Flyfishing Russia

tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20267692966681794872012-02-14T19:00:31.002+11:00Flyfishing RussiaThis blog is dedicated to travel & flyfishing, to the nature of the Siberia & Pacific coast of Northern Asia, wilderness trips, and environment protection. I think, flyfishing is the top of sport fishing - the most complicated and "fair" fishing method. Flyfishing is for those who is aware of the fragility and vulnerability of nature. When I can not fly fish (too cold), I tie flies and fish through the ice. My websites are http://flyfishingrussia.com/ and http://xapuyc.ru/Mikhail Skopetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00438775494762731630noreply@blogger.comBlogger1351100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026769296668179487.post-36296259690964681712012-02-14T19:00:00.000+11:002012-02-14T19:00:31.012+11:00Elgygytgyn Lake & Tugur River<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8rtEWOMrHdM/TzoUApWEnFI/AAAAAAAABzQ/ZQbCaoGMjog/s1600/IMG_8744.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8rtEWOMrHdM/TzoUApWEnFI/AAAAAAAABzQ/ZQbCaoGMjog/s400/IMG_8744.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Tugur taimen</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4tJ9dfK-SSI/TzoUMHddcYI/AAAAAAAABzY/sS7jNQ4N24U/s1600/Elg-2charrs_caught.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4tJ9dfK-SSI/TzoUMHddcYI/AAAAAAAABzY/sS7jNQ4N24U/s400/Elg-2charrs_caught.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Elgygytgyn Lake char</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;">The articles of the Elgygytgyn Lake & Tugur River are posted at the blog </div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>http://flyfishingrussia.com/</b></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2026769296668179487-3629625969096468171?l=flyfishingrussia.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mikhail Skopetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00438775494762731630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026769296668179487.post-27712199125117546212012-02-10T17:13:00.000+11:002012-02-10T17:13:30.257+11:00Beautiful Fish - Char<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Wbg9RHkGZ5A/TzS1K6xX0RI/AAAAAAAABzI/KflQNMXIPxE/s1600/037-IMG_0834brook-t-Pat.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Wbg9RHkGZ5A/TzS1K6xX0RI/AAAAAAAABzI/KflQNMXIPxE/s400/037-IMG_0834brook-t-Pat.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Photos of different char species in the blog  <b> </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>http://flyfishingrussia.com/</b></div><br /> <br /> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2026769296668179487-2771219912511754621?l=flyfishingrussia.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mikhail Skopetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00438775494762731630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026769296668179487.post-38442590098479692872012-02-07T19:20:00.001+11:002012-02-07T19:21:24.456+11:00Differrent Species of Taimen and Lenok<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qsJ_uphyM7Y/TzDd1ygzG9I/AAAAAAAABy4/xLTDrUPocMo/s1600/Taimen_skin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qsJ_uphyM7Y/TzDd1ygzG9I/AAAAAAAABy4/xLTDrUPocMo/s400/Taimen_skin.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Siberian taimen</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C_6gjtu2PU8/TzDeSFn6klI/AAAAAAAABzA/AecE8GOSAiU/s1600/9260-23s-l-Tug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C_6gjtu2PU8/TzDeSFn6klI/AAAAAAAABzA/AecE8GOSAiU/s400/9260-23s-l-Tug.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Sharp-nose lenok</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">The photos of different species of lenok and taimen</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>http://flyfishingrussia.com/</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><br /> <br /> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2026769296668179487-3844259009847969287?l=flyfishingrussia.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mikhail Skopetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00438775494762731630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026769296668179487.post-89027804952667004692012-02-06T12:51:00.000+11:002012-02-06T12:51:12.635+11:00Beautiful Fish - Rainbow trout<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tetqAQyCP3k/Ty8xajko3PI/AAAAAAAAByw/6JhDfXHPeA0/s1600/9264-16-rt-Shant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="362" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tetqAQyCP3k/Ty8xajko3PI/AAAAAAAAByw/6JhDfXHPeA0/s400/9264-16-rt-Shant.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">(Rainbow trout, Bolshoi Shantar Island, Sea of Okhotsk) </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;">See the photos of the different forms of rainbow trout <i>Parasalmo mykiss  </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>http://flyfishingrussia.com/</b></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2026769296668179487-8902780495266700469?l=flyfishingrussia.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mikhail Skopetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00438775494762731630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026769296668179487.post-43321727349634431802012-02-04T13:47:00.000+11:002012-02-04T13:47:15.133+11:00Very Beautiful Fish<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WYwBtKoq4To/TyybnKM8G_I/AAAAAAAAByo/0_RjGpwUWOA/s1600/26-kumzha-Kola.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WYwBtKoq4To/TyybnKM8G_I/AAAAAAAAByo/0_RjGpwUWOA/s400/26-kumzha-Kola.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">New images of salmon and trout of the genus <i>Salmo</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>http://flyfishingrussia.com/</b></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2026769296668179487-4332172734963443180?l=flyfishingrussia.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mikhail Skopetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00438775494762731630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026769296668179487.post-34604023449888547222012-02-03T14:10:00.000+11:002012-02-03T14:10:21.818+11:00Siberian Holey Head Flies<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4gY4q9A1aPw/TytPLRDvDEI/AAAAAAAAByY/RQF8U_fpp-M/s1600/r09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4gY4q9A1aPw/TytPLRDvDEI/AAAAAAAAByY/RQF8U_fpp-M/s400/r09.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0cm; text-align: center;">These flies are very popular among the fishermen of the Eastern Siberia and Far East, and in other regions of Russia not many people know what it is about.<span>  </span>Here you could find out how to make your own “tinheads” - <span> </span>Holey Head flies.<span> These flies are the ancestors of well-known goldhead nymphs; they are made on the hooks with soldered heads.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O8-rNVpYAcY/TytPSjHfdSI/AAAAAAAAByg/oZZevaFXUNk/s1600/r08.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O8-rNVpYAcY/TytPSjHfdSI/AAAAAAAAByg/oZZevaFXUNk/s400/r08.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Do you want to see the know-how on these hooks?  </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;">See the new post at    <b>http://flyfishingrussia.com/</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2026769296668179487-3460402344988854722?l=flyfishingrussia.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mikhail Skopetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00438775494762731630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026769296668179487.post-64807633927086465862012-01-29T20:32:00.000+11:002012-01-29T20:32:17.839+11:00Walleye in the Amur River<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;">Is there walleye in the Amur River, Russian Far East? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jJLfzvAu8SM/TyURsDzFMzI/AAAAAAAAByQ/ghpPZuQg0PQ/s1600/IMG_1591.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jJLfzvAu8SM/TyURsDzFMzI/AAAAAAAAByQ/ghpPZuQg0PQ/s320/IMG_1591.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">See the new post   <b>http://www.flyfishingrussia.com/</b></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2026769296668179487-6480763392708646586?l=flyfishingrussia.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mikhail Skopetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00438775494762731630noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026769296668179487.post-51187909552781496872012-01-26T08:45:00.001+11:002012-01-26T08:46:32.679+11:00Antiwobblers - 2<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><h1><a href="http://www.flyfishingrussia.com/posts/9b9f1dbc-antiwobbler-2"></a><span class="admin-tools"><sup><a class="symbol" data-confirm="Delete “Antiwobbler 2”?" data-method="delete" href="http://www.flyfishingrussia.com/posts/9b9f1dbc-antiwobbler-2" rel="nofollow"></a> </sup> </span> </h1><section> </section><br /> <div style="text-align: center;"><section><img alt="Alt-Antiwobbler wobbler-fly" height="266" src="http://dl.dropbox.com/u/54566599/0006-Antiwobbler/IMG_1557-2.jpg" width="400" /> </section></div><div style="text-align: center;"><section>The second part of the note on the new type of the flies with a blade – Antiwobblers at the </section><br /> <b>http://www.flyfishingrussia.com/</b></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2026769296668179487-5118790955278149687?l=flyfishingrussia.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mikhail Skopetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00438775494762731630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026769296668179487.post-9723972265356133962012-01-24T20:47:00.000+11:002012-01-24T20:47:08.995+11:00Antiwobbler - part 1<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vfasuHqmbsg/Tx592bkEqbI/AAAAAAAAByI/8BxGO8ZVENE/s1600/8048-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="315" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vfasuHqmbsg/Tx592bkEqbI/AAAAAAAAByI/8BxGO8ZVENE/s400/8048-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;">The expanded article on the new type of flies with big size images is posted here: </div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>http://www.flyfishingrussia.com/</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><br /> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2026769296668179487-972397226535613396?l=flyfishingrussia.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mikhail Skopetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00438775494762731630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026769296668179487.post-41054554485884485532012-01-23T09:45:00.000+11:002012-01-23T09:45:15.335+11:00"Classic" wobbler-flies, part 2<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yq2b09rUs4A/TxyRRBlbqYI/AAAAAAAAByA/7QsEaUCeW7M/s1600/8037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yq2b09rUs4A/TxyRRBlbqYI/AAAAAAAAByA/7QsEaUCeW7M/s400/8037.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /> <div style="text-align: center;">A post on the "classic" wobbler-flies, part 2 </div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>http://www.flyfishingrussia.com/</b></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2026769296668179487-4105455448588448553?l=flyfishingrussia.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mikhail Skopetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00438775494762731630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026769296668179487.post-7424233925990602772012-01-22T21:48:00.000+11:002012-01-22T21:48:03.947+11:00The best rivers of the Kola Peninsula<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SbBT_OAkcWw/TxvpEkgQ1XI/AAAAAAAABx4/DU5RAsuvYEA/s1600/13-24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SbBT_OAkcWw/TxvpEkgQ1XI/AAAAAAAABx4/DU5RAsuvYEA/s400/13-24.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">New information on the best Atlantic salmon rivers of the Kola Peninsula </div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>http://www.flyfishingrussia.com/</b></div><br /> <br /> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2026769296668179487-742423392599060277?l=flyfishingrussia.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mikhail Skopetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00438775494762731630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026769296668179487.post-31438522750594576632012-01-21T14:42:00.000+11:002012-01-21T14:42:27.312+11:00The first message of the Series "Unusual Flies" - Wobbler-Flies<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bNpPLq2WHjU/Txoz6Pem4qI/AAAAAAAABxw/iXHr8lhn3yw/s1600/IMG_3464.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bNpPLq2WHjU/Txoz6Pem4qI/AAAAAAAABxw/iXHr8lhn3yw/s400/IMG_3464.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The first message of the Series "Unusual Flies" - Wobbler-Flies </div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>http://www.flyfishingrussia.com/</b></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2026769296668179487-3143852275059457663?l=flyfishingrussia.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mikhail Skopetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00438775494762731630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026769296668179487.post-73136549825427744092012-01-19T18:14:00.001+11:002012-01-23T14:30:51.289+11:00Testing of an interesting new rod<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;">In summer-fall 2011 I was able to test an interesting new rod of the "trout spey" class.  The 3-4 wt 5-piece rod is lightweight (122g or 4.3 oz); it was made by a Russian firm Kola Salmon.  It could be also used with 5 or 6 weight single-handed lines.  I am using this rod with dry and wet flies, streamers, and nymphs.   </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QsK7VQVZbjU/TxfBsq__o4I/AAAAAAAABxo/lcSPlAK0pXc/s1600/IMG_2216-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QsK7VQVZbjU/TxfBsq__o4I/AAAAAAAABxo/lcSPlAK0pXc/s400/IMG_2216-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">See the description and the images at the new blog   <b>http://www.flyfishingrussia.com/ </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2026769296668179487-7313654982542774409?l=flyfishingrussia.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mikhail Skopetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00438775494762731630noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026769296668179487.post-77779207213149824982012-01-17T15:57:00.001+11:002012-01-17T15:58:15.044+11:00New book on the flyfishing the Russian Far East<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;">In 2007 I have published a book on the flyfishing the Russian Far East (in Russian).  For the last years I was working on the English edition of this 300+ page color book.  Finally the work is coming to the end.  I am sure that in 2012 it will be printed and offered to the readers.  How will it look?  I do not know it yet.  The cover of the Russian edition is below.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JaZw31vmP6E/TxT_TR3o-9I/AAAAAAAABxg/jhSeyd_CvYU/s1600/bookMS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JaZw31vmP6E/TxT_TR3o-9I/AAAAAAAABxg/jhSeyd_CvYU/s400/bookMS.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2026769296668179487-7777920721314982498?l=flyfishingrussia.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mikhail Skopetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00438775494762731630noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026769296668179487.post-72630242786547215652012-01-17T15:50:00.000+11:002012-01-17T15:50:33.997+11:00Ozernovskaya Creek, Kamchatka<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;"> Visit the bilingual blog <b>http://flyfishingrussia.com/</b> and see a post on the Ozernovskaya Creek, Kamchatka with bigger & better quality images.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SmzuIGgGrOc/TxT95FktvNI/AAAAAAAABxY/2I7rzfFK1PU/s1600/IMG_1822.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SmzuIGgGrOc/TxT95FktvNI/AAAAAAAABxY/2I7rzfFK1PU/s400/IMG_1822.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2026769296668179487-7263024278654721565?l=flyfishingrussia.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mikhail Skopetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00438775494762731630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026769296668179487.post-64812221792893632512012-01-13T11:00:00.000+11:002012-01-13T11:00:11.423+11:00Amur Winter<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2BVR5WGJXDY/Tw9zDCpE3uI/AAAAAAAABxI/b-4kBiGp1-0/s1600/CRW_2883.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2BVR5WGJXDY/Tw9zDCpE3uI/AAAAAAAABxI/b-4kBiGp1-0/s400/CRW_2883.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The winter had come, and huge river is freezing over. This time a fishermen does not have much choice: either tying flies and dreaming on the summer, or ice-fishing. I like both. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wIFTKF1ddDs/Tw9zB_4inDI/AAAAAAAABxA/mnwh2aeXE04/s1600/IMG_1456.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wIFTKF1ddDs/Tw9zB_4inDI/AAAAAAAABxA/mnwh2aeXE04/s400/IMG_1456.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Amur pike</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qJJ1ctpEApQ/Tw9zDxKwHnI/AAAAAAAABxM/yaQ4Y5hoJEc/s1600/IMG_0062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qJJ1ctpEApQ/Tw9zDxKwHnI/AAAAAAAABxM/yaQ4Y5hoJEc/s400/IMG_0062.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> See the new material at the   <b>http://flyfishingrussia.com/ </b></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2026769296668179487-6481222179289363251?l=flyfishingrussia.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mikhail Skopetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00438775494762731630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026769296668179487.post-69500018452318676602012-01-10T08:59:00.000+11:002012-01-10T08:59:15.652+11:00Bystraya R., Kamchatka, September 2011<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QP-K0GgFKTc/TwtiyoMqpuI/AAAAAAAABw4/otbWYJDxlb4/s1600/CRW_2822.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QP-K0GgFKTc/TwtiyoMqpuI/AAAAAAAABw4/otbWYJDxlb4/s400/CRW_2822.jpg" width="400" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Bystraya R., Kamchatka, September 2011 -  <b>http://flyfishingrussia.com/</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ojfOSjYjlQ4/Twtix2K0gWI/AAAAAAAABww/E2dWKjGSAaU/s1600/CRW_2840.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ojfOSjYjlQ4/Twtix2K0gWI/AAAAAAAABww/E2dWKjGSAaU/s400/CRW_2840.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2026769296668179487-6950001845231867660?l=flyfishingrussia.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mikhail Skopetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00438775494762731630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026769296668179487.post-75843344667409666112012-01-06T09:20:00.000+11:002012-01-06T09:20:20.848+11:00Azhabachie Lake, Kamchatka: bears, birds, and fish<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-skw5yYxs5V0/TwYhpRRD0jI/AAAAAAAABwU/F3dve9QvXE0/s1600/IMG_0102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-skw5yYxs5V0/TwYhpRRD0jI/AAAAAAAABwU/F3dve9QvXE0/s400/IMG_0102.JPG" width="400" /></a><b><i> </i></b></div><b><i>http://flyfishingrussia.com/  -  </i></b>a post on Azhabachie Lake, Kamchatka.  Good size images.<br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mLjxYN7Mr7s/TwYh6_3IapI/AAAAAAAABwo/7GL-3H2CUNc/s1600/CRW_2729-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mLjxYN7Mr7s/TwYh6_3IapI/AAAAAAAABwo/7GL-3H2CUNc/s400/CRW_2729-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2026769296668179487-7584334466740966611?l=flyfishingrussia.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mikhail Skopetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00438775494762731630noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026769296668179487.post-24676431504007963172012-01-01T10:33:00.001+11:002012-01-01T10:33:33.273+11:00Happy New Fishing Year!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Happy New Fishing Year!</i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ibX28pJrqek/Tv-bq62gM1I/AAAAAAAABwI/SETd6KpZhNg/s1600/2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="264" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ibX28pJrqek/Tv-bq62gM1I/AAAAAAAABwI/SETd6KpZhNg/s320/2012.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Congratulations to all my friends and colleagues in passion of travel and fishing with the New Fishing Year # 2012! Best wishes, tight lines, and good luck in our tough job! Mikhail</i></b></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2026769296668179487-2467643150400796317?l=flyfishingrussia.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mikhail Skopetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00438775494762731630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026769296668179487.post-85257040725737218452011-12-28T13:15:00.001+11:002011-12-28T16:04:32.791+11:00New, better blog on the same topic<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-psgFxujVZhg/Tvp7MH5NM9I/AAAAAAAABvw/9dudBlYiI3A/s1600/IMG_9918.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-psgFxujVZhg/Tvp7MH5NM9I/AAAAAAAABvw/9dudBlYiI3A/s400/IMG_9918.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I have started a new blog   http://flyfishingrussia.com/ on the same topic - fishing and travel.  The blog is bilingual - Russian and English; now I have started to fill it with information.  Some of the future posts will be on the same trips on which I had already told here, but at the new blog I will be able to show better quality images, to show some new images, and to give the readers more info in the texts. <br /> <br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Happy New Year!</div><br /> <br /> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2026769296668179487-8525704072573721845?l=flyfishingrussia.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mikhail Skopetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00438775494762731630noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026769296668179487.post-47901953242116567972011-12-24T22:13:00.000+11:002011-12-24T22:13:28.890+11:00Kamchatka, Raduga River, September 2011 - Part 3 (Azhabacie Lake)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;">On the next day we had decided to go to the nearby Azhabachie Lake.  The big water body is famous by its sockeye salmon spawning grounds and by "hordes" of brown bears.   At the image is the downstream view at the Kamchatka R. from the mouth of the channel, connecting the river with the lake.  The channel is about 10 km long.   </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6iXMCVjZmQQ/TvWs1AR87xI/AAAAAAAABt4/uTQYh6rWlQQ/s1600/CRW_2682.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6iXMCVjZmQQ/TvWs1AR87xI/AAAAAAAABt4/uTQYh6rWlQQ/s400/CRW_2682.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> The "Raduga" biological station at the channel belongs to the Institute of Marine Biology (Rus.  Acad.  of Sciences, Vladivostok).  Here the scientists study the ecosystem of the lake.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b0A0HYzwd0s/TvWs1_LvO5I/AAAAAAAABuE/GLNR9SDE0gU/s1600/CRW_2683.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b0A0HYzwd0s/TvWs1_LvO5I/AAAAAAAABuE/GLNR9SDE0gU/s400/CRW_2683.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> We go upstream the channel, heading to the lake </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WA-8wEV-xpk/TvWs208oPqI/AAAAAAAABuM/47hoag4ukXw/s1600/CRW_2686.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WA-8wEV-xpk/TvWs208oPqI/AAAAAAAABuM/47hoag4ukXw/s400/CRW_2686.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">At one good-looking spot of the channel we have seen lots of rising fish and decided to stop for fishing.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XP7c3zkFnV0/TvWs37v3E8I/AAAAAAAABuQ/1zxk-FW3RlM/s1600/CRW_2687.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XP7c3zkFnV0/TvWs37v3E8I/AAAAAAAABuQ/1zxk-FW3RlM/s400/CRW_2687.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Some of these fish were smolts of Pacific salmon (coho).  Some small charrs feeding with insects were also caught with a dry fly.    </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hhrBm5IMP5M/TvWs4m0_O9I/AAAAAAAABuc/J2QOiOAM_no/s1600/CRW_2690.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hhrBm5IMP5M/TvWs4m0_O9I/AAAAAAAABuc/J2QOiOAM_no/s400/CRW_2690.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Andrey was able to catch something bigger with a heavy leader.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hTk7cAGQy34/TvWwLZVgzLI/AAAAAAAABvI/0HnPrh9TG6w/s1600/CRW_2747.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hTk7cAGQy34/TvWwLZVgzLI/AAAAAAAABvI/0HnPrh9TG6w/s400/CRW_2747.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> It is a charr</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sNrBrOfXRto/TvWwMoBwxcI/AAAAAAAABvU/b164SDYPj34/s1600/CRW_2745.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sNrBrOfXRto/TvWwMoBwxcI/AAAAAAAABvU/b164SDYPj34/s400/CRW_2745.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Most of charrs of the Azhabachie Lake are not silver; these fish are resident.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_XMrqfiYQIA/TvWwsl_UM5I/AAAAAAAABvk/dX2MhL0WLME/s1600/CRW_2743.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_XMrqfiYQIA/TvWwsl_UM5I/AAAAAAAABvk/dX2MhL0WLME/s400/CRW_2743.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> I have hooked something strong and fast moving </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TCmbf16W914/TvWs5QL9GxI/AAAAAAAABuk/CSPcMNmbdfQ/s1600/CRW_2692.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TCmbf16W914/TvWs5QL9GxI/AAAAAAAABuk/CSPcMNmbdfQ/s400/CRW_2692.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> It looks like a trout!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c4FkvBSoOLM/TvWs6PUk2wI/AAAAAAAABus/ZkVRnNhO2wA/s1600/CRW_2694.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c4FkvBSoOLM/TvWs6PUk2wI/AAAAAAAABus/ZkVRnNhO2wA/s400/CRW_2694.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Yes, it is one.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IEClaya1OgI/TvWs7Ez3q1I/AAAAAAAABuw/NrOV0xIHY3M/s1600/CRW_2696.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IEClaya1OgI/TvWs7Ez3q1I/AAAAAAAABuw/NrOV0xIHY3M/s400/CRW_2696.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">It is a good size fat trout with a healed scar from some predator (otter?).  The trout in the lake outlet feed with sockeye smolts, so they have enough food.   </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dny4XUu80ho/TvWs7vxJZuI/AAAAAAAABu8/ex9Bk7dot6s/s1600/CRW_2697.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dny4XUu80ho/TvWs7vxJZuI/AAAAAAAABu8/ex9Bk7dot6s/s400/CRW_2697.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Finally our boat is nearing the Azhabachie Lake, which is 8 km long and up to 36 m deep.   </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DWqTS2W_nJM/TvWs0OhTKgI/AAAAAAAABt0/8PyaTmULTJM/s1600/CRW_2700.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DWqTS2W_nJM/TvWs0OhTKgI/AAAAAAAABt0/8PyaTmULTJM/s400/CRW_2700.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">To be continued.. </div><div style="text-align: center;"></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2026769296668179487-4790195324211656797?l=flyfishingrussia.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mikhail Skopetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00438775494762731630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026769296668179487.post-31590818825330519592011-12-15T15:00:00.000+11:002011-12-15T15:00:57.559+11:00Kamchatka, Raduga River, September 2011 - Part 2<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;">The next morning was foggy.  I was fishing the Raduga near the camp, at the first pool upstream from the junction with the Kamchatka River.  Because of the low light conditions the fish were not very active.  The best flies were the brightest ones - fluorescent pink or red.  </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RgRkvyTjQn0/TulqHn0wZ7I/AAAAAAAABsg/VQvnbBhmzAI/s1600/CRW_2655.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RgRkvyTjQn0/TulqHn0wZ7I/AAAAAAAABsg/VQvnbBhmzAI/s400/CRW_2655.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> At the opposite bank from the camp there was a bear trail.  No, it was not just a trail, but a true bear highway!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Cqw5TaOC1pU/TulqJf8qlBI/AAAAAAAABss/ASZsBDW-aWw/s1600/CRW_2662.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Cqw5TaOC1pU/TulqJf8qlBI/AAAAAAAABss/ASZsBDW-aWw/s400/CRW_2662.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Some prints are made by the "nice" size animals.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AW2CKGuulik/TulqKiYfWAI/AAAAAAAABs4/9v-ZNrzKTuY/s1600/CRW_2665.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AW2CKGuulik/TulqKiYfWAI/AAAAAAAABs4/9v-ZNrzKTuY/s400/CRW_2665.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> I was wading on sand along the low bank, casting to the deeper water.  </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DgDAmtPdLjQ/TulqZ079rVI/AAAAAAAABtk/xVfz5g-8kIM/s1600/IMG_0079.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DgDAmtPdLjQ/TulqZ079rVI/AAAAAAAABtk/xVfz5g-8kIM/s400/IMG_0079.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> This silver-sided kundzha (white-spotted charr) is fresh from the sea.  </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AtoBJYr9mK8/TulqIWcha7I/AAAAAAAABsk/X3Y3Iu1OQyk/s1600/CRW_2657.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AtoBJYr9mK8/TulqIWcha7I/AAAAAAAABsk/X3Y3Iu1OQyk/s400/CRW_2657.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">In the pool there were lots of silver charr, but nothing very big</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vF1_YfeJwxI/TulqL9KGWbI/AAAAAAAABs8/9fFvHMzp5uw/s1600/CRW_2671.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vF1_YfeJwxI/TulqL9KGWbI/AAAAAAAABs8/9fFvHMzp5uw/s400/CRW_2671.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> A tiny red wobbler-fly with a foam back had a profile of a mayfly nymph.  This #12 fly was wiggling under the surface, and was considered a morsel by grayling.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7a00raUKuNM/TulqMo8qRzI/AAAAAAAABtE/Np42l3T7fiQ/s1600/CRW_2675.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7a00raUKuNM/TulqMo8qRzI/AAAAAAAABtE/Np42l3T7fiQ/s400/CRW_2675.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> The same fly was also attracting good size charr.  The fish were rising to the surface to intercept it.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0iakC4wuaUI/TulqNRvPFaI/AAAAAAAABtI/gKrTue1W2Xg/s1600/CRW_2678.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0iakC4wuaUI/TulqNRvPFaI/AAAAAAAABtI/gKrTue1W2Xg/s400/CRW_2678.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Steller's sea eagle (white-shoulder sea eagle) with its 2,5 meter wingspan and 9 kg maximum weight is the biggest bird of prey.  Condor is bigger,  but it is a scavenger and not a hunter.  The main food source of the bird in Kamchatka are Pacific salmon.  This particular specimen is young - it does not have the full, mature colors of the species.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AT6zSpx-v5Q/TulqOwgsvaI/AAAAAAAABtY/HrLVDyhWv7g/s1600/IMG_0066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="310" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AT6zSpx-v5Q/TulqOwgsvaI/AAAAAAAABtY/HrLVDyhWv7g/s400/IMG_0066.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> My friend Andrey had decided to test Tasmanian Devil - this lure is new for Kamchatka.  When spin fishing Andrey is always making a single hook out of a treble.  The pink lure was catching all local fish - charr, trout, salmon, and even grayling. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AYfy9LpyAsc/TulqXIqWmaI/AAAAAAAABtg/lEjq4jfPHjc/s1600/IMG_0077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AYfy9LpyAsc/TulqXIqWmaI/AAAAAAAABtg/lEjq4jfPHjc/s400/IMG_0077.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DgDAmtPdLjQ/TulqZ079rVI/AAAAAAAABtk/xVfz5g-8kIM/s1600/IMG_0079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">To be continued..