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PLUMA LODGE FISHING REPORT - June 20^th to   July 2^nd 2012

OVERALL CONDITIONS

We started the last part of June, with a very closed sky and constant rains, which lasted 3 days and made the lower beats unfishable for 3 days. Since then, temperature has been rising and the fish activity has increased everyday.

RIVER CONDITIONS

As mentioned in the previous report, the extreme rains of the last rainy season delayed the run of Sabalos, Dorados and other species. We had been told for some time by our logistics boats that enormous amounts of fish were coming upstream and on June the 30^th we had a first real experience with the first part of a run that has over 15 miles of solid fish on both banks. We are thrilled to see what’s coming next…

FISHING

As expected, the fishing on the lower beats in the last two days has been nothing but phenomenal: 4 rods caught over 200 fish there in two days…. The rest of the beats were more modest but still were holding good amounts of resident fish and as usual guests had lots of sight casting possibilities, especially on the Itirisama.

We also camped for one night on the upper Itirisama, looking for big Pacu and we were not disappointed. This is a great plan, especially for repeaters and we are really looking forward to go back.

Pluma Team – Joaquin Arocena, Llew, Exequiel and Lucas

Secure Lodge Fishing Report - 29^th June – 7^th July 2012

Overall Conditions

Conditions over the past two groups have been good with warming water and some nice fish showing up in the beats.  All this changed once again with some very heavy downpours on the 5^th and 6^th which saw the river rise to almost touch the foundations of the Asunta lodge deck.   This was an extremely unseasonal event with river rises like this normally only occurring in the  summer months.  Whole trees and lots of floating timber were drifting past the lodge so it will be interesting to see what new snags may have developed in the beats.  The river has dropped as rapidly as it rose but will take several days to really drop and clear.  The upper tributaries will clear faster and should make for some handy fishing in coming days.

Fishing

The upper beats of zone one have been good some days and then difficult the next.  Maniquisito again fished well for some with South African anglers Nick and Lauren having a great day catching some very nice dorado and a huge yatorana.   American angler Jim also scored a nice fish in beat one with a fish of six kilos.  There were also numbers of pacu seen and hooked in this beat but all managed to evade capture.

Zone two has had some very nice fish in it this week with several dorado around the eight kilo mark.  Jim and Chuck had their most productive day in zone two as did George and Charlie.  Multiple takes were had and there appeared to be more and more activity in this beat.  A good sign for future groups.

Zone three produced many fish in the past week with some real quality sizes amongst them.  Keeping them all on the hook or out of the snags was a challenge at times but there were still plenty landed in this beat.  More and more sabalo are on the way and the dorado are with them so the fishing will continue to heat up as the flood water recedes and once again begins to warm.

Floating lines worked well this week but also some fish were taken with fast sink tip lines and clear intermediate sink tip lines.  Flies in all black, black and red or black and orange were the best colours.

Report from guides

Diego, Tom, Fernando and Juan Carlos

For further information please contact Tarquin Millington-Drake on 0845 299 6212 Ext 1 or at tmd@frontierstrvl.co.uk

Week 5: Fresh Fish Still On the RUN!

The Spanish contingent arrived at Ponoi this week, with a big group of first-time guests!  Almost all were experienced Atlantic salmon fisherman, though Spey tactics were new to some, specifically guest Arturo Torro.  Though a very experienced ocean fisherman, Arturo picked up a Spey rod for the first time this week on the Ponoi River, and, of course, the river served him well:  on his very first day he landed a fine chrome grilse at Lapenyarka.

Between the big Spanish group (Carlos Rafael, Gaspar, Manuel, Carles, Enric y Arturo) we were also fortunate to host the very experienced father-and-son duo of Tim & Tom.  These two gentlemen barely stopped fishing all week!  Tim (the father) came to Russia with the specific aim of catching his second Atlantic salmon.  The lure of Ponoi became unbearable after 32 days of fishing in Scotland with only one salmon to net.  Tim’s second salmon came a faIr bit easier in Russia, with a fine fish taken in Brevyeni`s Home Pool alongside experienced guide Patrick Brennan.  It took a mere five hours of fishing Ponoi to make a believer out of Tim!

