kola peninsula fly-fishing atlantic salmon angling fishing umba varzuga river First-class Salmon fishing in Varzuga River for the passionate angler!
kola peninsula fly-fishing atlantic salmon angling fishing umba varzuga river First-class Salmon fishing in Varzuga River Hook the biggest Salmon
kola peninsula fly-fishing atlantic salmon angling fishing umba varzuga river First-class Salmon fishing in Varzuga River Huge choice of fishing pools the lower beat is 3,5 km long with 20 named pools
kola peninsula fly-fishing atlantic salmon angling fishing umba varzuga river First-class Salmon fishing in Varzuga River stay in high standard fishing camp "Sobachy Porog" (Dog rapid)
kola peninsula fly-fishing atlantic salmon angling fishing umba varzuga river First-class Salmon fishing in Varzuga River your home during fishing days
kola peninsula fly-fishing atlantic salmon angling fishing umba varzuga river First-class Salmon fishing in Varzuga River Safe program available for everyone
kola peninsula fly-fishing atlantic salmon angling fishing umba varzuga river First-class Salmon fishing in Varzuga River view from the veranda! The beat is in front of the door
kola peninsula fly-fishing atlantic salmon angling fishing umba varzuga river First-class Salmon fishing in Varzuga River the comfortable dining room for sharing experiences
kola peninsula fly-fishing atlantic salmon angling fishing umba varzuga river First-class Salmon fishing in Varzuga River based on full board, guide services, and fishing licenses for reasonable prices Contact us for an offer

Atlantic Salmon fishing in Varzuga River

Sobachy Porog is the name of the newest Salmon fishing camp of the Kola Peninsula and is located on the lower beat of the Varzuga River, 1,5 km south from Varzuga village. Here the Varzuga River is generally wide, with a mixture of fast water with short pools and long runs.

Fishing is possible as soon the river is open (generally at the end of May) and ends up in October. The month’s July and August the rivers are closed for fishing.

Your accommodation is in one of the two timber lodges with a big veranda with great view on the Varzuga River. The fishing camp has a suburb sauna, good kitchen and very friendly and serving staff.

To travel to this camp is by car or minibus from Kandalsha railway station of Murmansk airport. There is no need to use expensive helicopter transfer, so that we can offer you excellent fishing days for a reasonable price.

Atlantic Salmon fishing in Varzuga River

First day: Arrival in Murmansk by plane or to Kandalaksha by train. Meet up by a car or a mini bus to drive to Varzuga village (500 km from Murmansk and 250 from Kandalaksha). It is recommended to have some sandwiches with you and some drinks on the way. Arrival in Varzuga. Transfer downstream for 5 minutes by a boat to the camp with unique wooden cottages. Check-in, dinner and overnight.

Fishing days (any amount):  Breakfast. With a personnal guide fishing the whole day or from the shore or from a boat. The guide stays with you for the whole period of fishing (generally from 9:00 to 18:00 o'clock). Lunch can be taken with you if you don't want to spend time for coming back to the lodge or you can have Lunch in the dining room and then go again for fishing. Sauna and Dinner in the evening. These days are full board.

Last day: After breakfast transfer by a boat back to Varzuga village and then by car to Murmansk or Kandalaksha.

Price includes:

  • Accommodation basesd on full board
  • Service of an experienced guide with a boat
  • "Catch&release" fishing license

The Sobachy Porog Lodges

"Sobachy Porog" means "Dog rapid". Two brand new, custom-designed lodges have 18 bedrooms in all, 12 of which are en-suite. Under floor heating, power showers and very comfortable beds make this a supremely luxurious camp. Large, tabled verandas, as well as the main dining room and sitting room with its large wood fire, look out onto the home pools of this wonderful beat.

After fishing you can have sauna in the brand new sauna or continue fishing just from the shore in front of the camp.
The meals are served in the cosy Bistro which has comfortable chairs, sofas and a fire place.

Supplies in the Varzuga Lodge: In the Lodge we have extra fishing equipment such as rods, reels, lines to rent, or to buy. We also have a selection of the best Kola flies, souvenirs and various tackles, like leaders, waders, wading staffs, jackets, T-shirts, caps, Russian made wooden fly boxes etc.

