salmonjunky
New member
Mikael Frodin Summer Master Class
Last week they arrived from far and wide to join us on the Kharlovka for the Mikael Frodin summer master class. Our latest ten man team included included three jolly Norwegians, a husband and wife duo from Russia, good old Ken from America, mr guideline from Austria, a great Dane, along with a couple of sneaky Swedes.
Although we didn't receive the storm that they were predicting to begin the week, the conditions were basically perfectly overcast for the majority of our fishing days. We started off with cooling air temperatures that dropped from 15 to 10 degrees which brought the river temps down with them to an encouraging 13 degrees C. Then on Wednesday heavy rains and gusty winds made the going a bit more challenging. Unfortunately following some 12 hours of promising moisture, the rivers only rose up a mere 2cm to a reading of -15cm on the home pool scale.
Although Mikael stepped into the home pool on the very first evening and pulled in a 20+ pound sea lice beauty on about his third cast, Mikael spent the vast majority of the week walking the banks giving lessons to all his eager students. Every morning during breakfast and then again every night with our drinks just before dinner, we were entertained and enlightened by Mikael's professional presentations and slideshows. In addition to those important knots and fly tying lessons, we would also review the days instructional video clips which exposed what we thought we were doing right and wrong.
Honourable mention goes out last week to all Mikael's star pupils who managed to pick up a few new tricks in addition to many nice salmon along the way. Fishing light lines and small flies we had a tremendous time enticing 127 salmon from the low water pockets last week. Unfortunately, even though most of the fish were bright silver again, we seem to be having a hard time holding onto the really big ones before they manage to break our light tackle off somewhere downstream.
Special mention also goes out to Jacob who even though he is only 16 has already fished many of the great Norwegian rivers with his father Mikael. After warming up with a half dozen nice salmon including his new personal best 18 pounder, we allowed Mikael to join his son Jacob and his old buddy Hakan on the last night on the Litza tent camp. In addition to another half dozen good fish and another new 20 pound PB for young Jacob, they returned with stories of 18 salmon over night - including another 30+ pounder for Mikael from the upper tent.
Despite the record low water conditions, good numbers of fresh salmon continue to pour into the rivers. With cloudy skies and more rumours of much needed rain on the way, we are looking forward to what is sure to be another great summer week here on the far north coast.
Justin
More...