The excitement that began early in the week carried straight through, and the days sped by.  Sunken Log proved our most productive beat, again next to Hard Curve.  The average catch was close to 14 fish per rod.

Summer Run salmon are still flowing into the system.  The river dropped rapidly through the beginning of the week, and held at a steady level through week’s end.  With midsummer approaching, water temperature is more stable as well, averaging 14 degrees C.  The weather, however, remains variable, and we saw some stormy days midweek that threatened, but produced no rain.  Air temps climbed towards 20 degrees C at a peak before plummeting back to 9 at week’s end.  These rapid changes prove how fickle the weather can be here on the tundra.

Among the highlights of the week was a wonderful day with Tom & Tim in Lapenyarka, during which Tom slayed them with his “Rachel Special” fly.  I also spent a memorable day with Carlos & Manuel, who proved one of the most productive duos this week.  We tried some dry flies at Hard Curve, and landed some big salmon on single-handed rods.

All of the guests this week enjoyed fishing Home Pool.  Gaspar in particular fished the pool almost every night and morning… in  fact, he’s likely skipped the helicopter and remains fishing at Home Pool now!  Gaspar was nearly always found swinging flies with a fine Cuban cigar in his mouth, and he was the picture of contentment, enjoying the nature around him while catching some memorable Atlantic salmon.

In the evenings, we played mainly poker, and Enric proved to be not only an accomplished angler but also the resident card shark.  Thanks to our satellite TV, we had the privilege of watching the soccer Euro Cup; it was something to watch our Spanish guests talking and cheering and pulling their hair during the penalty kicks against Portugal.

I want to highlight the presence this week of noted international angler Mr. Carles Verdaguer Gonzales (Salmon2000), who enjoyed the week next to Gaspar.  Mr. Gonzales fished every inch of Brevyeni water like an expert, spotting the best lies just seconds into each drop.  I also want to offer a special thanks to our Kitchen Staff, who worked very hard during this week to delight our Spanish and British guests.  Head chef Anton Sidunov, and sous chefs Lena Karionova and Veronika Krainukova, made certain that every single entree, salad, soup, and desert was a masterpiece.

The week ended with some notable fish up to 16 lbs, with several 14 and 12 pounders as a compliment.  Some sea-lice laden fish where caught to highlight the summer run, and many grilse were taken.  And so, in just the blink of an eye, one more week ended on Brevyeni.  Another sensational week on Ponoi River, Russia has come and gone, leaving so many salmon memories in its wake.  We hope that some of those memories will soon be yours!

More Twenty Pounders and Habitat Suitability Shines Through:
 
Stocking enhancement programs have been used throughout northwestern Europe to bolster Atlantic salmon catches, to the point that great controversy has arisen surrounding the plausibility of a truly pristine fishery.  Fortunately, even under the trickiest of conditions, Ponoi has remained steadfastly unadulterated by unnatural augmentation.  This last week on Ponoi, though challenging by our high standards, proved as successful as any salmon angler might strive for.  Perhaps no records were broken this week, but with a bit of perspective thrown in to bring us back to reality, the week was a considerable success.  
 
A saving grace for two fortunate, though downtrodden, anglers (Stewart and Ross Spence) came in Lower Tomba with Danilla Podolsky.  A slow start across the board had Stewart and Ross digging deep for a silver lining in Ponoi’s gray waters, and Lower Tomba showed them just that.  Stewart took several fish in the teens, most notably a valiant 16 lb salmon.  Not to be outdone, son Ross landed a strapping beauty of 23 lbs in Falcon’s Nest, in the lowest reaches of the beat.  The fish was brought to net and observed to be a fine, three-sea-winter fish, a monumental trophy by anyone’s standards.  A specimen that braved the might of the Ponoi and the frozen winter to again seek his natal spawning grounds… the landing of this mighty fish is true testament to the prowess of the river, the angler, and the salmon alike.
 
