Salmon season 2017

Hi and happy New-year

As the year has changed and the wait and preparations for the next salmon season have begun, it’s a good time to look back at the season 2017.

Season 2017 for me was definitely defined by one thing, High water conditions.

The Mighty Skoltefossen

My trip to Neiden began as so many times before, at Midsummer. Normally at this time the spring flood has already passed and the river tends to be in “normal” summer water conditions(flow<60m³/s), but as it happened  this year the spring was around 2-3 weeks late and the flood was still on (flow 136m³/s) and the water was very cold(6,6°C)when we arrived.

Korbiniva at arrival, this caused some dissbelief (flow 136m³/s)

During the 2 weeks I spent there the conditions started to improve as the water level dropped to normal high water conditions (>70m³/s) and the temperature began to rise to around 10 °C.

Korbiniva at departure(flow 70m³/s)

As the conditions improved so did the fishing and the second week of my trip happened to be the best week of the season

The biggest down side of the high water conditions on Neiden is that most of my favorite fishing spots were unfishable, for an example Lillefossen.

But nonetheless the trip to Neiden was catch vise one of my all-time best.

The Fly-Fishing Zone (flow 70m³/s)

Skolefossen at High tide, no rapids here

Upper part of Krokfossen, caught the 94cm fish here

Panorama, Korbiniva

Panorama, upper part of Krokfossen

Panorama, upper part of Lillefossen

 2017 I also decided to start learning salmon fishing in the river Kymi, and what better way to do so than to take part in the annual Finnish championship of salmon fly-fishing. The idea was to be able to fish the river with people that are far more experienced on that river.

Ruhavuolle fly-fishing zone

The Beach

So during the later part of September I made a couple of trips to the River (the other being the competition), which got me one grilse and one 73cm long fish (which actually happened to be the only qualifying fish in the competition, talk about luck )

Where could they be (competition day 1.)

The weather was nice (Competition day 2)

The boat trolling in the picture lost a huge(10-15Kg) salmon shortly after 

Also in Kymi the Water level was high, at least according to the other people I talked to at the river       

My salmon season 2017 in numbers:

-2 Rivers

-17 days of fishing

-24 salmon caught, 6 Multi Sea Winter fish + 18 grilse

-Best flies: Blue Charm, Sarvijaakko

-Most used lines: 65´ Airflo floating spey line, Guideline connect S2+4-5tip

Biggest of the Year (96cm)

Getting Ready to go

94cm Silver from Krokfossen

Strong 84cm

First one from Kymi

Off he goes

Competition Fish

Fast measurements

Thank you