance of the outstanding Umba lodge.
But no matter what river you fish always keep in mind – “You can’t catch them all. Just minimize the losses and believe in your destiny. Some salmon are just poorly hooked – and no praises, money, wisdom or power will change that”.
June month
Our June fishing normally is restricted to the lower parts of our beats. The high water levels makes normally most of the Krivetz next to impossible to fish. Still the month is regarded as one of the river’s most productive ones.
The large overwintering fall salmon, so unique for the Umba, wakes up from the winters “hibernation” and starts to join the fresh run salmon on their way towards the spawning grounds. Not to be confused with the Kelts (Returning and out spawned salmon). These magnificent deep and strong-fighting salmon are still in their silvery livery. The Vyala Tributary, entering the main river at the neck of Home pool has a run of early salmon. It seams like these fish stay in the Home pool before running the Vyala river. This shoal of fish also halts the salmon running the main river
July month
During the first two weeks most of the Krivetz section begins to fish good, however there can still be inaccessible pools in Krivetz you only can reach by boat.
During the last two weeks water level normally drops to make fishing in the whole of Krivetz possible. The summer run fills the pools up with sea liced fish in sizes 6lbs to + 20 lbs. Water temperatures can get quite high and light tackle with floating line and fast swing flies are often most productive
August month
August on the Umba is a month of transition. The weather is gradually getting cooler, as is the water. The fishing up in Krivetz is at it’s best with pools virtually “Full of fish from the summer run as well as the last autumn run. The first of the fall-run salmon are entering the river normally during the last two weeks of August. These salmon are big, bright and extremely aggressive. This is truly Umba fishing at its best, using small, fast-fished flies and light tackle. The take from one of these fish will feels like an explosion “all the way into you backing”
September / October month
The late season on the Umba is the time when the biggest salmon migrate up our beats. This unique run of late salmon is extremely deep and powerful, designed to spend a full year in the river prior to the next years spawning.
From the Lodge you can watch fresh salmon coming into Home pool every day, jumping and challenge your flies. At a time when one normally would fish sinking lines and big flies, we do best with small flies in size 6 – 8 fished on intermediate or floating lines. Although the days are shorter and the weather is harsher, the autumn fishing in Umba is unparalleled. No river on the Kola can boost the same numbers of truly big salmon as Umba does in the autumn
With best regards / Steffen Juhl