Kamchatka

Kamchatka, Russia Putting the finishing touches on a trophy Zhupanova rainbow. Photo: valatkinson.com

Wilderness Floats Imagine helicoptering into a proven system and knowing that you will be the only party to fish that river all year. Not a blade of grass out of place, not a single boot print on the beach. Instead, just heaps of 17- to 22-inch rainbows eager to engulf a skated mouse. If you are the type that likes making and breaking camp each day in return for the best-rested wilderness fly water imaginable, these wilderness floats are for you. The floats rotate through six remarkable Tagil tributaries and yield high catch rates. Rate: $7,495 per person for a 6 night/5 day package

Sedanka Spring Creek More than any other river, this idyllic spring creek is what made fly fishing in Kamchatka famous. Anglers float between three comfortable fixed camps and experience some of Kamchatka’s most consistent fishing, finest hatches, and the best dry fly fishing Russia has to offer. Rate: $7,995 per person for a 6 night/5 ½ day package

Savan Float For those wanting the perfect mix of size and numbers, consider the Savan. This six-person float trip offers great wade fishing and a chance to connect with healthy numbers of fish in the 20- to 22-inch range as well as some super thick rainbows that regularly exceed 26 inches. This trip offers the flexibility to go where the fishing is best and often spends three to four days floating and camping on the upper river as well as one to two days jet boating out of the Savan Basecamp on the lower river. Rate: $6,850 per person for a 6 night/5 day package

Zhupanova Float Trip During this weeklong odyssey, anglers will float between comfortable fixed camps and spend lots of time wade fishing for some of Russia’s largest river-born rainbows. With dramatic volcanoes and an interesting array of rocky structure, this is a classic for those wanting a crack at impressively big rainbows. Rate: $6,995 per person for a 6 night/5 ½ day package

Zendzur Lodge From this fixed lodge on the lower Zhupanova River, anglers will set out by jet boat to target Kamchatka’s largest rainbow trout and kundzha. For experienced anglers and Spey casters in search of a half dozen really high-quality fish per day, this is the place. While the number of fish caught per day tends to be on the lower end of the Russian spectrum, there is no question that this operation offers anglers a chance at Kamchatka’s largest rainbows, some of which exceed 32 inches. Rate: $6,995 per person for a 6 night/5 ½ day package

Kamchatka Steelhead Project For anglers in search of a super remote and unusual steelhead adventure, this is it. Here, a very limited number of guests get to fish two small low-gradient rivers for very large sea-bright fish while at the same time collecting scientific data on these remarkable specimens. For steelheaders that think they have seen it all, think again! Rate: $9,995 per person for 11 night/8 day package