Source: Frontiers
Ponoi is famous for its autumn run of Osenka salmon, which spend their winter under the ice, spawn the following autumn, and spend a second winter under the ice with the strong post spawning fish returning at last to the sea.
These mighty fish don’t eat at all while in the river, but survive instead off stores of body fat and arrive in the system in truly awesome condition with the profile of a rugby ball and are big, bright, and brutally strong, these Osenkas are capable of putting up a fight reminiscent of a fish half again as big!
In anticipation of intercepting several Osenkas the anglers converged in Helsinki then transferred on to Ryabaga Camp via the ubiquitous Mi8 helicopter. Once in camp, the anglers were received by the team of international guides, and by veteran Head Guide Max Mamaev.
The Ponoi River itself continued to impress. 2014 started magnificently but with a lack of significant rain the river level dropped to seriously low but thankfully heavy rain arrived prior to the final week, raising the river by more than a meter. Initially, the ensuing run-off was colored, inhibiting early catches, but as the week progressed, the fishing just got better and better.
Max and his team adjusted the beat rotation almost daily in order to maximize fishing opportunities in response to fast-changing conditions, and fresh pulses of fish that just kept on coming into the system. Sometimes this meant doubling up boats on the more productive beats, which proved no problem whatsoever due to a daily influx of fresh chrome.
The anglers fished with medium or heavy sinking lines and mostly tube flies – up to 4 inch Snaeldas – and in the end the 20 rods posted nearly 380 fish for the week, with the largest tipping the scales over 18lb and many fish in the 10 to 17lb class.
The ice will soon descend once more over the tundra and Ryabaga Camp will once again shut down, the staff will leave and all will be quiet. In these moments of reflection, we must thank all of the members of the Ponoi family for their contributions, and the commitment to carrying on a legacy of excellence, teamwork, and camaraderie and of course, to all who know Ponoi, let us raise a glass to one of the finest Atlantic salmon fisheries in the world.
Until next season!
Joaquin Arocena and the Ryabaga Team