</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2026769296668179487-3159081882533051959?l=flyfishingrussia.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mikhail Skopetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00438775494762731630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026769296668179487.post-44933742968656682792011-12-05T21:35:00.000+11:002011-12-05T21:35:42.085+11:00The boat trip from Ust-Kamchatsk - upstream the Kamchatka River<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;">Before the trip upriver we have met the local fishermen.  We wanter to gather some info on the sport-fishing in the Bering Sea near the mouth of the Kamchatka River.  The local fishermen catch mostly Pacific cod; other fish including halibut are also present in the area.  This is the self-made sea tackle; comparing with the modern gear it looks very rough.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NcL8iSkZwB0/TtyKRKpVnwI/AAAAAAAABrY/ZZFwzABGJNE/s1600/CRW_2507.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NcL8iSkZwB0/TtyKRKpVnwI/AAAAAAAABrY/ZZFwzABGJNE/s400/CRW_2507.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The downriver view in Ust-Kamchatsk.  The sea is to the right from the mountain chain at the background.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fhWgVDGCZq4/TtyJ3ZgfvrI/AAAAAAAABqk/3KkiixZdB-Q/s1600/CRW_2509.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fhWgVDGCZq4/TtyJ3ZgfvrI/AAAAAAAABqk/3KkiixZdB-Q/s400/CRW_2509.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> We are going up the Kamchatka River.  In its lower part the river is wide and shallow.  Today it is easy to see the Shiveluch volcano (3283 m) which is often hiding in the clouds.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DxMg4DmJLfk/TtyJ4KgK5LI/AAAAAAAABqw/HrKsQwB5ut4/s1600/CRW_2520.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DxMg4DmJLfk/TtyJ4KgK5LI/AAAAAAAABqw/HrKsQwB5ut4/s400/CRW_2520.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Shiveluch: the main summit (3283 m) to the right, the new erupting summit (2800 m) to the left. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MKURcdx7QUA/TtyJ5ApFqnI/AAAAAAAABq4/QdrIJdSCmpo/s1600/CRW_2525.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MKURcdx7QUA/TtyJ5ApFqnI/AAAAAAAABq4/QdrIJdSCmpo/s400/CRW_2525.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> The Raduga River is a left tributary to Kamchatka, which mouth is 35 km upstream Ust-Kamchatsk</div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qDeLqWMjkTY/TtyUw4O-tjI/AAAAAAAABrs/kC1xqDxK5zc/s1600/CRW_2553.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qDeLqWMjkTY/TtyUw4O-tjI/AAAAAAAABrs/kC1xqDxK5zc/s400/CRW_2553.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">  In the lower reaches of the Raduga is a site of the town of Nizhnekamchatsk.  This is one of the oldest towns of the peninsula.  Nizhne-Kamchatsk was founded at this site in 1732.  A wooden stockaded town of the same name was constructed in 1703 at the distance of 90 km upstream from the Raduga.  That first town was burned during the riot of the native Kamchadal people in 1731, and was constructed again near the Raduga R. mouth.  Here you see the Nizhnekamchatsk - as a local artist sees it.  The town used to have a log stockade, but it is absent at the picture.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--xveDqNQ1zQ/TtyX00Wk-gI/AAAAAAAABsY/6aoJLVlBJvk/s1600/IMG_0107.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--xveDqNQ1zQ/TtyX00Wk-gI/AAAAAAAABsY/6aoJLVlBJvk/s400/IMG_0107.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> This wooden church was constructed around 1740; so now it is over 270 years old!   </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JlpSlQfpOkI/TtyUwClzwOI/AAAAAAAABrk/gPqmPoO0n7k/s1600/CRW_2530.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JlpSlQfpOkI/TtyUwClzwOI/AAAAAAAABrk/gPqmPoO0n7k/s400/CRW_2530.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> This historical site is also famous by its fishing. In the Raduga River  <br /> there are lots of charr.  Most of the local charr is not the Dolly Varden charr.  This species was described as "white charr" <i>Salvelinus albus</i>.  The head of this predatory fish is shorter, and has a convex forehead.    </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lrzbBjpVUd8/TtyUxqLTH8I/AAAAAAAABr4/3sD9opuWvs0/s1600/CRW_2559.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lrzbBjpVUd8/TtyUxqLTH8I/AAAAAAAABr4/3sD9opuWvs0/s400/CRW_2559.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Same as Dolly Varden, this charr is often going out into the sea for feeding.  Now, in September, it is entering the rivers for spawning and wintering. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7Fj5bGlCL2Q/TtyUydPBm6I/AAAAAAAABr8/9d4wNaFQQmc/s1600/CRW_2560.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7Fj5bGlCL2Q/TtyUydPBm6I/AAAAAAAABr8/9d4wNaFQQmc/s400/CRW_2560.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> In the Raduga River there are lots of Kamchatka grayling <i>Thymallus arcticus mertensi</i>.  It is easy to catch it with literally any lure or fly.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6vbbaGU0Gk4/TtyUzHVKhfI/AAAAAAAABsE/ZKHsbOKP7lI/s1600/CRW_2569.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6vbbaGU0Gk4/TtyUzHVKhfI/AAAAAAAABsE/ZKHsbOKP7lI/s400/CRW_2569.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> The Prince nymph was catching not only grayling but charr as well.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e1LUCnExW6E/TtyJ8QYeekI/AAAAAAAABrQ/xPF_AC0PVyc/s1600/IMG_0149.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MknIcoUPoq0/TtyUz-NUq3I/AAAAAAAABsQ/vHSVOh_BLII/s400/CRW_2579.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="color: black;"> </span>Rainbow trout in Kamchatka loves Pacific salmon flies.  This one was caught with a pink wobbler-fly.  <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e1LUCnExW6E/TtyJ8QYeekI/AAAAAAAABrQ/xPF_AC0PVyc/s1600/IMG_0149.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: black;"> </span></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5Zlwtxlg_-k/TtyUvdyZU2I/AAAAAAAABrg/UFmKGyriYsM/s1600/CRW_2634.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5Zlwtxlg_-k/TtyUvdyZU2I/AAAAAAAABrg/UFmKGyriYsM/s400/CRW_2634.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e1LUCnExW6E/TtyJ8QYeekI/AAAAAAAABrQ/xPF_AC0PVyc/s1600/IMG_0149.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e1LUCnExW6E/TtyJ8QYeekI/AAAAAAAABrQ/xPF_AC0PVyc/s1600/IMG_0149.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">To be continued..</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2026769296668179487-4493374296865668279?l=flyfishingrussia.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mikhail Skopetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00438775494762731630noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026769296668179487.post-15476374714540495722011-12-02T18:56:00.000+11:002011-12-02T18:56:59.800+11:00Road trip to Ust-Kamchatsk, Sep 2011<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;"> The main road of the Kamchatka Peninsula goes west and north to Milkovo (300 km), Klyuchi (570 km), and Ust-Kamchatsk (740 km).  Ust-Kamchatsk is a town and port in the mouth of the Kamchatka River which is the biggest at the peninsula.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I2W-8fWqERc/Tth_4e9Ww3I/AAAAAAAABqI/0eA1GakLK6Q/s1600/Kamchatka-map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="357" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I2W-8fWqERc/Tth_4e9Ww3I/AAAAAAAABqI/0eA1GakLK6Q/s400/Kamchatka-map.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;">In the wide flat valley of the Kamchatka River the dirt road between Milkovo and Klyuchi is made of volcanic ash.   </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2G8m5js7l20/Tth4Yr_ZS4I/AAAAAAAABow/ngrfyGvDIoE/s1600/CRW_2459.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2G8m5js7l20/Tth4Yr_ZS4I/AAAAAAAABow/ngrfyGvDIoE/s400/CRW_2459.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> On the way to Ust-Kamchatks the road is two times crossing the Kamchatka River.  The cars are crossing the stream by the ferry.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u2NReK-HL4Q/Tth4ZeHkdhI/AAAAAAAABo0/cvbGwGjBI9I/s1600/CRW_2460.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u2NReK-HL4Q/Tth4ZeHkdhI/AAAAAAAABo0/cvbGwGjBI9I/s400/CRW_2460.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> The bridge across the Kamchatka River is under construction.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A9b4oQSiPnw/Tth4aNFR3sI/AAAAAAAABpA/JRPHw14kLFM/s1600/CRW_2462.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A9b4oQSiPnw/Tth4aNFR3sI/AAAAAAAABpA/JRPHw14kLFM/s400/CRW_2462.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Kamchatka River is not very swift; it has deep quiet pools and sandy banks.  This is a side-channel (less than 1/4 of the river).   </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7TvVJoGoEJc/Tth4bIOu_RI/AAAAAAAABpE/BlxaOvSayR4/s1600/CRW_2463.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7TvVJoGoEJc/Tth4bIOu_RI/AAAAAAAABpE/BlxaOvSayR4/s400/CRW_2463.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> From the road Milkovo-Klyuchi one can see the volcanoes of the "Klyuchevskaya" group: Dalnyaya Ploskaya Sopka (left, 3943 m), Klyuchevskaya Sopka (middle,  4700 m), and Kamen' (right, 4575 m).  The area is covered with the ash of the Tolbachik volcano eruption. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BD9cAtY-ch4/Tth4bzSx6tI/AAAAAAAABpM/P9FrGY0_FN8/s1600/CRW_2470.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BD9cAtY-ch4/Tth4bzSx6tI/AAAAAAAABpM/P9FrGY0_FN8/s400/CRW_2470.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Kharchinskaya Sopka from the road Klyuchi - Ust-Kamchatsk.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ciMk0xS97To/Tth4cmef_cI/AAAAAAAABpY/qA4cA0GK9rs/s1600/CRW_2478.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ciMk0xS97To/Tth4cmef_cI/AAAAAAAABpY/qA4cA0GK9rs/s400/CRW_2478.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Shiveluch volcano from the road.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eCcLoMkj6hY/Tth4d4MoLYI/AAAAAAAABpc/oBDyft7fwf8/s1600/CRW_2479.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eCcLoMkj6hY/Tth4d4MoLYI/AAAAAAAABpc/oBDyft7fwf8/s400/CRW_2479.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Fresh mud flow (torrent) from the Shiveluch volcano</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-byVnkDp8rGE/Tth4egu2SuI/AAAAAAAABpk/nydKslTveQY/s1600/CRW_2482.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-byVnkDp8rGE/Tth4egu2SuI/AAAAAAAABpk/nydKslTveQY/s400/CRW_2482.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Old part of the Ust-Kamchatsk</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0PN3-wuwlSI/Tth4hojY4KI/AAAAAAAABp8/czqSbPuEjik/s1600/CRW_2504.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0PN3-wuwlSI/Tth4hojY4KI/AAAAAAAABp8/czqSbPuEjik/s400/CRW_2504.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> New part of the Ust-Kamchatsk</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uw0RcV4hC4g/Tth4frjuNCI/AAAAAAAABpw/yYRh9cZi9Vw/s1600/CRW_2498.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uw0RcV4hC4g/Tth4frjuNCI/AAAAAAAABpw/yYRh9cZi9Vw/s400/CRW_2498.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Church in the Ust-Kamchatsk</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VCNttnoR0f4/Tth4ghpl6qI/AAAAAAAABp4/dYR0W3-2Lhk/s1600/CRW_2500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VCNttnoR0f4/Tth4ghpl6qI/AAAAAAAABp4/dYR0W3-2Lhk/s400/CRW_2500.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2026769296668179487-1547637471454049572?l=flyfishingrussia.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mikhail Skopetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00438775494762731630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026769296668179487.post-80432135967946873262011-11-24T21:09:00.003+11:002011-11-24T21:26:47.901+11:00October 2011, Urmi River, Amur River drainage<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;">Urmi is 458 km long river which is joining the Kur River of the similar size.  The result of this marriage is a mighty 90 km long river named Tunguska.  Tunguska River is floating into the Amur River from its left bank, on the opposite bank from Khabarovsk.<br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--aKYcrtuUUM/Ts4bx6IedJI/AAAAAAAABoo/-KPFnxQtcCI/s1600/Urmi-map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="385" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--aKYcrtuUUM/Ts4bx6IedJI/AAAAAAAABoo/-KPFnxQtcCI/s400/Urmi-map.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>In October I was with my friend Sergey in the middle reaches of the Urmi River, upstream from the Kukan village.  After a 90 km long trip on a beaten dirt road from the city of Birobidzhan we are pumping up a 15' inflatable motor boat.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c-hfFGfViy8/Ts4OtuJDWlI/AAAAAAAABnM/0IBY0MtBIN0/s1600/IMG_2872.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c-hfFGfViy8/Ts4OtuJDWlI/AAAAAAAABnM/0IBY0MtBIN0/s400/IMG_2872.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">In this area the Urmi is 20-60 meters wide stream, swift and clear.  The river has many log jams, so some of its channels are tricky to navigate even with a jet-boat.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8-poKBOwCaM/Ts4OuTh-MvI/AAAAAAAABnY/4Wolr3A6MCQ/s1600/IMG_2873.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8-poKBOwCaM/Ts4OuTh-MvI/AAAAAAAABnY/4Wolr3A6MCQ/s400/IMG_2873.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">In the lower part of a tributary named Kosmun' there were lots of different graylings.   </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LPkj7JPLt1A/Ts4OvmKoxNI/AAAAAAAABng/mqyBSm1Cjlk/s1600/IMG_2884.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LPkj7JPLt1A/Ts4OvmKoxNI/AAAAAAAABng/mqyBSm1Cjlk/s400/IMG_2884.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2-yaLo45k54/Ts4OxQYF1xI/AAAAAAAABns/W5fZd6_0-2U/s1600/IMG_2889.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2-yaLo45k54/Ts4OxQYF1xI/AAAAAAAABns/W5fZd6_0-2U/s1600/IMG_2889.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2-yaLo45k54/Ts4OxQYF1xI/AAAAAAAABns/W5fZd6_0-2U/s1600/IMG_2889.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">"Lower Amur type" grayling is living in the middle reaches of the rivers; downstream from the lower limit of the habitats of this species in summer there will be no other Salmonids.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2-yaLo45k54/Ts4OxQYF1xI/AAAAAAAABns/W5fZd6_0-2U/s1600/IMG_2889.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2-yaLo45k54/Ts4OxQYF1xI/AAAAAAAABns/W5fZd6_0-2U/s400/IMG_2889.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> This is another species, so called "yellow-spotted grayling".  It is relative to the "Upper Amur type" grayling.  In the Lower Amur River this species is sympatric (living together) with the "Lower Amur type" grayling, but its habitats are different. The yellow-spotted grayling in summer is populating the swift upper reaches of the rivers on higher elevations.  This species is migrating down into the middle reaches of the streams only in the late fall.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KX8uGAUWAxc/Ts4Owaf--AI/AAAAAAAABno/B3_1eM9J3sk/s1600/IMG_2885.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KX8uGAUWAxc/Ts4Owaf--AI/AAAAAAAABno/B3_1eM9J3sk/s400/IMG_2885.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The next morning was morose and foggy.  A deep cyclone was coming, threatening with the rain by the next evening.  The fish was not feeding, so it was rather hard to catch anything bigger than grayling.  This is a sharp-nose species of lenok.   </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-391liD8CghQ/Ts4Ox8oONoI/AAAAAAAABn4/oKkI3UADqok/s1600/IMG_2891.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-391liD8CghQ/Ts4Ox8oONoI/AAAAAAAABn4/oKkI3UADqok/s400/IMG_2891.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">A slightly bigger blunt-nose lenok was caught with a 5 cm long pink wobbler-fly, presented deep.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GJ7G3dkGnD4/Ts4OzD8LlHI/AAAAAAAABn8/Uqe3HVSeGf4/s1600/IMG_2892.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GJ7G3dkGnD4/Ts4OzD8LlHI/AAAAAAAABn8/Uqe3HVSeGf4/s400/IMG_2892.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">A tiny cabin of a trapper at the bank of the Urmi River.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CeQQwH_AnAM/Ts4O1akztTI/AAAAAAAABoQ/S2CeyDak5LY/s1600/IMG_2898.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CeQQwH_AnAM/Ts4O1akztTI/AAAAAAAABoQ/S2CeyDak5LY/s400/IMG_2898.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Below this rapid Sergey had found some lenok.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-n1C2K8W5zAE/Ts4OzyK3KAI/AAAAAAAABoI/saHBCzez830/s1600/IMG_2895.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-n1C2K8W5zAE/Ts4OzyK3KAI/AAAAAAAABoI/saHBCzez830/s400/IMG_2895.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> This small taimen was caught with a lure and released.  We are releasing taimen which is becoming rare in many areas of the Far East.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q_5UcdQWn9I/Ts4Os2rw_4I/AAAAAAAABnI/aN9bnQUIfd8/s1600/IMG_2907.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q_5UcdQWn9I/Ts4Os2rw_4I/AAAAAAAABnI/aN9bnQUIfd8/s400/IMG_2907.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A tiny, very skinny, immature taimen was caught below a shallow riffle.  It looks like taimen are more active before the coming cyclone than lenok.  I had observed the same behavior in the summer, on different rivers.     <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VCc8s1QJR48/Ts4L68IMBMI/AAAAAAAABmo/G7YwkH3AjJQ/s1600/IMG_2861.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y9WIOuBt9BA/Ts4WCQ5bfhI/AAAAAAAABog/K47kMcn6cZg/s1600/IMG_2900.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y9WIOuBt9BA/Ts4WCQ5bfhI/AAAAAAAABog/K47kMcn6cZg/s400/IMG_2900.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-W2FAD4u9Nfo/Ts4L76DEGGI/AAAAAAAABms/av6a-cRtKzI/s1600/IMG_2863.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /> </a></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2026769296668179487-8043213596794687326?l=flyfishingrussia.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mikhail Skopetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00438775494762731630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026769296668179487.post-57163015150179910512011-11-19T08:31:00.001+11:002011-11-19T08:46:48.319+11:00The last open water fishing trip in 2011 (November 10, the Gassi Lake)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"> Today, when I write this message, it is -15*C and snow outside.  Lakes and rivers around Khabarovsk are freezing over.  We are already catching the first fish through the ice.  The winter had come to our region too late but truly in one night.  Not long ago it was +5-8*C at the days and no snow at all.  On November 10 I have decided to go to the Gassi Lake 140 km east from Khabarovsk.  I was thinking that lenok <i>(Brachymystax)</i> will be migrating out of the tributaries into the lake, and then down into the Amur River.  So, the lake outlet was looking a reasonable area to search for this fish.  In summer the water in that area is way too warm for any Salmonid, but not in November.   </div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;">The Gassi Lake is big and shallow water body; during the low water period in Amur part of it is dry.  The lower, narrov part of the lake is crossed with the road Khabarovsk - Komsomolsk.<br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ta2QgoOEYWE/TsbRJ1nax4I/AAAAAAAABmI/n8XYl-zfQ-o/s1600/Gassi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ta2QgoOEYWE/TsbRJ1nax4I/AAAAAAAABmI/n8XYl-zfQ-o/s400/Gassi.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> The road is crossing the lake with a mound and a 100 m long bridge.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XyEPtqlxgT4/TsbI2Q0KqjI/AAAAAAAABl4/2BbQRydgVq4/s1600/IMG_2991.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XyEPtqlxgT4/TsbI2Q0KqjI/AAAAAAAABl4/2BbQRydgVq4/s400/IMG_2991.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> The nights are already cold; the thin ice is formed at the lake during long cold hours.   It is drifting down the lake outlet.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-glAJYTRQ5g0/TsbI3jcNNxI/AAAAAAAABmA/KMDfGde2qCY/s1600/IMG_2992.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-glAJYTRQ5g0/TsbI3jcNNxI/AAAAAAAABmA/KMDfGde2qCY/s400/IMG_2992.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Some of the ice floes are over 10 meters across.  The ice is thin, but it had sharp serrated edges and can be dangerous for an inflatable boat.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YPsQlYuHzaQ/TsbItMNX3QI/AAAAAAAABlQ/yJ5eDMxMedk/s1600/IMG_2993.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YPsQlYuHzaQ/TsbItMNX3QI/AAAAAAAABlQ/yJ5eDMxMedk/s400/IMG_2993.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> My friend Arthur is roving upstream the lake outlet in his Waterfly inflatable kayak</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-roAgCYqfVQE/TsbI0uHyhgI/AAAAAAAABlw/U26XXtOcd6o/s1600/IMG_2990.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x-MYy4GvYC4/TsbIuWQ69QI/AAAAAAAABlY/ebGT8oPqUzI/s1600/IMG_2983.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x-MYy4GvYC4/TsbIuWQ69QI/AAAAAAAABlY/ebGT8oPqUzI/s400/IMG_2983.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> I was fishing from the anchored kayak with a 2-handed rod and 15' sink tip.  The only difficulty was the floating ice - it was necessary to look behind all the time and be ready to lift the anchor when the ice will be nearing the boat.  In two hours I have landed 2 lenok.  The one belonging to the sharp-nose species is at the image.  </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-roAgCYqfVQE/TsbI0uHyhgI/AAAAAAAABlw/U26XXtOcd6o/s1600/IMG_2990.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-roAgCYqfVQE/TsbI0uHyhgI/AAAAAAAABlw/U26XXtOcd6o/s400/IMG_2990.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> The best "fly" was a white-and-pink wobbler fly presented near the bottom.  This is the type of the fly designed to move its hook up.  I had decided to keep this lenok - it makes great fish soup named "ukha" in Russian.  In its stomach there were over a dozed of 6-7 cm long silver fish (fingerlings of some Carp species).  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zuA8B61Exyg/TsbIzYPwpeI/AAAAAAAABlo/4yUkqF_EVKE/s1600/IMG_2989.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zuA8B61Exyg/TsbIzYPwpeI/AAAAAAAABlo/4yUkqF_EVKE/s400/IMG_2989.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> The most interesting was that all the bites did occur when the ice was passing the boat.  It looks like the fish was moving together with the ice, near it or under its cover.  I had observed similar migration patterns is salmon streams in April - the charr migrating downstream for the sea feeding was moving together with the ice.  </div><div style="text-align: center;">There will be no more flyfishing for me in 2011.  The next open-water season begins in April, unless I will be able to go to Brazil.. </div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2026769296668179487-5716301515017991051?l=flyfishingrussia.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mikhail Skopetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00438775494762731630noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026769296668179487.post-75056641820323100022011-11-15T22:20:00.000+11:002011-11-15T22:20:39.866+11:00Petropavlovskoe Lake, Nov 8, 2011<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;">  Petropavlovskoe is a big shallow lake 20 km east from Khabarovsk.  I have decided to look for pike and other predators in the lake outlet below the village.  </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;">My wife had decided to come along.  She had helped me to pump the kayak.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_LS20jLtRJ4/TsJH97PuwtI/AAAAAAAABk4/RocQckq5yWg/s1600/IMG_2974.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_LS20jLtRJ4/TsJH97PuwtI/AAAAAAAABk4/RocQckq5yWg/s400/IMG_2974.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><br /> <br /> <div style="text-align: center;"></div>The lake outlet is 50 meters wide and 2-3 meters deep in the middle.  <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wRLD2mNphJY/TsJH8CZ-AcI/AAAAAAAABko/AuCkaNPpgAI/s1600/IMG_2978.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wRLD2mNphJY/TsJH8CZ-AcI/AAAAAAAABko/AuCkaNPpgAI/s400/IMG_2978.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> For several hours I was fishing in the current and in the bays, but with no success.  I had only one sharp bite; the catch was heavy and pulling the line to the bottom.  <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6d_UR1YKTVk/TsJH8gY8sMI/AAAAAAAABkw/EHOZPG25kRI/s1600/IMG_2979.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6d_UR1YKTVk/TsJH8gY8sMI/AAAAAAAABkw/EHOZPG25kRI/s400/IMG_2979.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> This was a freshwater mussel.  In the Amur River there are mussels up to 30 cm long.  When the streamer touches its body, the animal closes the shells, and they clutch the hook.  It is a true bite, even though the mussel is not trying to eat the fly.. <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--wJ61J2-hH0/TsJH_ZsWFNI/AAAAAAAABlE/h4dVp36Is1o/s1600/IMG_2976.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--wJ61J2-hH0/TsJH_ZsWFNI/AAAAAAAABlE/h4dVp36Is1o/s400/IMG_2976.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /> <br /> <div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2026769296668179487-7505664182032310002?l=flyfishingrussia.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mikhail Skopetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00438775494762731630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026769296668179487.post-66350156060746360792011-11-13T18:22:00.000+11:002011-11-13T18:22:54.236+11:00Late fall at the Khoidur River<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;">Khoidyr is a small forest creek which is flowing into lower part of the Amur River between Khabarovsk and Komsomolsk.  It is crossing the road between these two cities 200 km from Khabarovsk.  The fall of 2011 is unusually warm; at the time when it is normally snow and cold it is mild and warm.  In the fall the fish from the creeks is leaving its summer habitats which will be frozen over soon, and goes down into the Amur River for wintering. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LStJB2-0CLM/Tr9nvXq9sqI/AAAAAAAABjQ/GHkdEMrHtFU/s1600/IMG_2984.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LStJB2-0CLM/Tr9nvXq9sqI/AAAAAAAABjQ/GHkdEMrHtFU/s400/IMG_2984.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I have left the car at the bridge and was rowing upstream in a kayak.  I will never burn gas and listen the rattle of a motor if I can avoid it.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LJivaIGUosk/Tr9nwAqqB-I/AAAAAAAABjY/jY_jazGHNis/s1600/IMG_2935.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LJivaIGUosk/Tr9nwAqqB-I/AAAAAAAABjY/jY_jazGHNis/s400/IMG_2935.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> This stretch of Khoidur is crossing the great plain - the valley of the Lower Amur.  The banks are covered by the mixed forest and marshes - not as good a forest as we see in the mountains.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Hg3xsHcS3Gk/Tr9n2FHGZ4I/AAAAAAAABkE/PzQXsIbjL80/s1600/IMG_2960.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Hg3xsHcS3Gk/Tr9n2FHGZ4I/AAAAAAAABkE/PzQXsIbjL80/s400/IMG_2960.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> In deep slow pools I had some bites of Amur ide.  This small fish is a predator.  The imitation of an aquatic beetle with an action was a good selection on that day.  </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aEskRVr9rWM/Tr9n1Zlr_OI/AAAAAAAABj8/46JPgsRpFS4/s1600/IMG_2957.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aEskRVr9rWM/Tr9n1Zlr_OI/AAAAAAAABj8/46JPgsRpFS4/s400/IMG_2957.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">In such quiet forest creeks most of the fish (and all Salmonids) are found in the riffles.   </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5sabHJQbie0/Tr9nzTIzbLI/AAAAAAAABjw/kYN-WyVGATE/s1600/IMG_2952.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5sabHJQbie0/Tr9nzTIzbLI/AAAAAAAABjw/kYN-WyVGATE/s400/IMG_2952.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Canadian beaver was stocked 40 years ago into the Nemta River 100 km to the west from here.  The animals are now moving down the Amur River and populating its valley.   </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z8hpwBvKPow/Tr9n25cTASI/AAAAAAAABkQ/Du9uII5-ftE/s1600/IMG_2964.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z8hpwBvKPow/Tr9n25cTASI/AAAAAAAABkQ/Du9uII5-ftE/s400/IMG_2964.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> This nest belongs not to a bird, but to a bear.  Don't you believe me?  In August the Himalayan bear is climbing the Maak's bird cherry tree and eating its astringent berries.  The animal is bending the branches, and pushes them under its seat at the tree to make the sitting more comfortable.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IUw_RTziOW0/Tr9n4CziQkI/AAAAAAAABkY/mIFVn9hd-Oc/s1600/IMG_2965.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IUw_RTziOW0/Tr9n4CziQkI/AAAAAAAABkY/mIFVn9hd-Oc/s400/IMG_2965.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> I was able to catch several little lenok and grayling</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p1Ms1cnSBbE/Tr9n0pip76I/AAAAAAAABj4/RdHwSN3E0EI/s1600/IMG_2956.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p1Ms1cnSBbE/Tr9n0pip76I/AAAAAAAABj4/RdHwSN3E0EI/s400/IMG_2956.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> It is a pleasant catch - one of the last fish of the 2011 fly season </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zMaU7JwpfLs/Tr9nxNI5dGI/AAAAAAAABjg/TQV4_hWKpd0/s1600/IMG_2936.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zMaU7JwpfLs/Tr9nxNI5dGI/AAAAAAAABjg/TQV4_hWKpd0/s400/IMG_2936.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The winter is closing up - it has already come to the north of our region.  In a month or less the fishermen will be catching lenok through the ice.  </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><br /> <div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><br /> <div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2026769296668179487-6635015606074636079?l=flyfishingrussia.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mikhail Skopetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00438775494762731630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026769296668179487.post-87171907618252948222011-11-06T11:08:00.001+11:002011-11-07T07:03:29.867+11:00Amur River, end of October 2011<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;">Normally the fly-fishing season near Khabarovsk ends by November.  In the end of October it is often below freezing in the morning; cold winds blow at the wide Amur River.   </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_uqD659mXBA/TrXIAN_Z-PI/AAAAAAAABiw/jGNgTXaSdDg/s1600/IMG_2922.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_uqD659mXBA/TrXIAN_Z-PI/AAAAAAAABiw/jGNgTXaSdDg/s400/IMG_2922.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The water level in Amur this year is very low - about 1 meter below the conventional "zero level".  Big sand spits exposed by the low water make the area look like the Sahara desert.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wCAE0w2ufnM/TrXH-oZt_yI/AAAAAAAABic/sLnVogEnM5s/s1600/IMG_2908.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wCAE0w2ufnM/TrXH-oZt_yI/AAAAAAAABic/sLnVogEnM5s/s400/IMG_2908.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> My friend Andrey and I were looking for Amur pike.  This time of a year it is normally feeding along the shallow, sandy banks.  The search requires lots of motor boat driving and hiking in the sand.