Sidorovka, week 25 – 2016

For the first time I went to the Kola peninsula in Russia, a place I have dreamed about for years. I and 3 of the Bombayfly guys should flyfish in Sidorovka for 6 days. Sidorovka is a rather small river well suited for single-handed rods and that suited me well I thought.

The team was Stefan, myself, Lasse and Jonas

I teamed up with Stefan and as we both used a Linekurv we were named team Linekurv. The first day we went downstream and i the Valley pool Stefan had three salmon taking his fly that were not hooked properly.

 

 

 

I had a go afterwards and at the end of the small pool I hooked my first Sidorovka salmon.

 

It was a nice fresh fish in the mid 70´es lenghtwise and I was a happy fly-fisher.

 

I the went down and tried the next pool and got another fish. I was a bit surprised when it turned out to be a humpback salmon. The camp manager later told us that they were not expected until mid July so it was way too early. On this trip I was the only one catching humpback and I caught three of them. Why they only grabbed my fly I have no idea.

 

We then went all the way to the Sea pool which is close to the sea (smart name 😉 )

 

 

 

Here I got this small searun brown trout and I had gotten a Sidorovka gran slam: an Atlantic salmon, a pacific salmon and a searun brown trout in one day. At least that is what I called it.

 

At the dinner that day I received this needle to show I had my first Sidorovka salmon. This day I was the lucky man the others had their needle the coming days.

 

The next day Stefan and I hiked up to the place called Shithouse. It was a hike that took 1½ hour each way and at least I was tired when returning back to the camp in the evening.

 

At the Shithouse 5 small lakes were connected with some small streams and the neck og the lakes proved quite productive so it was worth the long hike.

 

 

Most of the times we hooked a fish at the neck and the fish went downstream and was landed in the next lake. Here Stefan presents one of his salmon’s.

 

When returning from the Shithouse it was a very welcome sight to see the camp and knowing that you were almost at home.

The next days we alternated between the long walk to Shithouse and fishing closer to the camp and we all got fish. Here Jonas presents probably the biggest fish on the trip app. 90 cm.

 

Stefan got 7 salmon’s and was happy for every one of them

 

 

Lasse started out a bit slow but came back as can be seen.

 

Lasse and Jonas at the Shithouse.

 

Lasse also got a very nice brown trout around the 45 cm mark.

 

Golden killer was probably the most efficient fly but also got fish on Sunray shadow, Iceman and ØT Special.

 

There was also a bit of wildlife. The most numerous animal was the mosquito. Jonas had fished in Alaska so he had som repellent with more than 98% DEET. Not healthy but efficient.

 

The ptarmigans (a grouse like bird)  were not easy to scare. Kenny our guide called the tundra chicken.

This bird was redlisted and quite rare but the exact species I do not know. We also met a lot of reindeer’s and minks.

 

wild chives were everywhere.

 

and came in handy when you wanted to flavour your breakfast.

 

A few of the salmon’s were taken to camp and we had the as sashimi, in soup, as steaks and rimmet all very delicious.  The food was excellent at the camp. We had a four course dinner every night and we send warm greetings to our Ukrainian chef.

 

As always when you have to end a fishing trip it is nice not to need to DEET yourself every day but it is with some sadness that you leave this beautiful place.

I ended up having caught four Atlantic salmon and three pacific salmon and some seatrout and brown trout and I was content especially considering that the weather was way too warm the last three days. Stefan lost by a good margin the largest fish (12-15 kg) when the hook broke and the sight of that fish jumping is still on my retinal. Wed a lot of fun and some fantastic fishing so a very good trip despite the long travel back and forth