Most amateur fishermen ask the question “where to go fishing on the Kola?” Our tours may be the answer. We recommend going to Kola for salmon (Atlantic salmon). Tasty meat, noble appearance, significant size (individuals reach a length of 1.5 m and a weight of up to 43 kg), strength and dexterity make it one of the most desirable trophies.
Salmon fishing will appeal to active people who love adrenaline in their blood! This is because, with equal weight, Atlantic salmon is several times more active than taimen and chinook salmon (far from being the calmest fish species). Some fishermen call fishing for salmon a real fight, especially if the fish reaches 10 kg or more. Not everyone can cope with such a challenge!
The fresh water bodies of the Murmansk region are rich not only in Atlantic salmon. Among the most interesting and valuable species, we note the following:
Palia
Palia (a type of lake char). Salmon family. Predator. It is characterized by rapid growth, growing on average up to 3 kg. It prefers cool water, so it stays at depth. It is not mined commercially. Amateur fishermen catch it with a fishing rod. Palia is caught at great depths with a spinning rod; as soon as a bite occurs, you should hook the fish as energetically as possible. In rainy and windy weather it swims to the shore, in which case you can try a fly or artificial bait.
Salmon fishing
Sometimes during the entire day of fishing with a spinning rod it is not possible to catch even one salmon, and suddenly several fish can be caught within an hour. It happens that the fish actively bites, but the next day there is not a single bite in the same place. This confirms that this fish always knows how to predict and sense periods of hunting.
It is very important to pay attention to the psychological factor, to be confident in your fishing equipment. And this only comes with experience. You need to fish for salmon in the following areas:
- under thresholds;
- under waterfalls;
- in deep places;
- in algae thickets;
- in water with low current.
Salmon is a very cautious and cowardly fish. She is hostile and large birds of prey, animals, as well as people are her enemies. Therefore, when fishing, the best option would be to hide in a shelter on the shore in the grass, bushes, and not make any noise.
At the beginning of the summer season, white nights begin on the Kola Peninsula, so keep in mind:
- the sun, starting from two o’clock in the morning, illuminates the surrounding nature, so there can be bites even during the daytime;
- many rivers move in a meridional current, as a result of which in the evening and morning the shore is illuminated in such a way that it does not interfere with the fish standing against the current from observing the surrounding area;
- in bad weather conditions, salmon becomes more active and vigorously rushes for bait throughout the day;
- catching salmon requires a quick change of effort compared to pike, pike perch and perch. This fish moves sharply upward against the current, even small-sized salmon of 3-5 kilograms after hooking can swim up the stream of water, at this moment you cannot apply too much force, since it has delicate lips in which the hooks of the spoon do not hold tightly;
- large-sized salmon can unwind over 100 meters of fishing line, and then swim down with a sharp movement, thanks to which the fishing line bends in an arc and cuts the water surface with force;
- Having tired the fish, you can start playing.
Grayling
Grayling. Order Salmonidae. Easily recognized by its characteristic large dorsal fin and coloration, which was admired by the famous Sabaneev. Found in bodies of water with fast and clear water. It can be caught with a fly, with a spinning rod, with a spoon, or with a float tackle. When fishing for grayling, you should pay attention to the season. In summer, the fish lives on the rifts under the rapids, in winter it feeds in the depths or goes into the lake, and spawns in the spring.
The following species are also found in the rivers and lakes of the Kola: perch, pike, burbot. The latter often reach 24 kg, and 12 kg specimens are found very often.
The seas washing the shores of the Kola Peninsula (Barents and White) are very rich in ichthyofauna. Undoubtedly, the Barents Sea, due to higher salinity, the warm Gulf Stream current and other factors, is richer in fish and its size is larger. There are more than 100 species of fish, but of course cod is the main and desired trophy. Every year, from about March, when huge schools of small capelin fish, the food source for all predators at this time of year, go to spawn on the shores of the Kola Peninsula, dense schools of large cod follow them, and this process sometimes continues almost until June. At this time, specimens of cod weighing 20-30 kilograms are not uncommon, and the average weight of fish is 4-5 kg. Along with cod, you can often find catfish, burbot, sea bass, pollock, haddock, whiting, halibut, flounder, pollock and others. Currently, in the Barents Sea, the Kamchatka crab has multiplied to very large quantities, brought here as an experiment during the existence of the USSR.
Despite the fact that the Barents Sea is part of the Arctic Ocean, thanks to the warm Gulf Stream current off the coast of the Kola Peninsula, it never freezes. Therefore, fishing here is possible almost all year round! And there is always a high chance of seeing whales, dolphins, killer whales, seals, seals, and beluga whales.