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2B-2ZN81raY/TrXH_HeuWpI/AAAAAAAABio/eMvE_cu0jNM/s1600/IMG_2911.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2B-2ZN81raY/TrXH_HeuWpI/AAAAAAAABio/eMvE_cu0jNM/s400/IMG_2911.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Andrey is casting a big streamer into a promisingly looking bay.  That day the pikes were not cooperative at all.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Jz7eAuYmzaw/TrXK8o7mL-I/AAAAAAAABjA/3RGfTQ66CUc/s1600/IMG_2920.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Jz7eAuYmzaw/TrXK8o7mL-I/AAAAAAAABjA/3RGfTQ66CUc/s400/IMG_2920.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> On a way home we had decided to fish from a boat near one of the faster areas near the main waterway of the Amur.  Such places have pebble bottom and attract different predators.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Rlo_Q4s8D_Q/TrXIBA3vQbI/AAAAAAAABi4/QUgCEB0zGqM/s1600/IMG_2927.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Rlo_Q4s8D_Q/TrXIBA3vQbI/AAAAAAAABi4/QUgCEB0zGqM/s400/IMG_2927.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">That day the fish were not active; they were holding near the bottom below the drop of a riffle.  I had managed to get some bites only with a 50' fast sinking head, made of Rio T17 material.  This is a skygazer.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DO-LVK7IXyI/TrXH9LtI6iI/AAAAAAAABiQ/Y4z8L_olKyQ/s1600/IMG_2932.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DO-LVK7IXyI/TrXH9LtI6iI/AAAAAAAABiQ/Y4z8L_olKyQ/s400/IMG_2932.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Mongolian redfin was caught closer to the bank, where the current was not as strong.  The fly which was so tasty at that day was an Antiwobbler with a foam back.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--VC-A1dHinw/TrXH9pn21KI/AAAAAAAABiY/7ad_gZ7HpVs/s1600/IMG_2852.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--VC-A1dHinw/TrXH9pn21KI/AAAAAAAABiY/7ad_gZ7HpVs/s400/IMG_2852.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Both its upright blade and foam strip at the back help the fly to stay suspended when the heavy line moves on the bottom and pulls it down.  During retrieve and in the current this fly is wiggling.   Antiwobbler is the best fly to fish with a sinking line which you let sink to the bottom.  In this case one is sure the fly is moving above the line, close to the bottom, but is not dragging in the mud.  It is not catching snags as often as a regular streamer.  <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M0eGVygyhJ0/Trbni42a2jI/AAAAAAAABjI/mQ_QvEnCG3k/s1600/IMG_1524.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M0eGVygyhJ0/Trbni42a2jI/AAAAAAAABjI/mQ_QvEnCG3k/s400/IMG_1524.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>  </div><div style="text-align: center;">For more info on these new flies go here   http://flyfishingrussia.blogspot.com/2010/12/new-fly-anti-wobbler.html</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2026769296668179487-8717190761825294822?l=flyfishingrussia.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mikhail Skopetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00438775494762731630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026769296668179487.post-81616457473943714642011-11-02T19:28:00.000+11:002011-11-02T19:28:04.564+11:00August 2011, the second trip to Korf, north-eastern Kamchatka<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;">Korf is situated at the narrow spit between the shallow estuary and the Korfa Bay (sunset at the bay).  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-85HY9d237Mg/TrD66_pATUI/AAAAAAAABg0/UNhaCsZCtAU/s1600/IMG_1910.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-85HY9d237Mg/TrD66_pATUI/AAAAAAAABg0/UNhaCsZCtAU/s400/IMG_1910.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">A calm day at the bay shore (view to the south) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sYxiA5wlm8k/TrD673giu5I/AAAAAAAABg8/RN2PzjCQ4G0/s1600/IMG_1915.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sYxiA5wlm8k/TrD673giu5I/AAAAAAAABg8/RN2PzjCQ4G0/s400/IMG_1915.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Rusty fishing boat </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-n3v_DcPJCOc/TrD68jpdJAI/AAAAAAAABhE/h2VwXIhIKqk/s1600/IMG_1921.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-n3v_DcPJCOc/TrD68jpdJAI/AAAAAAAABhE/h2VwXIhIKqk/s400/IMG_1921.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Steel + salt = rust</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s_-VIqGzw48/TrD69MGcReI/AAAAAAAABhM/kVaD906VpaA/s1600/IMG_1922.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s_-VIqGzw48/TrD69MGcReI/AAAAAAAABhM/kVaD906VpaA/s400/IMG_1922.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> The fishing in the bay was not as good as in June.  I was catching mostly saffron cod. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ep768hK3LVg/TrD66cvOwFI/AAAAAAAABgs/y2KhRya_thk/s1600/IMG_1906.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ep768hK3LVg/TrD66cvOwFI/AAAAAAAABgs/y2KhRya_thk/s400/IMG_1906.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Old wooden fishing boat called "karbas" </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JprPswVKjCY/TrD692AQlHI/AAAAAAAABhU/WpBxxv64Hw0/s1600/IMG_1928.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JprPswVKjCY/TrD692AQlHI/AAAAAAAABhU/WpBxxv64Hw0/s400/IMG_1928.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> A little town of Tilichiki is situated close to Korf, at the mainland  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-phi4l4uq9pA/TrD6-yECZYI/AAAAAAAABhg/DKVDZ3d6AAg/s1600/IMG_1935.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-phi4l4uq9pA/TrD6-yECZYI/AAAAAAAABhg/DKVDZ3d6AAg/s400/IMG_1935.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> From here we will go by ATV (GTT) to the west.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HeA5quVP5qg/TrD6_wGWpAI/AAAAAAAABhk/khBAaVLPNpI/s1600/IMG_1938.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HeA5quVP5qg/TrD6_wGWpAI/AAAAAAAABhk/khBAaVLPNpI/s400/IMG_1938.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> This is not a road, it is just a direction.  No wheels can pass here. I am sitting at the roof of the vehicle - when it is not cold, it is much better than sitting inside.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l77zuwarg1I/TrD7AX7SgOI/AAAAAAAABhs/EMvd0rBrtt4/s1600/IMG_1941.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l77zuwarg1I/TrD7AX7SgOI/AAAAAAAABhs/EMvd0rBrtt4/s400/IMG_1941.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Peat bods in the valley of the Vyvenka River with the tracks of the caterpillars.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HCYu2IU73SM/TrD7BHW3fFI/AAAAAAAABh0/mqo3cX_BGkg/s1600/IMG_1943.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HCYu2IU73SM/TrD7BHW3fFI/AAAAAAAABh0/mqo3cX_BGkg/s400/IMG_1943.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> The Vyvenka River is deep and wide, and has no bridges.  Our vehicle can float, so we will try to cross it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ha8uZms2aRU/TrD7BzNu6eI/AAAAAAAABiA/aN9D-twje5s/s1600/IMG_1948.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ha8uZms2aRU/TrD7BzNu6eI/AAAAAAAABiA/aN9D-twje5s/s400/IMG_1948.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Our "tank" is on a float; the opposite bank is coming closer.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dIjTyJPWkTY/TrD7DPBOadI/AAAAAAAABiI/uOJL1oKl0nI/s1600/IMG_1959.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dIjTyJPWkTY/TrD7DPBOadI/AAAAAAAABiI/uOJL1oKl0nI/s400/IMG_1959.JPG" width="400" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Crossing sloughs in the Vyvenka valley</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yZMFOwtSXqc/TrD65qqiAdI/AAAAAAAABgo/GNiEzX2C78k/s1600/IMG_1965.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yZMFOwtSXqc/TrD65qqiAdI/AAAAAAAABgo/GNiEzX2C78k/s400/IMG_1965.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;">To be continued...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2026769296668179487-8161645747394371464?l=flyfishingrussia.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mikhail Skopetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00438775494762731630noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026769296668179487.post-44493384927626536232011-10-27T19:22:00.000+11:002011-10-27T19:22:05.463+11:00Bystraya R., Kamchatka, September 2011<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;">There are many rivers named Bystraya (swift) in Kamchatka.  This particular Bystraya River is 275 km long. It is the main source of the Bolshaya River, flowing into the Sea of Okhotsk.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-koXlkQm6QoA/TqkOfjvhSaI/AAAAAAAABdo/geOG5rLyWPI/s1600/CRW_2185.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-koXlkQm6QoA/TqkOfjvhSaI/AAAAAAAABdo/geOG5rLyWPI/s400/CRW_2185.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The river is easily reached by car and is popular among the fishermen of the peninsula.  I was fishing the river with my friends, all flyfishermen.  We were lucky with the water level and transparency.  </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tfzuCrI-gyc/TqkOgbUmYkI/AAAAAAAABdw/rmkr75n-hQ8/s1600/CRW_2186.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tfzuCrI-gyc/TqkOgbUmYkI/AAAAAAAABdw/rmkr75n-hQ8/s400/CRW_2186.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The first fish was a spent female of Dolly Varden charr in full spawning colors.  We were surprised that some charrs were already spawning - normally the species is reproducing in much colder water, in the end of September.   </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9IAJ9ptBQbU/TqkOcd2TJkI/AAAAAAAABdM/yoD8Y0qkd1M/s1600/CRW_2171.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9IAJ9ptBQbU/TqkOcd2TJkI/AAAAAAAABdM/yoD8Y0qkd1M/s400/CRW_2171.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> The next bite was from something bigger.  Slow current in the pool made it possible to land this silver coho female with no difficulty.    </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r0lWM2sQpvw/TqkOdodEZ8I/AAAAAAAABdU/2RfamUov1K0/s1600/CRW_2173.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r0lWM2sQpvw/TqkOdodEZ8I/AAAAAAAABdU/2RfamUov1K0/s400/CRW_2173.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I was fishing with a tiny (3 cm long with a tail) silver-and-purple wobbler fly, 3x tippet, and 5 wt 2-handed rod. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xNLCduikWUk/TqkOeE8zrQI/AAAAAAAABdY/RSe0auBJhPE/s1600/CRW_2178.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xNLCduikWUk/TqkOeE8zrQI/AAAAAAAABdY/RSe0auBJhPE/s400/CRW_2178.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> The fish was not tired and went home with ease.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xC48GvvYFcw/TqkOe0-FtlI/AAAAAAAABdk/csD8y-zeuEs/s1600/CRW_2182.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xC48GvvYFcw/TqkOe0-FtlI/AAAAAAAABdk/csD8y-zeuEs/s400/CRW_2182.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> We had moved to a different place and found some surface activity near the steep bank of a pool.  My first fish was nice size grayling.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v-SCD3yQ78U/TqkOhII_KiI/AAAAAAAABd8/fAI0yLMn98M/s1600/CRW_2187.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v-SCD3yQ78U/TqkOhII_KiI/AAAAAAAABd8/fAI0yLMn98M/s400/CRW_2187.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">There was no room for backcasting, so we had to remember how to speycast   </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B4cZpJWle4s/TqkOh4o0nGI/AAAAAAAABeE/DniIGgJ_PzE/s1600/CRW_2190.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B4cZpJWle4s/TqkOh4o0nGI/AAAAAAAABeE/DniIGgJ_PzE/s400/CRW_2190.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> About noon the surface activity had disappeared, and we had started to fish with nymphs. My friend Arkady had hooked another Dolly Varden charr.  It is interesting: in this new place most of the charrs were silver, fresh from the sea, and in the former one we were catching mostly dark and skinny, spent fish.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CFQOUnzjJyE/TqkOjLRf2vI/AAAAAAAABeM/UT5pLRt0s6I/s1600/CRW_2195.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CFQOUnzjJyE/TqkOjLRf2vI/AAAAAAAABeM/UT5pLRt0s6I/s400/CRW_2195.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Arkady with a charr</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VG__ceuk1_8/TqkOb-Uz6rI/AAAAAAAABdE/7oziu8Y-O1Y/s1600/CRW_2200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="323" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VG__ceuk1_8/TqkOb-Uz6rI/AAAAAAAABdE/7oziu8Y-O1Y/s400/CRW_2200.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2026769296668179487-4449338492762653623?l=flyfishingrussia.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mikhail Skopetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00438775494762731630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026769296668179487.post-78142700012457867432011-10-24T09:07:00.003+11:002011-10-24T09:15:50.952+11:00Kamchatka: Obryvisty Creek - after crossing the divide from the Shumny Creek<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;">In the evening of September 10 the valley of the upper Shumny Creek (900 m above the sea level) was looking just lovely.   We had set a camp and were planning to cross the divide tomorrow.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TjCP9XHqNSw/TqSFvFSE-3I/AAAAAAAABbY/EB3EgGHNd8E/s1600/IMG_2271.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TjCP9XHqNSw/TqSFvFSE-3I/AAAAAAAABbY/EB3EgGHNd8E/s400/IMG_2271.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Next morning the same valley was looking gloomy, covered by fresh snow.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e0vtHi2EY44/TqSFwaN8tlI/AAAAAAAABbg/lZ5WnLnqw-U/s1600/IMG_2281.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e0vtHi2EY44/TqSFwaN8tlI/AAAAAAAABbg/lZ5WnLnqw-U/s400/IMG_2281.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Sally-bloom (fireweed) in the snow</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OYUHsujNfkY/TqSFxfRucpI/AAAAAAAABbo/32Y2vZwkSJk/s1600/IMG_2282.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OYUHsujNfkY/TqSFxfRucpI/AAAAAAAABbo/32Y2vZwkSJk/s400/IMG_2282.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> For some time we were able to move up along the old ATV "road", but then it had turned wrong direction.  We had to crawl through dwarf alder and at higher altitudes - through pine-bush.   </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-unRezWaagjE/TqSFyaEo7EI/AAAAAAAABbw/boHwBgtwA-U/s1600/IMG_2289.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-unRezWaagjE/TqSFyaEo7EI/AAAAAAAABbw/boHwBgtwA-U/s400/IMG_2289.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> At the divide it was a true winter.  Yury (left), Pavel & I had celebrated the summit by a homoeopathic dose of excellent Armenian brandy, and went down, into the Obryvisty Creek.  It took about 6 hours of bushwhacking in the snow to cross the divide, and some slopes were steep.  I was hiking in waders and neoprene booties with felt soles.  I did not expect snow, or I would had taken different boots along.  On the other hand, the waders were working fine - one does not get wet in melting snow.  Resume: it is not a big deal to cross snowy mountains in fishing gear, but do not do it on felt!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ykLbrQY8TZE/TqSFzDxTPqI/AAAAAAAABb4/hvt8thG5RUQ/s1600/IMG_2296.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ykLbrQY8TZE/TqSFzDxTPqI/AAAAAAAABb4/hvt8thG5RUQ/s400/IMG_2296.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">It was a big relief to come back into fall after winter at 1200 meters of the divide.  Solomon's Seal berries <i>(Polygonátum) </i>in the creek<i>.  </i> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WZh8QV2yWkk/TqSF0HFM5RI/AAAAAAAABcA/iaLWIEQYdfE/s1600/IMG_2306.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WZh8QV2yWkk/TqSF0HFM5RI/AAAAAAAABcA/iaLWIEQYdfE/s400/IMG_2306.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The most beautiful type of vegetation I know - dwarf bushes of dry mountain tundra.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HOFbyDSFYpQ/TqSF1rZoqMI/AAAAAAAABcI/Ip5r3msriuw/s1600/IMG_2314.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HOFbyDSFYpQ/TqSF1rZoqMI/AAAAAAAABcI/Ip5r3msriuw/s400/IMG_2314.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Yury and Pavel are hiking down the left source of the Obryvisty Creek.  In the water, on slippery rocks my felt soles work much better comparing with regular tourist shoes or rubber boots.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tsWgBk_aQCc/TqSF2fYuDLI/AAAAAAAABcQ/4DTWHTNNbbU/s1600/IMG_2318.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tsWgBk_aQCc/TqSF2fYuDLI/AAAAAAAABcQ/4DTWHTNNbbU/s400/IMG_2318.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> At the altitude of 750 m the creek is starting to look fishy</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uH0CUJV_zAY/TqSF46i-rJI/AAAAAAAABcg/Xag6I_lu00Q/s1600/IMG_2326.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uH0CUJV_zAY/TqSF46i-rJI/AAAAAAAABcg/Xag6I_lu00Q/s400/IMG_2326.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Further down, at 700 m, it is becoming a good trout water.  Nevertheless, Kamchatka rainbow trout is never found in such creeks - they are occupied by numerous charrs.  Normally such creeks host immature parr of anadromous Dolly Varden charr and its dwarf males.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SsmFI8llbkM/TqSF57-LklI/AAAAAAAABco/UXzB7F08Y9M/s1600/IMG_2340.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SsmFI8llbkM/TqSF57-LklI/AAAAAAAABco/UXzB7F08Y9M/s400/IMG_2340.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> I was surprised to catch one ripe female, almost ready to spawn.  On the same day we were able to observe some tiny charrs spawning in the creek.  This is rather unusual - normally ALL females from such creeks become sea-run before maturation. </div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KFt7FxLtKvg/TqSF3eRKSDI/AAAAAAAABcY/NUowM-tK2us/s1600/IMG_2323.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KFt7FxLtKvg/TqSF3eRKSDI/AAAAAAAABcY/NUowM-tK2us/s400/IMG_2323.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> At the altitude of 660 m we had found a 8 m waterfall!  This is why the fish above it had to become resident.  I had observed such situations in the other areas of the Far East - at the Kunashir (Kuriles) and at Sakhalin Island. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Zb1ZikDsVEU/TqSF7DzyptI/AAAAAAAABcw/h9okkRbETBI/s1600/IMG_2349.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Zb1ZikDsVEU/TqSF7DzyptI/AAAAAAAABcw/h9okkRbETBI/s400/IMG_2349.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KFt7FxLtKvg/TqSF3eRKSDI/AAAAAAAABcY/NUowM-tK2us/s1600/IMG_2323.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /> </a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Below the waterfall in the Obryvisty Creek there is a typical stock of Dolly Varden charr - with dwarf males (below) and big females coming from the sea.  Big sea-run males were also present.  These 35-45 cm fish are coming up through Kamchatka & Kirganik Rivers from the Bering Sea (about 500 km).  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BOfvj9Kge8c/TqSFueOdgWI/AAAAAAAABbQ/noGnZhbNQcc/s1600/IMG_2379.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BOfvj9Kge8c/TqSFueOdgWI/AAAAAAAABbQ/noGnZhbNQcc/s400/IMG_2379.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> The last evening at the creek - tomorrow we plan to reach the road where our truck should be waiting.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QFmXYlb5jn8/TqSF7sHKr_I/AAAAAAAABc0/GZhkGYmQoT4/s1600/IMG_2359.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QFmXYlb5jn8/TqSF7sHKr_I/AAAAAAAABc0/GZhkGYmQoT4/s400/IMG_2359.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2026769296668179487-7814270001245786743?l=flyfishingrussia.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mikhail Skopetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00438775494762731630noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026769296668179487.post-25892299844448537532011-10-16T22:08:00.000+11:002011-10-16T22:08:29.972+11:00Shumny Creek, Kamchatka Peninsula<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;">Shumny Creek is a tributary to Malaya Kimitina River; it flows to the east from the Central Kamchatka Ridge.  Our group had to hike up Shumny to its sources.  On the way we will be taking water samples, collecting benthos & fish.  On the other side of the divide we hve to come to the source of the Obryvisty Creek and do similar survey along its whole length.  </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Going by GTT ATV to the west from Milkovo. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lgbN4ZQtSS4/Tpq2TcZpl4I/AAAAAAAABZo/R7svyPca1Gg/s1600/IMG_2219.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lgbN4ZQtSS4/Tpq2TcZpl4I/AAAAAAAABZo/R7svyPca1Gg/s400/IMG_2219.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Young red fox on the road</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8Loi2r28BzE/Tpq2jbfjCnI/AAAAAAAABZ4/zRisiadUxcY/s1600/IMG_2216.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8Loi2r28BzE/Tpq2jbfjCnI/AAAAAAAABZ4/zRisiadUxcY/s400/IMG_2216.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> A family of brown bears is crossing the road in front of the vehicle. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Hx4Cn-BXM68/Tpq2jx-Cb4I/AAAAAAAABaA/dG3UD4ONRUU/s1600/IMG_2220.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="313" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Hx4Cn-BXM68/Tpq2jx-Cb4I/AAAAAAAABaA/dG3UD4ONRUU/s400/IMG_2220.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Shumny Creek 10 km from the source</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MOHX_M8L1Sw/Tpq2ldig-TI/AAAAAAAABaQ/CjP8LSplh5M/s1600/IMG_2225.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MOHX_M8L1Sw/Tpq2ldig-TI/AAAAAAAABaQ/CjP8LSplh5M/s400/IMG_2225.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Sep 10.  The fireweed (sally-bloom) in the birch forest is starting to become red and purple.   </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Bf64Dldukhc/Tpq2ml_I73I/AAAAAAAABaY/mw-NL6MIKL0/s1600/IMG_2234.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Bf64Dldukhc/Tpq2ml_I73I/AAAAAAAABaY/mw-NL6MIKL0/s400/IMG_2234.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Our team of 3 is leaving upstream the Shumny Creek from the camp of geologists.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1VaPnZgP8Vc/Tpq2nV6ZJFI/AAAAAAAABag/kFqyFnmIcyc/s1600/IMG_2236.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1VaPnZgP8Vc/Tpq2nV6ZJFI/AAAAAAAABag/kFqyFnmIcyc/s400/IMG_2236.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> The only fish in the Shumny is Dolly Varden charr.  Most of small charr are immature parr of sea-run fish, but bigger and brighter specimens are dwarf males.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VloyFIIKNV8/Tpq23rznosI/AAAAAAAABa4/HRH-MeKhLZM/s1600/IMG_2250.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VloyFIIKNV8/Tpq23rznosI/AAAAAAAABa4/HRH-MeKhLZM/s400/IMG_2250.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Dissecting caught fish in a typical Kamchatka ichthyology lab.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tMGMSVgu-ns/Tpq215tBEBI/AAAAAAAABao/lONElIMZAfA/s1600/IMG_2276.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tMGMSVgu-ns/Tpq215tBEBI/AAAAAAAABao/lONElIMZAfA/s400/IMG_2276.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Two top fish - dwarf males; two smaller ones - immature parr of sea-run charr; three little dark fish - charr in the age of 0+ (born in 2011).  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-huFwk76PGKk/Tpq22lmzizI/AAAAAAAABaw/6g7UaXoAQgc/s1600/IMG_2228.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-huFwk76PGKk/Tpq22lmzizI/AAAAAAAABaw/6g7UaXoAQgc/s400/IMG_2228.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <br /> The valley of the upper Shumny, 900 m above the sea level.  Here we will overnight in a tent, and cross the divide tomorrow morning.  The mountain in the background is over 1700 m.     </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4HX_JnCV1S0/Tpq3RMGv3TI/AAAAAAAABbI/jQOKRPBXa8Q/s1600/IMG_2265.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4HX_JnCV1S0/Tpq3RMGv3TI/AAAAAAAABbI/jQOKRPBXa8Q/s400/IMG_2265.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"> To be continued...</div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2026769296668179487-2589229984444853753?l=flyfishingrussia.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mikhail Skopetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00438775494762731630noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026769296668179487.post-12193929673675085912011-10-12T14:03:00.001+11:002011-10-12T14:04:28.370+11:00Kopylie River, Kamchatka<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;">Kopylie River is a 90-km long high-gradient stream, which is flowing through the valleys of the Central-Kamchatka Ridge, the spine of the peninsula.  Kopylie is one of the sources of the Icha River, flowing to the west, into the Sea of Okhotsk.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YAUCm6_SdDk/TpT9T80CpGI/AAAAAAAABY4/9O-bL4EJOzo/s1600/IMG_1763.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YAUCm6_SdDk/TpT9T80CpGI/AAAAAAAABY4/9O-bL4EJOzo/s400/IMG_1763.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> The fishing in such streams requires a search for the deeper areas with not as swift current: only in such places the anadromous fish running upstream could have a rest. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pG10kd8muTo/TpT9VhUI8DI/AAAAAAAABZI/FV1kluEqdQ4/s1600/IMG_1769.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pG10kd8muTo/TpT9VhUI8DI/AAAAAAAABZI/FV1kluEqdQ4/s400/IMG_1769.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> In some places the river is not as swift   </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0uUIyVF3IF0/TpT9Pz80NXI/AAAAAAAABYY/74Ll2cStAHc/s1600/IMG_1787.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0uUIyVF3IF0/TpT9Pz80NXI/AAAAAAAABYY/74Ll2cStAHc/s400/IMG_1787.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> The easy part of the exercise is that if you locate a suitable place, the fish (if there are any) will be here.  Much easier than covering deep & uniform water of marshy creeks. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SSkHOvrZEx4/TpT9U3n6eSI/AAAAAAAABZA/gFJHkmHct5A/s1600/IMG_1764.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SSkHOvrZEx4/TpT9U3n6eSI/AAAAAAAABZA/gFJHkmHct5A/s400/IMG_1764.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">  For testing the new salmon streams I normally use a small, pink "wobbler fly" on #8 or #10 hook.  These lures are among the best for triggering a bite from even an anadromous, not-feeding fish.  This time the "fly" is presented with a 11,5' 5-weight trout-spey rod and 16' fast-sinking tippet.  Normally I am trying to move the fly slow, close to the bottom.  I could feel when it is wiggling its marabou tail on retrieve, or when it stops wiggling when touching the rocks. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tRuAPUss_O0/TpT9WuVPdKI/AAAAAAAABZQ/Rhj60tzdpPY/s1600/IMG_1772.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tRuAPUss_O0/TpT9WuVPdKI/AAAAAAAABZQ/Rhj60tzdpPY/s400/IMG_1772.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Fish on!  A bite of something in the stream which you had never fished before is always exciting.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qmIsRCtiXys/TpT9XjZnsxI/AAAAAAAABZY/kdICtYhGt4E/s1600/IMG_1781.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qmIsRCtiXys/TpT9XjZnsxI/AAAAAAAABZY/kdICtYhGt4E/s400/IMG_1781.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SSkHOvrZEx4/TpT9U3n6eSI/AAAAAAAABZA/gFJHkmHct5A/s1600/IMG_1764.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> This is sea-run Dolly Varden charr  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1AVQ3VqxU2U/TpT9Yc0zxMI/AAAAAAAABZg/SZkv3ohyU_Y/s1600/IMG_1784.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1AVQ3VqxU2U/TpT9Yc0zxMI/AAAAAAAABZg/SZkv3ohyU_Y/s400/IMG_1784.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Spawning males of Dolly Varden are among the most colorful Salmonid fish.  The females are not as bright. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VQED8JFhSik/TpT9QpEZbLI/AAAAAAAABYg/y0PewO1jc0k/s1600/IMG_1754.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VQED8JFhSik/TpT9QpEZbLI/AAAAAAAABYg/y0PewO1jc0k/s400/IMG_1754.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> This fish had spent not less than 2 years in fresh water as a parr, and made at least 3 summer migrations into the sea for feeding.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rADW-kkvNBs/TpT9RdDOf8I/AAAAAAAABYo/NDaDKRi5fvY/s1600/IMG_1757.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rADW-kkvNBs/TpT9RdDOf8I/AAAAAAAABYo/NDaDKRi5fvY/s400/IMG_1757.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jus1R4V5XrI/TpT9SRsrKSI/AAAAAAAABYw/ZeHU5yG4cdY/s1600/IMG_1758.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /> </a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2026769296668179487-1219392967367508591?l=flyfishingrussia.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mikhail Skopetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00438775494762731630noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026769296668179487.post-91756973537153928942011-10-08T11:24:00.001+11:002011-10-08T11:27:40.208+11:00Kamchatka-2011, Ozernovskaya creek<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;"> Ozernovskaya Creek is a tributary to the upper part of the Kirganik River, which belongs to the Kamchatka R. drainagbe.  The creek is flowing among the mountains of the Central-Kamchatka Ridge, the "spine" of the peninsula.  The valley of the creek is covered with meadows, stone birch forest, and pine-bush.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_jpQcZ41i3k/To-N5kwTTMI/AAAAAAAABXs/-8L_onPMwUA/s1600/IMG_1807.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_jpQcZ41i3k/To-N5kwTTMI/AAAAAAAABXs/-8L_onPMwUA/s400/IMG_1807.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> On the way to the upper part of the Ozernovskaya we had seen several brown bears.   </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nsaO6bXY2kY/To-N_m5--NI/AAAAAAAABYI/soGErREaotA/s1600/IMG_1855.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nsaO6bXY2kY/To-N_m5--NI/AAAAAAAABYI/soGErREaotA/s400/IMG_1855.JPG" width="400" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">The river valley is grown by mighty grasses, "shelomainik" in local slang.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZRXLoBXkJ7M/To-OAvMLMaI/AAAAAAAABYM/w5JnUSFiEuc/s1600/IMG_1869.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZRXLoBXkJ7M/To-OAvMLMaI/AAAAAAAABYM/w5JnUSFiEuc/s400/IMG_1869.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Our truck is parked at the end of the road.  From here we will hike. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wI74fDrjOKM/To-QMrWjRTI/AAAAAAAABYU/XjKYzWBFpGY/s1600/IMG_1837.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wI74fDrjOKM/To-QMrWjRTI/AAAAAAAABYU/XjKYzWBFpGY/s400/IMG_1837.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">Taking a sample of bottom invertebrates (benthos)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xZOWGH6h7qQ/To-N_P2-A9I/AAAAAAAABYE/Tj9a2r_lJyM/s1600/IMG_1851.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xZOWGH6h7qQ/To-N_P2-A9I/AAAAAAAABYE/Tj9a2r_lJyM/s400/IMG_1851.JPG" width="265" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I had to find out how far into the mountains the fish can be found; so I went downstream the creek from the altitude over 900 meters above the sea level.  For some time I was not able to catch any fish.  This shot has an exposure of 1/400 of a second.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--PdPXSO5Aik/To-N6Trmk0I/AAAAAAAABXw/MHJ1IxpbNv4/s1600/IMG_1816.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--PdPXSO5Aik/To-N6Trmk0I/AAAAAAAABXw/MHJ1IxpbNv4/s400/IMG_1816.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">This shot has an exposure of 1/4 of a second.