The salmon fly Kursk
How the Kursk fly’s weighted head helps it reach salmon in fast, deep water on the Aaroy River.
The Kursk fly is a weighted pattern for salmon and sea trout. Antti, an experienced Finnish salmon angler, developed it for strong currents such as those on the Aaroy River.
How the weighted head works
The fly is tied like a nymph with a head that weighs between 1 and 3 grams. The extra weight helps it sink quickly and hold its path through deep, fast water.
Fishing it in strong currents
The Kursk works differently from a traditional tube fly on a 45–90 degree downstream swing. It is fished more like a nymph, with close control over depth and speed. Antti developed the pattern because lighter flies did not consistently reach the holding water he wanted to fish.
The weight requires careful casting and a balanced setup. It is most useful when current, depth or limited space make a conventional swing difficult.
Results on the Aaroy River
I first saw the Kursk in 2017 and have watched it catch salmon on the Aaroy River since then. Its value is practical: it gives the angler another way to control depth in demanding water. The low-water salmon fishing video shows the presentation in use.