Thursday 31/8

I spoke some with the tenters on my way down to the spring, and then continued along the waterfall path before breaking off towards Bealčánjohka. I came directly to the campsites I had discovered on my first outing, noting that there was a better path a bit further ahead which I could have taken. I tried some rounds in a backwater where I could actually see a fish investigating the spinner, but no bite.

Into the woods

Out of the woods

In the open

Target

Not staying

I made my way downstream on the shore path, and after the last backwater before the fall I went down to the bottom in a somewhat roundabout fashion. There were a few flowers left in the moist vicinity of the fall, and back from where I came substantial drifting clouds obscured the massif. I followed the path close to the water downstream, but it was too shallow, stony, or both to fish for a while. The path was nice, however, and it passed through a grassy area with a distinct autumnal feel even though the colors weren't quite there yet.

Hard to fish

Harder to fish

Smaller falls

Larger falls

Descent

Back in the woods

I passed a fireplace and then started fishing after the last of the rapids just before the place where a side loop broke off. The current was still strong, however, so I soon went on through park-like birch forest past a side channel, and tried again at the following twin confluence. Conditions still weren't too good, so I went a bit further, passing more fireplaces, and found a spot that looked better where the in-stream rocks ended.

One of many

Side loop

Some more light

Best spot

Sunny

It was clear that this was the place to be, for on the very first cast I caught a fish, but it looked fairly small and also got loose while still out in the stream. The sun was coming out more and more as I kept at it, and soon enough I felt a powerful yank which I first thought was due to the bottom, but which turned out to be a large fish on the hook. This time it stayed on all the way in to the bank, but I lost it just as I was about to lift it out. Bummer! I was clearly on a roll, so casting in the exact same direction resulted in another strong bite, and the third time was indeed the charm, for after a while I could safely bring another fairly large catch ashore.

Finally!

I was somewhat surprised to see that this was a grayling and not the expected brown trout, but all the better as it's been a long time since I had one of those. Its length was also over the fishing rules' minimum, so I was now finally going to have a fish dinner. Having taken care of the catch I went on to the next fireplace and sat down at the brink to have lunch at 11:45 in what was now quite sunny weather.

After revelling in the feeling of finally succeeding for a while I continued downstream on the path, and Bealčánjohka was now both calmer and wider. The vegetation turned shrubbier as I approached the outflow of Bollošjohka, from where I had a direct line of sight to the guest cottage; no movement in the binoculars, though. I tried going along the latter stream for a bit looking for a way across, but it was a bit too wide and the current-carrying side a bit too deep, not to mention that the vegetation was not amicable to progress. I therefore returned back out to Bealčánjohka and then turned northwards a bit upstream where it was not quite as dense.

Upstream

Downstream

Fall in sight again

Not to pass

Nor this

I wound my way between the high shrubs and stunted trees as best I could, eventually reaching a band of larger trees lining a low plateau. This was the last outpost before the extensive mire that lay here in the little basin, and since I was wearing the wellies I thought I might just as well make it across. I tried going along the edge at first, where it was also quite wet, and after a while the tough vegetation returned, eventually turning into actual walls of leaves and tangled branches as I neared a canal, which was still too deep to cross. I therefore once again had to backtrack, and continued along the edge of the larger bog.

Still blocking

Denser

Fall

Onto...

...the mire

Nope

It was very wet at places, and I used the walking stick to probe the buoyancy of the next patch of ground before stepping on it. Rather than going back into the thickets when they came near again I splashed more or less straight across the wetness, almost stepping into a deeper hole at one point, and then finally managed to cross a couple of smaller canals at the edge of a wooded area. A bit more splashing landed me at the ATV track just west of the bridge, and I could walk unhampered at last. I had observed small showers around for some time, and as I crested the slope I saw a dense haze covering the massif, so I wasted no time on the last leg. Around 13:15 I was back, and found the place empty.

Mossy

Approaching rain

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