Kamchatka

TARGET SPECIES: Rainbow trout, Dolly Varden, Arctic char, Arctic grayling, super Khundza, six species of Pacific salmon MAJOR AIR HUBS: Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky Airport (PKC) DOCUMENTS REQUIRED: Valid passport as well as a Russian visa. Yellow Dog can assist with this process. SEASON: Mid-July through early September LANGUAGE: Russian CAPITAL: Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky

Located more than 6,000 miles away from the “big city world” of Moscow and the craziness of modern-day Russia, the Kamchatka Peninsula offers a pristine and remote environment that is ideal for the adventurous angler and wilderness aficionado. This volcano and riverfilled region has always been regarded as a land of wonder. The Peninsula has more landmass than California, yet only one passable road into its massive wilderness interior, which means that most areas are accessible only by helicopter. This region is the original domain of wild rainbow trout; the true cradle of rainbow civilization that is still home to the most immaculate, aggressive and predatory trout in the world.

Kamchatka is without a doubt one of the most spectacular geographical locations in all of Russia, if not the world. Occupying more than 470,000 square miles, the Kamchatka Peninsula is located in the most southeastern part of the Russian continent. Separating the Sea of Okhotsk and the Pacific Ocean, the Peninsula juts out into the northern Pacific Ocean directly into the path of the warm Japanese csoastal currents. This geographic positioning helps to provide relatively mild winters compared to those of nearby Siberia. Along with these warm currents comes numerous species from the Pacific Ocean, including salmon, whales and a wonderful array of coastal wildlife. Brown bear, otter, bighorn sheep, caribou and moose flourish amongst the backdrop of the massive, unspoiled wilderness. In many ways, the setting and character of the Peninsula are reminiscent of British Columbia and the U.S. Pacific Northwest.

For anglers looking for a truly remote wilderness fly fishing experience, overnight float and camping trips offer opportunities to access and fish miles of unpressured water – home to some of the best trout fishing in the world. Moving downstream over the course of the week, anglers and guides utilize rafts to access different stretches of the river each day, spending each night at outpost camps or setting up tents each evening. Fixed-base camps and lodges are another great option, giving anglers the opportunity to access dozens of miles of water each day with the use of jet boats. Fixed camps tend to offer the most established and comfortable accommodations in Kamchatka; rustic yet comfortable settings that still provide great access to some of the best trout fishing available.

The Ozernaya – known to anglers as the “Oz” – has been called one of the greatest trout streams of all time: a giant, riffled spring creek with unbelievable numbers of large, native rainbows averaging more than 20 inches. This is an aquatic ecosystem loaded with insects, huge sculpins and the most pristine, genetically perfect rainbow trout on earth. With beautiful scenery, diverse wildlife and more than 50 miles of productive waters to fish and float, this destination offers wilderness fishing the way it was meant to be. Accommodations are in a fixed camp that features twoperson, A-frame-style cabins that are warm, comfortable, and dry. Each cabin includes generator-supplied electricity and wood stove heat.

In a wild land of no roads and endless rivers, there is no better way to fish for trophy rainbows than by accessing remote, inaccessible rivers via helicopter. This one-of-akind, “fully air mobile” program gives four anglers per week the ability to fish a different river or stream each day, with daily fly-outs on a private MI-2 helicopter. Each night, the group will study area maps and discuss possibilities and river options for the following day. Strategically based out of a private lodge on beautiful Two Yurt Lake, this unique program provides access to dozens of untouched trophy rainbow fisheries – all located within a short flight of base camp. This is an extremely limited, incredibly unique offering that operates only a handful of weeks each summer season.

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