This fishing program can be extended with the following optionals:
  • Tourist invitation for visa request: EUR 25,-- per person.
  • Murmansk:
    • Guided excursions in Murmansk.
    • Tickets for museums and museum excursions cost between RUB 25,-- and RUB 400,-- per person.
    • Entrance ticket to Atomic Icebreaker to join an excursion in Russian language: RUR 150 pp. Individual excursion to Atomic Icebreaker with a lecture in English language can be arranged.
    • Trip to Saami settlement.
    • Trip to the Barents sea shore.
    • Trip to Husky Farm.
    • Trip to Lovozero village: price depends on group size
    • Rent a car from Kola Travel and get the best rate, quality and service!
      Read more >> >> Rent-a-car
    • Trip to Lovozero village; Capital of the Saami.
    • See link above for more info.
  • Train/plane/bus tickets in or outside Russian Federation.
  • Transfers from/to KuusamoIvalo/Rovaniemi and Kirkenes airports.
kola peninsula fly-fishing atlantic salmon angling fishing holidays programs tours lodge varzuga river salmons

The pools of the Varzuga River lower beat

The lower beat of the Varzuga river is about 3,5 km long, with 20 named pools providing wonderfully varied fishing; see picture.

Fishing seasons of Varzuga River

At the end of April the ice on the river breaks and the fish start running in unprecedented numbers. Our season starts a week or two after the ice has broken in order to give the fish the best chance of filling the beats. At the beginning of May the weather is changeable; some days can be cold whereas others will find us in shirtsleeves. Generally however, conditions tend to be mild as the Kola winter rapidly gives way to summer.

The first week of June is generally the cusp week, when we change from intermediate or sink tip lines to floaters. The weather is settled by now and, all things considered, the fishing is among its best. The following week we are definitely on floating lines with a great deal of water opening up for dry fly fishing, using bomber patterns or skated tubes. Wading is straightforward in most pools although a stick and a life vest are strongly encouraged.

The late season on the Varzuga river is the time when the biggest salmon migrates to upper reaches of the river. This unique run of late salmon is extremely deep and powerful created by spending a full year in the river before the next year spawning. From the lodge you can see new fish coming into the Home Pool every day, jumping to challenge your flies. At the time one normally is fishing with sinking lines and big flies, we are doing better with small flies and slow intermediate or even floating lines. Although the days are shorter and the weather is more severe, the late season on the Varzuga river is unparalleled. By our knowledge, no other river on the Kola Peninsula can compete for the same numbers of truly big salmon as the Varzuga river in September and October.

Fishing recommendations

  • All fishing is based on Catch&Release rules.
  • Only barbless single or double hooks are allowed.
  • Fishing-tackle has to be suitable for catching Salmon!
  • For spinning we advise: reel: Shimano, line: 0.35 - 0.40, blinker type: crocodile, Kyasamo 20-30 grams and the use of wobblers.
  • Rusty Rat and small Sunray Shadow-Tubes. Use bigger flies at the beginning and end of the season. During summer dry flies also work very well. Try a Bomber!

Fly rods and lines

Both single- and double-handed rods are fine.

  • Single handed of 9 to 10 ft in line classes 6-10.
  • Double handed of 12 to 15 ft in line classes 9-12.

kola peninsula fly-fishing atlantic salmon angling fishing holidays programs tours lodge varzuga river salmons

Clothes

  • Neoprene or Gore-Tex waders with corkers/cleats. Wading staff for the Krivetz fishing.
  • Fishing jacket and mittens.
  • Warm clothes and cap for cold evenings or for early or late season.
  • Rain clothes.

Three basic flies

  • Green Highlander
  • Red Butt
  • Silver Doctor
in sizes 2-8.

kola peninsula fly-fishing atlantic salmon angling fishing holidays programs tours lodge varzuga river salmons

The Billy Butt.

An essential fly for Varzuga river
Hook: single or double 2-8
Tag: oval copper tinsel
Tip: red antron
Tail: red antron
But: yellow hackle
Body: flat copper tinsel
Ribbing: oval copper tinsel
Wing: black foxtail with some copper flash
Front hackle: black
Head: black
Cheeks optional

kola peninsula fly-fishing atlantic salmon angling fishing holidays programs tours lodge varzuga river salmons

Fishing tours overview