Urban bustle, gray road, dull sky and a great love for fishing, this is what pushed us to a pleasant journey home Lena River.
It all started with fishing in the area Kachug summer 2012, then with the guys we loved this place. We did not think that will be the upper Lena us so interesting. In July was the first contact, the river greeted us warmly and called to close the summer season in late September. After a pleasant trip in September it was decided that next summer to raft! But at the time we planned to sail from Kachug Zhigalovo, and even wonder what fate will throw us down. For several months, hatched a plan of action, studied the terrain cards.
Decided to sail from Zhigalovo to Ust Kut, wilder place, a bunch of islands, many rivers flowing into it, the lack of road along the river. Wishing initially (stage dreams) were many, but soon the majority have problems and excuses. On a result of brisk formed a team of three people. Present to your attention our squad. Alexander, a novice angler, first held in the hands spinning on day of departure, but it did not prevent him to show good results! Andrew, a passionate lover of fishing, especially in the Lenca, especially at night, almost every night Andryukha tried razlovit Bat. Well, I’m the author of this story, Anton, as well as my friends sick fishing, preference is given to spinning, fishing Lenca.
Here’s a plan nights was previously prepared, taking into account the 11 nights, travel time was calculated with a margin, but still wanted to go way faster for 8-9 days:
Preparing
The preparation to be taken seriously, still it was our first grade. Perhaps I’ll start with our melting agents. We have prepared a tandem of two boats, the idea was withdrawn and experience of seasoned fishermen, who wrote a report on a similar alloy at “Mayak”. Basic Boat “Cruise – 35” with hard bottom and transom, auxiliary boat under things, “Ufimka.” Boat “Cruise” was very roomy for three people.
To save space we have prepared in advance mount spinning and our flag. Spinning in his spare time fishing stood adjacent to the flag and never stopped anyone, so they returned home safe. Regarding the flag: the expedition decided to allocate anything unusual, went into the store and asked the eponymous bright flag, in the end we were given more and branded cap.
Strictly defined set of things. Everyone assumed 50 liter backpack, it agreed to put all personal belongings. Tent and sleeping bags were stacked in garbage bags, so in harsh conditions, no dunk. All restrictions on the size and volume were provided by the size of our “Ufimka”, very much did not want in the main boat was piled a bunch of things. Under the fish purchased a pair of plastic barrels under foods that also fit comfortably in a boat with things. After laying all things have been done “tilt”, which, if necessary, it was not difficult to lift and get what you need.
Products distributed by day, and the table was compiled layout, what and when we eat, based on the layout, to purchase products. And at that moment, when we bought provisions, we were hungry, and each strove to take only twice, so the layout on days was very useful. Took just as much as it was written on paper. In the process of fishing, Alexander responsibly insisted: “Guys we have the same graphics, do not touch the cookies!”. Alexander was our assistant manager, if not him, then stocks cookies, chocolates and condensed milk would run out in three days.
Prepared a first aid kit with all the necessary preparations, fleece bandages, you never know.
Bought cage in which the fish was kept until the evening. In addition, Cook bought, but did not have to use them, was not worthy of trophies. Also took in a hunting store flares, decided that it would not be superfluous as weapons, none of us are not available. Flares burn very brightly, if I were a bear, I would have fled back into the forest, seeing a man with such garbage in the hands. But fortunately or unfortunately clumsy we have not met, never even saw the marks on the shore… and have wanted to take a picture of some beast.
When prepared with all the right things, began to discuss the details of the trip, began to discuss the route, ways of getting to the place and the option to return to Irkutsk. The entire route we pitched at kilometer, the day planned to take place 35-40 km., To keep within 8-9 days. Route calculation made using Yandex maps, then these cards we printed and smashed all the sheets in the afternoons. Also prepared car navigation system with Navitel, were placed there in terms nights. First doubted the possibility of using Navitel in such an event, but in the end proved to be very helpful navigator. It was always possible to find out how many miles left to the parking. To recharge the devices bought USB charger for the cigarette lighter, soldered thereto terminals with wires that connect to the 12V battery from the computer bespereboynik. You can certainly use a car battery, but the battery of the UPS was easier. From such a charger fed our navigator and mp3 player “mayfun” – such Chinese squeaker in which you can insert the stick. Due to this we were always mayfunu music. The last night was even a disco.
Calm relatives
To our family not worried about us, we rented a useful device. putnikovy GPS-tracker SPOT – personal beacon, which transmits its coordinates via satellite even beyond cellular. This device did not disappoint us, home every day in the browser tracked our movement and every day received an email from us, about what we all are normal. In this unit, you can send three types of messages: All OK, Need help, Programmable message.
Delivery
First idea was to leave on a bus, but when all things were lying in a heap, this idea is no longer, as things turned out a lot, we decided to find a car. Volunteered to help a colleague Alexander, Nicholas. For us and throw our things we paid 6 tr Nicholas experienced carrier for Fiat Ducato, he drove us to Zhigalovo 4.5 hours.
Fishing and rafting
That came for us this happy moment! Boats on the water, things were packed, lunch, cooked and eaten. Cooked gear tested. Mist! Until recently, I could not believe that we all went on vacation and already on the river, sail, called home, reported the beginning of the expedition.
