Hugh of the Roxtons staff with his ice-bound Varzuga salmon.
A BRIGHT TEN-POUNDER was the first salmon to be caught this week by the Roxtons advance party as they prepared the lower and middle Varzuga camps in readiness for their first rods who fly out there tomorrow. Roxtons’ director, Christopher Robinson blogged on the Roxtons Varzuga Blog that the middle camp manager, Hugh, caught the fish third time lucky, after losing the first two he hooked on his barbless hooked fly.
The south Kola’s Varzuga is regarded as the most prolific Atlantic salmon river in the world and despite a colder start than usual – or at least more snow – the first week rods can expect perfect spring fishing conditions with high, cold (1-2 Deg C) water – and thousands of salmon running through their beats. Fast sinking lines, shortish leaders and tube-flies of 1.5in-2in will be the choice of the early anglers. Last year saw just four rods catching 220 salmon for the first week. This year is fully booked with rods into double-figures so expectations are high!
Lower Varzuga camp witnessed the breaking of the ice on the river this week.