I was invited to go fish Yokanga river on the Cola peninsula Russia and shoot some photos of the river for a client.  There where 4 other Icelandic guys in the group, and 7 from other countries. Yokanga is known for the largest Atlantic Salmon in the world.  The trips to Yokanga are week long and there are from 12-16 rods fishing at any given time. This trip was something to remember but getting there is a adventure by it self. I flew from Iceland to Helsinki Finland and spent the night there. The morning after we took a charter from Helsinki over to Murmansk Russia. After getting through immigration in Murmansk the staff of the lodge meets you and gathers all the luggage. After everyone is through customs and immigration we are taken via small buss to a local flying field (that looked like it was closed 30 years ago) where the massive helicopter was waiting for us.


Our giant helicopter that would serve us all week long, drop off and pick up!

The flight from Murmansk to the lodge is about 2 hour with the helicopter and it flies at an altitude about 300-500feet.


The Yokanga river and the lodge the day we arrived.

When you arrive at the lodge the staff meets you at the entrance with vodka snaps and some snacks. You are introduced to the staff and then you are taken to your room. Every room as a label with your name on it and the accommodation is first class. After early dinner everyone gears up to go fish the home pools.


Scott fishing his single handed in Lyliok.

Me, Jim and Scott went down to Lyliok which is a known big Salmon pool in Yokanga river. The weather was maybe too nice but it was sunny and temp around 20C. The main downside of a weather like that is the mosquito flies come out and if you are not covered with repellent you will be bitten... I fished for maybe an hour without any luck before I started walking back towards the lodge and shoot some photos of the river on the way.


Jim in Lyliok the first night.


The weather this evening turned out to be just spectacular allowing me to get some good shots.

The next morning the weather had turned to the worse. It was very windy and cold. After breakfast I was thinking about going back to bed as I was pretty convinced that the chopper would not fly in this weather...boy was I wrong.  Just before 9am everyone was gathered outside the lodge where the draw for guides and beats was announced. I had met Joe (from Scotland)  in the hotel in Helsinki and decided to pair up with him since there are always two guys fishing with one guide. Me and Joe got a guide named Vova and the very top beat named Cliff. Right after that, everyone was inside the chopper and she took off like this weather was nothing. The conditions this day where not very good since the wind was very strong and temp low. Me and Joe did not land a single Salmon for the first two days.


Joe fishing from the boat in the afternoon the first day.


After a hard day of fishing without catching anything the chopper picked us up around 6pm.


Me and my very amusing fishing buddy Joe, totally beat up, on the way back the 2nd day.

Drop off...

The second day the weather was even worse, very high winds, rain, snow and cold...but no mosquitoes! Very few Salmon where caught the first 3 days as the weather was less than ideal...

Example of the conditions, this was early morning the 3rd day. Vova had really hard time controlling the boat since the wind would just blow us all over the place.

Just after lunch the 3rd day it got turned on for about 3 hours. Me and Joe caught 6 salmon in the afternoon, this one being the biggest. 16lbs hen fish, caught at Upper Nor Camp. Our very experienced guide Vova in the background. Vova has been guiding there for 12 years. He knows the river very well and took very good care of us.


Joe and Vova land a nice 8 pound male the 3rd day.


Joe's beautiful around 8lbs male.

The 3rd day (17th of August) it had turned on for everyone in the group. Our great friends from France, Jean Daniel and his wife Dominique had done fantastic but Jean Daniel had caught a 36lbs male and lost another big one in Poachers.


Jean Daniel  with his record 35lbs male.


Dominique caught this  26lbs hen (I think it was 23lbs!) couple of days later.


On Thursday morning the weather kept getting better and so did the fishing.

Group heading for the chopper early morning.

Jon Thor and his fishing buddy Arni did quite good this day...Arni started by landing a 30lb hen fish early in the morning, then Jon Thor landed a trophy Salmon or a 46.2lbs male then Arni finished it off by landing a 36lbs male soon after...


Arni with his 30lbs hen fish! If I would not know better I would think they would be siblings...hehe



Jon Thor with his monster Salmon, 46.2lbs male! (21kg)



Arni with his 36lbs Male!


The week went by pretty fast and the weather and overall condition got better every day.


Vova with a nice fresh hen fish that I caught on Nor Camp.


Joe fishing on Beaches, we had dropped him off on this rock in the middle of the river and the only way off was by boat...

The last day me and Joe fished in Lilyok. I saw the biggest salmon of my life doing head and tail several times. After fishing from the shore for awhile then I went on the boat with Vova and he suggested we do some "trolling"...I was not sure what that meant but I soon found out. Basically you just cast out and let your fly stay in the water while your guide just rows back and forth over the river...I was just about to fall a sleep when the take came and it was so hard that my rod almost got pulled out of my hands. The result was about 15lbs fresh female. I caught 3 Salmon my last day by trolling but I think Vova really liked it since it gave him something to do and the rowing would keep him warm...

15lbs hen fish from Lyliok.


Vova with my 6-7lbs male from Crows nest.



Pick up the last day!


The guides at Yokanga are fantastic, all with great experience and know the river very well.

The last night the guides joined us at the main lodge after dinner and we went on to party into the night. The award for the biggest Salmon went to Jon Thor but his 46.2lbs male was the biggest Salmon caught for few seasons.


Tolik, Jon Thor and Arni.

This had been a fantastic week and something to remember. I ended up catching 11 Salmon and the biggest was about 6.5kg. The group all together caught 102 Salmon, 3 Salmon 30lbs and over, 5 Salmon 20-30lbs, 33 Salmon 10-20lbs and 61 Grilse.