The first day we met headwind and drizzling rain, was even a little sad that prevents wind drift, thought to be working the oars without interruption. Immediately threw the toss and decided that “greblingom” will deal with in turn. But the weather was very humane to us, for all alloy we never exposed to rain all day was hot, the wood was in the smoke, the sun was not visible, but their noses and ears still burned. Smoke prevented capture beautiful landscapes, nature photo at all was obtained with sulfur. But the heat did not interfere with rest, every day we swam, dived straight from the boat. Looking at the map, we had hoped that all accommodations will be held on the islands, but the ones of the island, in reality there were bare, pebble. Staying in bed was not always convenient, the islands had no firewood, so often we stayed on the shore near the islands. As it turned out, on the way there are many winter hut, but with the passage of the route, we were able to stay in the winter huts only twice. Some even marked on the map Navitel, download: http://www.gps-baikal.ru/
Fishing pleased us from the first day as a whole was caught goldilocks good, but small. Previously, we had the experience of fishing in the middle reaches of the Lena and flowing mountain rivers in it, there are much larger goldilocks. Sometimes the river, of course pleased us worthy specimens. Occasionally across taymeshata, but a barrel hit only one other was released. Floating island, we always knew that washouts and failures we catch Lenka. Prepared in advance, swimming up to the island, put Lenkova spinners usually: Mepps Black Fury, Blue Fox. Anchor did not get to perform the norm for kilometer, stop at anchor were critical for us. But under the anchor was blank-trimmed car camera, which had to be filled with stones. Yes, and we had no purpose to catch the full container Lenk, we love to catch, but we eat fish a little. During the day we cooked alloy ear and ate fish in a salt form.
Ear often boiled pike. Pike came across to us often, and was caught on spoons, and on turntables that loves predator. Interesting was fishing lures. On many shallow river flow with a rapid current, pike stood day and fed in such ducts, the grass there practically sticking out in places we indulged in poppers or surface wobblers. Inexpressible feeling, fishing was active, pike and then jumped to the surface and made spectacular candles.
Below Zhigalovskii area after Orlinga etc., Lenkova places were less common, there is much wider river, fish were harder to find. But pike caught anywhere, anytime, across grassy pits on the bloat of the river, in such wells managed to get nice specimens. Once on one of these pits, we were able to catch 12 per hour tails pike – live in the grass. Each pike was within 1kg. Time permitted, we went to the beach and fishing on the place got great pleasure from fishing. And we with Alexander on the spot lures fished, and Andrew fished shallow crank, its result far exceeded ours.
I almost forgot about the perch, they often come across and spinners and lures, but we are always released, even large, none of us wanted to bother with them. Still in the river many large dace water in August light, and then looked at how they swim under the boat in large quantities.
Night fishing at the Bat did not bring any results may due to the fact that the accommodations we chose not particularly fish usually looked for the presence of wood and soft soil. Once, Andrei, decided to walk myshom until been heated bathhouse, and caught a pike! Is the first time I saw that pike rushed at the Bat, while the current was pretty fast, had high hopes that in a place like goldilocks hunts.
By the way, I almost forgot to tell you about our bath day! On the fourth night, according to the plan we had a bath on this day, we had to pass a small mileage, so nightfall stop and choose a place to sleep. So they did, chose the place with stones and wood, started campsite. For bath we had prepared reinforced canopy measuring 6 meters by 8 meters. Made three poles, put them in a tent, laid stone oven and melted it. Until the stones are heated, we put up a tent, cooked and ate dinner. This day we have considered a holiday, even for a beer bath in store. Once the stones “warmed up” hot, raked the coals and put on top of our tent prepared, all room ready! Here is our oven Pechnikov:
And here is the room, however, is not yet on the stove:
Filled the container with water, thought that the steam will quickly go out and have to pour a lot … But it was not there, up couples could not get out, crushed stones from the bottom, in the end to pairs was such that already unbearable to be in the bath, missing one cups of water! Bath was simply stunned, we steamed for several hours, drinking beer, bathing in the river. In the morning, feeling as if we are the first day on the river, slept until recently, arrange a holiday. Once swung, cooked in chicken broth soup, sauna does not cost one beer 🙂 Soup was very helpful, cleaned up and moved on.
The closer to Ust Kut, the more stretches, constantly had to rake up, but it is not so critical, none of us regretted the absence of the motor. It was nice to be on the river in silence. And local fishermen almost was not, or they are fishing in flowing rivers, or not fished at this time. Boats occasionally passed, but it seemed to us, that hunters imported provisions to their winter quarters, preparing for the hunting season. Also met some serious hunting grounds, these lands were generators, there were many buildings. And they built not so long ago, all of them fresh wood roof corrugated steel sheeting. Designated hunters popular.
Nature throughout the route simply stunned around the dense forest, the river is constantly changing, the Reach, the Shiver. Broncos met that year-round walk in the wild, and met them away from the villages. Handsome, is not it?
That Ust Kut on the approach places less fish, river quieter began to meet many of the local fishermen. Basically, they caught a pike in a grassy field and pits. We no longer have such a desire to fish as before, the place seemed to have been less promising, the last day of sailing and resting, listening to music, cooked lunch on the go, using a gas stove. Cottages appeared, and we realized that the journey comes to an end.
In the glorious city of Ust Kut us vstretid our friend George, who lives there. The meeting was pleasant, we even lit Flare, swimming up to George. He organized us a truck and garage space for our things. We spent the night in Ust Kut, and in the morning took the shuttle bus with a took only personal items and fish, George sent us the rest later, a service car.
Result
We were all very happy and not the least bit sorry for what passed this way, even while sailing Ust Kut, dream about the future alloys, new rivers. Path took us 8 days, with a steel fish harvested only on the fourth day, so as not to spoil, salted liberally, since it was hot. As a result, the fish are not spoiled, we were treated to all the relatives, friends and yourself podzatarili their refrigerators. Coming this way, realized that Chinese take things not worth it! All Chinese, broke, and they are: two flashlights, one chair, warren. Villages along the way are very small, but the stores in them, you can always buy the necessary products, if that is not enough. Pleasant route for fishing and recreation, few mosquitoes, midges much, but it turned out that there is in the modern world means from midges, which really helps.
Thanks to all who mastered my story, so long! 🙂
Source: Of Siberia …
Translation: Google
