The Umba river system has something like five different salmon runs each year and some of these consist of fish specially “designed” (pumped up in protein) to spend almost 2 years in the river before returning to sea! An incredible feat actually – homage and respect to the salmon.
As May ends and we move into the middle of June, the summer will manifest itself with high-pressure weather and bright sunny weather, sometimes 24 hours a day. Needless to say that these conditions will affect the fishing, but you may be astonished to hear that it sometimes improves catches. The amount of summer fish on our beats is probably peaking at end of June and beginning of July, and the reason why the catch per rod is a bit higher in June is probably related to weather and temperature being more optimal for the salmon to take the fly. Regarding the fish – two major things happen during this period. We see an increase in fresh grilse so that the salmon to grilse ratio goes up towards 1:1. But we also encounter some of the overwintering or hibernating fish bound for an 18 month stay in the river before spawning, and you will not be in doubt when you hook one of those. Being up to 25% heavier measured in length these bombs will make your lower jaw hit your chest and have you recheck your backing…
The average summer run salmon will be between 7 and 15 lb. but every week will see bigger fish landed – usually males and sometimes well over 20 lb.
Available weeks in Prime period: 4/6 – 11/6 and 11/6 – 18/6 and 18/6 – 25/6
“My biggest worry is that my wife (when I’m dead) will sell my fishing gear for what I said I paid for it.”