Greenland

For adventurous anglers drawn to wild, unspoiled rivers with abundant wild char, nothing compares to Greenland. It is truly one of the last fly fishing frontiers. Photo: GetAway Tours

If you thought all the pristine, fish-filled rivers had been discovered, think again. Greenland is the new frontier for char fishing and offers a wilderness experience unlike any other in the world today. Why? Consider the following: Greenland is the largest island on earth and also the world’s least-densely populated country, with less than 57,000 total inhabitants. It is one-fifth the size of the US and has twice the coastline and countless untouched rivers with huge summer runs of supercharged sea-run Arctic char. If you have ever wanted to travel back in time to a place unchanged by humans, this is your best shot.

Kangia Kangia is a spectacularly beautiful and pristine system with fish that average five to seven pounds and reach 10 pounds on a regular basis. It is here that Solid Adventures has set up their latest endeavor, Kangia River Camp. Their season runs from mid July through the first week of September. In the early weeks the fish tend to be big, bright, and strong and as the season progresses, more and more fish arrive, sometimes stacking three deep in pools. Catch rates tend to be very high, enabling some guests to fish top-water flies and gurglers for the entire week.

The camp is a basic structure that accommodates up to 10 anglers, a small local staff, and guides. If you envision the level of amenities as just one step above camping you will be happy and well prepared. All guests hike an average of 45 minutes to reach the river each morning and typically hike a greater distance to return to camp each evening. The camp has two guides for 10 guests so anglers should be largely self-reliant. Fitness and a fondness for roughing it are absolutely mandatory for all wanting to experience one of today’s most pristine and productive freshwater angling adventures. Rate: €4,490 per person for a 7 night/6 day package

Erfalik Lodge It has taken considerable time and effort to finally bring forward a comfortable full-service lodge in the remote wilderness of Greenland. Now, with the opening of Erfalik Lodge, guests can experience Greenland’s most productive Arctic char fishing without having to rough it. Here guests will enjoy single-occupancy rooms, 24-hour power, hot showers, and tasty three-course meals. More stable and consistent fishing is hard to come by and few if any have left this remarkable system disappointed. Be among the first to enjoy this spectacular wilderness char fishery in true comfort. Rate: €3,870 per person for a 9 night/6 ½ day package plus €1,080 for round-trip air charter

Camp North For the truly adventurous angler who is willing to hike hard in pursuit of Greenland’s largest sea-run Arctic char, Camp North is in a class by itself. While guests must hike a minimum of 45 minutes to reach the most productive pools, the rewards are stunning wilderness scenery and large returns of strong wild char that can exceed 18 pounds. For those willing to hike up to two hours and ferry across a lake by boat, an additional super-productive tributary awaits. Camp North is a basic wilderness tent camp where guests sleep in single-occupancy nylon tents on comfortable pads with sleeping bags. Meals will be prepared by the camp cook and served in their spacious dining tent. If you’re seeking the abundance and vigor of yesteryear, this is the program. Rate: €3,350 per person for a 9 night/6 ½ day package plus €1,080 for round-trip air charter

Ultimate Pyrenees Spain’s World-Class Trout Tour

The author stalking trout in the high country of the Pyrenees. Photo: Heather Hickman

by Brian Gies

The spectacularly beautiful and rugged Pyrenees Range forms the natural border between northeastern Spain and France. Branching out of the 270-mile mountain range, into the seldom-traveled hill country of Spain, are 14 major river valleys with 60 remarkable wild trout rivers. Scattered throughout this sparsely populated region are quaint, picture-perfect villages, wineries, castles, and cultural sites dating back thousands of years. This is the home of Salvelinus, a sophisticated fly fishing outfitter with two lodges, an incredible

fishing program, and a polished staff of tour guides for travel companions who want to experience all that this appealing region has to offer.

While it may come as a surprise, many well-traveled anglers, including Barry and Cathy Beck, will tell you Salvelinus’s trout fishing program compares very favorably to many of the world’s finest. They have access to a vast array of mountain lakes and streams as well as countless mid-elevation and lowland rivers. The higher elevation rivers and lakes offer increased catch rates for smaller fish in dramatic alpine settings, while the mid-elevation and lowland tailwaters produce some truly remarkable fishing for large wild rainbows and browns. The other bonus for the uninitiated is Spain’s barbel fishery. Barbel are a remarkable European sportfish often referred to as freshwater bonefish due to their tenacity and fight once hooked. They are by no means easy to catch, but when conditions are right, they readily feed on surface flies. In these waters, they average two to four pounds but trophy barbel over 10 pounds are not uncommon.

Unlike most lodges, Salvelinus operates out of two different locations to take advantage of the region’s seasons. Santa Cila Lodge in the western Pyrenees focuses their

angling in the scenic high country of the Pyrenees as well as some of the mid-country rivers, while Aren Lodge in the eastern Pyrenees focuses on the mid-elevation streams and lowland trophy tailwaters. Both lodges are based out of small villages and offer very comfortable accommodations paired with exceptional meals and wines. Likewise, both operations are typically booked as stand-alone week-long packages depending on the time of year and are ideally suited to travel companions who can take advantage of an extremely wide range of thoughtfully guided day tours ranging from light hiking, food and wine tours, and visits to areas of cultural and historical significance. Personally designed and guided by Salvelinus owner Ivan Tarin, the Ultimate Pyrenees Tour is Salvelinus’s most deluxe tour that combines the best of all their offerings and is our top pick for those seeking the most diverse and enriching fly fishing tour Europe has to offer.

Notes

2020 Ultimate Pyrenees Tours July 11-22 Rate: $13,200 per person August 23-31 Rate: $9,600 per person September 1-12 Rate: $13,200 per person September 24-October 2 Rate: $9,600 per person

2021 Ultimate Pyrenees Tours June 16-27 Rate: $13,200 per person July 9-20 Rate: $13,200 per person August 22-30 Rate: $9,600 per person August 31-September 14 Rate: $16,800 per person September 22-October 3 Rate: $13,200 per person