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hI-SMIOxeYM/To-N7LhA5UI/AAAAAAAABX0/GSMGK5GM6Pc/s1600/IMG_1819.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hI-SMIOxeYM/To-N7LhA5UI/AAAAAAAABX0/GSMGK5GM6Pc/s400/IMG_1819.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Finally I have caught the first fish, dwarf male of Dolly Varden charr.  This had happen at the altitude of 825 m.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jS3ZVuT6d0A/To-N8knnEJI/AAAAAAAABX8/-dJTOwDo7C8/s1600/IMG_1822.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jS3ZVuT6d0A/To-N8knnEJI/AAAAAAAABX8/-dJTOwDo7C8/s400/IMG_1822.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> In the valley there are several cold mineral springs which water is mixing with the creek.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_BdnEiVOEak/To-N9gpDQAI/AAAAAAAABYA/On7uSx3-X6U/s1600/IMG_1826.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_BdnEiVOEak/To-N9gpDQAI/AAAAAAAABYA/On7uSx3-X6U/s400/IMG_1826.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Further downstream the creek has lower gradient; here the small charrs are rather numerous.  There are hundreds of them on every kilometer of the river.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-97GChnmXvpY/To-N4_I7jXI/AAAAAAAABXo/qljKmfASteE/s1600/IMG_1801.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-97GChnmXvpY/To-N4_I7jXI/AAAAAAAABXo/qljKmfASteE/s400/IMG_1801.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> I was catching this fish with a rig of two small (#12 or 14), weighted nymphs.  In typical situation small charr dwelling in creeks are part of the anadromous Dolly Varden stocks of the main river.  All females do not reach maturity before 2 or 3 marine migrations (age 5-6 years).  On the opposite, lots of males become mature in the creeks, in the age of 2-3 years, when reaching weight of 20-40 grams.  Such dwarf males spawn with anadromous females coming from the sea.    </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bYfC0ABebSo/To-N3vQ81oI/AAAAAAAABXk/Kgxf6FBm06U/s1600/IMG_1799.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bYfC0ABebSo/To-N3vQ81oI/AAAAAAAABXk/Kgxf6FBm06U/s400/IMG_1799.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">  Spawning sockeye salmon in the Kirganik River near the mouth of the Ozernovskaya Creek.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hj_sVoPKvHo/To-OBU0QJBI/AAAAAAAABYQ/jGjfPrLDO2o/s1600/IMG_1880.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hj_sVoPKvHo/To-OBU0QJBI/AAAAAAAABYQ/jGjfPrLDO2o/s400/IMG_1880.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">Tiny charrs of the age 0+ years (born this spring).  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5FtrI8VCtvs/To-N2ks_8VI/AAAAAAAABXg/ff9JdrD6scc/s1600/IMG_1905.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5FtrI8VCtvs/To-N2ks_8VI/AAAAAAAABXg/ff9JdrD6scc/s400/IMG_1905.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Aconite is a poisonous plant</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FRJqYvAu15E/To-N7xBYqOI/AAAAAAAABX4/NesDAyW9Q_8/s1600/IMG_1820.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FRJqYvAu15E/To-N7xBYqOI/AAAAAAAABX4/NesDAyW9Q_8/s400/IMG_1820.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2026769296668179487-9175697353715392894?l=flyfishingrussia.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mikhail Skopetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00438775494762731630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026769296668179487.post-76261100167323485262011-08-14T20:49:00.000+11:002011-08-14T20:49:23.974+11:00Gone to Kamchatka<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;">I'm gone to Kamchatka peninsula for 6 weeks.  Plans - some exploration & research in the northern part of the peninsula, and then in its south-west.  </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Ichinski vlc (3621 m)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v9es3Dimn10/TkeZVXV7KWI/AAAAAAAABXc/X4swrFWYf6I/s1600/aOpala_vlc.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="273" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v9es3Dimn10/TkeZVXV7KWI/AAAAAAAABXc/X4swrFWYf6I/s400/aOpala_vlc.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;">See you in October! </div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2026769296668179487-7626110016732348526?l=flyfishingrussia.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mikhail Skopetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00438775494762731630noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026769296668179487.post-20382028617604622542011-08-13T13:03:00.000+11:002011-08-13T13:03:33.176+11:00Mandarin bass<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;">I was fishing the same spot at the dike on which I had written on Aug 6.   At the Amur the fishing conditions are changing literally every day.  This time there were no skygazers in the casting distance.  I had spent two hours casting & changing flies, and lost some on the rocks, but had not seen any rises of the feeding predators; there were no bites of fish.  </div><div style="text-align: center;"> One more last cast, and one more..  When the streamer was passing an area above big rocks in a current, the line stopped.  I was completely sure that it was one more snag, and started to make jerks with the rod, trying to pull the line up.  I was not able to unhook the fly, but suddenly it became evidently that the "snag" is moving into the depth..  </div><div style="text-align: center;"> Mandarin bass (Chinese perch) <i>Siniperca chuatsi</i> is ambuscader which is attacking its prey from short distance.  In nineteen seventies the species was listed as endangered, but now it is rather numerous in the Amur near Khabarovsk.  Big city with its dikes, cofferdams, bridges, and other underwater structures is creating lots of excellent bass habitats.  This bass weighs 1150 g (almost 3 pounds), and the maximum weight of the species is to 8,6 kg (19 pounds).  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yHsdS4836dQ/TkXTA_07zmI/AAAAAAAABXY/m7ux10_rqPE/s1600/IMG_1691.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yHsdS4836dQ/TkXTA_07zmI/AAAAAAAABXY/m7ux10_rqPE/s400/IMG_1691.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Comparing with the bass species from USA, Mandarin bass is never jumping when hooked.  It is rather secretive bottom fish which is hard to see even in the areas with good density.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Uk82s13sSvQ/TkXTAOSBJbI/AAAAAAAABXU/d9FQHAwTbRk/s1600/IMG_1688.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Uk82s13sSvQ/TkXTAOSBJbI/AAAAAAAABXU/d9FQHAwTbRk/s400/IMG_1688.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Chinese perch had strong jaws & sharp, rather long teeth.  It is not a good idea to grab even a small, 2-pound fish for its lower jaw - it will surely damage your thumb.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HDtkvtZteW8/TkXS_SJTecI/AAAAAAAABXQ/jpruOdGF4kw/s1600/IMG_3198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HDtkvtZteW8/TkXS_SJTecI/AAAAAAAABXQ/jpruOdGF4kw/s400/IMG_3198.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2026769296668179487-2038202861760462254?l=flyfishingrussia.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mikhail Skopetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00438775494762731630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026769296668179487.post-19349716506379029532011-08-10T23:03:00.000+11:002011-08-10T23:03:36.213+11:00Lotus are blossoming!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;">Regardless to the harsh winters Amur River have some aquatic tropical animals & plants.  One of them is lotus.  This magnificent "weed" can be found on some lakes near Khabarovsk.  The best time to see the blossoms is about August 1st. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JG--xB9pqz0/TkJvXl-EdQI/AAAAAAAABWw/f2vqeqSjM_U/s1600/IMG_1574.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JG--xB9pqz0/TkJvXl-EdQI/AAAAAAAABWw/f2vqeqSjM_U/s400/IMG_1574.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> The water in the lake is low due to hot weather.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JD9YdTX7NK8/TkJvYjtPFUI/AAAAAAAABW0/wDU3ca8BKv0/s1600/IMG_1570.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JD9YdTX7NK8/TkJvYjtPFUI/AAAAAAAABW0/wDU3ca8BKv0/s400/IMG_1570.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Pink blossoms are over 25 cm across. The species is <i>Nelumbo komarovii</i> Grossh., 1940  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cyGD1KvTuDI/TkJvZIUrOQI/AAAAAAAABW4/lSvgBmuzb2Y/s1600/IMG_1571.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cyGD1KvTuDI/TkJvZIUrOQI/AAAAAAAABW4/lSvgBmuzb2Y/s400/IMG_1571.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> The flowers will not last for more than a week.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pqMVuRO1YpQ/TkJvZxvYT4I/AAAAAAAABW8/4NvnPI6ku6I/s1600/IMG_1572.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pqMVuRO1YpQ/TkJvZxvYT4I/AAAAAAAABW8/4NvnPI6ku6I/s400/IMG_1572.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Water can not moisten the lotus leaves  - they are covered by "wax" layer.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--QS2GGsOt78/TkJxTtuIOWI/AAAAAAAABXA/DeAjtdhEGVs/s1600/IMG_5968.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--QS2GGsOt78/TkJxTtuIOWI/AAAAAAAABXA/DeAjtdhEGVs/s400/IMG_5968.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> My wife at the lotus "field"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8fugNHCrGTY/TkJxl7kJ9sI/AAAAAAAABXE/S1L95xR4xmY/s1600/IMG_5955.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8fugNHCrGTY/TkJxl7kJ9sI/AAAAAAAABXE/S1L95xR4xmY/s400/IMG_5955.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">By November this lush vegetation will die, and the plants will sleep under ice till the next summer. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ijq2K0bYXpg/TkJx5n4T5dI/AAAAAAAABXI/FM070L_5j7M/s1600/IMG_6749.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ijq2K0bYXpg/TkJx5n4T5dI/AAAAAAAABXI/FM070L_5j7M/s400/IMG_6749.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> These cones contain lotus seeds which can sleep, if necessary, for thousands of years. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7v4L51Fev1I/TkJx6lvbEnI/AAAAAAAABXM/DcOoEsFZOng/s1600/IMG_6747.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7v4L51Fev1I/TkJx6lvbEnI/AAAAAAAABXM/DcOoEsFZOng/s400/IMG_6747.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2026769296668179487-1934971650637902953?l=flyfishingrussia.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mikhail Skopetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00438775494762731630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026769296668179487.post-25952877580091733202011-08-08T22:03:00.001+11:002011-08-08T22:05:42.818+11:00Amur River near Khabarovsk, at the dike (August 06, 2011; 5 - 11 AM)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;">I was fishing from a boat from the right bank of the Pemzenskaya channel, below the dike (this image is taken from the left bank).  </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KQBxeNZX1Z4/Tj-_YjVZ1xI/AAAAAAAABWc/qee3pZT84g0/s1600/IMG_1694.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KQBxeNZX1Z4/Tj-_YjVZ1xI/AAAAAAAABWc/qee3pZT84g0/s400/IMG_1694.JPG" width="400" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Today a big school of medium size skygazers (3-5 pounds) are feeding on sawbellies and other little fish.   I was casting big silver-pearl streamers and Antiwoblers with a two-handed rod and intermediate leader. Amur River is now low and rather clear (in summer I had not seen it any more clear than this).  I   </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e0R3iAhYI40/Tj-9nOOSHfI/AAAAAAAABWA/lGpIPpyAee4/s1600/IMG_1658.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e0R3iAhYI40/Tj-9nOOSHfI/AAAAAAAABWA/lGpIPpyAee4/s400/IMG_1658.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Skygazer is never jumping; this fish always pulls the line to the bottom.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IgAMGw85fZo/Tj-_Bl3XT1I/AAAAAAAABWI/H12OL2ToInA/s1600/IMG_1630.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IgAMGw85fZo/Tj-_Bl3XT1I/AAAAAAAABWI/H12OL2ToInA/s400/IMG_1630.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> This simple fly on a "golden" hook was working the best at that day. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lpUtf0K_FYI/Tj-_CG3G-2I/AAAAAAAABWM/NneZMeathVE/s1600/IMG_1636.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lpUtf0K_FYI/Tj-_CG3G-2I/AAAAAAAABWM/NneZMeathVE/s400/IMG_1636.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Skygazer of medium size </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nmYVSBXnw3A/Tj-_Cz2fapI/AAAAAAAABWQ/Vuagzf1c-4Y/s1600/IMG_1637.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nmYVSBXnw3A/Tj-_Cz2fapI/AAAAAAAABWQ/Vuagzf1c-4Y/s400/IMG_1637.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> I was using two flies; the smaller one was on a tippet tied to the hook of a big upper streamer.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p9ewaI7iGkw/Tj-_DX1c9YI/AAAAAAAABWU/jrLgeD00grQ/s1600/IMG_1639.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p9ewaI7iGkw/Tj-_DX1c9YI/AAAAAAAABWU/jrLgeD00grQ/s400/IMG_1639.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Pearl Antiwobbler was working as well </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9v_d7Wfrj7M/Tj-_EIirNHI/AAAAAAAABWY/30gpquIojKM/s1600/IMG_1651.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9v_d7Wfrj7M/Tj-_EIirNHI/AAAAAAAABWY/30gpquIojKM/s400/IMG_1651.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">A little Mandarin bass was also caught with the same tackle.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P027Uf1pV24/Tj-_BMUfaoI/AAAAAAAABWE/NhugtUxvPb4/s1600/IMG_1655.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P027Uf1pV24/Tj-_BMUfaoI/AAAAAAAABWE/NhugtUxvPb4/s400/IMG_1655.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">When too many spin-fishermen had started to cast the jigs across my line, I had decided to go home.    </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--PT8ZwWowHk/Tj-_tcoKqEI/AAAAAAAABWg/UtAg5qj-wdQ/s1600/IMG_1680.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--PT8ZwWowHk/Tj-_tcoKqEI/AAAAAAAABWg/UtAg5qj-wdQ/s400/IMG_1680.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> The fish was sometimes boiling right near the boat, in slack water.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uuMuBFzmUM8/Tj-_t2mdJBI/AAAAAAAABWk/36wuEGqr9Yg/s1600/IMG_1665.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uuMuBFzmUM8/Tj-_t2mdJBI/AAAAAAAABWk/36wuEGqr9Yg/s400/IMG_1665.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Over a dozen fishermen are too many for this little place..</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lgMFz6YcxpI/Tj-_uqGh1TI/AAAAAAAABWo/X0ZhzjAwNpk/s1600/IMG_1677.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lgMFz6YcxpI/Tj-_uqGh1TI/AAAAAAAABWo/X0ZhzjAwNpk/s400/IMG_1677.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Here you can see that the dike is completely destroyed by the 2011 floods.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wm-xb8IiOMk/Tj-_vUr4fqI/AAAAAAAABWs/rF2HCeer7JQ/s1600/IMG_1678.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wm-xb8IiOMk/Tj-_vUr4fqI/AAAAAAAABWs/rF2HCeer7JQ/s400/IMG_1678.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2026769296668179487-2595287758009173320?l=flyfishingrussia.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mikhail Skopetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00438775494762731630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026769296668179487.post-82756150417120385562011-08-06T19:41:00.000+11:002011-08-06T19:41:01.152+11:00Ussuri River, first day of August 2011<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;">Ussuri is a big right tributary of the Amur River; it is 897 km long.  Along its middle & lower part Ussiri delimits Russia (right bank) and China.  Two rivers meet in downtown Khabarovsk.  Ussuri water is normally more clear than in the Amur.    </div><div style="text-align: center;">About 5 in the morning I was at the Ussuri R in the southern part of Khabarovsk.  The city downtown is 5 km downstream from me.  It was still completely dark.  Some fish were chasing fingerlings & splashing near the very bank.  I had started to fish with a pearl Antiwobbler (see )with no foam and caught some small size <b>skygazers </b><i>(Erythroculter erythropterus</i>).  On a floating line this fly becomes a skater, and below the surface on retrieve it has a wobbling action and comes to the surface (http://flyfishingrussia.blogspot.com/2010/12/new-fly-anti-wobbler.html).  Silver-and-pearl Antiwobblers is one of the best "flies" for the pelagic Amur River predators.  Due to its active vibrations the fish can "feel" them even in murky water or in darkness.    </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eSPwr1AwLYE/TjztskqN_1I/AAAAAAAABVc/2vODMONHoGE/s1600/IMG_1548.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="261" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eSPwr1AwLYE/TjztskqN_1I/AAAAAAAABVc/2vODMONHoGE/s400/IMG_1548.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The area where I was fishing is a gravel spit between a riffle and a bay with a back-current.  The eddy forms a hole on the distance of 20-40 meters from me.   </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sgPmo1cCCpE/Tjztr5QHBEI/AAAAAAAABVY/_sSL4ykeViU/s1600/IMG_1582.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sgPmo1cCCpE/Tjztr5QHBEI/AAAAAAAABVY/_sSL4ykeViU/s400/IMG_1582.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> With the daylight the fish start feeding farther from the bank. I had shifted from a 9' rod to a double-handed one, with a floating head &15' sink tip.  The fly was the same.  The first bites were from <b>Mongolian redfin</b>.  It is a beauty!  The scientific name of the redfin is  <i>Erythroculter mongolicus</i>.    </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RATz2rnqEpo/TjzttEvaN5I/AAAAAAAABVg/B7wI6qCkn-g/s1600/IMG_1552.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RATz2rnqEpo/TjzttEvaN5I/AAAAAAAABVg/B7wI6qCkn-g/s400/IMG_1552.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Mongolian redfin (below) looks similar to the <b>flathead asp</b> (<i>Pseudaspius leptocephalus</i>) which dwells in the same river.  The easiest way to distinguish the species is a long sharp spine in the dorsal fin of the redfin: asp has no such spine.   </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9cPnvTdEpeo/TjzttudhcPI/AAAAAAAABVk/h72Iwo20GE4/s1600/IMG_1558.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9cPnvTdEpeo/TjzttudhcPI/AAAAAAAABVk/h72Iwo20GE4/s400/IMG_1558.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <b>Amur</b> <b>three</b>-<b>lip</b> (<i>Opsariichthys uncirostris amurensis</i>) is a small, avaricious predator.  It is often biting flies & lures prepared for much bigger fish species.   </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--sBtZ5mDTb8/TjztuGZCubI/AAAAAAAABVo/yvQtk_XebRs/s1600/IMG_1561.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--sBtZ5mDTb8/TjztuGZCubI/AAAAAAAABVo/yvQtk_XebRs/s400/IMG_1561.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> About 8 AM I see mighty splashes - these should be the <b>yellowcheek </b>(<i>Elopichthys bambusa</i>).  I am changing the sink tip to the clear, intermediate one.  The fly is still the same. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lGWzIrLYyKQ/Tjztuq02_cI/AAAAAAAABVs/depF8TevKMg/s1600/IMG_1565.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lGWzIrLYyKQ/Tjztuq02_cI/AAAAAAAABVs/depF8TevKMg/s400/IMG_1565.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> This is a little yellowcheek - the biggest ones can reach 2 meters long!  The fish is very strong; its bite feels like powerful pull, and the first run of even a small fish is dangerous for the tackle.     </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F1rk_6dVnVU/TjztvfG5GEI/AAAAAAAABVw/jznMuTnbhjQ/s1600/IMG_1575.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F1rk_6dVnVU/TjztvfG5GEI/AAAAAAAABVw/jznMuTnbhjQ/s400/IMG_1575.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Powerful jaws of yellowcheek have no teeth - it is one of the Carps.  To kill its prey the jaws have cutting edges and a know at the lower jaw - similar to European asp.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FMVCMsxDdJo/TjztwD5lkVI/AAAAAAAABV0/ohf8hE0m9RI/s1600/IMG_1577.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="350" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FMVCMsxDdJo/TjztwD5lkVI/AAAAAAAABV0/ohf8hE0m9RI/s400/IMG_1577.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Powerful forked tail is much wider than the fish body.   </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kDKhjcej3us/Tjztw6xlDxI/AAAAAAAABV4/H7kmsELY4gQ/s1600/IMG_1578.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kDKhjcej3us/Tjztw6xlDxI/AAAAAAAABV4/H7kmsELY4gQ/s400/IMG_1578.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> This is the Antiwobbler which was working the best on that day </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8rQWutpIO2c/Tjztxtl-g8I/AAAAAAAABV8/0TnvrJ-1k88/s1600/IMG_1581.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="278" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8rQWutpIO2c/Tjztxtl-g8I/AAAAAAAABV8/0TnvrJ-1k88/s400/IMG_1581.JPG" width="400" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RATz2rnqEpo/TjzttEvaN5I/AAAAAAAABVg/B7wI6qCkn-g/s1600/IMG_1552.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br /> <div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2026769296668179487-8275615041712038556?l=flyfishingrussia.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mikhail Skopetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00438775494762731630noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026769296668179487.post-37397167688759750042011-07-30T18:45:00.000+11:002011-07-30T18:45:47.131+11:00Amur River, downtown Khabarovsk<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;">The city park in Khabarovsk is situated at the Amur River.  Here, near the rocky hill which you can see at the background, the military camp Khabarovka was established back in 1858.   </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O2v-g2RMmjM/TjOw-8X9O9I/AAAAAAAABVE/N0qvlRHIBYU/s1600/IMG_1526.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O2v-g2RMmjM/TjOw-8X9O9I/AAAAAAAABVE/N0qvlRHIBYU/s400/IMG_1526.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> When the water is not too high, the local fishermen always gather near the former cliff, at the base of the embankment.  Here one can catch different fish, predators & non-predators. </div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><br /> <br /> <div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p7Nc54awUww/TjOxAs0Ny5I/AAAAAAAABVU/TmtKQ2pLRfw/s1600/IMG_1542.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p7Nc54awUww/TjOxAs0Ny5I/AAAAAAAABVU/TmtKQ2pLRfw/s400/IMG_1542.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Hear the hill the current goes away from the rocky bank and forms a deep area with a backcurrent.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_OMywKtr-7E/TjOw_yeRswI/AAAAAAAABVM/HA42Xz-6MJQ/s1600/IMG_1533.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_OMywKtr-7E/TjOw_yeRswI/AAAAAAAABVM/HA42Xz-6MJQ/s400/IMG_1533.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> The best fishing time during the hot months is late evening & very early morning.  <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pCcui7bodSk/TjOxAb5LXCI/AAAAAAAABVQ/Hs7uTlGLBa4/s1600/IMG_1536.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pCcui7bodSk/TjOxAb5LXCI/AAAAAAAABVQ/Hs7uTlGLBa4/s400/IMG_1536.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Tonight the biting was not too good.  I was able to catch one medium size skygazer.  The fish had bitten a fly in the middle layers of the water, at the seam between strong  & slack currents, at the depth of about 4 meters. <br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ch3mOe3VLVg/TjOw_SB9LGI/AAAAAAAABVI/zsYCxX9u8rc/s1600/IMG_1531.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ch3mOe3VLVg/TjOw_SB9LGI/AAAAAAAABVI/zsYCxX9u8rc/s400/IMG_1531.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /> <div style="text-align: center;"></div><br /> <br /> <div style="text-align: center;">This is the "fly" which had done the trick.  It is called "Anti-Wobbler".  The clear plastic blade of the fly is turned upright.  It makes the fly wiggle & moving up on the retrieve.  This particular fly had foam back, but I often tie such ones with no foam.  The action of Anti-Wobblers is one of the best for catching different pelagic predators - both freshwater & marine.  I am using them with a sink tip or with sinking line.     </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Isvmitx4fp0/TjOw-aKCGEI/AAAAAAAABVA/b3fhoQGpdf4/s1600/IMG_1524.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Isvmitx4fp0/TjOw-aKCGEI/AAAAAAAABVA/b3fhoQGpdf4/s400/IMG_1524.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Lights in the park</div><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uLkSdGUyaas/TjOw9qrTNLI/AAAAAAAABU8/PxAa5Z01MNc/s1600/IMG_1544.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uLkSdGUyaas/TjOw9qrTNLI/AAAAAAAABU8/PxAa5Z01MNc/s400/IMG_1544.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2026769296668179487-3739716768875975004?l=flyfishingrussia.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mikhail Skopetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00438775494762731630noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026769296668179487.post-41845266832738001322011-07-25T19:12:00.002+11:002011-07-27T14:33:13.349+11:00Hot July at the Amur River - one more weekend<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;">Mid summer in Amur is normally hot and calm.  On the sunrise the huge river looks like a mirror.  The water temperature was 25*C.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W2J1R4mJcYM/Ti0Z-croWAI/AAAAAAAABUo/Ryv7XGkBvOA/s1600/IMG_1499.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W2J1R4mJcYM/Ti0Z-croWAI/AAAAAAAABUo/Ryv7XGkBvOA/s400/IMG_1499.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Lots of small fish were jumping at the lake outlet.  These 10-20 cm long silver Cyprinids (mostly sawbelly) were preying upon some tiny, 1,5-2 cm long fish.  Bigger predators, probably, 0,3-1 kg skygazers were time to time making boils in the middle of the sawbelly schools.  Dog eat dog!  The water in Amur was high & murky.  In such situations the skygazer is normally aiming only the big groups of its prey, and ignoring the solitary fish (same as your fly).  I have decided to move into the lake.        </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LFUgsgpQw2w/Ti0Z_bM8MZI/AAAAAAAABUw/CY7ZVfqi0Kw/s1600/IMG_1505.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LFUgsgpQw2w/Ti0Z_bM8MZI/AAAAAAAABUw/CY7ZVfqi0Kw/s400/IMG_1505.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">In the lake the surface temperature was 28*C!  At the outlet there were also schools of sawbelly which were hunting on little fish.  Sawbelly looks like a bleak, but you often catch it with streamers.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O-DFJCFy0GA/Ti0Z99e4a9I/AAAAAAAABUk/ZmWwrnbfB_8/s1600/IMG_1497.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O-DFJCFy0GA/Ti0Z99e4a9I/AAAAAAAABUk/ZmWwrnbfB_8/s400/IMG_1497.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> I have tried a tiny wobbler-fly on #10 hook and caught some predatory sawbellies as well.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fl8NXuw5vyg/Ti0Z-2kIW1I/AAAAAAAABUs/QxAm9qwaHSk/s1600/IMG_1501.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fl8NXuw5vyg/Ti0Z-2kIW1I/AAAAAAAABUs/QxAm9qwaHSk/s400/IMG_1501.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The lake is formed by an old river channel; its widest & deepest part is a flooded sand pit.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IElPd-5IdmM/Ti0Z7mf0iSI/AAAAAAAABUU/8LSqpgGXSCk/s1600/IMG_1484.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IElPd-5IdmM/Ti0Z7mf0iSI/AAAAAAAABUU/8LSqpgGXSCk/s400/IMG_1484.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> In the lake there were lots of little skygazers.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ew7IxkwD2vM/Ti0Z86PiRBI/AAAAAAAABUc/4QJ5jsK9DnM/s1600/IMG_1489.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ew7IxkwD2vM/Ti0Z86PiRBI/AAAAAAAABUc/4QJ5jsK9DnM/s400/IMG_1489.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">This corner looks promising - it should be inhabited by some bigger predator</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wjP24kZwmGE/Ti0Z8BgEtNI/AAAAAAAABUY/uRuCqzdO9Sw/s1600/IMG_1485.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wjP24kZwmGE/Ti0Z8BgEtNI/AAAAAAAABUY/uRuCqzdO9Sw/s400/IMG_1485.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> This plant is normally growing in the areas with at least 1,5-2 meters of water.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-20QI0VV9Eg8/Ti0Z_66iy7I/AAAAAAAABU0/lD-BSUPYSX0/s1600/IMG_1511.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-20QI0VV9Eg8/Ti0Z_66iy7I/AAAAAAAABU0/lD-BSUPYSX0/s400/IMG_1511.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /> <div style="text-align: center;">I was covering the snags and weeds at that "juicy" corner with a silver streamer and caught a snakehead.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-T9nLWKaROd8/Ti0aAR9eGpI/AAAAAAAABU4/-pkk-78yqjQ/s1600/IMG_1513.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-T9nLWKaROd8/Ti0aAR9eGpI/AAAAAAAABU4/-pkk-78yqjQ/s400/IMG_1513.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The head of this fish is covered with scales and looks borrowed from a snake...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mkYgtNK0IWM/Ti0Z7HCCWpI/AAAAAAAABUQ/_AuI3CtE_zI/s1600/IMG_1518.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mkYgtNK0IWM/Ti0Z7HCCWpI/AAAAAAAABUQ/_AuI3CtE_zI/s400/IMG_1518.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2026769296668179487-4184526683273800132?l=flyfishingrussia.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mikhail Skopetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00438775494762731630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026769296668179487.post-405959771976130172011-07-20T14:48:00.002+11:002011-07-20T17:46:38.960+11:00Out-of-hand cast, or “Read the classics”!<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 89.25pt; text-align: justify;">The numerous books on flyfishing technique do not pay attention to one rather important issue – how to prepare yourself to the first cast.  Most often you can read something like “...pull some line off the reel and spread it in front of you on the bank or water.”   At the real fishing even the first cast should not scare the fish.  There is not always enough room behind you for the backcast.  The people often start with several (longer & longer) roll casts, but these create lots of squelching noise.  Imagine yourself standing among the bushes at the undercut bank, or on slippery logs of the log jam..  How will you start the fishing?</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 89.25pt; text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 89.25pt; text-align: justify;">Long ago I have invented a simple & elegant beginning: </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 89.25pt; text-align: justify;">1/  Pull 4,5-6 meters (15-20’) of line off the reel, and shake it out through the guides.  The rod is held vertically, so the line hangs down.    </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 89.25pt; text-align: justify;">2/  Take the fly with the thumb & index finger for the hook bend, so the point will not touch your skin when releasing the fly into the flight.  </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 89.25pt; text-align: justify;">3/  The cast itself is similar to the roll cast – move the rod outward and backwards and stop, so the D-loop will be formed.  The left hand holding the fly should follow the swing of the line loop.  During the pause the fly in your left hand should be beneath your right elbow.  </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 89.25pt; text-align: justify;">4/   Now you can make the forward stroke with the rod – the same as by the roll cast.  