Kola Peninsula

"The three greatest gamefish in the world are tarpon, bonefish, and Atlantic salmon, but I'll take the Atlantic salmon over all of them." - Ted Williams, "The Splendid Splinter"

The thrill we get from a screaming reel and a jumping fish is primal, and an anthropologist could probably trace it all back to one fish, the Atlantic salmon. The species is both the foundation and nexus of the modern sport of flyfishing. The very name, Salmo salar, translates from the Latin to "leaper" and trying one's skill and luck against the salmon has been considered the sport of kings by Europeans since the first one picked up a stick, hung some silk off its end and tied chicken feathers to bone or steel.

The Kola Peninsula was the first great angling discovery to come out of a newly-opened Russia in the early '90s, and the fish stories and catch numbers that circled back to hard-core salmon anglers at that time bordered on unbelievable.

Two decades later, the fishing is as good as ever. It's the last place Atlantic salmon exist in their historically prodigious numbers, and as such it has moved into first place in the hearts, minds, and plans of the international crowd of sea-run obsessed anglers. The camps, guides, aviation and infrastructure, meanwhile, have kept pace with the emergence of modern Russia and achieved a level of sophistication

befitting the fish.

Modern transportation and geo-political shifts have combined to make it a relatively close playground for sea-run thrill seekers. Jet direct travel and polar routing has put these Russian river targets no further distant from our east coast than Alaska, and closer to Los Angeles than Patagonia. It's close and, for a change, the fishing is exactly what it used to be.

A trip to the kola begins in Murmansk after either a connection from Moscow, or a direct charter flight from Helsinki. The final leg to Russia's northern peninsula wilderness is a breathtaking chopper flight passing above a broad canvas of tundra, lichen, scrub taiga and clean rivers that harbor unequalled runs of the prized silver fish. At 167� north latitude the landscape feels oddly familiar to Alaska and other circum-polar veterans�a fusion of the barren tundra that sweeps the North American arctic, combined with the granite-bottomed rivers of British Columbia, and the slightly off-kilter wilderness of Kamchatka. It's enough to make any steelhead or king salmon junkie drool. Apart from the Cyrillic letters on the vodka bottle, everything looks just right as you string up your two-handed rod.

Ponoi River Company

The Ponoi River, simply put, is the most sought after Atlantic salmon experience in the North Atlantic basin. The angling is accentuated by a superbly equipped and managed camp featuring outstanding guides and exclusive access to a private government lease on 50 miles of astounding salmon

fishing. The Ponoi is the top-rated choice of veteran anglers and the best bet anywhere in the rarified air surrounding Atlantic salmon to ensure getting your rod bent.

7 night, 6 day packages range from $3,990 - $14,490

The Varzuga Camps

Atlantic salmon tradition holds that catch statistics are to be religiously compiled down through the years and the Varzuga lays a mighty claim to historical catch rates of 30+ fish per rod per week. It is an intimate river setting boasting predictable results. An element of tradition and international standards is added by the very

capable British management team, and the three Varzuga camps are one of the best silver bullet opportunities on the world map. Fishing peaks from ice out in May through June and into July.

7 night, 6 day packages range from $5,450 - $9700

The Yokanga

Yokanga salmon evolved in an extremely rugged river marked by falls and huge rapids. It's the Russian version of the Thompson River and this aquatic crucible is home to a race of exceptionally large and powerful fish. Experienced, hard-core anglers find both the potential and the challenge of the

Yokanga irresistible and claim that no other river or sea-run fish on the planet surpass its potential.

7 night, 6 day packages range from $4,250 - $15,500 per week

Making Reservations to the Kola Peninsula

To make a reservation, please give us a call at 800-669-3474 during business hours any day of the week. We can give you the answers you need, detailed explanations to questions you might have, or check on availability and confirm your reservation in minutes.

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SignatureDestinations

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TravelLinks

Flip-Page Winter Travel Planner

Catalog Departments

Flip-Page Catalog

Guided Waters

Shane Kohlbeck

Private Fisheries

Shane Kohlbeck

Schools

Kidscamps

Kola Peninsula

Ponoi River Company

The Varzuga Camps

The Yokanga

Making Reservations to the Kola Peninsula

Signature Destinations

Freshwater Destinations

Saltwater Destinations

Targeted Species

Weather Forecast | Weather Maps

Kamchatka Destinations

Pages

Links

Social

Hours

Tweets from Chris

Signature
Destinations

Freshwater
Regions

Saltwater
Regions

Targeted
Species

Travel
Links