Week 31 - Learning by doing

Week 31 brought another group of anglers to Kengis Bruk, and once again the river showed just how unpredictable salmon fishing can be. 

But, one of the beautiful things about salmon fishing is that nobody ever stops learning. Every time you are in the river it teaches us something new. Sometimes it is about tackle or technique. Sometimes it is simply about slowing down, observing the water and trusting the process.

There were plenty of fish in the system. We saw salmon showing throughout the week, and there were moments when everything felt right.

But the fishing was difficult.

Still, the amount of fish we are seeing in the river is encouraging. Compared with the previous years, the signs continue to point in a positive direction. More salmon in the river does not automatically mean easy fishing, but it gives us confidence that the system is moving in the right direction.

And on difficult weeks, the small details matter even more.

This week we worked a lot with the gear in order to get the most of the week. To fine tune your setup to big rivers makes a huge difference when casting long distances can make the difference.  

That is something we spent a lot of time working on during the week.

But some of the best moments happened when the rods were put down and we took time to relax and enjoy nature and the scenery.

Sitting by the river, sharing stories around the fire and talking about the day is a big part of what makes a week at Kengis special. People arrive from different places and with different levels of experience, but after a few days on the river, those differences tend to disappear.

One of our guests came to Kengis alone and after the week, he described the experience like this:

“A salmon fishing trip had been on my bucket list for a long time. The idea of ​​going to Kengis Bruk came up spontaneously, and I decided this was the right time.

Going alone had its advantages. I could focus on a new location and gain experience, which I didn't have with salmon fly fishing.

The trip exceeded my expectations. 

I learned a lot, mastering the basics of casting with a double-handed rod. 

The beautiful surroundings of the river allowed me to experience something called the Kengis feeling, and the leaping salmon captured my imagination.

Furthermore, I met some fantastic people and became friends. Together, we made a great team. I recharged my “batteries” and am already thinking about my next salmon fishing trip.”

That is exactly what we hope people take home from Kengis Bruk.

Another new guests Will described his experience with these words; 

“I personally thought Kengis was truly special and the size of the river and volume of fishable water was incredible. Elias looked after us extremely well and it was amazing being able to spend so much time on the water. It was a shame we weren’t able to catch any salmon but we had a couple of chances and hope to return again soon!”

Of course, we want everyone to feel the power of a Baltic salmon on the line. But sometimes the memories that stay longest are the conversations by the fire, the first successful cast, the sight of a salmon breaking the surface, or the feeling of becoming part of a group that only a few days earlier consisted of strangers.

The salmon are the reason we come to the river.

But often, everything around them is what makes us return.

Tight lines,

Ville, Elias & Aslak

Photos: Adam, Laurie & Will

Thank you for a great week guys!