This past week, guided by Sergeo Bistrov on Tomba, guest Terry hooked, on a short line, the biggest fish ever caught in the spring on Ponoi at 29lbs. This fish would have been over 30lbs…
It was a struggle to get news out from Ryabaga Camp last week because the internet was suffering. But, towards the end of the week, it was working much better and the promise of internet is now fulfilled.
Alan Maughan and I were there to build on the success of the film made at Ryabaga last year. Being in Nick’s shoes was interesting because it is only when one begins to focus on the details that one actually realises how much there is to the camp, the fishing and facilities. It was our mission to film ‘the meat on the bone’; to represent the detail of what was so beautifully covered last year.
Helsinki is a very happy place for me. It is a city I am very fond of and I always enjoy getting here in good time. Wish you were here! It is always an early start to catch the 07.20 flight from Heathrowi but you get here in time for lunch. I always hope for good weather because it is fun to sit out on the street outside the Kamp Hotel and enjoy their lunch menu and actually relax for a few minutes. The build up to a trip is always so intense and has been especially so this time around with so much travel ahead. Just the afternoon to relax in Helsinki and a chance to catch up with clients is much appreciated.
This is a link to a Norwegian television programme about the Duke of Roxburghe and his family fishing the Alta. A good programme and well made and he and the family do an excellent job.…
As I drove north so the clouds cleared and finally the sun came out. There it has stayed. I have not seen a cloud since about half way up the motorway on the weekend! We have an excellent party of seven rods for the first part of the week, some new and some repeaters from last year. They have all been in good spirits even as the hope of actually catching fish has faded with the ever present sun.
The good news is that they have done what they have come to do which is learn to spey cast better, to be able to cope with different situations on different sides of the river etc.
