Post by greenbanks on Nov 19, 2009 21:55:06 GMT
We arrived in Kirkenes in northern Norway beside the Russian border in a snowstorm where the air temps was 1 degree centigrade and we knew that this was going to create difficulties with catching fish.The river temps had risen to 14 deg C the previous week and they would be plummeting which would affect the salmon-but first the drive to Murmansk and what an experience that was.
We went through a place called "Nickel" imaginatively named after the mineral that they mine and process there.I could not believe the devastation caused by industrial pollution there.One minute you are driving along bumpy roads looking at birch and pine forests where everything is green and white with snowfall and then you traverse a slope and on the other side it looked like a holocaust zone! everything was dead for miles and coloured black-trees completely destroyed by acid rain-sulphur, as the air had that distinctive aroma.I was stunned by this view and wondered what the town was going to look like when we arrived.We saw chimneys in the distance spewing clouds of smoke.It was only going to get worse-it would not happen in EU countries but we were in Russia......
We arrived in camp which was quite basic and not of the same stamp as ASR but it was functional and there was a good amount of enthusiasm about prospects for the week.That night the thermometer plummeted and this had a dramatic effect on the river and the fish.The previous week temps were rising,fish running and taking but the siberian winter returned and bared her teeth.Cold winds and snow were whipping the camp and not even a snowball fight at midnight could help.Seasoned fishers knew it was going to be tough and this was what happened.Air temps the prev week were 25 degrees now they were 2 degrees.
How the water temps were affected
Opening day chills
Tam tried to lighten spirits by showing his devotion to all things Loomis-cool eh ?
The river was big and cold
I managed one on opening day with no other takes whatsoever
The next day starting or ending or just continuing at midnight
The crew were drinking,telling jokes and developing the thumb game which was to raise spirits all week. Last man to have his thumb on the table had to down a shot.
Egil taking his punishment like a man
And in good scandinavian declared "God damn i dont like this poo" nb note the yellow electric fly swatting device that was also used as punishment for those refusing shots for tasking part in the thumb game.It delived an elecric zap when the metal screen was pressed.Sounds cruel but it was funny as hell seeing the reactions of people getting a little zap of electricity.
Social life in the camp was good as there was a good mix of characters of various experience levels and fishing ability.We would drink and compare notes from different sectors of the 20 miles we were fishing.
There was a tremendous variety of water and there were some lovely scenes that you really appreciated as the river was unspoilt and the only encounters on the river bank were with flora and fauna inc white tailed eagles,king eagles,bears and elks.
It was quite disconcerting hearing the dogs going ape poo at night at the big bear that was visiting camp.I got a view of it at 9pm just after dinner one night, when I went to the back of the cabins and encountered the bear being barked at by the 3 camp dogs.The guide Sacha had invited us round to see it, and 4 of us, unarmed went round to see it.God knows what we would have done if it had charged us as they are very hungry having just come out of hibernation, it was enormous.I mentioned to Reid Hagelin that the door of my cabin didnt close properly and he advised I had " The Angst" Norwegian for nightmares-always the practical joker I came back and saw this pinned to my door.I didnt sleep well that night.....
More to follow
We went through a place called "Nickel" imaginatively named after the mineral that they mine and process there.I could not believe the devastation caused by industrial pollution there.One minute you are driving along bumpy roads looking at birch and pine forests where everything is green and white with snowfall and then you traverse a slope and on the other side it looked like a holocaust zone! everything was dead for miles and coloured black-trees completely destroyed by acid rain-sulphur, as the air had that distinctive aroma.I was stunned by this view and wondered what the town was going to look like when we arrived.We saw chimneys in the distance spewing clouds of smoke.It was only going to get worse-it would not happen in EU countries but we were in Russia......
We arrived in camp which was quite basic and not of the same stamp as ASR but it was functional and there was a good amount of enthusiasm about prospects for the week.That night the thermometer plummeted and this had a dramatic effect on the river and the fish.The previous week temps were rising,fish running and taking but the siberian winter returned and bared her teeth.Cold winds and snow were whipping the camp and not even a snowball fight at midnight could help.Seasoned fishers knew it was going to be tough and this was what happened.Air temps the prev week were 25 degrees now they were 2 degrees.
How the water temps were affected
Opening day chills
Tam tried to lighten spirits by showing his devotion to all things Loomis-cool eh ?
The river was big and cold
I managed one on opening day with no other takes whatsoever
The next day starting or ending or just continuing at midnight
The crew were drinking,telling jokes and developing the thumb game which was to raise spirits all week. Last man to have his thumb on the table had to down a shot.
Egil taking his punishment like a man
And in good scandinavian declared "God damn i dont like this poo" nb note the yellow electric fly swatting device that was also used as punishment for those refusing shots for tasking part in the thumb game.It delived an elecric zap when the metal screen was pressed.Sounds cruel but it was funny as hell seeing the reactions of people getting a little zap of electricity.
Social life in the camp was good as there was a good mix of characters of various experience levels and fishing ability.We would drink and compare notes from different sectors of the 20 miles we were fishing.
There was a tremendous variety of water and there were some lovely scenes that you really appreciated as the river was unspoilt and the only encounters on the river bank were with flora and fauna inc white tailed eagles,king eagles,bears and elks.
It was quite disconcerting hearing the dogs going ape poo at night at the big bear that was visiting camp.I got a view of it at 9pm just after dinner one night, when I went to the back of the cabins and encountered the bear being barked at by the 3 camp dogs.The guide Sacha had invited us round to see it, and 4 of us, unarmed went round to see it.God knows what we would have done if it had charged us as they are very hungry having just come out of hibernation, it was enormous.I mentioned to Reid Hagelin that the door of my cabin didnt close properly and he advised I had " The Angst" Norwegian for nightmares-always the practical joker I came back and saw this pinned to my door.I didnt sleep well that night.....
More to follow