New to Ponoi was steelhead angler John Miguelez.  Miguelez brought to Russia a deep understanding of anadromous fish and two-handed angling, and the Ponoi met all of his expectations.  His skill was rewarded with a noteworthy salmon of 17 lbs, and a battle of power and speed.  For Don Grade, the salmon fishing on Ponoi was nothing less than spectacular.  In his first experience fishing for Atlantic salmon, Don took a fine 20 lb fish in Purnache on the last day of his week’s fishing.  Very few can boast a 20 lb beast on their first salmon exploit, but that is simply what Ponoi can offer.  Well done Don!
 
As often occurs on the tundra north of 67°, the winds blew up and down Ponoi, affording a couple of challenging days of fishing for the anglers of Week 5 in Ryabaga.  Nevertheless, Barry and Cathy Beck, infamous in the world of fly fishing journalism and photography, were able to freeze the magic in megapixels, for the pleasure of fish-porn aficionados the world over.  No strangers to Ponoi, Barry and Cathy no doubt captured the raw, rugged power of the place, the mighty river, and the fish themselves.  Their artistry will surely be widely circulated in the coming months.  Despite the challenging conditions, 11 anglers managed their first fly-caught salmon this week, setting themselves up for a lifetime of craving.  We sometimes smile here in Ryabaga to see the faces of our first-timers, and we feel a bit guilty at what we are offering:  the likely addiction to a life spent in pursuit of these magical fish.
 
Challenging conditions and fickle midsummer weather knocked catch stats off a bit this week.  That said, it is always of benefit to maintain some perspective on the fishing that Ponoi provides.  Atlantic salmon anglers regularly spend days, weeks, and years in pursuit of a single take, whereas on Ponoi, single-fish days are the anomaly.  The beauty of this river, and this remarkable system, is the margin of error it affords.  After all, a low week on Ponoi remains literally many times better, from a fishing standpoint, than an epic week on any other Atlantic salmon river, period.  And when you add the sheer remoteness, unique landscape, exemplary comforts, and skill of staff, there is simply no question about what Camp remains the finest Atlantic salmon camp the world over.  Ryabaga camp on the Ponoi River, Russia, is simply as good as it gets.  We hope you experience it for yourself in the coming weeks!

The Week of June 16-23, 2012

Weather Conditions:  Overcast skies for much of the week with rain off and on.

Air Temp: Highs from 81 – 85 degrees
Water Temp: 80-82 degrees
Wind: Mostly light at 4-5 MPH from the E with some gusty periods from the N and NW

Tides: A rising tide through the morning most of the week

Moon Phase: New Moon was on Tues., June 19

We had a good week in spite of mostly overcast skies and generally poor visibility, making the permit fishing tough. In spite of the conditions, four permit were landed and several others hooked. Multiple tarpon were jumped including one near 150 pounds. Everyone landed bonefish with some fish well over five pounds.

Adrian L., Kim L., Chuck H. and Ryan M. from Alberta had a super week fishing with, Daniel and Capt.  They were here to film a segment or two for The Real Canadian Joe’s television show which airs primarily in Canada.  Adrian, a very accomplished angler, fished hard for bonefish, permit and tarpon.  He landed several bonefish, with the largest being 6-7 pounds, had good shots at permit and had some exciting moments jumping tarpon.  He jumped several and lost his largest tarpon when his backing broke.

Chuck was the permit master this week.  He has fly-fished in saltwater only a few times, but landed three permit over the course of the week. Additionally, he caught several bonefish and jumped a very nice tarpon.  Kim and Ryan spent most of their time behind the camera and hopefully they will put a nice show or two together.  In addition to the fishing, they filmed dolphins, manatees and a variety of other fun things around the atoll.

