Ponoi News: Pre Season 2011

28 May-4 June 2011

Last week Sergei Zhurin and the mechanic team flew the first Mi8 into Ryabaga to begin preparing the Camp for the coming season.  I spoke with Sergei yesterday via satellite telephone, and he reported that the river looked like a “summer river,” resulting from little snow pack in the tundra.  This year an early April thaw melted much of the snow pack on the Kola.  Given these current conditions, the first weeks of our season should be without the high water challenges present under “spring flood” conditions.  The first Salmon landed on May 29 will set off a chain reaction of frenzied Ponoi salmon fishing that will, no doubt, continue through the first week of October. 

In short, the Ponoi is in immaculate shape, a complete 180 degree opposite circumstance from the flood of 2010, which represented the highest spring-thaw water level witnessed in 21 years of operation at Ryabaga.  Progress in Ryabaga is steady, as work completed includes the launch of three boats which will intercept rafts of Spruce and Fir floated down the Ponoi as supplemental firewood for Ryabaga and Brevyeni.  The Big Tent is up and the new floor weathered very well through the winter.  Delivery of a new FG Wilson 80 Kw generator from the UK is en route and ready to be installed in Ryabaga.  Combined with the two existing 36 Kw generators, Ryabaga will have enough electrical power to meet the increasingly progressive energy needs of our bustling camp.  

In Murmansk supply stocks are full and ready for the season.  Big Dan, Ruslan, Nick, and I helped Peter and Sasha unload a  50’ semi trailer load of supplies just in from St. Petersburg: dry goods, non-perishables and frozen items for the season were unloaded and stored in Murmansk.  Supply operations will take place in Murmansk this year, ending the need for weekly trips to Lovozero.  An impressive freezing facility in Murmansk has been rented to house all frozen goods for the season.  At -18 degrees Celsius, work in the freezing chamber must be completed quickly!

The guide team in Ryabaga will welcome new additions from Argentina, Scotland, and Russia.  Sadly Mads Pedersen and Koyla Belyaev have moved onto other pursuits; we wish them luck.  Look for details of the 2011 guide team in the guide bios section of the website.With a full season booked in our lower river Brevyeni Camp, Ponoi’s potential will certainly explode.  The fishing is sure to impress!  Brevyeni has undergone renovations over the past several summers and will ultimately prove to offer one of the finest opportunities in Kola Peninsula salmon fishing.  Moreover, nowhere else can a week of such sublime fishing and glorious setting be had for such a modest fee.

Artem Tkachenko, our resident fisheries research scientist has re-tooled the weekly presentation of the life cycle of the Atlantic salmon.  Data-collection methods have been further refined, first by the Russian government, and now by PINRO and the guide team.  This new format will add to the interest and excitement of the findings of this world-famous fishery.  Presenting the slide show this year will be Ryabaga guide Barrett Mattison. Barrett has an affinity for the interpretation of data sets, graphs, and tables; he will eagerly field questions, queries, and interpretation of the existing data, and projections for the future of the fishery.

All of us here at PRC are chomping at the bit to wet a line, and I know that you are too.  I am forcing myself to exhibit extreme restraint to not stow away on tomorrow’s supply helicopter to Ryabaga.  Though I imagine I could make it to the Home Pool for a poke while the guys were unloading, and not be missed in Murmansk… yeah, I think perhaps I’ll have to!

Until We Meet On The Banks Of Ponoi…

Matt Breuer