This was the last week of the season and what a week!

We had high hopes and they got all fulfilled within the last cast of this season.

We welcomed our good friends Frantz, Fabrice, Pascal and Jean-Pierre for a season ending week with all we wished for.

It was clear from the beginning that it would be a good week and the fishing picked up quite fast. Already the first evening Frantz landed the first of many fish from last week.

Smiles from the beginning and we kept seeing fish on the move. Zone 3 - Especially Erkkinskuoppa (Erik’s pool) delivered many grilse this week and almost everytime someone swung flies there we had some action.

And once again Frantz managed to land a decent fish at zone 1, the beginning was absolutely great.

It was the first time for Jean-Pierre at Kengis Bruk and he got into the Kengis feeling fast and had great success in Erkkinskuoppa. There was something magic about seeing a man in his best age crack the code to Baltic salmon fishing and having the time of his life north of the arctic circle. And later that week we would see a happy tear from his eye. Back to that later.

Tears can mean many things and Pascal was almost in tears when he lost his fish of a lifetime up at upper neck zone 1. There was action up there and a big male fish stirring the pool. A few casts later Pascal felt the power of a strong Baltic salmon. After a long and intense fight it took off and the leader broke on a stone. You always remember the big fish you lose and this one hurt Pascal.

Luckily he had a great comeback landing three fish in Erikkins the day after, so the smiles were back. But that big fish will hunt him for some time.

When we say that tears can mean many things we have to talk about Jean-Pierre again.

At our usual morning check with our guests JP was at the bench at zone 1 just hanging with the head and in his own world. We were a little worried that something happened to him, but as soon as he saw us he stood up and was out of this world. Short time before he had landed his fish of a lifetime and as he said: “ I am crying my friends”

He greeted us the proper french was with kisses on the cheeks and he was in another world.

This is a moment he and we will never forget.

We are grateful to be a part of such memories.

We caught many grilse this week and our guide Fred also got some fishing time and landed some good conditioned fish at zone 3. Things were just great this last week of the season.

And then we had a morning we will remember for some time.

We started fishing and Aslak went with Frantz to the upper neck zone 1 to do some casting practice and a few cast in Frantz tried another setup and had a little struggle with the reel on the opposite side of the rod. As Aslak said; “Remember if something happens the reel is on the other side” Two cast later and it was full panic. A great fish had striked the fly and Frantz tried his best to reel in the fish, with for him, the odd side. After an intense fight and exciting tailing we landed the fish and there where once more almost tears in the eyes. A fantastic 104cm male fish. Great job Frantz.

While talking on the upper neck Fabrice yelled from middle neck “FISH” and we ran doen to net another fish. Such a relief for him with a few lost fish it was great to see him land a good sized fish.

A few photos and release. Then Aslak decided to take a run and half way in the round he hooked a decent fish. What a morning.