When the rod will be loaded<span lang="RU">, </span>release the fly<span lang="RU">.  </span>You will be surprised how straight & far it will travel.    </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 89.25pt; text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 89.25pt; text-align: justify;">This cast is the best method to put the tackle back to work after changing the fly.  After many years of using this technique I was reading the lectures of Vasily Litvintsev, the first   serious Russian flyfisherman who did write on the "trade".  This fisherman was living ein the end of 19th century and in the beginning of 20th.  On one of the pages I have found a description of this “out-of-hand” cast and a picture which I want to show here.  </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 89.25pt; text-align: justify;">  </div><br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -52.5pt; text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SC03YjjJ3Ik/TiZP7kBpNkI/AAAAAAAABUM/VusKO11dkBA/s1600/cast_out_of_hand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SC03YjjJ3Ik/TiZP7kBpNkI/AAAAAAAABUM/VusKO11dkBA/s400/cast_out_of_hand.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -52.5pt; text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -52.5pt; text-align: justify;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 89.25pt; text-align: justify;">I think that namely V.Litvintsev had invented this cast about 100 years ago.  At least I was not able to find anything similar in English fishing literature.<br />   </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 89.25pt; text-align: justify;">After this I had a conclusion that it is a good idea to read and reread the classics.  In the old books it is possible to find the gold nuggets of the ideas which were undeservedly forgotten by the descendants of the Beginners… After reading old books the fisherman also realizes that his fishing success in many respects depends on new materials with which the modern physics & chemistry have greatly improved our tackle.    </div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2026769296668179487-40595977197613017?l=flyfishingrussia.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mikhail Skopetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00438775494762731630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026769296668179487.post-28300907865712427422011-07-18T21:43:00.000+11:002011-07-18T21:43:19.152+11:00Hot July at the Amur River<div style="text-align: center;">The first part of the summer in Khabarovsk was rather cold & rainy.  Only by mid July we have got the usual hot weather - over 30*C.  The nights are also very warm. The water in the Amur River is 22*c, and in the lakes  - 24-25*C.     These days the city people are using any possibility to go the water to swim.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9y_nUVHSDks/TiQHx5HdS3I/AAAAAAAABT0/L77RYnqndpU/s1600/01_5994.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9y_nUVHSDks/TiQHx5HdS3I/AAAAAAAABT0/L77RYnqndpU/s400/01_5994.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">On the weekend I was with my family on one of the lakes at the Bolshoi Ussuriiski Island, about 5 km from the border with China. Some of the local fish of the northern origin do not like hot weather.  On the contrary, some species had come here from the tropical waters.  Hot summer is the time when they are feeding most active.   </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Xd5rnjW9KhQ/TiQHyY2LKBI/AAAAAAAABT4/IYWjw7FqGW0/s1600/02_5989.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Xd5rnjW9KhQ/TiQHyY2LKBI/AAAAAAAABT4/IYWjw7FqGW0/s400/02_5989.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> These aquatic plants form thickets at the depths of over 2 meters.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-en_O30ighXc/TiQHy84dg7I/AAAAAAAABT8/oNapC-bW6cM/s1600/03_6003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-en_O30ighXc/TiQHy84dg7I/AAAAAAAABT8/oNapC-bW6cM/s400/03_6003.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Predators love sitting in a shade, below the green ceiling.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-miq2SIr9zxc/TiQHzWLkVAI/AAAAAAAABUA/hOV217GOX-M/s1600/04_6002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-miq2SIr9zxc/TiQHzWLkVAI/AAAAAAAABUA/hOV217GOX-M/s400/04_6002.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> I was moving in an inflatable kayak along the weed beds and reed walls. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lu0m9OyIH68/TiQHz8ClvBI/AAAAAAAABUE/DIOp5mgaeok/s1600/05_5995.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lu0m9OyIH68/TiQHz8ClvBI/AAAAAAAABUE/DIOp5mgaeok/s400/05_5995.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Amur catfish was caught with sinking line & pink-and-purple wobbler fly.   </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tJwQaFXva9o/TiQH0SiXYrI/AAAAAAAABUI/73rpZZ3NH1g/s1600/06_2462.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tJwQaFXva9o/TiQH0SiXYrI/AAAAAAAABUI/73rpZZ3NH1g/s400/06_2462.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">This little snakehead was caught with typical pike tackle: floating line, steel tippet, and red wobbler fly with yellow legs, tied on #1 hook.   </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R5qlNwltqMU/TiQHxZDpB-I/AAAAAAAABTw/HJddb3vErpQ/s1600/07_2446.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R5qlNwltqMU/TiQHxZDpB-I/AAAAAAAABTw/HJddb3vErpQ/s400/07_2446.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Snakehead is very strong fish with sharp teeth and powerful jaws.  Amur River is the northernmost part of its range.  </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2026769296668179487-2830090786571242742?l=flyfishingrussia.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mikhail Skopetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00438775494762731630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026769296668179487.post-26642190992606854852011-07-13T22:32:00.000+11:002011-07-13T22:32:11.121+11:00Manoma River, July 2011<div style="text-align: center;">Manoma River is a tributary to the mighty Anyui River, which is joining the Amur River from its right bank at the distance of 700 km from the sea.  The upper reaches of the Manoma could be reached by old logging roads.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mq8yYNtO8vQ/Th19-5m2uUI/AAAAAAAABTM/qiiNcFEHPRI/s1600/01_2407.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mq8yYNtO8vQ/Th19-5m2uUI/AAAAAAAABTM/qiiNcFEHPRI/s400/01_2407.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> The river is 17*C, and the damp air - about 30*C.  This creates fog which was rather thick during a part of that day.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GWTXUGVVYuo/Th19__OSLAI/AAAAAAAABTQ/m-mJ7CMDXMQ/s1600/02_2408.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GWTXUGVVYuo/Th19__OSLAI/AAAAAAAABTQ/m-mJ7CMDXMQ/s400/02_2408.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> In the morning I was barely able to see my friends fishing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kEBiie2FPSQ/Th1-AtOmgiI/AAAAAAAABTU/xNT5q_2VOZk/s1600/03_2411.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kEBiie2FPSQ/Th1-AtOmgiI/AAAAAAAABTU/xNT5q_2VOZk/s400/03_2411.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">In the Manoma we normally catch lenok & grayling.  The biting on that day was not too good; the fish was rather picky.  We had luck with #10 Stimulator dry flies and with some dark nymphs.    </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-V6z7iRSjsRs/Th1-BP_ZyyI/AAAAAAAABTY/CmhgOmySHXU/s1600/04_2414.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-V6z7iRSjsRs/Th1-BP_ZyyI/AAAAAAAABTY/CmhgOmySHXU/s400/04_2414.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The typical "lower Amur" grayling is normally small.  The fish of this size is always mature.  Compare it with Arctic grayling from the North - the minimum maturation size in many rivers is 28-30 cm.    </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RsjoN5WfvTM/Th1-B02ifiI/AAAAAAAABTc/neFwz1RNeq4/s1600/05_2257.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RsjoN5WfvTM/Th1-B02ifiI/AAAAAAAABTc/neFwz1RNeq4/s400/05_2257.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">In many places along the river the wide leaves of the butterbur are seen.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9L2LmGcZij4/Th1-CaBbgxI/AAAAAAAABTg/eJZ7umk6VPA/s1600/06_2420.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9L2LmGcZij4/Th1-CaBbgxI/AAAAAAAABTg/eJZ7umk6VPA/s400/06_2420.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> One of the flies which was working well on that day.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-saJjs0A9Pas/Th1-DC1VUyI/AAAAAAAABTk/wbhwBlXCmWE/s1600/07_2419.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-saJjs0A9Pas/Th1-DC1VUyI/AAAAAAAABTk/wbhwBlXCmWE/s400/07_2419.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> In June & July the brown bears are eating a lot of the butterbur chards.  The severed chard continues growing, and forms a characteristic "flower" with 4, 5 or 6petals.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jP94mjZwX5k/Th1-DtDwCZI/AAAAAAAABTo/ZRZlYJ80Y2g/s1600/08_2418.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jP94mjZwX5k/Th1-DtDwCZI/AAAAAAAABTo/ZRZlYJ80Y2g/s400/08_2418.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> These are the "bear-flowers"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JxN7QR9txn0/Th1-FE1-MfI/AAAAAAAABTs/mWOT7lM0LQg/s1600/09_2417.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JxN7QR9txn0/Th1-FE1-MfI/AAAAAAAABTs/mWOT7lM0LQg/s400/09_2417.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2026769296668179487-2664219099260685485?l=flyfishingrussia.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mikhail Skopetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00438775494762731630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026769296668179487.post-59077359836957277962011-07-11T17:24:00.000+11:002011-07-11T17:24:18.541+11:00Amur River - at the dike near Khabarovsk (July 2011)<div style="text-align: center;">The Pemzenskaya channel of the Amur River is crossed by a stone dike which is supposed to support the water level in the main river channel.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LVsHLW6FVLY/ThqRzqEAcZI/AAAAAAAABSk/a4XrHQG69EQ/s1600/01_2435.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LVsHLW6FVLY/ThqRzqEAcZI/AAAAAAAABSk/a4XrHQG69EQ/s400/01_2435.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;">During last years the water level in Amur was high; the dike was seriously destroyed by the floods.  Now it is not forming a drop as before.  The river bottom below the former dike is covered with huge rocks which are providing shelter for the predators.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Nvlf6EjnNpw/ThqR0LSY2mI/AAAAAAAABSo/zUV_aMJ90uk/s1600/02_2436.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Nvlf6EjnNpw/ThqR0LSY2mI/AAAAAAAABSo/zUV_aMJ90uk/s400/02_2436.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"> Local fishermen are fishing with long poles & bobbers with bait of little fish.   </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eWPKFuS0IC8/ThqR0npBVFI/AAAAAAAABSs/oEC7FVSaNQo/s1600/03_2431.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eWPKFuS0IC8/ThqR0npBVFI/AAAAAAAABSs/oEC7FVSaNQo/s400/03_2431.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Small catfish is among common fish caught near the dike.  In most cases I am using bright streamers tied on offset hooks.  "Normal" streamers are lost too often due to the rocky bottom. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pH91RJg3N6g/ThqR12tiAtI/AAAAAAAABS0/xn1qn8TH0xo/s1600/04_2437.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pH91RJg3N6g/ThqR12tiAtI/AAAAAAAABS0/xn1qn8TH0xo/s400/04_2437.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /> <div style="text-align: center;">Skygazer looks like a herring, but it belongs to Carps.   </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IetmsOPU6i0/ThqR2Vt-uwI/AAAAAAAABS4/HSnejkaB42w/s1600/05_2422.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IetmsOPU6i0/ThqR2Vt-uwI/AAAAAAAABS4/HSnejkaB42w/s400/05_2422.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">  </div><div style="text-align: center;">One of the best flies to catch skygazer is a wobbler fly fished in middle layers of the water.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xRHctN7E-pY/ThqR3GAL7HI/AAAAAAAABS8/hFoywT10acc/s1600/06_2423.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xRHctN7E-pY/ThqR3GAL7HI/AAAAAAAABS8/hFoywT10acc/s400/06_2423.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Mandarin bass <i>Siniperca</i> belongs to rockfishes (<i>Sebastidae</i>) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j8NvtqIX-0k/ThqR39jPC7I/AAAAAAAABTA/bpVFhaODz04/s1600/07_2427.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j8NvtqIX-0k/ThqR39jPC7I/AAAAAAAABTA/bpVFhaODz04/s400/07_2427.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;">This little fish was caught with a silver streamer on the offset hook  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-29S1ZBbf7Ts/ThqR4TOrAyI/AAAAAAAABTE/8l80PRGC0n8/s1600/08_2428.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-29S1ZBbf7Ts/ThqR4TOrAyI/AAAAAAAABTE/8l80PRGC0n8/s400/08_2428.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Mandarin bass sits close to the rocks; the fly should move slowly, with jerks.   </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Oko-pVzxPlM/ThqRy69cJrI/AAAAAAAABSg/SNKP4lvuob4/s1600/09_2430.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Oko-pVzxPlM/ThqRy69cJrI/AAAAAAAABSg/SNKP4lvuob4/s400/09_2430.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2026769296668179487-5907735983695727796?l=flyfishingrussia.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mikhail Skopetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00438775494762731630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026769296668179487.post-25481542079645335852011-06-30T08:55:00.001+11:002011-07-01T09:22:07.529+11:00Testing of a new model of a trout-spey type fly rod - Part 2<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: left;">Testing of the Kola Salmon 2-handed rod: 5-6 wt, 5 piece, 340 cm (11.1') long; weight 122 g (4.3 oz).  </div><div style="text-align: left;">Situation: swift stream 25-40 m wide; 1-2 meters deep.  High water, slightly murky; end of the spring flood.<br />   <br /> <div style="text-align: center;">June 4, flight across the narrow neck of the Kamchatka Peninsula.  It is still spring at 61*N.  </div></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bv1bdnwHMjQ/TguX8jbORUI/AAAAAAAABR0/161vQc6RqPQ/s1600/IMG_1935.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bv1bdnwHMjQ/TguX8jbORUI/AAAAAAAABR0/161vQc6RqPQ/s400/IMG_1935.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;">The streams have cut through the ice-crusts formed during long winter, and flow in ice banks. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6KbI3qbR-Ig/TguX9OnMBuI/AAAAAAAABR4/4ghx0iVqA2g/s1600/IMG_1943.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6KbI3qbR-Ig/TguX9OnMBuI/AAAAAAAABR4/4ghx0iVqA2g/s400/IMG_1943.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Bigger rivers have no ice, but the water is only 4-5*C.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BSun3UTFJA0/TguX9tXff_I/AAAAAAAABR8/4e3G4NdwbOw/s1600/IMG_1944pp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BSun3UTFJA0/TguX9tXff_I/AAAAAAAABR8/4e3G4NdwbOw/s400/IMG_1944pp.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Golden rhododendron is one of the early flowers of the area.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gW-FpaROYro/TguX-HG34vI/AAAAAAAABSA/gqCsEEtHm9E/s1600/IMG_2174.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gW-FpaROYro/TguX-HG34vI/AAAAAAAABSA/gqCsEEtHm9E/s400/IMG_2174.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;">This period the smolts of Pacific salmon (chum salmon at this image) are migrating into the sea.  The typical approach to any freshwater predator in Kamchatka is the use of different smolt imitations, presented near the surface or deeper.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xQHo8SBYXqg/TguX-jaw0II/AAAAAAAABSE/5RIkWBj2Mo4/s1600/IMG_2176PP.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="331" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xQHo8SBYXqg/TguX-jaw0II/AAAAAAAABSE/5RIkWBj2Mo4/s400/IMG_2176PP.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /> <div style="text-align: center;">The river Ichiginnyvayam is famous by trophy Arctic grayling.  The only problem was that the fish have recently finished the spawning, and were not feeding yet.  Probably, cold & windy weather was also the cause.  In any case, the streamers (same as the nymphs) did not work at all.   </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0WNYcze2WJo/TguYAC4OfbI/AAAAAAAABSM/-Y1My4NBF18/s1600/IMG_2208.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0WNYcze2WJo/TguYAC4OfbI/AAAAAAAABSM/-Y1My4NBF18/s400/IMG_2208.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;">After trying different approaches I have managed to catch some nice fish up to 1.2 kg   The tested rod appears to be powerful enough to handle 13' sink tip; the total length of the head of the line was about 36'.   The rod bends a lot when you hook even a small fish, but it has enough backbone to land nice size fish in the current.   </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-poBcMmMEYck/TguYBfJHvaI/AAAAAAAABSQ/hx-B1PYIC8g/s1600/IMG_2216.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-poBcMmMEYck/TguYBfJHvaI/AAAAAAAABSQ/hx-B1PYIC8g/s400/IMG_2216.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /> <div style="text-align: center;">The most strange & beautiful part of grayling is its dorsal fin.  This is a typical fin of the Kamchatka subspecies of Arctic grayling.  Some scientist consider it to be a separate species <i>Thymallus mertensi</i>. </div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TyJWZb1rTNk/TguX73ZKcsI/AAAAAAAABRw/JLYPqHQ0wJ0/s1600/IMG_2217pp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TyJWZb1rTNk/TguX73ZKcsI/AAAAAAAABRw/JLYPqHQ0wJ0/s400/IMG_2217pp.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /> The only fly that had worked that day was tiny (#10) bright wobbler fly.  These "flies" are the last resort on the days when nothing is biting.    <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Wb4qEpsm8Do/TguX_cjxdtI/AAAAAAAABSI/YVbs8A3ZhwE/s1600/IMG_2201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="382" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Wb4qEpsm8Do/TguX_cjxdtI/AAAAAAAABSI/YVbs8A3ZhwE/s400/IMG_2201.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /> This is the only drink appropriate for the true fishermen in Kamchatka Peninsula.  Do you know what the Russian fishermen say? - "Fishing is drinking in waders"<br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-M2jFxfXa0-Q/TguZpx3tUmI/AAAAAAAABSU/Hgdvycyh2ts/s1600/Kamchatka_vodka.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-M2jFxfXa0-Q/TguZpx3tUmI/AAAAAAAABSU/Hgdvycyh2ts/s400/Kamchatka_vodka.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2026769296668179487-2548154207964533585?l=flyfishingrussia.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mikhail Skopetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00438775494762731630noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026769296668179487.post-69466882051031391152011-06-23T22:08:00.001+11:002011-06-23T22:11:02.033+11:00Testing of a new model of a trout-spey type fly rod<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;">I have got a possibility to test a new rod of a Russian firm Kola Salmon.  This rod belongs to the type which is becoming popular - a trout-spey rod.  The rod is 5-6 wt 5 piece, 340 cm (11.1') long; weight 122 g (4.3 oz).   I have taken this rod along to a non-fishing trip to the northern Kamchatka.  </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;">The first water which I was able to fish was Bering Sea near the abandoned village Korf.  </div><div style="text-align: center;">In this village there is a working airport of the district center Tilichiki.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OV24DdCqXLY/TgMY2_F7CMI/AAAAAAAABQ0/o_b9gP38P1s/s1600/a-Tilichiki_airport.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OV24DdCqXLY/TgMY2_F7CMI/AAAAAAAABQ0/o_b9gP38P1s/s400/a-Tilichiki_airport.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Korf is situated at the long spit between a marine bay and a shallow estuary.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k578X06d9Yk/TgMY3Wm7YqI/AAAAAAAABQ4/fUG-BslEkGU/s1600/b-Korf.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k578X06d9Yk/TgMY3Wm7YqI/AAAAAAAABQ4/fUG-BslEkGU/s400/b-Korf.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">   </div><div style="text-align: center;">Fire-engine</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mbhU5Blwtrc/TgMY3w9m95I/AAAAAAAABQ8/-oGiMLJE10U/s1600/b-Korf-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mbhU5Blwtrc/TgMY3w9m95I/AAAAAAAABQ8/-oGiMLJE10U/s400/b-Korf-2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"> Old pier</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AWu68-vu7FA/TgMY4am8ZHI/AAAAAAAABRA/GR2soWdJqAM/s1600/b-Korf-3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AWu68-vu7FA/TgMY4am8ZHI/AAAAAAAABRA/GR2soWdJqAM/s400/b-Korf-3.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Olyutorski Peninsula at the opposite side of the huge marine bay </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ax_qlQK8ddc/TgMY40fg0iI/AAAAAAAABRE/f1LgBIFn9t0/s1600/c-Olyutorski_Peninsula.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="363" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ax_qlQK8ddc/TgMY40fg0iI/AAAAAAAABRE/f1LgBIFn9t0/s400/c-Olyutorski_Peninsula.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;">I was using 5-weight line with 13' sink tip made out of Rio T8 material.  Most of the catch were 2 species of flounder.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0gSziMpjDFQ/TgMY5gG3KNI/AAAAAAAABRI/vjbXQPjoESk/s1600/d-flounder.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0gSziMpjDFQ/TgMY5gG3KNI/AAAAAAAABRI/vjbXQPjoESk/s400/d-flounder.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Starry flounder on shallow places is easy to catch with a fly.  The fly should move slowly, near the bottom.   </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u5nvzAs4NVY/TgMY6A4OWrI/AAAAAAAABRM/TthMSPSgfSY/s1600/e-starry_flounder1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u5nvzAs4NVY/TgMY6A4OWrI/AAAAAAAABRM/TthMSPSgfSY/s400/e-starry_flounder1.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Comparing with flounder, greenling is rather spooky.  It is often following the fly, but rarely biting.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_FZ9LQemhDA/TgMY6vBkfaI/AAAAAAAABRQ/q_jo8gBp28Y/s1600/greenling-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_FZ9LQemhDA/TgMY6vBkfaI/AAAAAAAABRQ/q_jo8gBp28Y/s400/greenling-2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;">The best "fly" to catch greenling is a bright wobbler-fly, retrieved with jerks in the middle layers.    </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PTk0h6R5MKs/TgMY7NIjvtI/AAAAAAAABRU/wFPWTuNO26E/s1600/greenling-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PTk0h6R5MKs/TgMY7NIjvtI/AAAAAAAABRU/wFPWTuNO26E/s400/greenling-3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;">The biggest trophy of the day was huge marine sculpin.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wt0wRpWzo8s/TgMY7vjcOkI/AAAAAAAABRY/f829AWJk4dI/s1600/sculpin1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="323" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wt0wRpWzo8s/TgMY7vjcOkI/AAAAAAAABRY/f829AWJk4dI/s400/sculpin1.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;">The rod which I was planning to use only as a grayling tackle appears to work well in marine conditions.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_MiYxeAgjOw/TgMY2VV6YiI/AAAAAAAABQw/eX2ctmeaQAw/s1600/sculpin2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_MiYxeAgjOw/TgMY2VV6YiI/AAAAAAAABQw/eX2ctmeaQAw/s400/sculpin2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;">To be continued..</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2026769296668179487-6946688205103139115?l=flyfishingrussia.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mikhail Skopetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00438775494762731630noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026769296668179487.post-70024422925824274212011-06-19T16:54:00.001+11:002011-06-19T16:54:19.526+11:00First time at the Delaware River<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">In May 2011 I was invited by my friend Bob to visit him at the Delaware River.  The weather was wet, but not windy.  </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c6SFKhfWvkI/Tf2IgOwB5QI/AAAAAAAABQE/JYVve5Ho7Bo/s1600/DSC00860.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300px" i$="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c6SFKhfWvkI/Tf2IgOwB5QI/AAAAAAAABQE/JYVve5Ho7Bo/s400/DSC00860.JPG" width="400px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Bob's camp is very simple and basic.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VkxAq_i8wus/Tf2Ij6LDYuI/AAAAAAAABQI/0-clv9vkt38/s1600/DSC00863.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300px" i$="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VkxAq_i8wus/Tf2Ij6LDYuI/AAAAAAAABQI/0-clv9vkt38/s400/DSC00863.JPG" width="400px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;">This place is considered rather dangerous for non-fishermen..</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v0Aw_WLfnbs/Tf2Iqy-PRNI/AAAAAAAABQM/NwXsMgo0rOs/s1600/DSC00864.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300px" i$="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v0Aw_WLfnbs/Tf2Iqy-PRNI/AAAAAAAABQM/NwXsMgo0rOs/s400/DSC00864.JPG" width="400px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"> Bob has a wooden canoe with which we were planning to float the river.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2ojJ77W37xw/Tf2IzYL-D6I/AAAAAAAABQQ/uoObVTEO3Wg/s1600/DSC00873.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300px" i$="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2ojJ77W37xw/Tf2IzYL-D6I/AAAAAAAABQQ/uoObVTEO3Wg/s400/DSC00873.JPG" width="400px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Nice stretch of the river - no roads and no houses </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l13a60pAtPg/Tf2I44n9zHI/AAAAAAAABQU/fTk6BFNw2mg/s1600/DSC00879.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300px" i$="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l13a60pAtPg/Tf2I44n9zHI/AAAAAAAABQU/fTk6BFNw2mg/s400/DSC00879.JPG" width="400px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Trout was not active on the surface, so I had spent some time pursuing a quarry new for me - shad.  This huge anadromous herring was biting tiny (#10) & bright wobbler-flies.  Shad was found in the pools.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YQ6GdYYeSTQ/Tf2I8HVf4fI/AAAAAAAABQY/nizbZTWIGkE/s1600/DSC00896.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300px" i$="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YQ6GdYYeSTQ/Tf2I8HVf4fI/AAAAAAAABQY/nizbZTWIGkE/s400/DSC00896.JPG" width="400px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;">I was also able to catch two little brook trout.  One was caught with a Pluchille streamer, and another - with a wobbler-fly.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C-HZRLqYJjw/Tf2JGCqWFLI/AAAAAAAABQc/V1BtKn4NIQw/s1600/DSC00906.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300px" i$="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C-HZRLqYJjw/Tf2JGCqWFLI/AAAAAAAABQc/V1BtKn4NIQw/s400/DSC00906.JPG" width="400px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Bill was having some luck with dry flies & rainbow trout, but no trophy specimens were landed  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I_LAYuFPFhU/Tf2JPm_2XOI/AAAAAAAABQk/onVDtMbRke8/s1600/DSC00923.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300px" i$="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I_LAYuFPFhU/Tf2JPm_2XOI/AAAAAAAABQk/onVDtMbRke8/s400/DSC00923.JPG" width="400px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;">In one of the pools I had landed a little walleye, which bit a 3" long yellow wobbler-fly</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h6XAXicIdtw/Tf2JVcDgvEI/AAAAAAAABQo/YWPFK7Mnoms/s1600/DSC00931.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300px" i$="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h6XAXicIdtw/Tf2JVcDgvEI/AAAAAAAABQo/YWPFK7Mnoms/s400/DSC00931.JPG" width="400px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;">A goos protecting its nest.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1ixPDTX4zgw/Tf2JW4_EnqI/AAAAAAAABQs/mGC51agHnZw/s1600/DSC00958.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300px" i$="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1ixPDTX4zgw/Tf2JW4_EnqI/AAAAAAAABQs/mGC51agHnZw/s400/DSC00958.JPG" width="400px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2026769296668179487-7002442292582427421?l=flyfishingrussia.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mikhail Skopetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00438775494762731630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026769296668179487.post-90153073910792433012011-05-27T20:26:00.001+11:002011-05-27T20:28:05.090+11:00First time in Atlantic ocean - fishing with a fly and no fly rod<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">In May I was in Portland, Maine.  My friend Chris had invited me to go out into the ocean to catch some fish. The fishing is done at the depth of 50-60 meters with a jug cast out of a pound of lead.  The jig has a treble hook on the bottom, and a big single hook with a plastic "worm - on top.  60 cm (2 feet) above the jig there is a loop, which is used for attaching a primitive "fly".  Normally this fly consists of bright synthetic fibers tied to a huge hook.     <br /> <br /> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tyQuaLijzso/Td9hf-JZtSI/AAAAAAAABPw/9kwLuqmD4E4/s1600/DSC00329.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tyQuaLijzso/Td9hf-JZtSI/AAAAAAAABPw/9kwLuqmD4E4/s400/DSC00329.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">I have decided to tie more complicated flies with some flash on 6/0 hooks.  When fishing from a boat with many other fishermen, it is a good idea to show the fish something different. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bcAcHu1M-TM/Td9he5I_ckI/AAAAAAAABPo/IAxvljy7Kg0/s1600/DSC00307.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bcAcHu1M-TM/Td9he5I_ckI/AAAAAAAABPo/IAxvljy7Kg0/s400/DSC00307.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /> <div style="text-align: center;">Early in the morning we had come to the Ogunquit town at the Maine sea coast.  We have booked two places at the famous fishing boat named "Bunny Clark".  This boat is a holder of many IGFA records, including a 35 kg (77 pounds) cod.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G1cmEOtEJ4g/Td9hffr0PwI/AAAAAAAABPs/8-XBJfvkUt0/s1600/DSC00312.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G1cmEOtEJ4g/Td9hffr0PwI/AAAAAAAABPs/8-XBJfvkUt0/s400/DSC00312.JPG" width="400" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tyQuaLijzso/Td9hf-JZtSI/AAAAAAAABPw/9kwLuqmD4E4/s1600/DSC00329.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br /> <div style="text-align: center;"> When our jigs first came to the sea bottom, the new bright flies started to work well.  This fish is haddock.   </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FlTvD-ipg2A/Td9hgciLt1I/AAAAAAAABP0/AABOVaWl-_0/s1600/DSC00330.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="363" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FlTvD-ipg2A/Td9hgciLt1I/AAAAAAAABP0/AABOVaWl-_0/s400/DSC00330.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /> <div style="text-align: center;">This little cod had also decided to bite a fly. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N2c1EqIN6TY/Td9hhCrQhsI/AAAAAAAABP4/aSPmlRacEYk/s1600/DSC00351.