In today’s episode we return to the roots of the podcast and focus our attention on conservation issues directed towards the Russian Far East, and the waterways surrounding the Sea of Okhotsk.  In this episode we will explore the salmonid populations of the area, Hucho taxmen in particular,  and examine some successful major conservation initiatives.  

We are very fortunate today to be able to host Dr. Mikhail Skopets, a prominent Russian fisheries scientist and the godfather of fly fishing in Russia’s Far East.  

Dr. Skopets was born in the Ural Mountain region in a town called Ekaterinburg, in the former USSR.  From 1977 onwards he has been living in the Russian Far East, in the in the city of Khabarovsk on the shores of the Amur River.

Dr. Skopets is an adventurous fisheries biologist with nearly 40 years’ field experience in Russia.  During his numerous expeditions he was able to find four new species, two of them belonging to new genus, including one new salmonid (a char) discovered in a meteor crater in Siberia.  For Dr. Skopets catching a fish that is completely new, one that has never even been described by anyone, there simply is no better thrill. Many fly fisherman talk about the excitement of the catch, but for Dr. Skopets it is the discovery!

From 1994 thru 2005 Dr Skopets worked with the Wild Salmon Center based in Oregon, USA.  One of his most valuable contributions to conservation  efforts over the years was his rapid scientific assessments of rivers in the Russian Far East, which laid the groundwork for future protected areas in the region. 

Since he left the Russian Academy of Sciences in 2007, Mikhail has been working independently as a scientist and expedition/fishing guide. He is also a photographer and writer, regularly contributing to publications such as Fly Fishing Magazine and is currently working on a new book: “Fly Fishing Russia. The Far East“. He continues to work with fly-fishermen, collaborate with sport-fishing clubs of the Russian Far East, and takes part in casting and fly-tying training programs. 

To learn more about Dr. Skopets, or to purchase a copy of his book, please visit:
https://www.facebook.com/FlyFishingRussiaFarEast/?ref=py_c