Drozdovka River, Russia

Over the years the Drozdovka River has earned its fame as one of the premier big fish Atlantic salmon rivers in the Kola Peninsula. Located within the Arctic Circle on the northern shores of the peninsula, the Drozdovka is one of the Kola Rivers where you will have the best chances of catching  20 lb + and even 30 lb + plus fish. The gin clear water of this mid-sized river  are a joy to fish with a number of beautiful pools which are largely wadeable. Pools such as the Aquarium Tube, the Finn Pool, the Hitch Pool or even the Home pool which is right next to the camp offer wonderful waters for spey rods during the first part of the season. As the summer and water levels drop, the river becomes more and more fishable with one hand rods allowing great opportunities for surface fishing with hitched tubes, surfers or bombers.

As in the case other rivers in the northern Kola Pennsula, there are two main runs of fish with most of larger multi-sea winter fish arriving throughout June. These are large powerful fish, many in the 20 lb range and some incredible fish in the 30 lb + range. From mid-June until mid-August, a time of year known as the “white nights”, fishermen can fish at practically any time of the day or night. As July advances the number of 2 sea winter salmon and grilse increase, bolstering the stocks of fish already in the river. However, fishermen should not let down their guard as larger fish are taken thoughout the season.

The Drozdovka Tent Camp is strategically located on the shore of a lake which divides the upper and lower halves of the river. From here most of the best pools are less than a half hour away on foot. The river is divided into 3 beats which are fished in rotation by a maximum of 6 rods accommodated at the camp. Generally spey rods and switch rods are the order of the day for the Drozdovka, however, during the second half of the season when water levels are lower a good caster can cover most of the pools with a one hand rod.