Enrico P. from New York fished with Dubs as usual. Enrico, a very accomplished and master fly tier, concentrated solely on permit. Light conditions made it very tough and although he had a few good shots, he didn’t land a permit. He took what the flats gave him landing a few bonefish and also tested some of his newly-designed flies, which worked well for bonefish.  At Turneffe Flats we are a big fan of Enrico’s flies as most of our tarpon landed this season have been on his patterns. 

David N. from Oregon returned to Turneffe Flats with his wife, Jean.  Jean dove all week and David split his time between diving and fishing.  He mostly hunted bonefish and permit on the flats casting to several permit and plenty of bones. On Fri., he also jumped a nice tarpon.  David and Jean first visited Turneffe Flats many years ago and were thrilled to see former lodge managers Kevin and Tina Hayden, along with their daughter Lilly, who arrived for a visit on Wed.  They had not seen each other since the early ’90s; it was a nice reunion for everyone. 

 John J. and Peter H. from the UK enjoyed their week of fishing with Dion. Using both conventional and fly tackle, they managed to catch several bonefish and one permit.  They also fished hard for tarpon, but didn’t get any to the boat.

Milton V. from Montreal fished with Willie and he was joined briefly by his son Gary who was here diving.  Gary brought his father on this trip for his 80^th birthday. Fishing conventional tackle, Milt did an exceptional job with the bonefish and also caught snappers and jacks and cast to a few permit.  Tarpon were also on his wish list but, he didn’t have much luck.

The Summer and Fall Angler’s Special  

It’s barely summer, but we’re getting numerous fall and pre-Christmas reservations for our Angler’s Special, June 23-Dec. 22.

Double Occupancy Fishing Package - $2,656 + $203.72 (tax) = $2,859.72 per person

Single Supplement Fishing Package (single room and private boat/guide) - $3,808 + $284.48 (tax) = $4,092.48 per person

Combination Fish/Dive Package - $2,856 + $220.71 (tax) = $3,076.71 per person

For further information please contact Tarquin Millington-Drake on 0845 299 6212 Ext 1 or at tmd@frontierstrvl.co.uk.

Week 4 Report Brevyeni: Fine Fishing in Brevyeni!

The Ponoi just keeps providing a beautiful experience for anglers and guides alike.  This week, we hosted some wonderful new guests, alongside some seasoned veterans.  Old friends Marc and Danielle (Monny) brought their companions Willie and Pierre Alain.  These French anglers were a joy in camp and on the river, even if they did give us an education at the poker table!  We started the week a bit slow, but ended with our best day; the average take was close to 14 fish per rod.  Lapenyarka was the most productive beat this week, with Hard Curve a close second.

Summer Run salmon are still coming strong into Brevyeni waters, despite fluctuating water levels.  Heavy upstream rains created irregularities in level as well as temperature, resulting in some challenging angling conditions.  But as usual, the Ponoi produced for the faithful, and strong, bright salmon were taken. This river is just incredible!  Pierre Alain had an excellent 17 lb fish, which we celebrated with some fine red wine.

Among the highlights this week was the presence of Tom and Jim, both of whom were new to Brevyeni.  It was very nice to share some incredible days with them, and some incredible catches.  One fish of particular note was a hot 14 lb salmon that took Jim’s fly (a small black double) and departed like a shot, stripping at least 250 meters of backing.  I helped chase this fish with the boat, and after several minutes we landed it. It was tremendous: Jim, was especially excited. 

All anglers this week enjoyed the Brevyeni Home Pool.  Marc in particular worked the Home Pool almost every night; swinging the fly trough the mouth of the Brevyeni Creek is a dream.  The river is at a good wading level, and negotiating the bank from one pool to another is very safe.  Often times, Brevyeni waters are best fished by wading anglers.

After dinner, we gathered together for poker, chess, and some nice songs, noting how fishing can connect a diverse group of people… but of course, the pursuit of mighty salmon was the primary focus.  That’s what Ponoi is all about. We fish and fish and fish again.  We see the fish jumping, we feel the pull, and we become addicted to the lure of salmon. It feels good to share this bond that exists between Ponoi fishermen.

