White Sea Fishing

Reservoirs of Kola Peninsula it is a real paradise for fishermen. Thousands of rivers and lakes are home to perch, roach, salmon, trout, char, pike and burbot. The most popular among fishermen is salmon, especially Atlantic salmon, as well as river and lake trout. Fishing of through-passing salmon is permitted, as a rule, at spawning period because in that time it becomes available for amateur ways of fishing. Free of charge fishing is permitted almost everywhere. Exceptions are: salmon through-passing rivers and lakes, fishing sites, nature reserves, fish nurseries and fisheries, where fishing is neither banned or special permission is required.

Until now Europe's largest herd of salmon comes into the Tersky Shore Rivers. Within last 15 years at all rivers salmon fishing license is permitted as “caught-removed”, but in some parts of the Umba and Varzuga rivers it is only “caught-released”. At each river are sections where you can catch salmon, trout, and croaker under license. At one license is allowed to catch a salmon, two pinks, and two - five bulltrouts.

Reserved salmon rivers are: Umba, Varzuga, Kitza, Ponoy, Yoran’ga, Western and Eastern Litza, Kharlovka, Rynda, Kola and Tuloma. When hiking on these rivers, tourists should keep fishing rods and spinning in blankets. License salmon fishing on these rivers runs from 15th June to 15th September. Fisheries inspectors issue licenses, 6 hours license costs 120 rubles. Finished fishing ones must lock the license and buy a new one.

From fisherman point of view Kola Peninsula Rivers greatly differ from each other. So, Southern and central rivers are long with small down gradient, there is a lot of salmon of 2-4 kilos weight that has spent a year in the sea. The salmon is not large due to waterfalls and rapids absence in these places, and the length of these rivers dictate fish to survive in times of low water and force the autumn salmon population to pass a part of its way in autumn, then stop and go on moving only in spring in high water.

The most prominent places of salmon pilgrimage became rivers Varzuga, Umba, Kitza, Ponoy and Olenitza. The Varzuga is considered as the fishiest river on Kola Peninsula. For newcomers it is the best chance to try themselves in salmon fishing, no one has left this place without a catch!

The Varzuga River (length – 335 km) has its source from Varza Lake in the middle of Kola Peninsula and flows into the White Sea. The upper flow is called the Small Varzuga. It is quiet river 20-25 m width with woody banks. Then stretches take turns with rifts, lower the Varzuga flows 40 km through the swamps, and then comes a rapids district. Rapid cascades take turns with stretches between lofty banks.

The Umba River – is one of the most exiting rivers of Kola Peninsula (122 km with lakes), located far from residential areas and major cities. So, you can enjoy fishing in wild nature in eco-clean district. The Umba is well known by their large salmons, although it is not so fishy as the Varzuga or the Ponoy rivers, but it is more acceptable to tourists. It is one of salmon rivers of Kola Peninsula where you can get without a helicopter! It flows out from Umba-lake and flows into the White Sea. There is a district where lakes, stretches, thresholds and rapids take turns over 80 kilometers. Upstream forest is low, closer to the White Sea, where the climate is more like Karelian, tall spruces and pine forests appear. In the lower stream of the river there are the most powerful thresholds. Here is a home to salmon, pike, trout, whitefish, lake perch and umber. At that salmon comes to the river from the White Sea within every year.

The Kitza river (45 km length) flows out from the Ind’jarvy Lake, flows into the Umba-lake – the deepest lake of Kola Peninsula. In upper stream it is narrow turbulent river with steep rocky shores, partitioned off in many places with stone heaps that take turns with stretches. In the lower the Kitza flows through low marsh banks with mixed forest where willow bushes comes to water. Here the river is not deep, with lots of rapids.

Global Tourism company branch located in the Varzuga river mouth supplies fishermen with all the necessary things for fishing lodging. We offer the following basis service:

• Arranging of fishing on the rivers: Kitza, Varzuga, Indera;
• Pick up from Kandalaksha to the camp;
• Accommodation in private house, 7 days, 6 nights;
• Continental breakfasts;
• One change of linen, towel, blanket;
• Excursions;
• Transportation to fishing site, ZIL157;
• Guide accompanies;
• See off to Kandalaksha;
• Bath/sauna two times a week.

Basis service price during a season 2008 – 1100 euro. Group from three person. Cost of a package on one, two person pays off individually.

Optional services:

• Railway tickets booking;
• Surcharge for a transfer Murmansk-Ust'e-Murmansk;
• Organization of a dry ration;
• Dinner and supper - 3000 roubles day per group;
• Additional bath/sauna - 1200 roubles a day;
• Long tours;
• Fishing license - 360 roubless;
• Campground on the river Kimezha (summer time);
• Holiday dinner;
• Guide service - 1000 roubles per day per group;
• Each additional day - 2700 roubles.