The beauty of the Kola Peninsula is the variety of fishing and recreation. This is one of the few places where, in one expedition, you can fish both on a river or lake and at sea, and in the summer you can also pick up large quantities of noble mushrooms and wonderful northern berries - cloudberries, blueberries, lingonberries.
How to get to the Kola Peninsula?
Several arrival options are possible:
- By plane. It is easier for residents of Moscow and St. Petersburg to visit these places by flying to Murmansk. More than 5 flights fly from Moscow to there every day, the duration of which will take approximately 2.5 hours, the ticket price will be from 4,000 rubles. And about 10 flights depart from the northern capital every day, and the trip will take less than 2 hours, and you will have to pay 3,000 rubles for a ticket.
- By train. Those who love wildlife can visit the peninsula by train, with the final stop in Murmansk. For Muscovites, the travel time will be more than 30 hours, and you will have to pay 3,000 rubles for a ticket. For St. Petersburg residents, the travel time will be about 25 hours, and the ticket price will be approximately 2,000 rubles.
- By car. Tourists can visit the capital of the peninsula on their own by driving along the M18 federal highway. The most important thing that is popular among travelers now on the Kola Peninsula is the unusually beautiful landscapes, which are practically untouched by man.
Rules for fishing on the Kola Peninsula
To fish in rivers where salmon enter and some lakes, you must obtain a license at specially equipped fish inspection points. Without a document, it is prohibited not only to fish, but also to be in the area near a reservoir with gear and other equipment. Nominal license. It should not be neglected: the territory is patrolled by armed riot police officers, the FSB border service and the fisheries inspection; illegal fishing faces serious administrative and sometimes criminal liability. On most lakes and seas a special license is not needed.
Fishing bases
It is recommended to visit the following fishing bases on the Kola Peninsula:
- Pana.
- Efimozero.
Pana
The fishing base of Pana is located on the reservoir of the same name. In the right tributary of the reservoir for guests there is a licensed fishing area, the width of which is 10 kilometers. You can usually find it here:
- grayling;
- perch;
- pike
For visitors, the management of the fishing base has created a specialized camp, where it is possible to relax in both cold and warm periods. The winter tour includes:
- Accommodation in a double cottage with satellite TV.
- Meals 3 times a day.
- Bathhouse.
- Brazier.
- Guide.
- Travel to the base by snowmobile.
The summer tour for fishermen includes:
- Rent a cottage for two guests with satellite TV.
- Eating 3 times a day.
- Bathhouse.
- Brazier.
- Catch and release fishing permit.
- Guide assistance.
- Providing a boat.
Fishing in remote areas on a boat with a water cannon that can accommodate up to five passengers, flight using an MI-8 helicopter from Khibiny airport, transfer of a car from Murmansk airport.
Please note that there are two types of licenses:
Caught and released. Fishing is only permitted with barbless hooks. The prey should be humanely released into the wild, having first recorded its data on the license. A similar approach is widely practiced in Europe and the USA.
Caught and confiscated. Spinning and fly fishing are permitted, except for trolling and trail fishing. You can fish from a boat, but only if the craft is anchored.
Entrust the organization of the expedition to professionals!
Organizing an expedition is not a simple matter: you need to plan a route with stopping places (especially if it lasts several days) and fishing, stock up on food, choose the right gear and equipment, organize transport (in such wild lands this simply needs to be done). Even if you have the necessary experience and knowledge, it will take a lot of time and effort. It is better to entrust this task to us. We will prepare everything you need, and all you have to do is enjoy fishing, which gives you a unique feeling of unity with nature.
Fishing on the peninsula
The Kola Peninsula is very popular not only among Russian fishermen, but also among foreign guests. They come here mainly for salmon and grayling; large pike, perch and ide are also considered desirable trophies.
The incredible nature here is perfectly in tune with sport fishing, so every year the peninsula welcomes several thousand guests. Unlike foreigners who are accustomed to the comfort and obtaining licenses for everything and everywhere, our fishermen with great pleasure go to those places where fishing is free and accessible to everyone.
The rules are the same for everyone
The Kola Peninsula stores in its mountain rivers the wealth of the north - salmon. But fishing in them requires a license. There are few rules :
Tactics for catching salmon with the “Top Fly”
Why such a complex design? When casting, the leash does not get caught up in the main line, and when moving the “fly” along the surface of the water, the bait behaves very naturally, bouncing on the surface of the water. The cast is carried out much further than the place where the fish is standing. Next, choosing the right angle with a fishing rod and using the current, slowly reel in the fishing line so that the “fly” runs along the surface of the water and creates a ripple.
By playing along with the tip of the rod, you can imitate an insect jumping on the surface, which especially provokes the salmon to bite. If they are excavating long holes, they always move from bottom to top with the current.