Hope to see you soon.

Boris Mamontoff

June 25, 2012

The Family Returns

Another beautiful week on Ponoi has drifted sublimely past, with a particularly enthusiastic group of salmon anglers.  Ponoi regulars the Dales, MacMillan,  Davidson, Powell, Penley, Middleton, and Youngie (Bill Young) joined the likes of first-timer John Case for a little taste of Ponoi’s summer finest; a great time was had by all!

Conditions this week were less than exemplary, with regard to salmon fishing that is.  We had rains that varied water levels dramatically through the week, and dropping temps brought to bear some chilly days of fishing.  That said, Ponoi as always shone through, and many fish in the high teens and John Dale’s twenty-pounder were taken.  It has been a truly spectacular year thus far for big fish in Ryabaga waters.

PRC owner Ilya Sherbovich was again on hand to witness the finest Atlantic salmon fishing in the world.  He hosted a group of friends and avid anglers, and again made a point of floating the Purnache tributary.  These variations in the routine are not only wonderful adventures for guides and guests alike, but continue the spirit of exploration that makes Ponoi an increasingly dynamic fishery.  With Ilya at the helm, no fishing opportunity goes untested; his appetite for angling possibility in this unique fishery is unparalleled..

We were lucky to welcome some lovely lady anglers in camp this week.  It is always a blessing to have a feminine touch around camp, and we the guides certainly shave more regularly and put a slightly better polish on our manners!  It was also a remarkably warm tone in the Big Tent, with conversation and good cheer wending deep into the arctic night.  Both on and off the water, a remarkable week!

We welcomed Stuart and Ross into camp for a two-week stay.  Doreen joined her boys for the first week.  Pat Butler kicked off another salmon fishing extravaganza as well with two weeks in Ryabaga. Extended stays are always great for guests and staff alike, as the sense of the Ryabaga ‘family’ deepens with time.  Stuart and Ross will be fortunate enough to enjoy Chef Cataldi’s specialties for another week running, as culinary delights continue to spill from the Ryabaga kitchen.  The Empanadas this week were a particular hit, though guests continue to rave about all of Alex’s work.

Maxim, son Grigory, and friend Vaycheslav joined us from Moscow.  Avid fly fishers, but new to Ponoi, the three were duly impressed with the service and organization of Ryabaga.  Combined with unparalleled salmon fishing, the three will most certainly join the roster of repeat Ryabaga anglers in the seasons to come.

With regard to the nitty-gritty, it was Max tubes again this week, and the “flame-thrower,” did the trick as well with heavier tips for the rising water.  The summer run continues to grow and gain momentum, and the pulse of big fish is certainly seeming to prove that our conservation efforts are bearing fruit.  With the season such a success thus far, it’s exciting to think what lies ahead.

We in Ryabaga are all settling into the summer rhythms, enjoying our wonderful guests and the exemplary fishing.  The summer pace is often fast and furious, with a revolving guest roster and a growing pace of fishing.  That said, there is nothing like a never-ending June evening to take a walk along the riverbank with a cocktail.  To breathe in the sights and sounds of this place is a remarkable gift, and one we wish to share with you soon. 

Until Then, Best wishes!

Matt Breuer and the Ryabaga Team

Overall Conditions

The Secure river is dropping, clearing and warming up with much more activity than the week before.  Sabalo are becoming more prevalent and the dorado are on their heels.  The upstream is clear and it is possible to spot dorado cruising and feeding.  Zone two is great for wading and finding fish searching or feeding and in zone three there have been numbers of quality fish holding in amongst the snag piles and timber.

Fishing

The fishing has really improved with the warmer water temperatures. This week’s six guests have taken some lovely fish up to 10kg.  Spanish anglers Joan and Alfredo had a great last day in the Secure and right on dark managed a dorado double with both going 7kg!  What a way to finish off what had already been a great day. Glen from the USA managed a beautiful fish of 8kg that put up a great fight with multiple massive jumps.