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N2c1EqIN6TY/Td9hhCrQhsI/AAAAAAAABP4/aSPmlRacEYk/s400/DSC00351.JPG" width="346" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Generally, over a half of fish were caught with a jig, and only about 30-40 % were biting a fly.  </div><div style="text-align: center;">This strange creature is called sea raven.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7ToLB-hFZhk/Td9hhqlNsWI/AAAAAAAABP8/nbwsMqWO7eA/s1600/DSC00364.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="352" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7ToLB-hFZhk/Td9hhqlNsWI/AAAAAAAABP8/nbwsMqWO7eA/s400/DSC00364.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Wolf-eel's teeth can bite through a rubber boot..  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qHd3fx_iOaQ/Td9hiIgfAGI/AAAAAAAABQA/HVfx0_11LGI/s1600/DSC00366.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qHd3fx_iOaQ/Td9hiIgfAGI/AAAAAAAABQA/HVfx0_11LGI/s400/DSC00366.JPG" width="365" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;">In the end of an excellent fishing day we have got a bonus - a group of 15-20 Greenland right whales had passed nearby the boat!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v6FpGV_FnRo/Td9heGmCRaI/AAAAAAAABPk/-zugKdsDUgw/s1600/DSC00378.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="375" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v6FpGV_FnRo/Td9heGmCRaI/AAAAAAAABPk/-zugKdsDUgw/s400/DSC00378.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><br /> <br /> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2026769296668179487-9015307391079243301?l=flyfishingrussia.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mikhail Skopetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00438775494762731630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026769296668179487.post-57374427747000206052011-04-18T13:47:00.000+11:002011-04-18T13:47:19.727+11:00Sorry, I am in a trip to USA till May 25, 2011<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Sorry, I am in a trip to USA till May 25, 2011.<br /> <br /> Mikhail</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2026769296668179487-5737442774700020605?l=flyfishingrussia.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mikhail Skopetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00438775494762731630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026769296668179487.post-41386250917137695272011-04-04T08:41:00.000+11:002011-04-04T08:41:59.017+11:00Trip to Congo, Africa, fall 2010 - Part 2<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;">Upper part of the Loutete R</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x_IZMFe0Yks/TZjn-x1PMOI/AAAAAAAABPA/Lza3E3nFp2Y/s1600/IMG_1222.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x_IZMFe0Yks/TZjn-x1PMOI/AAAAAAAABPA/Lza3E3nFp2Y/s400/IMG_1222.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Waterfall at a small creek</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AipjhhzwVu0/TZjoAfK_5QI/AAAAAAAABPI/8326kMO-vks/s1600/IMG_0398.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AipjhhzwVu0/TZjoAfK_5QI/AAAAAAAABPI/8326kMO-vks/s400/IMG_0398.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Loudima River</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--YVW7af_bFo/TZjoBtT8QNI/AAAAAAAABPM/wr4R5Sjki5E/s1600/img_0533.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--YVW7af_bFo/TZjoBtT8QNI/AAAAAAAABPM/wr4R5Sjki5E/s400/img_0533.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Loutete R.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P9YqIyLiQS8/TZjoDJ5cOPI/AAAAAAAABPY/Nu_e-R3qVk4/s1600/IMG_1188.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P9YqIyLiQS8/TZjoDJ5cOPI/AAAAAAAABPY/Nu_e-R3qVk4/s400/IMG_1188.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Loutete R.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z1FKnmZQU5k/TZjoEXYiswI/AAAAAAAABPc/nR439vm1BsQ/s1600/IMG_1189.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z1FKnmZQU5k/TZjoEXYiswI/AAAAAAAABPc/nR439vm1BsQ/s400/IMG_1189.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Canyon at the Loutete R.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JKY5dbk84E4/TZjoE-1GrEI/AAAAAAAABPg/6bFi9-UR2Bg/s1600/IMG_1202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JKY5dbk84E4/TZjoE-1GrEI/AAAAAAAABPg/6bFi9-UR2Bg/s400/IMG_1202.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Nkenke River during a rain-flood</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HrU1XuvAenU/TZjn__eQnqI/AAAAAAAABPE/BuA4Oty6kYg/s1600/img_0351.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HrU1XuvAenU/TZjn__eQnqI/AAAAAAAABPE/BuA4Oty6kYg/s400/img_0351.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Rapids at the Congo River near Brazzaville</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FbJ9WwenZWg/TZjoCK_pSxI/AAAAAAAABPQ/c-NoZPgtSJc/s1600/img_0906.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FbJ9WwenZWg/TZjoCK_pSxI/AAAAAAAABPQ/c-NoZPgtSJc/s400/img_0906.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Congo River near Brazzaville is not suitable for navigation..</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fO87w7wkzX8/TZjoCnxTnSI/AAAAAAAABPU/5ZCBuJKFtP0/s1600/img_0908.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fO87w7wkzX8/TZjoCnxTnSI/AAAAAAAABPU/5ZCBuJKFtP0/s400/img_0908.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;">To be continued..</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2026769296668179487-4138625091713769527?l=flyfishingrussia.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mikhail Skopetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00438775494762731630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026769296668179487.post-44576669845645837432011-03-25T21:10:00.000+10:002011-03-25T21:10:41.623+10:00Trip to Congo, Africa, fall 2010 - Part 1<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;">In October-November 2010 I have visited Republic of Congo (Congo-Brazzaville).  This was a business trip, not aimed at fishing.  The area where we were working in the field is populated; it does not have fish stocks interesting for sport-fishing.  </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Atlantic Ocean near Pointe Noire (the only sea-port of the country). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-OmOZ8UkcIHg/TYxyO4mlrGI/AAAAAAAABOI/qwOMGkKidk0/s1600/IMG_1780.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-OmOZ8UkcIHg/TYxyO4mlrGI/AAAAAAAABOI/qwOMGkKidk0/s400/IMG_1780.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Thunderstorm at night</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-mokRh5zDW7M/TYxyPKBfIfI/AAAAAAAABOM/USNIVkkJEv8/s1600/img_0721.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-mokRh5zDW7M/TYxyPKBfIfI/AAAAAAAABOM/USNIVkkJEv8/s400/img_0721.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> The upper part of the Loutete River has big gradient </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-uSHGMilNDzQ/TYxyPwpyQNI/AAAAAAAABOQ/cbIX5KKCfbE/s1600/IMG_1198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-uSHGMilNDzQ/TYxyPwpyQNI/AAAAAAAABOQ/cbIX5KKCfbE/s400/IMG_1198.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Lots of creeks of the area have waterfalls.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-R8GOFYObUoI/TYxyQTMRJcI/AAAAAAAABOU/1qdOhEwA6EE/s1600/IMG_1205.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-R8GOFYObUoI/TYxyQTMRJcI/AAAAAAAABOU/1qdOhEwA6EE/s400/IMG_1205.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> The area of the town of Loutete is too dry for jungle forest; it is covered by savanna type vegetation.  Gallery-forests are found in some creek valleys.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-XVpN3SdQhnU/TYxyQ6Up_pI/AAAAAAAABOY/ZSrJ1LIQv3c/s1600/IMG_1492.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-XVpN3SdQhnU/TYxyQ6Up_pI/AAAAAAAABOY/ZSrJ1LIQv3c/s400/IMG_1492.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> One of the mountains has a through hole near its top. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-AX7bfU6Rnkc/TYx1odB04eI/AAAAAAAABOg/o2SjDWvKRAQ/s1600/IMG_1694.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="340" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-AX7bfU6Rnkc/TYx1odB04eI/AAAAAAAABOg/o2SjDWvKRAQ/s400/IMG_1694.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">The same cave - the view from inside </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-FbsU9uvIiyI/TYxyRa-rn2I/AAAAAAAABOc/0Cm4dQazXQg/s1600/IMG_1686.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-FbsU9uvIiyI/TYxyRa-rn2I/AAAAAAAABOc/0Cm4dQazXQg/s400/IMG_1686.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Local ladies with kids are going home ofter working in the fields</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-C242nRkAnJI/TYx18oi4o3I/AAAAAAAABOk/KL9zc9s0hl8/s1600/img_0780.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-C242nRkAnJI/TYx18oi4o3I/AAAAAAAABOk/KL9zc9s0hl8/s400/img_0780.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Processing fish</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-MnWyPuqZBUo/TYx19evsVRI/AAAAAAAABOo/aPJPZq9PYkc/s1600/img_0094.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-MnWyPuqZBUo/TYx19evsVRI/AAAAAAAABOo/aPJPZq9PYkc/s400/img_0094.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Our helper Mabala with a small seine </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-L-1xCNn2lk4/TYx1-Z08VkI/AAAAAAAABOs/VgMusFptti8/s1600/IMG_0144.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-L-1xCNn2lk4/TYx1-Z08VkI/AAAAAAAABOs/VgMusFptti8/s400/IMG_0144.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> In the Boko-Songho village</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-H3qbjeJS8Q4/TYx1--Oro1I/AAAAAAAABOw/x5QN-bV3pEg/s1600/IMG_0186.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-H3qbjeJS8Q4/TYx1--Oro1I/AAAAAAAABOw/x5QN-bV3pEg/s400/IMG_0186.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Dugout boats made of mahogany wood (Niari River)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_dHYXXVUuxg/TYx1_RCN6NI/AAAAAAAABO0/8HgbpeaEglw/s1600/IMG_0272.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_dHYXXVUuxg/TYx1_RCN6NI/AAAAAAAABO0/8HgbpeaEglw/s400/IMG_0272.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Dense vegetation along a creek</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-su3IiwTWS_s/TYx2AHIN6LI/AAAAAAAABO4/eG0G7XjPZuQ/s1600/IMG_0377.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-su3IiwTWS_s/TYx2AHIN6LI/AAAAAAAABO4/eG0G7XjPZuQ/s400/IMG_0377.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Traditional, home-made chair</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-brcVmacIBi4/TYx2BcDmPNI/AAAAAAAABO8/YOrcg8QJwOE/s1600/img_0613.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-brcVmacIBi4/TYx2BcDmPNI/AAAAAAAABO8/YOrcg8QJwOE/s400/img_0613.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;">To be continued ... </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2026769296668179487-4457666984564583743?l=flyfishingrussia.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mikhail Skopetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00438775494762731630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026769296668179487.post-78495363278179456862011-03-18T08:29:00.000+10:002011-03-18T08:29:35.729+10:00At the dike - part 3 (Amur River near Khabarovsk, July & August)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-1EVr8IKioQE/TYKGmSrEAvI/AAAAAAAABNg/N8xwK5TOM6I/s1600/001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-1EVr8IKioQE/TYKGmSrEAvI/AAAAAAAABNg/N8xwK5TOM6I/s400/001.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Fishing below the dike requires technical wading and ideally - boots with good studs.  It is very unusual in Amur where one normally wades on the sand & silt. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-GCvQRnRGQIc/TYKGnBAHo2I/AAAAAAAABNk/2txcL-7f48k/s1600/001a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-GCvQRnRGQIc/TYKGnBAHo2I/AAAAAAAABNk/2txcL-7f48k/s400/001a.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> By July we have learned how to catch Mandarin bass with flies.  It is rather easy if you are able presenting the fly close to the rocky bottom, and move it slowly, with stops.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-OeHGx0-pxRU/TYKGn13w2QI/AAAAAAAABNo/MKyyOg0bKn0/s1600/002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-OeHGx0-pxRU/TYKGn13w2QI/AAAAAAAABNo/MKyyOg0bKn0/s400/002.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> This is one of the flies invented for the bottom presentation.  </div><div style="text-align: center;">Such ones are also lost on the snags and rocks, but not as easy as regular streamers.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-yGNGimJQ22g/TYKGoISx-2I/AAAAAAAABNs/Eyxn-Za04IE/s1600/003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-yGNGimJQ22g/TYKGoISx-2I/AAAAAAAABNs/Eyxn-Za04IE/s400/003.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">One more Mandarin bass </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-cO3JTDwBuBU/TYKGosZLvGI/AAAAAAAABNw/Je-k7EdLW7U/s1600/004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-cO3JTDwBuBU/TYKGosZLvGI/AAAAAAAABNw/Je-k7EdLW7U/s400/004.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> This fish is true ambuscador; on some days it is attacking your lure or fly only after it stops for several seconds.   </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-lsyU5f62i64/TYKGo3u4zYI/AAAAAAAABN0/5LdRBRJGY3M/s1600/005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-lsyU5f62i64/TYKGo3u4zYI/AAAAAAAABN0/5LdRBRJGY3M/s400/005.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Mongolian redfin is often caught in the same areas with the bass, but in the upper or middle layers.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ltd6_4M2ygE/TYKGpWt39EI/AAAAAAAABN4/H5oo6OxzDRY/s1600/006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ltd6_4M2ygE/TYKGpWt39EI/AAAAAAAABN4/H5oo6OxzDRY/s400/006.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> A school of skygazers is always holding in 9-meter deep hole 100 meters below the dike.  </div><div style="text-align: center;">On some days these predators (called Korean tarpon) come close to the dike for feeding.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-_efK2FKGI0Y/TYKGpxMa7zI/AAAAAAAABN8/jN4yOk8AyC8/s1600/007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-_efK2FKGI0Y/TYKGpxMa7zI/AAAAAAAABN8/jN4yOk8AyC8/s400/007.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The name "skygazer" is given not without reason </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-83U6KJd0uSQ/TYKGqAaN6HI/AAAAAAAABOA/pXfDCCvHCz0/s1600/008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-83U6KJd0uSQ/TYKGqAaN6HI/AAAAAAAABOA/pXfDCCvHCz0/s400/008.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">In Amur some non-predatory species (like this white bream <i>Parabramis pekinensis</i>) sometimes feed on small fish - and bite streamers (photo of Andrey Bondarenko). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jthr4SqCWFI/TYKGqg9ylxI/AAAAAAAABOE/z70m2S_YHCQ/s1600/009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jthr4SqCWFI/TYKGqg9ylxI/AAAAAAAABOE/z70m2S_YHCQ/s400/009.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><br /> <br /> <div style="text-align: center;"> This common carp had also decided to swallow a streamer  (photo of Andrey Bondarenko). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Tr12VkiZPF4/TYKGl2LzfGI/AAAAAAAABNc/fg_EpW6jtOk/s1600/010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Tr12VkiZPF4/TYKGl2LzfGI/AAAAAAAABNc/fg_EpW6jtOk/s400/010.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /> <br /> <div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2026769296668179487-7849536327817945686?l=flyfishingrussia.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mikhail Skopetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00438775494762731630noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026769296668179487.post-30517098440725253022011-03-07T19:32:00.000+10:002011-03-07T19:32:33.981+10:00At the dike - part 2 (Amur River near Khabarovsk, June)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;">When the water level in the Amur goes down, the top of the dike becomes visible.  This period it is possible to reach it by boat, and to fish powerful streams flowing through the dike.  This habitat is unusual for the Amur River, but many of the local fish like it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-SzGRQjUWskw/TXSifREwCFI/AAAAAAAABMw/UrvpBhq7w_I/s1600/_1440.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-SzGRQjUWskw/TXSifREwCFI/AAAAAAAABMw/UrvpBhq7w_I/s400/_1440.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><br /> <br /> <div style="text-align: center;"></div>In strong current it is necessary to use heavy rods and sinking lines<br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-stXSGTAP5lg/TXSigUDjGaI/AAAAAAAABM0/6y-20CKs4yw/s1600/damba1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-stXSGTAP5lg/TXSigUDjGaI/AAAAAAAABM0/6y-20CKs4yw/s400/damba1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Chinese perch (Mandarin bass)<br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qx4UNwSYdq0/TXSih7TX1BI/AAAAAAAABM8/St3hpBCqs_U/s1600/img_1428.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qx4UNwSYdq0/TXSih7TX1BI/AAAAAAAABM8/St3hpBCqs_U/s400/img_1428.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Chinese perch should be fished near the bottom, among the rocks, with a streamer with upright hook<br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-iArj7n0Lgtk/TXSiioYfsyI/AAAAAAAABNA/i5xzigmUfZs/s1600/img_1448.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-iArj7n0Lgtk/TXSiioYfsyI/AAAAAAAABNA/i5xzigmUfZs/s400/img_1448.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Mongolian redfin is often caught in the same place, in middle layers of the water<br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-UT7RJA9K2DE/TXSikFhMZEI/AAAAAAAABNI/iD1KvAxJvuY/s1600/img_1454.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-UT7RJA9K2DE/TXSikFhMZEI/AAAAAAAABNI/iD1KvAxJvuY/s400/img_1454.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>Mongolian redfin<br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-oFphlGorb3M/TXSilH1DTuI/AAAAAAAABNM/8u64T2q0Hlw/s1600/img_1455.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-oFphlGorb3M/TXSilH1DTuI/AAAAAAAABNM/8u64T2q0Hlw/s400/img_1455.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Good size Mandarin bass<br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-n0oVdnn5HXE/TXSil1tsUtI/AAAAAAAABNQ/qTmoErLSdi0/s1600/Mandarin_bass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-n0oVdnn5HXE/TXSil1tsUtI/AAAAAAAABNQ/qTmoErLSdi0/s400/Mandarin_bass.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>June is time of flowers<br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-xfGmD0vZXlE/TXSimX1G2fI/AAAAAAAABNU/u7gu5Zs9XGU/s1600/x_1465.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-xfGmD0vZXlE/TXSimX1G2fI/AAAAAAAABNU/u7gu5Zs9XGU/s400/x_1465.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-91dVuBFIrLo/TXSinMuADlI/AAAAAAAABNY/2Bv8EryRiEI/s1600/x_1469.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-91dVuBFIrLo/TXSinMuADlI/AAAAAAAABNY/2Bv8EryRiEI/s400/x_1469.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-gJNXQLQRdjk/TXSierrdzrI/AAAAAAAABMs/ruLXvdYQ95Y/s1600/x_1472.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-gJNXQLQRdjk/TXSierrdzrI/AAAAAAAABMs/ruLXvdYQ95Y/s400/x_1472.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /> <br /> <br /> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2026769296668179487-3051709844072525302?l=flyfishingrussia.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mikhail Skopetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00438775494762731630noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026769296668179487.post-55091414953307118492011-03-04T10:03:00.000+10:002011-03-04T10:03:43.800+10:00At the dike (Amur River near Khabarovsk, May)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;">Huge side channel of the Amur River, Pemzenskaya, in 2000-2006 was growing and becoming bigger and deeper every year.  There was a threat that Pemzenskaya will become the main channel of the Amur, so the river will go away from the city and its river ports.  A new dike was constructed out of big rocks at the upper part of the Pemzenskaya channel. This had created an unusual, mountainous type habitat at the river flowing through huge plain.  After a day spent near roaring water a fisherman has buzzing in his ears - as if he was fishing for salmon near big falls. </div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-w7eY-A4jxQE/TXAjpKkgbmI/AAAAAAAABMM/AR8fepI3YMM/s1600/_Amur-damba.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-w7eY-A4jxQE/TXAjpKkgbmI/AAAAAAAABMM/AR8fepI3YMM/s400/_Amur-damba.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Many fishermen use spinning rods with a heavy spoon or sinker at the tip of the rig and 2-3 primitive flies as droppers.  With this tackle you can catch many species of fish, including Mandarin bass (Chinese perch).  <i>Siniperca chuatsi</i> is the only freshwater rockfish (<i>Sebastidae</i>).   </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-bdRs2ctNtWI/TXAjorOJYvI/AAAAAAAABMI/yQuhHQ7B0X8/s1600/Mandarin_bass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-bdRs2ctNtWI/TXAjorOJYvI/AAAAAAAABMI/yQuhHQ7B0X8/s400/Mandarin_bass.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Amur ide is among those carps which often eat small fish.  It was caught with a tiny wobbler-fly on a flyrod.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-H3cBdpqUlIc/TXAjptENlwI/AAAAAAAABMQ/KWAymxCrubQ/s1600/Amur_ide.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-H3cBdpqUlIc/TXAjptENlwI/AAAAAAAABMQ/KWAymxCrubQ/s400/Amur_ide.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Skin-carp (<i>Hemibarbus labeo</i>, in Russian - horse) also eat small fish.    </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_UIINAkLdUI/TXAjqkpcaGI/AAAAAAAABMY/HMTaxjN8Lyc/s1600/Amur-horse2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_UIINAkLdUI/TXAjqkpcaGI/AAAAAAAABMY/HMTaxjN8Lyc/s400/Amur-horse2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The head of skin-carp is horse-like.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Pj12thwyAKs/TXAjqECAqoI/AAAAAAAABMU/H7E9Uo4-qAE/s1600/Amur-horse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Pj12thwyAKs/TXAjqECAqoI/AAAAAAAABMU/H7E9Uo4-qAE/s400/Amur-horse.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">Andrey had landed a good size Mongolian redfin  <i><span id="search">(Erythroculter mongolicus)</span></i> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-8gg_FJ_p3s4/TXAjrMlZ7yI/AAAAAAAABMc/C-3A4-hY7x8/s1600/Amur-redfin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-8gg_FJ_p3s4/TXAjrMlZ7yI/AAAAAAAABMc/C-3A4-hY7x8/s400/Amur-redfin.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Amur catfish (<span id="search"><i>P</i><i>arasilurus asotus</i>) is normally small</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-qUTRuC56vXk/TXAjrqtiA5I/AAAAAAAABMg/m1ING58SBfQ/s1600/img_0957.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-qUTRuC56vXk/TXAjrqtiA5I/AAAAAAAABMg/m1ING58SBfQ/s400/img_0957.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Lookup (<i>Culter alburnus)</i> is one of predators which are numerous around the dike in spring.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-WFxGDJvnXIs/TXAjsPv-_LI/AAAAAAAABMk/b1U4eRlR8k8/s1600/img_0964.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-WFxGDJvnXIs/TXAjsPv-_LI/AAAAAAAABMk/b1U4eRlR8k8/s400/img_0964.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">Banded catfish <i> (Pseudobagrus fulvidraco)</i> has relatives in tropical rivers.  </div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-U-acKDyXyYw/TXAjsrsE-II/AAAAAAAABMo/E1-8L7Vg4f0/s1600/img_1006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-U-acKDyXyYw/TXAjsrsE-II/AAAAAAAABMo/E1-8L7Vg4f0/s400/img_1006.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2026769296668179487-5509141495330711849?l=flyfishingrussia.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mikhail Skopetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00438775494762731630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026769296668179487.post-59234463288073576892011-02-26T20:50:00.002+10:002011-02-26T20:51:55.531+10:00Mustangs in the Russian Far East<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 6pt 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: small;">Everybody knows that mustangs are horses which have become wild.  Big herds of those used to live in the American prairies. Horses can survive in the wild in much more severe climate, for example, in the Russian Far East. For example, I met these very handsome horses at the mouth of the Koppi River near Sovgavan. They did not let me to approach, and in general behaved watchfully. I’ve got info from local fishermen, that this pair lives here already a few years. Their owners, geologists, had gone long ago, and the horses still live at the meadow between the forest and the Sea of Japan. </span><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-C6KXMqZTeuo/TWjXNIyc22I/AAAAAAAABL0/C451stX3_j0/s1600/Koppi-2000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-C6KXMqZTeuo/TWjXNIyc22I/AAAAAAAABL0/C451stX3_j0/s400/Koppi-2000.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 6pt 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="font-size: small;">Sakhalin Island looks like an enormous sturgeon: it has the nose (Shmidt Peninsula) directed north, wide opened mouth (Sakhalinskiy Bay), long and sharp dorsal fin in the east (Terpeniya Peninsula).</span><span style="font-size: small;">  The tail of the fish is almost reaching Japan. The western blade of this caudal fin is named Krillion Peninsula. Here I met the Sakhalin mustangs. A few horses were living for many years near an abandoned settlement at the mouth of the Naychi River. In June, when is this picture was shot, the horses feel good, but how do they survive the long Sakhalin winter, when the island is heaped up by deep snows?</span> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-x1CtvcYkEgw/TWjXNTRKH7I/AAAAAAAABL4/_9wM3MEkpts/s1600/horses-Sakhalin.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-x1CtvcYkEgw/TWjXNTRKH7I/AAAAAAAABL4/_9wM3MEkpts/s400/horses-Sakhalin.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 6pt 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: small;">Into the tundras of north-western Kamchatka the horses got not by chance. Someone suggested to utilize them for herding the reindeer, and the idea appeared successful. The Yakutian breed of horses feel fine in a strange climate – not as harsh as in yakutia, but windy and damp. The whole year round they graze in tundra without every care or additional feeding. The Koryak reindeer herders mastered a new mean of transportation. It is much easier to work with the semi-wild herds from the horseback than on foot. </span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 6pt 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Late autumn; the horses are crossing the freezing Utkholok River</span></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-GkeEUOhm78g/TWjXN4keCWI/AAAAAAAABL8/C87_TEy1FSM/s1600/Horses-Utkholok1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-GkeEUOhm78g/TWjXN4keCWI/AAAAAAAABL8/C87_TEy1FSM/s400/Horses-Utkholok1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <i><span lang="RU" style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12pt;">It is not Texas and not Mongolia. The Yakut horses graze in tundra of western Kamchatka. </span></i> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-M9XDW2J7vVc/TWjXOGxnQQI/AAAAAAAABMA/uhNU4uYFUO4/s1600/Horses-Utkholok2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-M9XDW2J7vVc/TWjXOGxnQQI/AAAAAAAABMA/uhNU4uYFUO4/s400/Horses-Utkholok2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Some of the native Koryak reindeer herders now ride horses as well as the Mongols.    </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-u2h7q9iseR4/TWjZgYihgkI/AAAAAAAABME/cRMfk78HiDY/s1600/deerboy-Utkh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-u2h7q9iseR4/TWjZgYihgkI/AAAAAAAABME/cRMfk78HiDY/s400/deerboy-Utkh.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2026769296668179487-5923446328807357689?l=flyfishingrussia.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mikhail Skopetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00438775494762731630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026769296668179487.post-49706208830876021732011-02-21T08:20:00.001+10:002011-02-26T20:32:18.719+10:00Feklistova Island (Shantar Archipelago, Sea of Okhotsk)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-F-04f3D-qcc/TWGPPs3HV8I/AAAAAAAABLU/gqoaeGLCVtI/s1600/0513.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The shallow western part of the Sea of Okhotsk between the Shantar Archipelago and the mainland is called Shantar Sea.  This is the coldest part of the sea (this image was shot in July).  The best streams to catch trophy Siberian taimen, Uda & Tugur Rivers, are flowing namely into this part of the Sea of Okhotsk.   </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LjMGc9TZpfo/TWGPSVsXG4I/AAAAAAAABLo/ztQ2XLHsu_o/s1600/0425.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LjMGc9TZpfo/TWGPSVsXG4I/AAAAAAAABLo/ztQ2XLHsu_o/s400/0425.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Shantar Archipelago has 15 islands longer than 1 kilometer, and many separate tiny islands & cliffs.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RlfIfE-Fh6g/TWGPS4OoL8I/AAAAAAAABLs/rIyfqG57OOk/s1600/0500.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RlfIfE-Fh6g/TWGPS4OoL8I/AAAAAAAABLs/rIyfqG57OOk/s400/0500.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> The bigger islands are covered with dense forest</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a5h8dAil8RI/TWGPRr6NA-I/AAAAAAAABLg/ZbuUZQKuS24/s1600/0534.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a5h8dAil8RI/TWGPRr6NA-I/AAAAAAAABLg/ZbuUZQKuS24/s400/0534.JPG" width="266" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Cliffs of red jasper at the north-western shore of the Bolshoi (Big) Shantar Island.  </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SeXOD6wN3s0/TWGPR99niaI/AAAAAAAABLk/dT5A91awPRY/s1600/0422.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SeXOD6wN3s0/TWGPR99niaI/AAAAAAAABLk/dT5A91awPRY/s400/0422.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Feklistova Island is the second biggest of the archipelago.  It is about 40 km long. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AWSdmmL6ENg/TWGPQnGGKUI/AAAAAAAABLc/1QwMLvPKrW8/s1600/0520.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AWSdmmL6ENg/TWGPQnGGKUI/AAAAAAAABLc/1QwMLvPKrW8/s400/0520.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> In the first days of July the banks of Feklistova Island were covered by huge pieces of ice (low tide).  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--t4ratEowzU/TWGPTc_SQeI/AAAAAAAABLw/4Xwr1EnXYJU/s1600/0511.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--t4ratEowzU/TWGPTc_SQeI/AAAAAAAABLw/4Xwr1EnXYJU/s400/0511.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Lebyazhia (Swan) River is the biggest stream of Feklistova.  Near the sea it is slow & smooth.     </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-F-04f3D-qcc/TWGPPs3HV8I/AAAAAAAABLU/gqoaeGLCVtI/s1600/0513.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-F-04f3D-qcc/TWGPPs3HV8I/AAAAAAAABLU/gqoaeGLCVtI/s400/0513.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">This Dolly Varden charr is was wintering in the river.  Now it is preparing to move out into the sea for feeding.  </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k46EFa8-Duo/TWGPQdkRJYI/AAAAAAAABLY/NPg1VVIHDJ4/s1600/0516.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k46EFa8-Duo/TWGPQdkRJYI/AAAAAAAABLY/NPg1VVIHDJ4/s400/0516.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2026769296668179487-4970620883087602173?l=flyfishingrussia.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mikhail Skopetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00438775494762731630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026769296668179487.post-33575071300483712472011-02-14T21:26:00.000+10:002011-02-14T21:26:18.320+10:00Fishing near the Talan Island, Sea of Okhotsk<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;">The trip to Talan Island starts in the Nagaevo Bay near Magadan.  </div><div style="text-align: center;">Magadan is a sea port on the north coast of the Sea of Okhotsk.  </div><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XTwIPJHNrtI/TVkN4fCLD3I/AAAAAAAABKo/cpTSEEAppGI/s1600/x-Magadan.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XTwIPJHNrtI/TVkN4fCLD3I/AAAAAAAABKo/cpTSEEAppGI/s320/x-Magadan.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> The shores of this small island are steep and rocky.  Only its northern shore is formed by a plain deposited by the sea.  This area has bank formed out of big cobbles & boulders. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lfmMqlCuJqY/TVkN4gMDpdI/AAAAAAAABKs/z40uOezG1GE/s1600/1-Talan_Island.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lfmMqlCuJqY/TVkN4gMDpdI/AAAAAAAABKs/z40uOezG1GE/s320/1-Talan_Island.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> I am trying to fish near the north-western bank of the island</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RrbH7ply8_Y/TVkN5OvhyYI/AAAAAAAABKw/60uD1shlhx4/s1600/2-4371.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RrbH7ply8_Y/TVkN5OvhyYI/AAAAAAAABKw/60uD1shlhx4/s320/2-4371.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> If you find a school of grey rockfish, they will be biting your fly every minute</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PN_KLQ3YKFo/TVkN5tr6IrI/AAAAAAAABK0/cveXDuXuVM8/s1600/2sea-fishing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PN_KLQ3YKFo/TVkN5tr6IrI/AAAAAAAABK0/cveXDuXuVM8/s320/2sea-fishing.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Spiny crab is close relative to famous king crab. This smaller crab is covered by sharp spines.  It is dwelling near rocky shores at 5-15 meters, and king crab is normally found on sand & silt, on bigger depth.   </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V-7db4UWE7s/TVkN5-4eFAI/AAAAAAAABK4/SwGFgU6rKJ8/s1600/3spiny_crab.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V-7db4UWE7s/TVkN5-4eFAI/AAAAAAAABK4/SwGFgU6rKJ8/s320/3spiny_crab.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Saffron cod is biting any flies</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iRYy-T7llKE/TVkN6WMP1yI/AAAAAAAABK8/hiTp3NEtDwA/s1600/4-saffron_cod.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iRYy-T7llKE/TVkN6WMP1yI/AAAAAAAABK8/hiTp3NEtDwA/s320/4-saffron_cod.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Rainbow smelt is possible to catch with small, sparsely tied streamers.  This small fish has big mouth with serious fangs. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YNPxODMYOCU/TVkN6oANwII/AAAAAAAABLA/BTAQZe5niMA/s1600/5-smelt.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YNPxODMYOCU/TVkN6oANwII/AAAAAAAABLA/BTAQZe5niMA/s320/5-smelt.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Smelt with Nagaevo Bay at the background.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-q_uFUp8YkIU/TVkN7DFw_LI/AAAAAAAABLE/zB8Xvh_zPgI/s1600/5-smelt1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-q_uFUp8YkIU/TVkN7DFw_LI/AAAAAAAABLE/zB8Xvh_zPgI/s320/5-smelt1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">  Greenling is found on shallow places with kelps.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">  <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IiWxOfAnuWQ/TVkN7fqBh8I/AAAAAAAABLI/mbOmgNxr5Ek/s1600/greenling.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IiWxOfAnuWQ/TVkN7fqBh8I/AAAAAAAABLI/mbOmgNxr5Ek/s320/greenling.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Grey rockfish caught with red shrimp imitation</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rNRakQKoHDI/TVkN7zJig6I/AAAAAAAABLM/TesCt0zIfcI/s1600/grey_rockfish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rNRakQKoHDI/TVkN7zJig6I/AAAAAAAABLM/TesCt0zIfcI/s320/grey_rockfish.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Grey rockfish often comes to the surface and could be caught with dry line and a streamer.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3-crzPbe9AQ/TVkN8IncBmI/AAAAAAAABLQ/5cpvpKwXfAQ/s1600/grey-rockfish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3-crzPbe9AQ/TVkN8IncBmI/AAAAAAAABLQ/5cpvpKwXfAQ/s320/grey-rockfish.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2026769296668179487-3357507130048371247?l=flyfishingrussia.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mikhail Skopetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00438775494762731630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026769296668179487.post-5886696279071689322011-02-08T07:55:00.000+10:002011-02-08T07:55:48.639+10:00Talan Island, Sea of Okhotsk<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;">Talan is a tiny (1,3 km long) island in the north part of the Sea of Okhotsk, in the Tayiskaya Inlet near Magadan. <br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TVBmBoojHxI/AAAAAAAABJ4/DhXAgsXIcQA/s1600/01-Talan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TVBmBoojHxI/AAAAAAAABJ4/DhXAgsXIcQA/s1600/01-Talan.jpg" /></a></div> Most of the island shores are steep and rocky <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TVBmCTnoX2I/AAAAAAAABJ8/hvaaPQKICbc/s1600/03-T-east+cliffs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TVBmCTnoX2I/AAAAAAAABJ8/hvaaPQKICbc/s1600/03-T-east+cliffs.jpg" /></a></div> The biggest cliffs are at its southern end exposed to the open sea. <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TVBmC2rU7AI/AAAAAAAABKA/OB28R7zo5u4/s1600/05-T-south+wall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TVBmC2rU7AI/AAAAAAAABKA/OB28R7zo5u4/s1600/05-T-south+wall.jpg" /></a></div> Black-legged kittiwakes at the nests<br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TVBmD379zDI/AAAAAAAABKE/XFfiRqONtKo/s1600/06-T-moevka.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TVBmD379zDI/AAAAAAAABKE/XFfiRqONtKo/s1600/06-T-moevka.jpg" /></a></div> Pelagic cormorants are drying their wings. <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TVBmEshFCkI/AAAAAAAABKI/Vlm_YVkCJ2w/s1600/07-T-baklan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TVBmEshFCkI/AAAAAAAABKI/Vlm_YVkCJ2w/s1600/07-T-baklan.jpg" /></a></div> Mures are sitting at the narrow rocky shelves.<br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TVBmE1w9cWI/AAAAAAAABKM/q8FNqIOBFEU/s1600/08-T-kairy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TVBmE1w9cWI/AAAAAAAABKM/q8FNqIOBFEU/s1600/08-T-kairy.jpg" /></a></div>Spectacled guillemots are feeding with tiny coastal fish. <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TVBmHCVhJJI/AAAAAAAABKU/zVL4sKt5vOE/s1600/10-T-chistik.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TVBmHCVhJJI/AAAAAAAABKU/zVL4sKt5vOE/s1600/10-T-chistik.jpg" /></a></div><span id="search" style="visibility: visible;">Horned puffins</span> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TVBmH6ZDPvI/AAAAAAAABKY/MDwrvXVBiss/s1600/11-T-h-puffin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TVBmH6ZDPvI/AAAAAAAABKY/MDwrvXVBiss/s1600/11-T-h-puffin.jpg" /></a></div>Crested puffin <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TVBmIhoSxHI/AAAAAAAABKc/jnXLW6mF2zU/s1600/12-T-puffin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TVBmIhoSxHI/AAAAAAAABKc/jnXLW6mF2zU/s1600/12-T-puffin.jpg" /></a></div> The most numerous bird of the island is crested auklet - about 2 million of these tiny birds are nesting st the island.   <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TVBmMrg0BXI/AAAAAAAABKg/_EKxE-IXTBA/s1600/13-T-auklets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TVBmMrg0BXI/AAAAAAAABKg/_EKxE-IXTBA/s1600/13-T-auklets.jpg" /></a></div> In the evening crested auklets are flying around the island.  <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TVBmNJy8ftI/AAAAAAAABKk/ma39zryO06Q/s1600/14-T-auklets2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TVBmNJy8ftI/AAAAAAAABKk/ma39zryO06Q/s1600/14-T-auklets2.jpg" /></a></div> Eaglets look like dinosaurs..  Every year several pairs of majestic Stellers sea eagles nest at the island.   <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TVBmBSy70gI/AAAAAAAABJ0/KAFozVR8g1Q/s1600/17-UM-eaglet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TVBmBSy70gI/AAAAAAAABJ0/KAFozVR8g1Q/s1600/17-UM-eaglet.jpg" /></a></div><br /> To be continued...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2026769296668179487-588669627907168932?l=flyfishingrussia.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mikhail Skopetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00438775494762731630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026769296668179487.post-6947864618500885362011-02-02T22:20:00.000+10:002011-02-02T22:20:01.486+10:00Armenia, Arpa River - Caucasus brown trout - the end.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TUlFTdNLxsI/AAAAAAAABJI/79gUPgsTrOk/s1600/IMG_9849.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;">After releasing the first catch, a frog, I continued fishing with a nymph.  </span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">The first fish was</span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TUlFTdNLxsI/AAAAAAAABJI/79gUPgsTrOk/s1600/IMG_9849.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;">khramulya</span></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TUlFTdNLxsI/AAAAAAAABJI/79gUPgsTrOk/s1600/IMG_9849.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;">(<i>Varicorhinus</i> <i>capoeta</i>) </span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TUlFUcWSLJI/AAAAAAAABJQ/pkV1a-BPnTc/s1600/IMG_6424.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TUlFUcWSLJI/AAAAAAAABJQ/pkV1a-BPnTc/s320/IMG_6424.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> The next species was <span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">Kura barbel - <i>Barbus lacerta cyri</i></span>   </div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TUlFT3xc24I/AAAAAAAABJM/iBjHXDTLqMA/s1600/IMG_6422.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TUlFT3xc24I/AAAAAAAABJM/iBjHXDTLqMA/s320/IMG_6422.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Finally I was lucky to land a nice trout.    </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TUlFUtA-XuI/AAAAAAAABJU/TscqmojPI5A/s1600/IMG_6430.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TUlFUtA-XuI/AAAAAAAABJU/TscqmojPI5A/s320/IMG_6430.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Beautiful fish!  It is my first trout from the Caspian Sea drainage.    </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TUlKLoo4oZI/AAAAAAAABJo/indELCz3Rwk/s1600/Arpa_trout.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="174" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TUlKLoo4oZI/AAAAAAAABJo/indELCz3Rwk/s320/Arpa_trout.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> In many cases we had to fish from steep rocky banks of the river.    </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TUlFVHYATKI/AAAAAAAABJY/9ID1LPGs1Lc/s1600/IMG_6437.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TUlFVHYATKI/AAAAAAAABJY/9ID1LPGs1Lc/s320/IMG_6437.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">My Armenian friend was using standard local tackle - long pole with a bobber.  He was using worms as a bait. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TUlFVmgPd0I/AAAAAAAABJc/IOAdGm-tUn4/s1600/IMG_6441.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TUlFVmgPd0I/AAAAAAAABJc/IOAdGm-tUn4/s320/IMG_6441.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Local fishermen do not have catch-and-release tradition.. One of the fish was tiny rainbow trout, which had probably escaped from a nearby hatchery.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TUlFWJr6iSI/AAAAAAAABJg/K2RvASy6PVg/s1600/IMG_6447.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TUlFWJr6iSI/AAAAAAAABJg/K2RvASy6PVg/s320/IMG_6447.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> I was able to catch one more trout with a wobbler fly.  </div><div style="text-align: center;">These flies are very convenient to use when standing high above the river. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TUlFTdNLxsI/AAAAAAAABJI/79gUPgsTrOk/s1600/IMG_9849.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="202" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TUlFTdNLxsI/AAAAAAAABJI/79gUPgsTrOk/s320/IMG_9849.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Wild poppy flowers</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TUlFXUbTlDI/AAAAAAAABJk/ued60JpekCc/s1600/IMG_6451.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TUlFXUbTlDI/AAAAAAAABJk/ued60JpekCc/s320/IMG_6451.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2026769296668179487-694786461850088536?l=flyfishingrussia.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mikhail Skopetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00438775494762731630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026769296668179487.post-29613972375429002592011-01-28T08:24:00.000+10:002011-01-28T08:24:03.956+10:00Armenia, Arpa River - Caucasus brown trout<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Short fishing trip, Caucasus, Armenia </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: left;">I was working in Armenia.  This country used to be part of USSR; now it is independent country, situated between Georgia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Iran.   The entire territory of the country belongs to the watershed of the Caspian Sea.  One weekend I went fishing with my friend, local fisherman.  </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;">On a road near Yerevan it is possible to see huge Ararat volcano with a snowy summit at the altitude of 5137 meters. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TUHrqMdGyrI/AAAAAAAABIk/9Ff568qEnvU/s1600/IMG_6368.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TUHrqMdGyrI/AAAAAAAABIk/9Ff568qEnvU/s320/IMG_6368.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">  Dry mountains on the road to Arpa River. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TUHrqiF7nsI/AAAAAAAABIo/Np07zV0ZJvc/s1600/IMG_6369.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TUHrqiF7nsI/AAAAAAAABIo/Np07zV0ZJvc/s320/IMG_6369.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Armenian villages with lush gardens look like oases surrounded by harsh mountains.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TUHrrNQoE7I/AAAAAAAABIs/nlOaLm2ChaA/s1600/IMG_6378.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TUHrrNQoE7I/AAAAAAAABIs/nlOaLm2ChaA/s320/IMG_6378.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Arpa River is swift and powerful.  The water at that day was slightly murky.   </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TUHrr7g5CkI/AAAAAAAABI0/4dIh4Jc6CuA/s1600/IMG_6382.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TUHrr7g5CkI/AAAAAAAABI0/4dIh4Jc6CuA/s320/IMG_6382.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> At the banks I had found numerous signs of high productivity of the river </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TUHrrfe4O8I/AAAAAAAABIw/T22D9YNwnjY/s1600/IMG_6381.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TUHrrfe4O8I/AAAAAAAABIw/T22D9YNwnjY/s320/IMG_6381.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> I have started to fish with floating line and a small nymph  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TUHrsgt6MrI/AAAAAAAABI4/jgHYu9F7SGw/s1600/IMG_6395.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TUHrsgt6MrI/AAAAAAAABI4/jgHYu9F7SGw/s320/IMG_6395.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> One cast went too far and got to the opposite bank.  The nymph was immediately bitten by a fat frog.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TUHrtjM1V9I/AAAAAAAABI8/CdrZBr2t9_Y/s1600/IMG_6405.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TUHrtjM1V9I/AAAAAAAABI8/CdrZBr2t9_Y/s320/IMG_6405.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Catch and release </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TUHrucoRizI/AAAAAAAABJA/6RNq0U4tvOg/s1600/IMG_6407.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TUHrucoRizI/AAAAAAAABJA/6RNq0U4tvOg/s320/IMG_6407.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> The frog is unharmed.  Let's look for trout.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TUHru38SCxI/AAAAAAAABJE/LqjmGJQEu-E/s1600/IMG_6419.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TUHru38SCxI/AAAAAAAABJE/LqjmGJQEu-E/s320/IMG_6419.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;">To be continued</div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2026769296668179487-2961397237542900259?l=flyfishingrussia.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mikhail Skopetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00438775494762731630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026769296668179487.post-49762850457178285182011-01-11T21:03:00.002+10:002011-01-11T21:05:57.500+10:00Yama River, Sea of Okhotsk - 2<div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"> When snorkeling in the clear water of Yama River, I was able to see different fish, including coho & chum salmon</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TSw0Uhz1inI/AAAAAAAABIA/tSAZYH05D3g/s1600/Yama-cohos-underw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TSw0Uhz1inI/AAAAAAAABIA/tSAZYH05D3g/s400/Yama-cohos-underw.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Kundzha or white-spotted charr (<i>Salvelinus leucomaenis</i>) can reach 12 and even 20 kg.  </div><div style="text-align: center;">This is the biggest Salmonid fish of the rivers where there are no king salmon or taimen.   </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TSw0VQPr3kI/AAAAAAAABIE/L5mDr6LFpg4/s1600/4Kundzha1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TSw0VQPr3kI/AAAAAAAABIE/L5mDr6LFpg4/s400/4Kundzha1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Deep and slow side-channels are the best resting areas for coho salmon.  Dark spots on this photo are fish!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TSw0V0GyMQI/AAAAAAAABII/ps7faakp6Kw/s1600/5Coho_resting_place.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TSw0V0GyMQI/AAAAAAAABII/ps7faakp6Kw/s400/5Coho_resting_place.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Hooked coho is often jumping (photo of Nikita Vladimirov) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TSw0W0ged0I/AAAAAAAABIM/GUEVC6HNlG8/s1600/5Coho-jumping.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TSw0W0ged0I/AAAAAAAABIM/GUEVC6HNlG8/s400/5Coho-jumping.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> This fisherman is holding 3 rods with a coho salmon on each of them...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TSw0X5jlUWI/AAAAAAAABIQ/mwFXlXiiwU4/s1600/5Dumont-3_rods.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TSw0X5jlUWI/AAAAAAAABIQ/mwFXlXiiwU4/s400/5Dumont-3_rods.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Typical flybox for the rivers with Pacific salmon, charr, & Arctic grayling: bright streamers, "salmon eggs", skating patterns, caddis-fly imitations...  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TSw0YifcH5I/AAAAAAAABIU/gANLnO6vZeY/s1600/5Fly-box%252Bcoho.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TSw0YifcH5I/AAAAAAAABIU/gANLnO6vZeY/s400/5Fly-box%252Bcoho.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Chum salmon are often resting in deep pools and bays.  This fish in the Yama is much more numerous than coho.    </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TSw0ZNk0i7I/AAAAAAAABIY/sDi42eqeXZU/s1600/Chum1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TSw0ZNk0i7I/AAAAAAAABIY/sDi42eqeXZU/s400/Chum1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Quite often chum (left) and coho (right) form joined schools</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TSw0ZmxlFlI/AAAAAAAABIc/jBqmEqcc0qw/s1600/Coho-underw-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="271" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TSw0ZmxlFlI/AAAAAAAABIc/jBqmEqcc0qw/s400/Coho-underw-4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Yama is famous by nice size Dolly Varden charr </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TSw0bMnaovI/AAAAAAAABIg/2c7GPROcXmM/s1600/Mischa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TSw0bMnaovI/AAAAAAAABIg/2c7GPROcXmM/s640/Mischa.jpg" width="434" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2026769296668179487-4976285045717828518?l=flyfishingrussia.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mikhail Skopetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00438775494762731630noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026769296668179487.post-49065319049878205292010-12-29T18:50:00.000+10:002010-12-29T18:50:16.502+10:00Yama River, Sea of Okhotsk<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TRrpjsLAuRI/AAAAAAAABG8/AzgbbwIRcjI/s1600/1Yama-lower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;">Yama Rivers flows into the Shelikov Bay of the Sea of Okhotsk to the west from Magadan</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> The river is about 300 km long. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TRrpjsLAuRI/AAAAAAAABG8/AzgbbwIRcjI/s1600/1Yama-lower.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TRrpjsLAuRI/AAAAAAAABG8/AzgbbwIRcjI/s400/1Yama-lower.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> The river flows through the wide valley, filled with pebbles, and forms numerous channels and islands. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TRrpj3CzB2I/AAAAAAAABHA/1NqkTc2EsSQ/s1600/2-Dulakan+area.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TRrpj3CzB2I/AAAAAAAABHA/1NqkTc2EsSQ/s400/2-Dulakan+area.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> The valley is grown with sparse larch forest, has many marshy areas  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TRrpkTPuQ5I/AAAAAAAABHE/C8tvYLtPp0w/s1600/2Khalanchiga.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TRrpkTPuQ5I/AAAAAAAABHE/C8tvYLtPp0w/s400/2Khalanchiga.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> The best fishing in the Yama River is done by floating the river by inflatable rafts.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TRrpk4YvL9I/AAAAAAAABHI/8IGHNQtSssk/s1600/3Boats-evening.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TRrpk4YvL9I/AAAAAAAABHI/8IGHNQtSssk/s400/3Boats-evening.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Tent camp of a group of fishermen at the gravel island</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TRrplJB3a4I/AAAAAAAABHM/c0ZEMFxGpTY/s1600/3Tent_camp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TRrplJB3a4I/AAAAAAAABHM/c0ZEMFxGpTY/s400/3Tent_camp.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Brown bears are plentiful at the Yama banks during the salmon run</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TRrpluWetFI/AAAAAAAABHQ/tGaDWKW55aY/s1600/4Bear%252Bsalmon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TRrpluWetFI/AAAAAAAABHQ/tGaDWKW55aY/s400/4Bear%252Bsalmon.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Yama River hosts 3 (!) different species of anadromous charrs:  Dolly Varden (top), white-spotted charr (bottom), and endemic yellow-mouth charr (Levanidov's charr) - <i>Salvelinus levanidovi</i>.     </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TRrpmHxtuoI/AAAAAAAABHU/6VjgngDIG2Q/s1600/4Charrs-3_species.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TRrpmHxtuoI/AAAAAAAABHU/6VjgngDIG2Q/s400/4Charrs-3_species.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Chum is the most numerous salmon of the river; the spawners number hundreds of thousands.  Most of chum are spawning 30-150 km from the sea both in the main river and in its tributaries.    </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TRrpmtRBXWI/AAAAAAAABHY/wp78iDyiU9Y/s1600/4Chum-bright-landed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TRrpmtRBXWI/AAAAAAAABHY/wp78iDyiU9Y/s400/4Chum-bright-landed.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Arctic grayling in the Yama River can be huge: this 53 cm female had weight 1800 grams.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TRrpi0rSBzI/AAAAAAAABG4/5YpVx9vJ33U/s1600/4Grayling-4pounds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="207" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TRrpi0rSBzI/AAAAAAAABG4/5YpVx9vJ33U/s400/4Grayling-4pounds.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;">To be continued...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2026769296668179487-4906531904987820529?l=flyfishingrussia.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mikhail Skopetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00438775494762731630noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026769296668179487.post-28221373419532484492010-12-18T19:31:00.002+10:002010-12-18T19:33:06.022+10:00New "fly" - Anti-wobbler<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; font-size: small;">When working with wobbler flies (see the post dated January 12, 2010), I had made several ones with a blade put “wrong way” - it was directed to the water surface.  Here you can see "normal" wobbler-fly (bottom) and Anti-wobbler (top)</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; font-size: small;">.</span><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TQxxPWHts3I/AAAAAAAABGM/MXdJemDPgXU/s1600/5329.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TQxxPWHts3I/AAAAAAAABGM/MXdJemDPgXU/s320/5329.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">  </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; margin: 6pt 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">What did I want to get?  Just a new type of a surface skater.  When I was testing them in the water,  some of the flies with an upright blade were showing much more complicated behavior than just coming to the surface and skating.</span><span style="font-size: small;">  Some of the sinking varieties during retrieve had characteristic “hunting” movements – wide sweeping action.</span><span style="font-size: small;">   These were the flies of completely new type. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; margin: 6pt 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">The base of Anti-wobbler consists  of a hook and plastic blade; attached with 0,1 mm mono line & clear glue. The best blades are concave ones; I make them out of disposable syringes.</span><span style="font-size: small;">    When the glue will be dry, you could built on this hook with a blade any fly: streamer, imitation of squid, prawn, leech, or insect larva.</span><span style="font-size: small;">  </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TQxxO97pb0I/AAAAAAAABGI/iCp8tXFFiws/s1600/5324.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TQxxO97pb0I/AAAAAAAABGI/iCp8tXFFiws/s320/5324.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"> On this simple base you could tie Anti-wobblers of 3 main types: 1- with a foam back, 2 - Matukka style with a back out of a feather,  and 3 - the simplest fly  which has only hook, blade, body & tail.   All 3 flies below imitate little Cyprinid fish; I use them for catching pelagic predators in the Amur River.     </span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><br /> </span><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TQxxOcoZ63I/AAAAAAAABGE/FxDfnhs9R64/s1600/8216.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TQxxOcoZ63I/AAAAAAAABGE/FxDfnhs9R64/s320/8216.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><br /> </span><br /> <div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /> </span></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Anti-wobbler is excellent choice for catching pink salmon in the Sea of Okhotsk, far from fresh water. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TQxxPvfkVPI/AAAAAAAABGQ/FYB5LmzjSWY/s1600/6835.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TQxxPvfkVPI/AAAAAAAABGQ/FYB5LmzjSWY/s320/6835.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /> </span></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">This fly was most effective on that day - yellow skinny Anti-wobbler.   </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TQxxQEtcLYI/AAAAAAAABGU/xvA9WiEhb_k/s1600/6843.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TQxxQEtcLYI/AAAAAAAABGU/xvA9WiEhb_k/s320/6843.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /> </span></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Anti-wobblers were catching pink salmon in the river as well. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TQxxQiyiN2I/AAAAAAAABGY/RStyAtsrIuo/s1600/6896.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TQxxQiyiN2I/AAAAAAAABGY/RStyAtsrIuo/s320/6896.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /> </span></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Fresh silver pink salmon often jumps when feeling a hook.  </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TQxxRGSTNYI/AAAAAAAABGc/8IHyPbtWCoQ/s1600/6922.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TQxxRGSTNYI/AAAAAAAABGc/8IHyPbtWCoQ/s320/6922.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /> </span></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">School of salmon running up Ola River near Magadan </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TQxxRR2PjCI/AAAAAAAABGg/ZIC-eIvlHzQ/s1600/6949.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TQxxRR2PjCI/AAAAAAAABGg/ZIC-eIvlHzQ/s320/6949.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /> </span></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sunset at the Amur River.  Anti-wobbler could be presented near the bottom, in the middle layers of water, under the surface, and on the surface as a skating fly.    </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TQxxR3TU-8I/AAAAAAAABGk/zKc4UyX776k/s1600/8006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TQxxR3TU-8I/AAAAAAAABGk/zKc4UyX776k/s320/8006.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /> </span></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">On the base of Anti-Wobbler (blade & hook) you can tie any streamer, fantasy fly, leech, or nymph. </span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: small;">The tail is usually made out of marabou or soft synthetics, sometimes with some flashy fibers.  Comparing with normal wobbler flies, anti-wobblers do not need the buoyant foam back; many of them I make with no foam at all. </span><span style="font-size: small;">  </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TQxxSUT52CI/AAAAAAAABGo/Lz2f4toiY0c/s1600/8048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TQxxSUT52CI/AAAAAAAABGo/Lz2f4toiY0c/s320/8048.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /> </span></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Anti-wobbler is one of the best flies for skygazer from the Amur River. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TQxxS7CjX7I/AAAAAAAABGs/ra7J-OvuoK0/s1600/8060.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TQxxS7CjX7I/AAAAAAAABGs/ra7J-OvuoK0/s320/8060.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /> </span></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">On some days this strange fly works much better than any spinning lures.    </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TQxxTZiYzgI/AAAAAAAABGw/x1ZfJXsOhxw/s1600/8165.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TQxxTZiYzgI/AAAAAAAABGw/x1ZfJXsOhxw/s320/8165.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0cm; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: small;">Fine-tuning of the Wobbler flies and Anti-wobblers is done same way: by cutting the blade.  It is necessary to get flies with a stable wiggling action on retrieve.  A good fly is not falling on one of the sides, and is not rotating even on strong current.  </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: small;">There is one more option – using a floating Anti-wobbler with foam back with sinking line in shallow areas.  The line goes on the bottom, and the fly is moving above it.  This is one of the best approaches to predators of big rivers. </span></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /> </span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2026769296668179487-2822137341953248449?l=flyfishingrussia.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mikhail Skopetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00438775494762731630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026769296668179487.post-37163740699844651482010-12-10T17:47:00.001+10:002010-12-10T17:50:16.371+10:00Lago Fagnano, Tierra del Fuego, Chile<div style="text-align: center;"> We are heading to the south of the Tierra del Fuego Island.  