Atlantic Salmon

"The three greatest gamefish in the world are tarpon, bonefish, and Atlantic Salmon, but I'll take the Atlantic salmon over all of them." - Ted Williams, "The Splendid Splinter"

The thrill we get from a screaming reel and a jumping fish is primal, and an anthropologist could probably trace it all back to one fish, the Atlantic salmon. The species is both the foundation and nexus of the modern sport of flyfishing. The very name, Salmo salar, translates from the Latin to "leaper", and trying one's skill and luck against the salmon has been considered the sport of kings by Europeans since the first one picked up a stick, hung some silk off its end and tied chicken feather to bone or steel.

The Kola Peninsula was the first great angling discovery to come out of a newly-opened Russia in the early '90s, and the fish stories and catch numbers that circled back to hard-core salmon anglers at that time bordered on unbelievable.

Two decades later, the fishing is as good as ever. It's the last place Atlantic salmon exist in their historically prodigious numbers, and as such it has moved into first place in the hearts, minds, and plans of the international crowd of sea-run obsessed anglers. The camps, guides, aviation and infrastructure, meanwhile, have kept pace with the emergence of modern Russia and achieved a level of sophistication befitting the fish.

Modern transportation and geo-political shifts have combined to make it a relatively close playground for sea-run thrill seekers. Jet direct travel and polar routing has put these Russian river targets no further distant from our east coast than Alaska, and closer to Los Angeles than Patagonia. It's close and, for a change, the fishing is exactly what it used to be.

Photo by Jako Lucas

Atlantic Salmon Reserve

Kola Peninsula

The Atlantic Salmon Reserve (ASR) is an area of Russia's Kola peninsula that has been set aside with the goal of preserving and protecting a wonderfully pristine, untouched wilderness while developing some of the best fishing for Atlantic Salmon to be found on the Kola.

The ASR is home to four of the world's most prolific rivers for BIG Atlantic Salmon. Anglers visiting the ASR will find themselves above the Artic Circle, amongst only the most wild and undisturbed rivers found along the North coast of the Kola. The rivers of the ASR are world renowned among hard-core Atlantic Salmon anglers for good reason. The Atlantic Salmon found here are the biggest, strongest and fastest of the species.

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Norwegian Flyfishers Club Photo

Norwegian Flyfishers Club

Norway

Whether fresh from the sea in the early season or holding fish in low water late season, the Atlantic Salmon of the Gaula are some of the meanest you will encounter, and aggressive to the fly.

The Gaula River is an amazing fishery, a rather fast flowing river which runs through unspoiled surroundings starting from the mountains near the Swedish border and running down to where it enters the sea at the Trondheim Fjord. Undammed and extremely wadeable, it is one of the premiere rivers in the country for fly anglers that prefer to cast from the water and that do not care to fish from the boat. The Gaula is one of the most fabled salmon rivers in Norway and it has always been regarded as one of the finest and most productive salmon rivers in the entire world, producing some of the largest Atlantic Salmon taken on the fly.

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Mollie on the Ponoi

Ponoi River Company

Kola Peninsula

The Ponoi River, located just above the Arctic Circle at approximately 67 degrees north latitude, has been rightly proclaimed the most productive Atlantic salmon river in the world today. It flows from west to east, entering the Barents Sea on the southeast coast of the Kola Peninsula. It's one of the few rivers left where catch statistics are recorded in the thousands and where even its slowest week's number might exceed an entire season's catch on certain Canadian or Scottish rivers. The Ponoi is a big river, varying from 200-350 feet wide, but with gentle gradient and easy flow.

The Ponoi offers something special for salmon anglers of every age and ability. There is no better place to learn Atlantic salmon fishing and spey casting with double handed rods, and no better river to challenge and reward the expert angler.

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Varzina River Lodge

Kola Peninsula

The Varzina is a prolific river, ruled by prolific Atlantic Salmon. Your accomodations are superbly comfortable and the food is wonderful.

The north-east coast of the Russian Kola Peninsula is a unique place. The cold waters of the Barents Sea meet the stony coastal hills, protecting the finest treasures of the Kola peninsula - the last refuge of large Atlantic salmon. The river's waters are clear as the winds that buffet the russian tundra. The salmon are big and plentiful. In the middle of this ruggedly stunning country sits arguably the finest salmon fishing camp in the world, the Varzina River Lodge. The Varzina River Lodge harbors the fishing headquarters of the Varzina River Company. Within a radius of 24 kilometers from the lodge are some of the most productive salmon fly fishing pools ever fished.

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Photo by Roxton's

Varzuga Camps

Kola Peninsula

They run five different camps- Kitza, Lower Varzuga, Middle Varzuga, Upper Varzuga and Pana. A common thread in all the lodges is that they are small, with no more than 10 - 12 anglers at a time. That's a simple reflection of what we at The Fly Shop® believe in and enjoy. Smaller operations usually offer less regimented angling opportunities, more personalized service, and encourage camaraderie among the guest. The small, intimate camps on the Varzuga offer that personal service and more. They are organized by British anglers to very strict standards, managed by experts, and staffed by enthusiastic Russian guides, European chefs, and native boatmen familiar with every riffle and rock in the river. The combination of British and Russian staff is terrific and adds to the total experience.

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Photo by Ryan Peterson

Yokanga Lodge

Kola Peninsula

The Atlantic Salmon of the Yokanga are different. They are bigger. These fish will hit and run, disrupting the uninitiated anglers expectations however hardened from years of fighting other formidable fish. These fish set the bar high. Bring extra fly line and a back up rod or two.

Atlantic Salmon of the Yokanga show not a sign of weakness, easily jumping, swimming up and over impossible waterfalls. A well presented fly is accepted as an equitable challenge fit for a returning warrior and the angler who has been called to meet face to face with a destiny forged by an unyielding desire.

Leave the 10lb tippet at home. If your 30lb tippet shows signs of fraying, change it. Yes, 30lb tippet is what you must have to stand a chance.

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Getting More Information

To get more information, please give us a call at 800-669-3474 during business hours any day of the week, or email us at travel@theflyshop.com anytime. We can give you the answers you need, detailed explanations to questions you might have, or check on availability and confirm your reservation in minutes.