Scott and his thirteen year old son Zander had a great first dorado experience and finished their last day with ten fish each, the largest being 5kg.  Another exciting moment for Scott was watching four big dorado feasting on a smaller dorado in the shallows, they were hard to interest with the fly but it was an incredible sight.

Intermediate sink tip lines have  been working well along with floating lines.  Flies in all black, black/red, black/chartreuse, orange/yellow have been the best colours

There have been several occasions this week of a hooked, smaller dorado being preyed upon by their much bigger brethren.  Some of these big fish have been well over 10kg and when a 1 kilo dorado gets swallowed whole it gives you some idea of the monsters that are in this river.

The total number of fish caught and released this week was one hundred and ten dorado and one yatorana.

Many more fish were lost jumping and throwing the fly and breaking off in snags and lets not mention how many strikes are follows that were had.

For more information please contact Tarquin Millington-Drake on 0845 299 6212 Ext 1 or at tmd@frontierstrvl.co.uk.

June 18, 2012

Lots of Great Goings-On Last Week:

It is my pleasure to report that this past week on Ponoi was a great success.  News from the Home Pool was especially noteworthy, with a tally of 54 fish brought to net.  Terry landed his largest salmon, which happened to be the largest spring salmon in Ponoi history!  The brute measured 42.5 inches length by 22 inches girth, and weighed in at a whopping 29.6 lb!  When this monster entered the system last autumn, it would certainly have weighed into the 30 lb range.  In all, the total catch for the week was 617 salmon to the net, for an average of 41 fish per rod.  Heavy rains Tuesday initiated a rise in the river on Wednesday, adding a good half-meter to the river level.  As in the past, however, guides adapted strategy to the changing levels, and in the end the rains had no effect on the numbers trend for the week.  High winds on Friday and the resulting turbid water had a bit of an effect on the last day’s effort, but Ryabaga anglers drove through and managed to come out with a good day’s fishing nonetheless.  Another notable fish for the week was a 19 lb salmon, landed by Graham and Guide Barrett Mattison.  Ian landed several fish of 16 lbs, and Anatoliy Gavrilenko took a salmon of 17 lbs.  Ray and Laurence both had fish of 16 and 17 lbs, Juan had an 18 lb salmon…  numerous fish in the high teens…  the list goes on!  Well done, ladies and gentlemen. 

It is always a great pleasure to welcome into camp the likes of Ian, Francois, Ray, and Jim.  It is the groups of familiar faces that make the Ponoi experience so colorful, and as the years pass, a certain tradition takes shape surrounding groups of beloved guests.  Which is why I decided to turn up on the Kolmac one well-timed day this week to find Francois whipping up another delicious sauce of butter, mustard, wasabi, and black tea, with a bit of Chateau Chapelle D’Alienor Bordeaux; when Francois is in camp, my shore lunches are carefully chosen indeed!  Thanks to Francois’ efforts, lunch was off to a fantastic start, but I was NOT to be outdone by our French contingent, and in anticipation I had requested a New Zealand beef tenderloin from head Chef Cataldi.  Sliced into 3 inch thick pieces and adorned with garlic and black pepper, I seared the meat on my Argentine “disco”, and showed my friends the height of “al-fresco” dining on Ponoi!  Paired with a nice red wine, it is difficult to top such a fantastic stream-side lunch.  Throughout the week, Alex Cataldi and the culinary team in Ryabaga continued to amaze as they produce exciting new dishes and presentations for the Ryabaga dining table. 

Ponoi River Co. owner Ilya Sherbovich hosted his father Victor, son Kostya, and friends the Gavrilenkos this week.  The group enjoyed the fishing on Ponoi immensely, as well as an adventurous float of the Purnache River in three rafts manned by guides Max Mamaev, Nick Sigov, and Big Dan Shelekov.  The group managed to land a few salmon while fishing the beautiful and uncharted Purnache.

