Russia Fly Fishing: Salmon Fishing on the Rynda & Zolotoya Rivers

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The Rynda River

Rynda Camp

The Fishing Guides

Helicopters & Transport

How to Get There

The Atlantic Salmon Reserve Youth Programme

Availability and Pricing

Map Location

Recommended Reading

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Seasonal guide to choosing the ‘right’ week

Booking Enquiries

Hosted Week by Justin Maxwell Stuart – Rynda & Zolotoya – Full Helicopter Schedule

17-24 July 2010 – Full Helicopter Programme: What to expect: Fish in every pool of the river and superb surface action with skated, bombed and dry flies.

The Rynda River, its camp and its character is quite unlike any other fishing operation on the Kola Peninsula. The river could be likened to an exquisite medium-sized Scottish Highlands Salmon River. It flows at a rapid pace over a series of falls, through lakes and canyons all the time meandering in and out of the surrounding tundra. The camp and main lodge are unquestionably the most sophisticated and comfortable on the Kola Peninsula. Finally, and maybe most significantly, it is the private reserve of the founder of the Atlantic Salmon Reserve, Peter Power, who has stamped his inimitable character, passion and absolute attention to detail over every aspect of the operation in the place he has made and calls his home.

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The Rynda River

The Rynda is a medium sized river that in most heights is ideally suited to a 13ft rod or similar. It is without question a fisherman’s river. Consisting of some 75 pools along its length there are relatively few areas that require long reaching casts but rather a multitude of medium sized pools, pockets, runs and glides. Compared to Scottish Salmon rivers the generally fast flow of the river can be somewhat disconcerting however with the close assistance of the guides you will quickly learn to interpret and read the water and before long it becomes apparent that every boulder or hole, no matter how unlikely, can and usually is a potential Salmon lie. As such it is an immensely rewarding and exciting river to fish.

Peter's House & Rynda Home Pool

Although the Rynda has a strong grilse run it is equalled by an even number of MSW fish and a 30lb + fish is never far away. Typical sizes are approx 20% down on those on the Kharlovka & Litza,with the biggest fish caught on the Rynda being a not inconsiderable 42lbs! Hook into anything in the 20lb and over range and you can expect a thrilling fight that is as likely as not to take you down rapids and runs at a distinctly ungentlemanly pace!

The Upper Rynda

Probably the most dramatic section of the river, it emerges from Lake Rynda via Reindeer Rapids filling Swan Lake before the uppermost barrier, 3rd Waterfall, home to the new tundra camp. From there the river disappears into a series of exquisite pools via canyons and ravine sections.

Playing a fish in a small pocket below Power Pool

The Middle Rynda

Immediately below 2nd Waterfall the river opens out into a wide and scenic pool before rushing off around a series of cliff pools interspersed by various runs. The surrounding vista opens up in this area, revealing more of the tundra where reindeer can commonly be seen grazing, before dropping down to the eminently appealing Tolstoi Pool, a short-after supper walk from the camp.

Temptation!! -Tolstoi Pool

The Lower Rynda

Overlooked by Peter’s House and the guests’lsquo; cabins is Rynda House Falls and the simply superb Home Pool which holds a prodigious quantity of fish. Being able to see prolific quantities of Salmon leaping from your bedroom is simply too much some and consequently the pool sees more than its fair share of early risers! The lower section is at its peak during the early season.

Eoin Fairgreave having an evening cast on the home Pool

The Zolotoya River

It would be easy to walk past this trickle of a stream without giving it a second thought. A smaller or more intimate river you would be hard pushed to find however amongst tiny pools will lie Salmon of 20lbs. With room for just two rods each day you can justifiably call this river your own and with a small permanently manned camp beside the infamous Russian Pool its pre-eminence and popularity within the Rynda weekly rotation is without question.

Rynda Camp

Rynda Camp is rightly considered Peter’s private domain. As such his guests and the house parties he organises to fish the Rynda are treated to something slightly special. Nowhere else will you see the meticulous attention to detail, evident throughout the whole ASR, displayed so prominently and hence the overwhelming popularity of the Rynda for those wishing to take ladies and or children. All 12 guests are accommodated in the most sophisticated individual wooden and log cabins on the Kola Peninsula, with views looking onto the Rynda Falls and Home Pool. The food and service is of the very highest standard.

The newly completed 'marital suite'-overlooking Rynda Home Pool

The Fishing Guides

The Russian guides are, alongside the quality of the Salmon fishing considered one of the greatest assets within the ASR. Hugely knowledgeable and experienced (most have well over a decade of experience on the rivers), capable of speaking conversational English, and with an uncanny ability to take you to parts of the river that are technically unreachable they will ensure every opportunity is exploited. You will not find a more professional or dedicated team anywhere.

Helicopters & Transport

Transportation to the Rynda is via direct flight using the large MI8 helicopter from Murmansk. In camp you are transported to and from the river each morning by the smaller MI2 helicopters, piloted by the extraordinarily capable Sacha. This is doorstep to riverbank service at its best. On the river access is by a network of reindeer trails, with dinghies used to cross at strategically positioned safe crossing points.

The trusty MI2 helicopter

How to Get There

Guests should fly from their home country to Stockholm, arriving the Friday prior to your fishing week. From Stockholm there is a charter flight from Arlanda airport to Murmansk which departs on Saturday morning. On arrival in Murmansk you will be transported by helicopter to the camp. (As part of the ASR charter flight you will be provided with a room at the Skyways airport hotel). On the return guests should arrive back into Stockholm on Saturday afternoon.

The Atlantic Salmon Reserve Youth Programme

To help encourage and make the ASR more accessible to the younger generation an ongoing youth programme will be in operation during certain weeks of the season. The prices will be reduced by 10% for the under 30’s and 20% for the under 25’s. Please enquire for details on the specific weeks under offer.

If you would prefer to speak to us directly regarding a trip to Russia, please contact us at the following:

United Kingdom Office:
Justin Maxwell-Stuart
Mobile: +44 (0)7711 519 857
Fax: +44 (0)20 7352 0942
justin@wherewisemenfish.com

United States Office:

US Country Code: +1
Telephone: 646 797 2945
info@wherewisemenfish.com

Or alternatively email us via our Booking Enquiries Form to request more information.