Fishing the Kola River is one of the best opportunities on offer worldwide to catch a 30Lb – 40lb+ trophy salmon. Here you have a real shot of catching the BIG one and to get quite a few 20lb + as extra bonus. Salmon Junkies are happy to announce that we have taken Kola River under our management for 2013 and future years. A new ambitious plan from new owner, which involves serious enforced river control and conservation, has been presented for Salmon Junkies and we have decided to give it our full support. With enforced control, we now believe that the future of Kola River looks brighter than ever for the salmon and all our guests.
New Sheriff in Town:
Despite great catch statistics; we could all agree that Kola River’s reputation has deteriorated over the years due to poor management and control. Seeing poachers or non-licensed fishermen on their so-called exclusive beats has left anglers immensely frustrated. There has never really been an established authority nor the motivation to deal with the problem. Dmitryi Leonidovitch Kuznetsoy, a successful business entrepreneur and avid fly fisherman, has taken on Kola Camp. He aims to restore Kola River as one of the best fishing destinations for large Atlantic salmon. A passionate Salmon angler himself, Dimitry fully appreciates the importance of both conservation and management controls in realizing his ambitions for the Kola.
The new ‘Sheriff in Town’ implemented a new protection plan in 2012 providing a strong and enforced river management system for the 35 km of prime fishing water on the Kola. We at Salmon Junkies plan to support the new ownership. With 1,200 – 1,500 salmon caught on the main camps stretch of the Kola in 2012, we believe that the future of Kola River looks brighter than ever.
Salmon Junkies has signed a long term contract that guarantees management by 9 private security guards. Controls will be in place from Lake Pulozero on the Kola and the St Petersburg Highway on the Kitsa down to the Junction Pool. We are therefore confident that illegal fishing activity will be minimized, perhaps eradicated, on the 35 km plus stretch of the river where Salmon Junkies will enjoy full exclusivity. This is great news for both the lodge and the entire river, which has a strong pedigree for producing huge salmon with an amazing average weight.
EXTRA bonus day:
As with our successful Umba program we have tried to think outside-of-the-box for the Kola. During 2013 Salmon Junkies are able to offer the 3 best weeks of the season on an exclusive basis for 10 rods only with an EXTRA bonus day, giving 7 full days of quality fishing. Our price, at only Euro 4450 per rod from Murmansk, is half to one third of other Northern rivers. Following weeks are available
- 1 – 8 June: Special price – Euro 4100
- 8 – 15 June fully booked
- 15 – 22 June fully booked
- 22 – 29 June 3 open rods
Kola River is a rugged attractive river with numerous deep, dazzling, boulder-strewn tailouts. It has an impressive 20 to 40,000 returning fish and, at 40 plus pounds, some of the largest Atlantic salmon in World. The river flows due north entering the Barents Sea in the Russian Arctic on the outskirts of Murmansk. In just a few remarkable seasons the Kola has clearly established itself as one of the world’s greatest trophy salmon systems. Catch rates over the last two seasons have been impressive despite the poor management with anglers averaging about 1-3 salmon per person per day. In 2012 every week there were fish caught that tipped the scales at over 40 pounds! An experienced angler should expect to catch 3 fish daily. Given their size and strength, they provide one with more than adequate doses of adrenaline to get through the day.
On many of the world’s top Atlantic salmon rivers, bragging rights start at 20 pounds. On the Kola River, however, a 20 pounder is merely a ‘good fish’ with the braggarts bar firmly set at 30 pounds and above. The very biggest salmon start to enter the Kola River system at the end of May. Only the biggest fish, often 3 and 4 ocean winter fish, can push through the rapids and fast flowing water on the lower river. These fish are fresh from the sea and are very aggressive takers. With generally high spring water levels and resulting strong currents, these fish can put up a real battle with really long heavy runs. (Please remember to check your line connections and backing line. Due to large salmon in higher water conditions the tippet and Backing strength should be no less than 30lbs). Most of the salmon ascending the Kola end up in the Kitsa, their spawning ground, which provides superb fishing in more intimate surroundings, as it is somewhat smaller than the Kola.
Location and accommodation:
The Kola River Lodge is located one hour’s drive from Murmansk on Russia’s Kola Peninsula. Accommodation is in cabins with private bathroom and shower, based on a two-person share. The dining/sitting area is in a separate building with a beautiful circular shaped veranda that serves as the bar and overlooks Home Pool. Here one can relax at the end of the day, enjoy a drink (or two) with your fellow anglers and watch the salmon leap. This sight invariably triggers the urge to run back to your cabin, grab a rod, and go after the teaser. Whatever you do, you are never too far from fish when in camp; they are within a cast, 24 hours a day. Relatively easy to reach by Russian standards, the Kola River is one of the few in the region where helicopters are not required to reach the accommodation or the daily beats. This is a bonus in unsettled weather and keeps the price reasonable for the traveling angler.
Kola River Itinerary
- Friday/Day 1: Arrive Murmansk airport in the evening. Bus drive to Kola Lodge departing midnight Friday. About one hour’s bus drive to the Lodge.
- Saturday/Day 2: Fishing Kola River. (Euro 30 per rod for guide as Saturday is normally the day off for the guides)
- Sunday/ Day 3: Salmon fishing – Kola river
- Monday/Day 4: Salmon fishing – Kola river
- Tuesday 7/Day 5: Salmon fishing – Kola river
- Wednesday/Day 6: Salmon fishing – Kola river
- Thursday/Day 7: Salmon fishing – Kola river
- Friday/Day 8: Salmon fishing – Kola river
- Saturday/Day 9: Depart Kola Lodge 5am in the morning, arriving Murmansk around 6am in order to catch the first flights back to Moscow or St. Petersburg.
Daily Program: Anglers depart the camp at 9am, take lunch at about 2pm and return to the camp at 7pm. Teams of 2 anglers and a Russian guide will start each day by travelling to appointed beats by team raft. Your guides will take you to fish the different pools, which are spread over many miles. Dinner is served at 8pm.
For Kola river the Salmon Junkies camp manager will setup a weekly fishing schedule to suit the conditions and number of guests. Usually there will be a mid-day-rotation after lunch. This tried and tested system ensures that every guest gets to fish all pools more than once. Early morning fishing is restricted to the beats you are going to after breakfast. For an extra payment guides will be available for evening fishing also on the beats further from camp. With 20 years camp management experience in Russia, Steffen Juhl from Salmon Junkies will make sure you have a memorable week.
For more info please contact Steffen Juhl – sj@salmonjunkies.com