Newly-elected governor to Murmansk Region Marina Kovtun joined us this past week with her husband to experience first-hand the flyfishing on the Ponoi River.  Mrs Kovtun is an avid fly fisher and supporter of tourism and natural resources, and she took the opportunity to discuss with Ilya Sherbovich the future of Ponoi and other wild lands on the Kola.  The outlook for wild lands in Russia is good, as the enthusiastic and ethical use of such resources continues to grow exponentially.

Many thanks to Tarquin Millington-Drake and Alan Maughan for their efforts in capturing Ponoi in moving image.  Their clips will serve as bullet points to highlight some of the features that make the Ryabaga experience so special.  We look forward to viewing the magic they captured while on assignment here in Ryabaga. 

It was a poignant week overall on Ponoi.  With record fish to net, remarkable friends in camp, and a summer run just beginning, there is no way to know what the coming weeks could hold.  Judging by this week, a 35 pounder may well lie in store for the salmon season, 2012!

 All The best,

Matt Breuer and the PRC team

Brevyeni: Summer Run Salmon Have Arrived!!!

This last week we had several returning guests joining us in Brevyeni.  These friends are members of a very experienced group that continues to come each season to fish this special river, and some are marking this as their 19^th consecutive season on Ponoi.  We are glad to welcome these guests to Brevyeni Camp.

The week started right, with 32 salmon taken by 8 rods.  Lapenyarka proved the most productive beat, followed closely by Sunken Log (our 3^rd upper beat).  Guide Angus Walton had the pleasure of fishing alongside returning guest Hugh, who punctuated the week by catching an incredible chrome summer runner festooned with sea lice!  This fine fish confirmed the arrival of the summer run in Brevyeni.

Early in the week I guided the “The Italian Team“, a group that takes great joy in dry fly action.  The crew was excited to work the water from the bank, as we are now experiencing excellent conditions for wading. The riverbanks were beautiful, and the flow was perfect for a proper belly swing.  After the first few casts alongside the Italians, I heard some excited words from downstream.  Gabrielle was overjoyed that a salmon was rising to his famous “Green Bomber“.   “Now for the Muddler…” he said, and after a few casts he hooked an outstanding chrome fish.  The salmon jumped repeatedly and fought like a monster. 

Among our guests this week were Hugh, Ian, Patrick, David, David and Peter.  All of these anglers (plus the Italian team of Federica and Gabrielle) surprised me with their knowledge of the Brevyeni waters.  These anglers have, over the years, fallen hard for this section of the great Ponoi River, and they took great pleasure in the Brevyeni experience, both on and off the water.  We had some exceptional river lunches, which included good laughs, relaxation, white wine, a toast of Vodka, and of course delicious repast.

The river is at a good level, and navigation is very safe, both by boat and on foot.  One of our guests, “Peter The Bird Watcher”, took special pleasure in wading and casting surrounded only by nature and silence.  So the days slipped dreamily by in pursuit of the mighty Atlantic salmon.

Over dinners, I listened while anglers and guides happily exchanged ideas: the best fly, line, rod, etc. Once again, the Max Special tube was the group favorite. We had a good time playing “the ring game”, and Ian became something of an expert at it.

Multiple fish this week went near 15 lbs, with a couple of brawlers pushing 18.  The average catch per rod was close to 22 salmon for the week, and the quality was beyond compare.

The weather during the week was warm, with a median temperature close to 15 degrees C.  Rains caused some variation in water level and turbidity, but the Ponoi never faltered.  Lovely salmon were taken through the week.

Spring in Brevyeni is turning the tundra green, and the pulse of fresh fish in the system is exciting as always.  If this first Brevyeni week speaks of things to come, we will soon have reports of more incredible catches in Brevyeni waters.  Until then, best of luck.

Hope to see you soon!

Boris Mamontoff

Have a look at the latest video from Laguna Verde Lodge on Lago Strobel or Jurassic Lake where perhaps the biggest rainbows in the world reside.

Click here to view.

For more detials please contact Tarquin Millington-Drake on 0845 299 6212 Ext 1 or at tmd@frontierstrvl.co.uk