The road is literally cut in the rocks.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TQHV5uHFfdI/AAAAAAAABFo/RxAJuQdNvos/s1600/IMG_7728.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TQHV5uHFfdI/AAAAAAAABFo/RxAJuQdNvos/s320/IMG_7728.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Finally the long-awaited Lago Fagnano is visible from a mountain pass.  At the pass we see the first snow.   </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TQHV6aYII_I/AAAAAAAABFs/8s-ZEUcoIkg/s1600/IMG_7745.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TQHV6aYII_I/AAAAAAAABFs/8s-ZEUcoIkg/s320/IMG_7745.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;">This huge lake is 100 km long and up to 500 m deep.  In the first evening we were able to fish the lake - the wind was very mild.  I was lucky to land a very unusually looking rainbow trout.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TQHV6jXKsRI/AAAAAAAABFw/Vo6CBlIQgpc/s1600/IMG_7769.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TQHV6jXKsRI/AAAAAAAABFw/Vo6CBlIQgpc/s320/IMG_7769.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> The fish was very strong, rather skinny and bright silver - with no pink strips on its sides.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TQHV7Zm9E6I/AAAAAAAABF0/P1N3UHiEQms/s1600/IMG_7770.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TQHV7Zm9E6I/AAAAAAAABF0/P1N3UHiEQms/s320/IMG_7770.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> About 9/10 of the Fagnano Lake belongs to Argentina; we have visited the western, Chilean part.  Here there is the lake outlet - short Rio Azopardo.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TQHV7--U7uI/AAAAAAAABF4/txGMOCfQUUI/s1600/IMG_7784.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TQHV7--U7uI/AAAAAAAABF4/txGMOCfQUUI/s320/IMG_7784.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Rio Azopardo is swift and powerful; its water is very clear.  There are rumors on huge sea-run brown trout which are caught in this stream.   The wading was tough - in most areas the stream was way too deep.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TQHV85wUEFI/AAAAAAAABGA/VhTxWHG8pJc/s1600/IMG_7803.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TQHV85wUEFI/AAAAAAAABGA/VhTxWHG8pJc/s320/IMG_7803.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I was able to catch a fat brook trout.  This fish is probably coming into the river out of the lake for feeding or spawning.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TQHV5EIuGCI/AAAAAAAABFk/4bnKzSddKbo/s1600/IMG_7807.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TQHV5EIuGCI/AAAAAAAABFk/4bnKzSddKbo/s320/IMG_7807.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Good size rainbow trout was caught far from the bank with a nymph on a floating line </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TQHV8bQ92UI/AAAAAAAABF8/0cWSuER28c0/s1600/IMG_7802.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TQHV8bQ92UI/AAAAAAAABF8/0cWSuER28c0/s320/IMG_7802.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2026769296668179487-3716374069984465148?l=flyfishingrussia.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mikhail Skopetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00438775494762731630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026769296668179487.post-31343416430454216762010-12-01T23:19:00.000+10:002010-12-01T23:19:15.338+10:00TdF: King Penguins at the Magellan Strait<div style="text-align: center;"> We were driving along the treeless north-western coast of the Tierra del Fuego.  </div><div style="text-align: center;">Near the road there was a nicely carved wooden sculpture of the Indians in a canoe. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TPZHvXAHBQI/AAAAAAAABFI/0gMzlxw15h4/s1600/IMG_0949.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TPZHvXAHBQI/AAAAAAAABFI/0gMzlxw15h4/s320/IMG_0949.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;">We stopped at the bridge to fish the lower part of a small creek near its mouth.  For over a kilometer the stream was flowing along the sea.    </div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TPZHwXIcSII/AAAAAAAABFQ/u1xLiSf88oc/s1600/IMG_0915.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TPZHwXIcSII/AAAAAAAABFQ/u1xLiSf88oc/s320/IMG_0915.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Small trout caught in the stream had silvery tint on the sides.  </div><div style="text-align: center;">Probably it was going out into the salt water for feeding. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TPZHv2TNGRI/AAAAAAAABFM/RBw-ytovz7g/s1600/IMG_0914.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TPZHv2TNGRI/AAAAAAAABFM/RBw-ytovz7g/s320/IMG_0914.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;">From a distance I see my friends speaking with some other fishermen </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TPZHw9C3W8I/AAAAAAAABFU/qS18F3udvPk/s1600/IMG_0918.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TPZHw9C3W8I/AAAAAAAABFU/qS18F3udvPk/s320/IMG_0918.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;">These were king penguins </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TPZHxY7e2zI/AAAAAAAABFY/fLWbvMXoJho/s1600/IMG_0920.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TPZHxY7e2zI/AAAAAAAABFY/fLWbvMXoJho/s320/IMG_0920.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Two groups of these amazing birds were resting at the shore </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TPZHxnDMb6I/AAAAAAAABFc/s-UaWX3mmn4/s1600/IMG_0921.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TPZHxnDMb6I/AAAAAAAABFc/s-UaWX3mmn4/s320/IMG_0921.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;">My friend Arthur had decided to make some casts.  </div><div style="text-align: center;">The penguins did not want to watch these awkward attempts to catch something...  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TPZHyMQvOzI/AAAAAAAABFg/IGACFp2W7KQ/s1600/IMG_0941.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TPZHyMQvOzI/AAAAAAAABFg/IGACFp2W7KQ/s320/IMG_0941.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2026769296668179487-3134341643045421676?l=flyfishingrussia.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mikhail Skopetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00438775494762731630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026769296668179487.post-70868344060501454992010-10-15T05:02:00.000+11:002010-10-15T05:02:48.510+11:00Sorry, gone to Africa for 6 weeks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TLdEacH7x7I/AAAAAAAABEg/vVBV8sTBLLU/s1600/red_bird.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TLdEacH7x7I/AAAAAAAABEg/vVBV8sTBLLU/s320/red_bird.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Some images from my trip to Congo in 2008 </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TLdEixmWGDI/AAAAAAAABEk/hW7VYzhlSJI/s1600/img_0094.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TLdEixmWGDI/AAAAAAAABEk/hW7VYzhlSJI/s320/img_0094.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">It was a trip for work, not for fun.  The fishing was not too exciting - I was catching only aquarium size fish. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TLdEjn8srDI/AAAAAAAABEo/iE-5YRbZF_M/s1600/IMG_0250.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TLdEjn8srDI/AAAAAAAABEo/iE-5YRbZF_M/s320/IMG_0250.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Freshwater crab</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TLdEka6qxLI/AAAAAAAABEs/FrM5hKb-OCE/s1600/img_0363.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TLdEka6qxLI/AAAAAAAABEs/FrM5hKb-OCE/s320/img_0363.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Freshwater shrimp</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TLdElCCBspI/AAAAAAAABEw/d9mMKKp3qSg/s1600/img_0370.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TLdElCCBspI/AAAAAAAABEw/d9mMKKp3qSg/s320/img_0370.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Good size "Moth"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TLdEmU7W_8I/AAAAAAAABE0/FgwWJisqwrg/s1600/IMG_0421.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TLdEmU7W_8I/AAAAAAAABE0/FgwWJisqwrg/s320/IMG_0421.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> danger!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TLdEm1vBhbI/AAAAAAAABE4/p3gsf3yfurg/s1600/IMG_0559-a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="207" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TLdEm1vBhbI/AAAAAAAABE4/p3gsf3yfurg/s320/IMG_0559-a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Leaf-cricket</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TLdEnHlDkuI/AAAAAAAABE8/cL-nFtHibiw/s1600/IMG_0602-a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TLdEnHlDkuI/AAAAAAAABE8/cL-nFtHibiw/s320/IMG_0602-a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Miss Africa </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TLdEnl0mTWI/AAAAAAAABFA/vqENd5rA7do/s1600/img_0704.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TLdEnl0mTWI/AAAAAAAABFA/vqENd5rA7do/s320/img_0704.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The family is going home after a day in a field </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TLdEpJGtbII/AAAAAAAABFE/icRq3lrOlbA/s1600/img_0780.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TLdEpJGtbII/AAAAAAAABFE/icRq3lrOlbA/s320/img_0780.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2026769296668179487-7086834406050145499?l=flyfishingrussia.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mikhail Skopetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00438775494762731630noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026769296668179487.post-38341298127917505152010-10-13T14:39:00.001+11:002010-10-13T14:43:13.238+11:00One more time on Amur skygazer - Oct 9 & 10, 2010<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">It was 2 day trip to Amur River near Khabarovsk with my friend's motorboat</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TLUj1ZyEOdI/AAAAAAAABDk/_RkUHcrA8DY/s1600/IMG_1097.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TLUj1ZyEOdI/AAAAAAAABDk/_RkUHcrA8DY/s320/IMG_1097.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">We were fishing from anchored boat with 2-handed rods</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TLUkvJLeNDI/AAAAAAAABD0/uVI2ZoRE7DA/s1600/IMG_1084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TLUkvJLeNDI/AAAAAAAABD0/uVI2ZoRE7DA/s320/IMG_1084.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The pool was 2-4 m deep with stronger current in the middle </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TLUkvj7MsHI/AAAAAAAABD4/XvS_O4kQx-4/s1600/IMG_1114.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TLUkvj7MsHI/AAAAAAAABD4/XvS_O4kQx-4/s320/IMG_1114.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Average fish was about 1 kg</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TLUkwLk4hjI/AAAAAAAABD8/P3fkdx4hPEQ/s1600/IMG_1117.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TLUkwLk4hjI/AAAAAAAABD8/P3fkdx4hPEQ/s320/IMG_1117.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">My friend Andrey was using mostly classic salmon flies; they were working well (photo ABond) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TLUlTNJQFlI/AAAAAAAABEA/u9LAR-pkt-s/s1600/sky+fly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TLUlTNJQFlI/AAAAAAAABEA/u9LAR-pkt-s/s320/sky+fly.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> He was also lucky to land a pike with red wobbler fly.  Amur pike in the fall is not biting "normal" streamers too often.  It prefers something with more action and vibrations (photo ABond). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TLUlT8RwcbI/AAAAAAAABEE/fbKofahSiag/s1600/AB+pike.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TLUlT8RwcbI/AAAAAAAABEE/fbKofahSiag/s320/AB+pike.jpg" width="320" /> ()</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> I was testing new wobbler flies.  On that day different colors were working..</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TLUlU9I8RxI/AAAAAAAABEI/ivBgQsGSR0M/s1600/IMG_1095.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TLUlU9I8RxI/AAAAAAAABEI/ivBgQsGSR0M/s320/IMG_1095.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">including blue ones</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TLUpeGzQWVI/AAAAAAAABEc/8mEhERn1m90/s1600/IMG_1065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TLUpeGzQWVI/AAAAAAAABEc/8mEhERn1m90/s320/IMG_1065.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I have landed Amur whitefish; for a flyfisherman it is rare quarry.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Locals catch whitefish with bottom-lines baited with small fish.   </div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TLUlimcR5OI/AAAAAAAABEQ/nS_-sgbgBTo/s1600/IMG_1078.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TLUlimcR5OI/AAAAAAAABEQ/nS_-sgbgBTo/s320/IMG_1078.jpg" width="320" /> </a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TLUlVMv1VYI/AAAAAAAABEM/jufL9arH5hQ/s1600/IMG_1109.JPG" style="color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">Our camp on a tiny gravel spit</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TLUlVMv1VYI/AAAAAAAABEM/jufL9arH5hQ/s1600/IMG_1109.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TLUlVMv1VYI/AAAAAAAABEM/jufL9arH5hQ/s320/IMG_1109.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2026769296668179487-3834129812791750515?l=flyfishingrussia.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mikhail Skopetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00438775494762731630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026769296668179487.post-88455486441684247312010-10-02T12:36:00.001+11:002010-10-02T14:11:38.812+11:00Oct 02, 2010, Amur River in downtown Khabarovsk<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Today I was fishing the Amur River in downtown Khabarovsk, near the "cliff" in the park.  My main goal was testing new wobbler flies.  These flies can be tied in different colors and sizes, but these were made for pelagic predators of the Amur River, first of all - skygazer.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The first fish I caught that day was tiny blackbelly.  This was strange (even bigger specimens rarely bite flies). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TKaI9iPj1wI/AAAAAAAABDE/TmueO7ltmks/s1600/IMG_0995.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TKaI9iPj1wI/AAAAAAAABDE/TmueO7ltmks/s320/IMG_0995.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TKaH75QULQI/AAAAAAAABCg/1C6NQ39NaeU/s1600/IMG_0995.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;">  About 10 AM I had a serious pull from the depth about 3 meters from the surface.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TKaH89b-KxI/AAAAAAAABCo/G9MvB6aS1ww/s1600/IMG_1001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TKaH89b-KxI/AAAAAAAABCo/G9MvB6aS1ww/s320/IMG_1001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;">This was 72 cm long skygazer; it is also called Korean tarpon.  </div><div style="text-align: center;">This fish belongs to carps, but looks like a giant herring.   </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TKaH9UzoIzI/AAAAAAAABCs/dmR50iGSIU8/s1600/IMG_1003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TKaH9UzoIzI/AAAAAAAABCs/dmR50iGSIU8/s320/IMG_1003.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;">The weight of fish was about 3,5 kg (close to 8 pounds) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TKaIWzqALiI/AAAAAAAABC4/bsbd-EjsDwo/s1600/IMG_1000.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TKaIWzqALiI/AAAAAAAABC4/bsbd-EjsDwo/s320/IMG_1000.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Skygazer had bitten silver and pearl wobbler fly with yellow tail.  There were more bites, but 2 landed fish were much smaller than the first one. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TKaIWKD-VvI/AAAAAAAABCw/DY16PFUCR6c/s1600/IMG_1005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TKaIWKD-VvI/AAAAAAAABCw/DY16PFUCR6c/s320/IMG_1005.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2026769296668179487-8845548644168424731?l=flyfishingrussia.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mikhail Skopetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00438775494762731630noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026769296668179487.post-4772215563326463182010-09-30T20:07:00.001+11:002010-09-30T20:24:33.129+11:00Articulated Flies (variants of String Leeches) - Part 2: Articulated Grayling, step by step<div style="color: black; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TKRMRj-LdxI/AAAAAAAABBk/2hxoOdCbvAs/s1600/IMG_2900.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;">Make "articulated base" with a hook on a string.  The weighted fore part has a shank of a big double hook and a sinker - flat piece of lead.  The total length of this base for taimen fly should be 8-10 cm. </span> </a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TKRMSDDMa2I/AAAAAAAABBo/2LZoTo07x0s/s1600/IMG_2858.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TKRMSDDMa2I/AAAAAAAABBo/2LZoTo07x0s/s320/IMG_2858.JPG" width="320" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Start with the "decoration" of the hook: </div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TKRMSVgO1dI/AAAAAAAABBs/G3XBuEUH1tE/s1600/IMG_2860.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TKRMSVgO1dI/AAAAAAAABBs/G3XBuEUH1tE/s320/IMG_2860.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">Tie on a bunch of white bucktail, make several half-hitches, and cut the line.  Put on the knot some head-cement. </div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TKRMS_culVI/AAAAAAAABBw/Xj29DUj3jlE/s1600/IMG_2861.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TKRMS_culVI/AAAAAAAABBw/Xj29DUj3jlE/s320/IMG_2861.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TKRMTDLbtNI/AAAAAAAABB0/a5JmmElRPK0/s1600/IMG_2863.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /> </a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Tie on a bunch of white synthetic fibers or bucktail </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TKRMT_BAG1I/AAAAAAAABB8/1Xky8DR9AFI/s1600/IMG_2866.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TKRMT_BAG1I/AAAAAAAABB8/1Xky8DR9AFI/s320/IMG_2866.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;">add brown ostrich  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TKRMUD85dXI/AAAAAAAABCA/s9Cnc8HmdwE/s1600/IMG_2867.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TKRMUD85dXI/AAAAAAAABCA/s9Cnc8HmdwE/s320/IMG_2867.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"> and two dyed red grizzly hackle - one of east side of the fly</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TKRMUq-gJPI/AAAAAAAABCE/WGK4kC62-PY/s1600/IMG_2869.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TKRMUq-gJPI/AAAAAAAABCE/WGK4kC62-PY/s320/IMG_2869.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;">top with some strands of Copper Crystal Flash </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TKRMU9k__bI/AAAAAAAABCI/Zz8__5Ypkjc/s1600/IMG_2870.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TKRMU9k__bI/AAAAAAAABCI/Zz8__5Ypkjc/s320/IMG_2870.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;">and dark brown ostrich  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TKRMVW4rf2I/AAAAAAAABCM/NLTA-8bGJ2g/s1600/IMG_2871.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TKRMVW4rf2I/AAAAAAAABCM/NLTA-8bGJ2g/s320/IMG_2871.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Make a head out of braided mular tubing </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TKRMVtVejsI/AAAAAAAABCQ/6M1zGwkvuEA/s1600/IMG_2872.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TKRMVtVejsI/AAAAAAAABCQ/6M1zGwkvuEA/s320/IMG_2872.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;">tie it near the hook eye </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TKRMV3e8LPI/AAAAAAAABCU/oBsrX4dkWms/s1600/IMG_2873.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TKRMV3e8LPI/AAAAAAAABCU/oBsrX4dkWms/s320/IMG_2873.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Glue the eyes  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TKRMWW1EPAI/AAAAAAAABCY/Xc8o4XzlgM4/s1600/IMG_2884.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TKRMWW1EPAI/AAAAAAAABCY/Xc8o4XzlgM4/s320/IMG_2884.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">and fihish the fly.  </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TKRMRj-LdxI/AAAAAAAABBk/2hxoOdCbvAs/s1600/IMG_2900.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TKRMRj-LdxI/AAAAAAAABBk/2hxoOdCbvAs/s320/IMG_2900.JPG" width="320" />.</a></div><div style="text-align: center;">"Grayling" works well for Siberian taimen is such rivers as Bichi & Tugur. </div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">To be continued </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2026769296668179487-477221556332646318?l=flyfishingrussia.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mikhail Skopetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00438775494762731630noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026769296668179487.post-38425917623947629622010-09-27T08:15:00.000+11:002010-09-27T08:15:21.950+11:00Articulated Flies (variants of String Leeches)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"> String Leech (Articulated leech) was invented in American North-West for catching steelhead.  The idea to separate heavy head and the hook by a piece of string allows creating big, but very lightweight fly.  The short shank hooks hold the fish better than the ones with long shank.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TJ-xHuNCu_I/AAAAAAAABBg/NjdLJXIYU7M/s1600/IMG_1649.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TJ-xHuNCu_I/AAAAAAAABBg/NjdLJXIYU7M/s320/IMG_1649.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;">In 2000, when I had started to fit keys to Siberian taimen, I began working on the idea of the String Leech.  I wanted to create a fly which will move with the hook upright, and will be easier to cast comparing with "classic" leeches made of marabou feathers.  Articulated taimen flies are made on "bases" of different types.      </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TJ-wwinDp8I/AAAAAAAABBI/cmxcZau-_ug/s1600/IMG_1644.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TJ-wwinDp8I/AAAAAAAABBI/cmxcZau-_ug/s320/IMG_1644.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;">To most of my articulated flies I am adding "feelers" made of ostrich plumes.  They are always tied on top and on the sides of the fly (not on its belly side).  This helps to direct the hook of the fly up, so it is snagging logs and rocks not as often.  Articulated flies with elements of ostrich are becoming similar to Intruders; I am calling such flies "Squid" or Giant Squid".   </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TJ-wyYwEoeI/AAAAAAAABBM/CwhLWZeCMZs/s1600/IMG_1646.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TJ-wyYwEoeI/AAAAAAAABBM/CwhLWZeCMZs/s320/IMG_1646.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;">In most cases Siberian taimen is caught with dark flies </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TJ-w01iuJJI/AAAAAAAABBQ/aAIvzjbjZJQ/s1600/IMG_1648.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TJ-w01iuJJI/AAAAAAAABBQ/aAIvzjbjZJQ/s320/IMG_1648.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"> Red-and-Black Squid: these colors are among the best for both Siberian and sea-run (Sakhalin) taimen.  They are also attractive for salmon (chum, cherry, chinook, and coho) and white-spotted charr. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TJ-w5Ap3d8I/AAAAAAAABBc/EQ8hCo7ttCM/s1600/IMG_2891.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TJ-w5Ap3d8I/AAAAAAAABBc/EQ8hCo7ttCM/s320/IMG_2891.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"> Artificial Zonker has 2 rabbit strips - one at the hook, and another at the weighted head of the fly.  This fly has hook tip directed down.   </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TJ-w4RjKJ3I/AAAAAAAABBU/KJpLdiPjjNI/s1600/IMG_2905.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TJ-w4RjKJ3I/AAAAAAAABBU/KJpLdiPjjNI/s320/IMG_2905.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"> Two bunches of bucktail tied to "articulated base" make excellent fly for sea-run taimen.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TJ-w44NYMrI/AAAAAAAABBY/IQoOiHxlG_c/s1600/IMG_1654.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TJ-w44NYMrI/AAAAAAAABBY/IQoOiHxlG_c/s320/IMG_1654.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TJ-w5Ap3d8I/AAAAAAAABBc/EQ8hCo7ttCM/s1600/IMG_2891.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;">To be continued (materials from the book "Fly Fishing the Russian Far East")</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2026769296668179487-3842591762394762962?l=flyfishingrussia.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mikhail Skopetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00438775494762731630noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026769296668179487.post-72641139989852063542010-09-23T13:27:00.000+11:002010-09-23T13:27:46.390+11:00Another Rio Grande - Riesco Island, Chilean Patagonia<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TJq23jSkF0I/AAAAAAAABAo/h-F4IWCxaLU/s1600/IMG_8194.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;">Riesco Island is situated 100 km north-west from Punta Arenas.  It is separated from the mainland with a narrow strait; one can reach it by ferry from the small town Rio Verde.</span> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TJq23jSkF0I/AAAAAAAABAo/h-F4IWCxaLU/s320/IMG_8194.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;">The biggest stream of the island is called (like many rivers in Spanish-speaking countries) Rio Grande.  The river is swift and deep: we were not able to wade across it even in low water.  The stream is famous by the stock of coho salmon; here you can also catch brown and rainbow trout.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TJq25XtFsVI/AAAAAAAABAw/z8iYL3Sv0zM/s1600/IMG_8197.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TJq25XtFsVI/AAAAAAAABAw/z8iYL3Sv0zM/s320/IMG_8197.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;">During high tide the lower part of the river is not flowing </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TJq21iklqCI/AAAAAAAABAg/Dd24VtN8OSU/s1600/IMG_8191.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TJq21iklqCI/AAAAAAAABAg/Dd24VtN8OSU/s320/IMG_8191.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;">The river has many swift, rocky stretches.  There are not very many pools here.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TJq2ynWJO3I/AAAAAAAABAQ/MehJOVUvHu0/s1600/IMG_8188.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TJq2ynWJO3I/AAAAAAAABAQ/MehJOVUvHu0/s320/IMG_8188.jpg" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Further upstream from the sea both banks are covered with thick beech forest </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TJq20UWJ5mI/AAAAAAAABAY/beYZdZqUF4w/s1600/IMG_8190.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TJq20UWJ5mI/AAAAAAAABAY/beYZdZqUF4w/s320/IMG_8190.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;">In April it is possible to catch sea-run brown trout.  This specimen was 52 cm long; it was caught with bright streamer near the bottom.  Some other trout were landed with tiny nymphs presented with a swing in the upper layers of water.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TJq2vchgCYI/AAAAAAAABAA/EZciHofsqZI/s1600/IMG_8181.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TJq2vchgCYI/AAAAAAAABAA/EZciHofsqZI/s320/IMG_8181.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Silver side of the same fish</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TJq2w7NR4oI/AAAAAAAABAI/E7lKz17mjk4/s1600/IMG_8182.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TJq2w7NR4oI/AAAAAAAABAI/E7lKz17mjk4/s320/IMG_8182.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;">This is a small parr of brown trout; it is less than a year old</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TJq27uugifI/AAAAAAAABA4/N8V4A6p4Omk/s1600/IMG_8205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TJq27uugifI/AAAAAAAABA4/N8V4A6p4Omk/s320/IMG_8205.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Local species of kingfisher is one of the common birds</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TJq285BIMWI/AAAAAAAABBA/rsjqL4BRmik/s1600/IMG_8218.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TJq285BIMWI/AAAAAAAABBA/rsjqL4BRmik/s320/IMG_8218.jpg" /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2026769296668179487-7264113998985206354?l=flyfishingrussia.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mikhail Skopetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00438775494762731630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026769296668179487.post-68804771749121142372010-09-13T20:37:00.000+11:002010-09-13T20:37:13.657+11:00Argentina, Lago Roca, end of March 2010<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">World famous Perito Moreno glacier is ending in the southern branch of huge Lago Argentino, near the town of El Calafate.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TI3ncDqCzeI/AAAAAAAAA_Y/U6Sa6-8v5Bw/s1600/IMG_8131.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TI3ncDqCzeI/AAAAAAAAA_Y/U6Sa6-8v5Bw/s320/IMG_8131.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The face of the glacier looks like a wall: 60 meters tall and 4 km long.   </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TI3naduiC2I/AAAAAAAAA_Q/rJFaVtSAcWI/s1600/IMG_8123.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TI3naduiC2I/AAAAAAAAA_Q/rJFaVtSAcWI/s320/IMG_8123.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The main lake is murky because of the "glacier flour" - ground up rock.  Lago Argentino has one clear bay; it is called Lago Roca.  It is one of the few places suitable for flyfishing in the area. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TI3nd7rBGBI/AAAAAAAAA_g/4PZxbifGUJ0/s1600/IMG_8143.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TI3nd7rBGBI/AAAAAAAAA_g/4PZxbifGUJ0/s320/IMG_8143.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In the guidebooks it is described as a place to fish for lake trout, but on that day this species was not in a biting mood.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TI3nhMvxtmI/AAAAAAAAA_w/ftsIKXtC9Uk/s1600/IMG_8147.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TI3nhMvxtmI/AAAAAAAAA_w/ftsIKXtC9Uk/s320/IMG_8147.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My friend Arthur has managed to land one rainbow trout</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TI3nf5-6uHI/AAAAAAAAA_o/6DpFkeHUt9E/s1600/IMG_8145.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TI3nf5-6uHI/AAAAAAAAA_o/6DpFkeHUt9E/s320/IMG_8145.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We went along the bank of the Lago Roca to the north and came to the area, where clear water is mixing with murky water of the Brazo Sur (southern branch of the Lago Argentino)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TI3niTKaC7I/AAAAAAAAA_4/GT7b3zgIat4/s1600/IMG_8151.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TI3niTKaC7I/AAAAAAAAA_4/GT7b3zgIat4/s320/IMG_8151.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I was lucky to land two specimens of <em>perca</em> - the only native sportfish of southern Patagonia.  For a month we were catching only non-native trout and charr.  Finally I was able to hold this interesting spiny fish, which was looking like a small walleye.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TI3nZI_b0ZI/AAAAAAAAA_I/h-9BTZOifhY/s1600/IMG_1283.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-ePy7pLrBQ/TI3nZI_b0ZI/AAAAAAAAA_I/h-9BTZOifhY/s320/IMG_1283.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2026769296668179487-6880477174912114237?l=flyfishingrussia.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mikhail Skopetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00438775494762731630noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026769296668179487.post-28688929610095697102010-09-06T08:19:00.000+11:002010-09-06T08:19:14.903+11:00