Kharlovka and Eastern Litza Master Class week 23

Not that deep, but powerful and fast flowing....you'll spend most of your time using the faster sinking tips....but as all brands are subtly different, you'll need to play around a bit to see what works best. The guides are excellent and will sort you out. You will probably want to change around a bit between pools....the most successful people really finesse their lines and flies between pool: a bit of a faff, but well worth it...I usually have two rods set up. With two different lines and different weights of flies, you can cover a wide range of scenarios. Anyway, not too long to wait now: you'll have an awesome time....just take some warm clothes!

Thanks for the advice salmon&permit. Cant wait to go, only 89 days left

Skagit outfits for early weeks?

I'm fishing the first week on the Kharlovka/Litza this year & I'm set up with a range of sinking shooting heads (up to sinking 5/6) and heavy polyleaders. I've noted the recommendations in the Yokanga thread for Skagit outfits with very heavy tips for fast pocket water among the boulders. Any views on this option from those who've fished the early weeks on K/L?

KillBuljo said:

Thanks for the advice salmon&permit. Cant wait to go, only 89 days left

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Ill be enroute to Yokanga in 43 days , can't wait now boys . The heart is pounding now just thinking about it ye haaaaa .....

Good luck to all heading to the Kola this year !!

I'll see you on the K&L, I'm there too! Cannot wait for the 1st outing. As for kit, come prepared! Less fearsome than the Yok, but K&L can be pretty daunting in the first couple of weeks: the bottom mile or so get pretty big and the fish probably wont have ventured too far upstream. Shooting heads or spey line with a selection of sink tips, mostly big flies and keep your fingers crossed that the ice has melted and we can get straight onto the rivers. The weather can be very mixed and boy, can the wind blow....make sure you've got some good layers. re flies......black & yellow, some long wings / sun rays etc, mix of tungsten tubes and lighter ones. 30-40lbs fluro and some decent hooks.

K & L first week

Thanks for tips S&P. See you there

Looking forward to see you there salmon&permit and ballintemple! Only 27 days to go Any of you staying at the Hilton airport Hotel on friday 1.june? Whould be nice to meet up in the bar for a few beers on friday night.

Looks like being fun on opening week on the K&L. Been a few times and learned that the wind can totally defeat a speyline and unless you can get your fly out into the river at least 20/25 yards, (impossible in a 30 knot upstream gale) you may not intercept fish !!! Shooting head or Skagit essential, A selection of tips advisable to help you tune-in to conditions on the day. Why not buy a 30 foot hank of T-14 and cut heads to length yourself? 5 ft, 10 ft and 15 ft !

Hope the Hilton doesn't run out of beer !!!

Tight lines and enjoy the wonderful atmosphere in these great camps.

K

Does anyone know the situation with the ice?

I heard from Murmansk today that it is looking like being a late spring.

Springer said:

Does anyone know the situation with the ice?

I heard from Murmansk today that it is looking like being a late spring.

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Is nature upgrading our week in July?

ice

Hi

Not sure on the status of the ice in the north but in the South ice has only just broken with bergs still sailing down river. Roxtons/Salmon Junkies give updates on ice for Umba and Varzuga. Normal/late spring so would presume everything still frozen in the north. Several more pairs of thermals required!

Cheers

Idor

check-out Roxtons' Varzuga Blog for Roxtons' daily blog. I know Varzuga is 250 miles south of Kharlovka but some info better than none. Also check weather report on Kharlovka website...... Always a dearth of info from Northern Rivers on the river conditions....til you get there ;-)

Helsinki Hilton going to be full of anonymous Salmon Forum members.....

K

Should read Roxtons' Varzuga Blog

sorry, can't get it to accept the url........

Hi

Slightly off track so apologies but with all this talk of ice has anyone got any tried and tested thermal/base layer plus sock recommendations? Many thanks in advance!

Idor

Patagonia 2 or 3 baselayer stuff is pretty good, which is what I use in Russia and Alaska, as is that merino wool product whose name escapes me for the moment. The name has "ice" in it. The secret in staying warm is a quality baselayer, then about four thin but light hi-tech layers on top. I think the best buy in seriously warm socks may be the Orvis ones, 3 for £27, they are merino wool loopstitch, just like the Simms ones at £24 for one pair and on price alone, the Orvis option has to be worth considering !!! Get the middle size. Hope this helps.

K

Kolaloon said:

Patagonia 2 or 3 baselayer stuff is pretty good, which is what I use in Russia and Alaska, as is that merino wool product whose name escapes me for the moment. The name has "ice" in it. The secret in staying warm is a quality baselayer, then about four thin but light hi-tech layers on top. I think the best buy in seriously warm socks may be the Orvis ones, 3 for £27, they are merino wool loopstitch, just like the Simms ones at £24 for one pair and on price alone, the Orvis option has to be worth considering !!! Get the middle size. Hope this helps.

K

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I got the Orvis socks, I wont be buying any more Simms ones

Many thanks, Kolaloon/Springer.

Rgds

Idor

Heard it has been a normal winter....but it can change so quickly out there that I tend to not to get excited until a week before I leave. A couple of years back, a month beforehand the kick-off, there was huge snow cover, which got burnt off in 5 days of tropical ad unseasonal temps! Anyway, see attached live webcam of central Murmansk......I know its quite a long way south of K&L, and cities are warmer......but there's been no visible snow for several weeks. Checking it out at the weekend, people seemed to be walking around in pretty light clothing.....amazing what you can find on the web!

-21. :: Web-camera .