WWFG Fishing Reports

Our Ponoi programs this season once again produced a huge number of fish (2400 Salmon) with roughly 40 percent MSW fish together with many twenty plus pound Salmon – What superb fishing! I doubt there is anywhere else in the world where you can experience such prolific and reliable Atlantic Salmon fishing. The Ponoi will rarely let you down.
The weather this season was tough and unmerciful. We were buffeted the entire season by strong gales and very wet weather conditions. We are very pleased to announce that we will be able to offer single accommodations in 2009 as we are going to finish the last two cabins in Acha camp. All cabins will now have electric heat. Finally for 2009, we will have total exclusivity on our Acha camp beat. Really great improvements all around.
The Kola River was, as well, a major success in 2008. Our guests landed 2600 Salmon during 10 weeks of fishing. The most productive week saw 512 salmon landed during the second week of July. We had many high scoring rods with 30 to 60 salmon a week. Again, this year, we managed to land many Salmon well above thirty pounds, and some even bigger were lost. The spring was cold and fairly slow. By the middle of June things started to pick up and we had very strong runs of fresh salmon arriving, due to good water. We must admit that we had poachers around, and at times we found nets in the river. This is something that we have to work hard on for this winter and we will, of course, try our very best to solve this problem. As the fishing was so good during the later part of the season, we have decided to extend the 2009 season on the Kola to 8th August. The midsummer weeks are very reasonable priced and are great value for the money.
The Kola program revolves around a luxurious timber camp with a communal building for eating and socializing. Single accommodations are in comfortable private cabins and you will have your own personal fishing guide for the entire week.
This non-helicopter program is especially interesting for those who highly value top accommodations and trophy salmon. AND... It is priced at only half to one third of other Northern rivers.

For 2009, we will also be adding new and very thrilling venues to our existing Russian programs...
Lower Yokanga, Varzina River and the wonderful Umba River – All programs represent extremely good value for the money All of our 2009 programs are substantially less expensive compared with other programs on the Kola.

Yokanga River for the hard core Salmon fishermen.
We have secured exclusive fishing rights for the entire season on the Lower section of Yokanga down at village Ostrovnoy. As many of you may know, Yokanga is one of the legendary rivers on the Russia Kola Peninsula for big trophy salmon.
Until now, this lower section of the river has not been accessible to any foreign anglers. Our base will be a newly highly upgraded tent camp. The camp has a communal ‘Big Tent’ for dining and socializing. The sleeping accommodations are in 6 comfortable twin tents each with a wooden floor and electric heating system. There will be one guide for every 2 rods. The program is based on Friday to Friday. Daily transportation except on arrival day and Saturday will be by Helicopter (Because of very complicated helicopter logistics, fishing Friday and Saturday will be in walking distance of the camp). There will be 12 rods fishing the beats and all beats will have a Jet boat to cross the river.
Now you have an outstanding chance to be the first foreign angler allowed to fish this lower section of the famous Yokanga River.
Our Yokanga beat contains a large number of classic pools as well as strong, unmerciful rapid sections. Double handled rods and suitable big reels are a must here. We guarantee that hard core Salmon fishermen will not be disappointed. Test fishing this part of the river gave 6 rods in the beginning of July, 2008 a total of 165 salmon with some huge fish in in the mix. Grab this amazing opening and be first on the firing line to greet the celebrated and distinguished Monster salmon from Yokanga.is now back on the Salmon track... Low-priced and great Salmon fishing in the most gorgeous surroundings.
Lax-á is very happy to announce that we have secured a promising long term lease on the magical Umba River on the south side of the Kola Peninsula. The contract with our Russian partner contains a signed conservation plan which outlines specific initiatives that all pull in "THE FLY-FISHING DIRECTION".
We feel confident that this action plan will improve the unique Umba resource and especially our opportunities to rebuild one of the most interesting salmon programs on the Kola.
With last week's results in mind - everything looks very promising. Now we hope that both old and new Umba guests will back us up and consider visiting this pearl of a salmon river next season.
As a special incentive in 2009 we are planning a new Combo-program in the June-July season, where you will have the opportunity to fish both the Umba and the famous Varzuga during the week. Transport between the two camps is by helicopter.
This answers everything a Salmon angler can ask for and really lifts quantity and quality onto a higher level.
Our Umba Autumn program speaks for itself and offers the best opportunity on the planet for big fresh Fall run Salmon.
It is so easy to keep up to date on all the action on these great Russian rivers and other venues around the globe simply by checking frequently with our continually updated website: www.lax-a.is

