Fly Fishing Iceland – Atlantic Salmon

Species:  Atlantic Salmon
Season:  June – October
Capacity:  Variable by lodge
Cost: Variable by river
Insurance: GLOBAL RESCUE

Iceland is, on a global scale, a fairly small country in both size and population with just over 275.000 people and just under 40,000 square miles of area. Although small in size, this coutry has an amzaing amount of world-class fly-fishing water. Being an island completely surrounded by saltwater, almost every river has a run of Atlantic Salmon with some like the Blanda and East Ranga having substantially larger runs than others. For those who want to enjoy a complete Icelandic experience, may want to travel to the Svarta for its large Brown trout or to the Eldvatn for the sea trout.

Set in the glorious wilderness of the northeast coast lies Hafralónsá which we call the “BIG fish” river. Hafralonsa is famous for its big two winter salmon and is one of the most challenging and yet rewarding rivers in all of Iceland. The beauty of the river and its surroundings is breathtaking. The lower section of the river is typical of many of our rivers, flowing through pastoral farmland. As you move up river, through the spectacular canyon, and above the falls, you will find miles of pristine fly water, where you are alone with the salmon in a magnificent wilderness, untouched by man. Hafralónsá will never be called an easy river. It is a river where the salmon angler must employ all his knowledge and techniques. However, equal to the challenge, the rewards can be some of the most memorable moments in your fishing experience!

The number of large two-sea winter fish seems to be increasing each year on the East Rangá and this year was no exception. A large portion of this summer’s catch was made up of salmon in the 10-20 pound/7-10 kg class, while overall numbers were down. This proved to be a bonus for the many anglers preferring to catch big hard fighting salmon to smaller but still feisty grilse.

One of the most important components of any fishing trip is of course, the guide.
They are both your advisors and companions for the whole week. At Lax-á, we pride ourselves in the high calibre of our professional guides. We invest a lot of time and effort in guide training. All of them have great experience in fly fishing, casting instruction and fly tying. And most importantly, they know their river and are dedicated to your success. Whether you are fishing with the legendary Siggi Fjeldsted or the young and keen Danni, be assured all our guides are experienced and capable professionals who will work as hard as they possibly can to ensure your successful and enjoyable fishing trip.

The Svarta River is one of the country’s best-kept secrets for brown trout. Situated in the northern highlands, some 55 km inland from Húsavík, Svartá offers approximately 6 km of gorgeous trout water before joining the main glacier river Skjálfandafljót. The river’s source is a large lake around 400 metres above sea level that is set amidst magnificent scenery.
Lake Svartárvatn is set on a high plateau of rolling heathland with views to distant mountain tops to the south and the steep-sided Bárdardalur valley to the west. Around every corner there is a new challenge. Svartá is under the stewardship of just three farms and their management of this remarkable resource has been most commendable. Fishing pressure has always been light as the river has never been marketed to the public. Sanctuary areas have been established in the upper river where absolutely no fishing is allowed. This has paid back handsomely as the average weight of the trout is around the 3 lbs. mark and they reach up to 9 lbs. Not bad for mountain trout! For those looking for a new place to fish that will leave ever-lasting impressions on your soul, this is definitely one of them. Contact us regarding pricing info for the various trips available.