Kamchatka
 

Steve writes:

Some guys I met who went there told me a horror story. After they got to
the remote camp they were informed that the jet boat was broken and the
part wouldn't arrive for a week. This was known BEFORE they left home for
the trip. They had to wade-fish around camp, and there was no refund of any
kind. It sounded like a complete and very expensive bummer.

If I were going to Kamchatka I'd vet the outfitter very thoroughly and make
sure that the terms of the contract were crystal clear.

The outfitter is "The Fly Shop" out of Redding, CA. They appear to have a good
reputation and have opened their own spots on some of the more remote rivers.

That said, I've heard there's some great fishing in Kamchatka.

I'm still looking forward to going to Alaska someday, if I can find a
companion who isn't terrified of the bears. :-)

From what I've heard/read, the bears in most places aren't that difficult to
deal with. I've looked into several lodges/expeditions in Alaska, and they are
more expensive than Kamchatka (except for the travel expense). I am more than
a little concerned about the food offered by the Russians, but it couldn't be
any worse than military chow. Or could it?
Dave

http://hometown.aol.com/davplac/myhomepage/index.html

Kamchatka
 

I've taken one trip with The Fly Shop and it will be my last. three of us
wrote letters of complaint to them about the lodge, and their only reaction
was to argue with us and tell us why we were wrong.

Good luck!


"Dave LaCourse" wrote in message
...
Steve writes:

Some guys I met who went there told me a horror story. After they got to
the remote camp they were informed that the jet boat was broken and the
part wouldn't arrive for a week. This was known BEFORE they left home for
the trip. They had to wade-fish around camp, and there was no refund of
any
kind. It sounded like a complete and very expensive bummer.

If I were going to Kamchatka I'd vet the outfitter very thoroughly and
make
sure that the terms of the contract were crystal clear.

The outfitter is "The Fly Shop" out of Redding, CA. They appear to have a
good
reputation and have opened their own spots on some of the more remote
rivers.

That said, I've heard there's some great fishing in Kamchatka.

I'm still looking forward to going to Alaska someday, if I can find a
companion who isn't terrified of the bears. :-)

From what I've heard/read, the bears in most places aren't that difficult
to
deal with. I've looked into several lodges/expeditions in Alaska, and
they are
more expensive than Kamchatka (except for the travel expense). I am more
than
a little concerned about the food offered by the Russians, but it couldn't
be
any worse than military chow. Or could it?
Dave

http://hometown.aol.com/davplac/myhomepage/index.html









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Kamchatka
 

"Dave LaCourse" wrote in message
...
I'm thinking about a trip Kamchatka this year. Is there anyone reading
these
pages that has been there or knows of someone who has? I understand the
rainbow trout are enormous as well as the char and grayling.
Dave

http://hometown.aol.com/davplac/myhomepage/index.html


er, um, well, er . . . No.
Bob

Kamchatka
 

I enjoyed reading about Kamchatka (and all of the other places) in the Fly
Shop catalog. It's also interesting how far out of their way they go to let
you know how far out in the sticks Redding CA is! Almost like they've got a
complex or something.

bruce h

Kamchatka
 

"bruiser" wrote in message
...
I enjoyed reading about Kamchatka (and all of the other places)
in the Fly
Shop catalog. It's also interesting how far out of their way
they go to let
you know how far out in the sticks Redding CA is! Almost like
they've got a complex or something.
bruce h

Hmm,
The last time I was in Redding it was on Interstate 5, a few
hours from San Francisco. Someone must have moved it. :)
There is some great trout fishing below and above Shasta Lake.
The McCloud river runs into Shasta Lake and that's where the
Rainbow Trout came from that were transported all over the world.
The McCloud river is formed by snow melt from Mount Shasta.
There is a place called Big Springs where icy water gushes from a
lava tube coming from Mount Shasta and doubles the size of the
McCloud. I waded upstream across that flow without boots one
summer and had no feeling left in my legs by the time I got
across.
I caught and released a six inch Dolly Varden in the McCloud.
The only one I have ever seen. They were very scarce and
protected at the time. It was a beautiful trout.
You can see Mount Shasta for 100 miles when you drive up
Interstate 5 toward Redding.
Ernie