Russia – Kola Peninsula – Programs 2009

Umba River / Combo program Umba and Varzuga river – 10 rods each camp / 3 days each river
Week 22 - 23/5 – 30/5 Umba / Varzuga Combo 3 days each camp / River
Week 23 - 30/5 – 6/6 Umba / Varzuga Combo 3 days each camp / River
Week 24 - 6/6 – 13/6 Umba / Varzuga Combo 3 days each camp / River
Week 25 - 13/6 – 20/6 Umba / Varzuga Combo 3 days each camp/ River
Week 26 - 20/6 – 27/6 Umba / Varzuga Combo 3 days each camp/ River
Week 27 - 27/6 – 4/7 Umba / Varzuga Combo 3 days each camp / River
Week 28 - 4/7 – 11/7 Umba – Weekly 10 rods

Umba river Autumn fishing prime weeks / 6 Days fishing in Umba – 10 rods Umba lodge
Week 34 – Umba 15/8 – 22/8
Week 35 – Umba 22/8 – 29/8
Week 36 – Umba 29/8 – 5/9
Week 37 – Umba 5/9 – 12/9
Week 38 – Umba 12/9 – 19/9
Week 39 – Umba 19/9 – 26/10
Week 40 – Umba 26/10 – 3/10
Week 41 – Umba 3/10 – 10/10
Week 42 – Umba 10/10 – 17/10

Ponoi River – Acha camp – 6 fishing days / Weekly 10 rods
Week 22 – 23/5 – 30/5
Week 23 – 30/5 – 6/6
Week 24 – 6/6 – 13/6
Week 25 – 13/6 – 20/6
Week 26 – 20/6 – 27/6
Week 27 – 27/6 – 4/7
Week 28 – 4/7 – 11/7
Week 29 – 11/7 – 18/7
Week 30 – 18/7 – 25/7
Week 31 – 25/7 – 1/8
Week 32 - 1/8 – 8/8

Ponoi / Acha river Explore – 6 days fishing / Weekly 6 rods
Week 24 – 6/6 – 13/6
Week 25 – 13/6 – 20/6
Week 26 – 20/6 – 27/6
Week 27 – 27/6 – 4/7

Kola / Kitsa river – 6 days fishing / Weekly 14 rods
Week 22 – 23/5 – 30/5
Week 23 – 30/5 – 6/6
Week 24 – 6/6 – 13/6
Week 25 – 13/6 – 20/6
Week 26 – 20/6 – 27/6
Week 27 – 27/6 – 4/7
Week 28 – 4/7 – 11/7
Week 29 – 11/7 – 18/7
Week 30 – 18/7 – 25/7
Week 31 – 25/7 – 1/8
Week 32 – 1/8 – 8/8

Upper Kitsa – 6 days fishing / Weekly 4 rods
Week 25 – 13/6 – 20/6
Week 26 – 20/6 – 27/6
Week 27 – 27/6 – 4/7
Week 28 – 4/7 – 11/7
Week 29 – 11/7 – 18/7
Week 30 – 18/7 – 25/7

Yokanga – Lower section – 6 days fishing / Weekly 12 rods
Week 25 – 12/6 – 19/6
Week 26 – 19/6 – 26/6
Week 27 – 26/6 – 3/7
Week 28 – 3/7 – 10/7
Week 29 – 10/7 – 17/7
Week 30 – 17/7 – 24/7
Week 31 – 24/7 – 31/8

Best regards and tight lines

Steffen Juhl

For more information and booking please contact

Arni Baldursson arnib@lax-a.is and Steffen Juhl steffen@lax-a.is