Water-filling floats for the “Upper Front sight”
The trick of this tackle is that the fish does not notice the leash and the float at all, but first sees a “fly” in front of it, playing seductively on the surface. You can fish with this tackle from the moment the water warms up to 8 °C - and salmon begins to appear on the surface - until the end of the season. A very effective and working tackle, but still it is considered a summer tackle, and very large salmon rarely take the “fly” from the surface.
Main types of salmon fishing
Once upon a time, many years ago, I started catching salmon with natural bait. Then this was allowed by the rules of licensed fishing, but today this can only be done with artificial bait. Now sport fishing for salmon can be divided into two main types. This is spinning and fly fishing. In this case, spinning fishing is carried out with spinning baits - spoons, wobblers - and with “flies” with various carriers (water-filling floats, bombards, etc.), delivering them to the working area.
Here it is, a delicious and regal salmon
In the latter method, in turn, there is fishing with the “End fly” and the “Top fly”, which is how I designate these rigs. However, casting some very small and light spinning baits also requires “deliverers” of these baits. If we add to this the fact that sometimes, although very rarely, some experimenters fly fish with small spinning lures (silicone, for example), then you can become completely confused in this whole classification.
Fishing | Kola >> all routes
Kola 10 days
Rafting and fishing on Umba (fishing route)
A fishing trip along one of the richest rivers of the Kola Peninsula under the guidance of an experienced fisherman is an unforgettable adventure for both beginners and experienced fishermen in terms of impressions and emotions. Physically, this is not a difficult hike, because you will cross large lakes by motor. The beauty of the northern rivers - grayling, schooling and ever-hungry perch, powerful northern pike, dream fish - ide, beautiful brown trout, pink salmon abundant in the river - all these trophies are waiting for you, and their size will pleasantly surprise you! The most stubborn and lucky ones may catch the coveted trophy of the Kola Peninsula - salmon, which you will definitely carefully release after the photo shoot, since salmon is protected by the state. The group will fish slowly and a lot. Be sure that in 10 days you will catch a whole year ahead, and you will remember the emotions you experienced with joy and trepidation. On the river, participants will stop in the most promising places and carefully fish the area from the shore, and on Kanozero you will fish on a catamaran with a motor, sailing to the most secret places, well studied by the instructor. The rafting format involves the participation of a small number of participants, including only fishermen. Only 10 lucky people will go on this fishing trip. This quantity will ensure an individual approach to each fisherman. After all, the instructor is an experienced fisherman with 25 years of experience in various reservoirs in Russia and abroad, who spent several seasons in a row on the Umba and knows this river thoroughly and loves it. Be sure that with it, in any weather, in any situation, you are guaranteed a good catch! Every evening, participants will gather around the fire, share emotions, and the instructor will certainly share his wealth of experience in different fishing methods, gear and baits. Fishing for pike with unloaded rubber, fishing with twitching, fishing with sinking wobblers, how to properly cast a lure, Texas and Carolina rigs, Moscow rigs, fishing with spinnerbaits - you will not only learn this and much more in theory, but you can also immediately try it on the pond . A month before the rafting, the instructor will create a chat to discuss the gear that you need to take with you. This will allow you to take the most catchy and proven gear, and be fully prepared for super fishing!
- Complexity:
- Dates: coming soon
I want to go on a trip
Fishing methods
The average size of salmon caught by fishermen is 2-3 kg. Pink salmon is a fairly strong fish, so the thickness of the cord and leash should be calculated based on these considerations.
Catching pink salmon on a float
One of the methods for catching pink salmon is a float rod. It is important to choose a sinker that is heavy enough so that the bait passes 30-40 cm above the bottom. The hook is usually tied to a leash about 25 cm long. A popular bait is silicone squid, which glows in ultraviolet light; shrimp can be used as an additive.
Wiring is done over pits, in return lines and on calm, flat stretches.
Fly fishing for pink salmon
Usually caught on class 6-7 gear. There are no special requirements for cords; you can use a standard floating WF. If you fish with a large fly, it is better to use a thick conical leader and a short leash with a diameter of 0.3-0.4 mm. You need to cast across or slightly downstream, leading the fly with strips. You can try different tempos of strips, but without sudden jerks, so that the fly smoothly falls closer to the bottom.
Fishing with a spinning bombard and a Tyrolean stick
It is better to choose spinning rods for fishing with medium-fast and fast action, a reel no lighter than 2500. Use leashes made of nylon fishing line with a diameter of 0.3-0.4 mm. The bombard should be installed floating or suspended.
The weight of the Tyrolean stick and bombard is selected experimentally depending on the flow and depth of the river.
Try to do the wiring slowly, along the bottom, maybe with steps.
The installation diagrams for the bombard and the Tyrolean stick are standard.
