18/06/08 - Summer at last in Varzuga

After one of the latest and coldest and springs on record it is great to be able to report that summer is now very much here. We have had three beautiful days with hardly a cloud in the sky and temperatures are up to 18 degrees C.

This has pushed up the water temperature to around 12 degrees C at Middle Varzuga and around 10 degrees C at Pana. Kitza remains colder but is now up to 7-8 degrees C and the fish are responding accordingly.

Last week the 8 rods at Pana had 160 fish which although is great salmon fishing, was below this team's expectations. The main run of fish has now certainly got to the camp and this week's 8 rods have had 189 for their first three days, a marked change in a short space of time. Some big fish have been landed as well with one rod taking two 16lbers and yesterday a 20lb fish was brought to the bank.

The rods who finished at Kitza took 81 fish for their three days to complete their week with a total of 216 to the 10 rods. The team who fished Lower Varzuga for their last 3 days having come from Kitza, took 176 from Lower which gave them a total of 242 for their week.

Given the fact that fish are still pouring through Middle, we have sadly closed Lower Varzuga and therefore Kitza is now fishing as a stand-alone camp. The 8 rods have so far had 90 fish with an improving total every day and it is clear that the run of fish has now started in earnest which is an extraordinary thing to be reporting on 17th June.

Middle continues apace with the 12 rods last week finishing with a total of 521 and many experienced rods having their best days ever on the river. Jim Fisher broke his own personal record which, given the height of the bar he set last year, was a very impressive feat.

It has been much the same this week with the 12 rods taking 293 for their first 3 days. Doug Unkles had his best day on the river yesterday taking 24 fish to his rod.

The run of fish is still continuing and I can see that Generator pool is alive with fish jumping everywhere. We are now fishing fully floating lines, size 6-10 flies and a skated fly is beginning to work well. Skaters will come into their own soon as the glides in the tails of the pools develop with the falling water and we are looking forward to more surface action.

Having been worried about frostbite last week we are now concerned about sunburn, so please bring sun cream with you if you are coming out on Friday.

Should you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact Charlie White or Lynsey Mair for further details.