Kamchatka
 

We had a fellow at our club give a talk on Kamchatka. I can't remember his
name but I can get it tomorrow and send it on. He spends his summers
guiiding in Kamchatka and his winters guiding steelhead in the Northwest.
He gave a terrific talk and slide show. There was fish all over the place,
the guys could not let there lines dangle in the water while they looked in
their fly box or they would have another fish.
From what I saw I'd go if I had the coin. He had lots of slides told many
stories about the people. Msot of the guides live in the city and go down
on the pennisula in the summer to run fish camps and guide. It looked like
a pretty premeative life, plywood shacks, like maby no outdoor toilets, just
lots of brush. The food was basic and simple. The people were freindly and
seem to enjoy the whole buisness.
One of the guides had a dog he didn't feed - the dog was on his own. Once
when he was fishing the dog saw an ermine on the shore, jumped out of the
boat swam over and ate the ermine.
He confirmed what I have always though about Russians, that is if we could
communicate we would on an indivual basis get along pretty good. I got the
impression they weren't any different from someone you would run accross in
Maine, Alaska, or lots of places you have fished.
Oh yeah there was bugs and bears. Someone in the groups always packed a
rifle.
"Dave LaCourse" wrote in message
...
I'm thinking about a trip Kamchatka this year. Is there anyone reading
these
pages that has been there or knows of someone who has? I understand the
rainbow trout are enormous as well as the char and grayling.
Dave

http://hometown.aol.com/davplac/myhomepage/index.html

Kamchatka
 

irate (Dave LaCourse) wrote in message ...
I'm thinking about a trip Kamchatka this year. Is there anyone reading these
pages that has been there or knows of someone who has? I understand the
rainbow trout are enormous as well as the char and grayling.
Dave

http://hometown.aol.com/davplac/myhomepage/index.html

Dave,

Fish&Fly, winter 2003 p50: Rainbows over Kamchatka

(Written by Will Blair from The Fly Shop).

I havent looked at this: www.kamchatkawaters.com

Kamchatka
 

Svend writes:


Fish&Fly, winter 2003 p50: Rainbows over Kamchatka

(Written by Will Blair from The Fly Shop).

Yes. I've seen the article. Will Blair is a "travel specialist" at The Fly
Shop in Redding. I've talked to him on the phone a couple of times.
Dave

http://hometown.aol.com/davplac/myhomepage/index.html

Kamchatka
 

I believe that protecton didn't help the Dollys. I think that the last one
caught was quite awhile ago.

"Ernie" wrote in message
. ..

"bruiser" wrote in message
...
I enjoyed reading about Kamchatka (and all of the other places)
in the Fly
Shop catalog. It's also interesting how far out of their way
they go to let
you know how far out in the sticks Redding CA is! Almost like
they've got a complex or something.
bruce h

Hmm,
The last time I was in Redding it was on Interstate 5, a few
hours from San Francisco. Someone must have moved it. :)
There is some great trout fishing below and above Shasta Lake.
The McCloud river runs into Shasta Lake and that's where the
Rainbow Trout came from that were transported all over the world.
The McCloud river is formed by snow melt from Mount Shasta.
There is a place called Big Springs where icy water gushes from a
lava tube coming from Mount Shasta and doubles the size of the
McCloud. I waded upstream across that flow without boots one
summer and had no feeling left in my legs by the time I got
across.
I caught and released a six inch Dolly Varden in the McCloud.
The only one I have ever seen. They were very scarce and
protected at the time. It was a beautiful trout.
You can see Mount Shasta for 100 miles when you drive up
Interstate 5 toward Redding.
Ernie




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Kamchatka
 

"Ernie" wrote

The McCloud river runs into Shasta Lake and that's where the
Rainbow Trout came from that were transported all over the world.

never knew that. thanks for the info.


The McCloud river is formed by snow melt from Mount Shasta.
There is a place called Big Springs where icy water gushes from a
lava tube coming from Mount Shasta and doubles the size of the
McCloud. I waded upstream across that flow without boots one
summer and had no feeling left in my legs by the time I got
across.

that kind of thing fascinates me. the yadkin river, where my old
homeplace in rowan county, nc, is located, is a brown, gummy mess about two
hundred yards wide. about 120 miles upstream, i have caught wild rainbows
from its headwaters around blowing rock, and jumped across it at the point i
stopped fishing.

yfitons
wayno