We first heard rumors about the Savan from some of our Russian friends in Petropavlovsk, who had heard it was loaded with big trout.
In 2012, we began our initial explorations of the river system. What we discovered was a place of awe-inspiring beauty and an incredible diversity of life, both in the water and along its pristine shores. Since that first fateful summer we’ve continued to explore this incredible river system, and each summer it continues to share new secrets.
The Savan is an ideal combination of size and numbers of fish. There is plenty of action, while still having the opportunity to lay into a giant Kamchatka rainbow. In addition to the giant rainbows, Savan is home to some of the largest sea-run Dolly Varden that we’ve ever seen on the Kamchatka peninsula.
The river runs for over 70 miles, and features countless springs and one major tributary, the Ichanga. It is a spring creek system, with a vibrant ecosystem and crystal clear flows every day of the season.
The biomass in this river also makes for some of the heaviest trout in Kamchatka, with some 25 inch rainbows here weighing an astonishing 8 pounds! These fish are the apex predators in their ecosystem, and they aren’t shy about attacking large streamers or mouse patterns twitching across the surface. There are some decent hatches on the river and those anglers who have taken the leap of faith and tried casting traditional dry flies or large attractor patterns have had some success over the past few seasons.
Our Savan River adventures are the perfect combination of hard core and comfort. The trip is focused on floating one of the prettiest, most pristine wilderness rivers in the world, while ending in the comforts of the Savan BaseCamp Lodge.
Each week will start the same, flying via helicopter to the upper reaches of the Savan to start floating and fishing your way along this spectacular river. Guides and anglers will continue fishing downstream every day, adjusting their pace based on the fishing action. If you are hooking fish on every cast, you can slow down and fish at your leisure hooking these super-aggressive, heavy shouldered trout that the Savan has become famous for; if you aren’t finding fish right away, simply step up the pace and fish faster until your mouse or streamer starts getting clobbered. Depending on the fishing, some groups may still stay on the floating section of river the full week, while others may get to the BaseCamp lodge a day or two early. From BaseCamp, we’ll use the inflatable jet-boats to continue accessing the water below the lodge, motoring back up to the comforts of the BaseCamp each evening including comfortable beds and a hot shower.
By increasing the amount of flexibility each week, the guides can better cater each group to the fishing and where they’re finding the fish. Too, the Savan is an incredibly dynamic river; as you work downstream it often feels like a totally different river, between the pocket water of the uppermost sections, the broad shallow riffles and countless braided channels in the middle sections, and the ever-changing nature of the river below the lodge from big boulder gardens to narrow intimate, brush-lined channels. This is the prettiest river system in all of Kamchatka, and now guests fishing there will get to see even more of it!
Headed out on your next adventure with us? The Fly ShopⓇ has you covered. As a thank you to our travel guests, enjoy 15% off all retail purchases for a year! — the perfect chance to gear up before your trip.
Whether it’s flies, leaders, apparel or a new rod and reel outfit, we’ve got everything you need to make your journey more comfortable, more successful, and more fun. (some exclusions apply)
