The 2025 Iceland salmon season has started with a noticeable delay across the country, with many rivers running two to three weeks behind where they would typically be by mid-July. This lag appears to be the result of last autumn’s unusually cold conditions, which likely postponed smolt migration to sea. There have also been a number of days of clear blue skies and sunshine, much like we have been experiencing here. Not ideal salmon fishing conditions to say the least. Despite the slow start, encouraging signs have emerged across the country in the past week, cloud cover with water levels at summer levels, temperatures remaining steady, and fresh fish now pushing into the systems in greater numbers. While the early weeks proved challenging on some rivers, the recent surge in activity bodes well for the rest of the rest of the summer.

Laxa I Kjos, Iceland, Aardvark McLeod

Laxá í Kjos

Laxa í Kjos began slowly but, after the second of July a big run of fish entered the river. mid-July rain, hit its stride. The river has landed 77 fish in four days, putting the river at a total of 119 fish. However, as often happens on Laxa I Kjos, the sea trout numbers have been excellent with 68 landed so far. The sea trout have been in phenomenal shape with some very large specimens landed in the meadows including three fish over 12 lb. Much of this has been dry fly fishing in the meadows. There have also been a number of salmon over 90cm which on light tackle represents a serious battle! Water levels are steady although a little low for this time of year, air at 15 °C, water around 12 °C. Top flies: Haugur, Micro hitch, Red Frances, Kamelta, & Collie Dog.

Midfjardara, Iceland, Aardvark McLeod

Miðfjarðará

The same can be said on Midfjardara where the numbers have started picking up nicely landing on average 10 fish a day. The river has landed 49 fish in the last week taking the total to 138 fish. The fish that have been caught are in stunning condition so have obviously overwintered well. They are thick and solid and some of the battles in the canyons have been memorable to say the least. The largest fish landed so far has been 24 lb beast measuring 103cm in length with a further 11 fish over 90 cm landed. In the last couple of days the grilse run has started with good number of fish entering beat 1, so we would expect the numbers to rise shortly. Best patterns: Sunray Shadow, Collie Dog, Hitch Tubes and Skuggi Skaskorinn.

Nordura, Iceland, Aardvark McLeod

Nordurá

Nordurá started slowly for the same reasons, with what is historically a very prolific June well down on its numbers. Water levels were fine, temperatures were good, the fish has just not arrived in force. However, there was a very big run of fish on 9 July coinciding with the full moon and the river then landed 112 in the last week taking their total to 314. Air temps steady at 11‑12 °C. Best patterns: Sunray Shadow, Silver Sheep, Haugur, Collie Dog. There are still some rods still available from 21–27 July.

Stora Laxa, Iceland, Aardvark McLeod

Stóra Laxa

The Stora Laxa has also had a slow start this season with those larger fish that normally run in early and head up to beat 4 not materialising until much later. Later June was tough, but at the beginning of July a large run of fish hit the river system from the glacial river and headed up through beat one and beat two. The river stands at just over 80 fish at this point and as usual 45% of those are multi sea winter fish of good size. Flies: Valbeinn, Sunray Shadow, Collie Dog, Cone Red Frances, Red Frances.

Hítara

Hitara has landed 51 salmon so far this season to its six rods and follows suit to the other rivers in the same vicinity with low numbers running until quite recently. Over the last few days they have started landing on average 10 fish a day interspersed with a few sea trout and good numbers of arctic char. fish in the last week taking their total. Water clarity expected to improve—promising days ahead. Top flies: Krohurinn, Sunray Shadow, Collie Dog, Red Frances.

Iceland Salmon Fishing, Langa, Aardvark McLeod

Langa

The Langa has landed just over 100 fish so far and is much the same position as Nordura and Hitara. Top producing pools have been Stengir, Glanni, Efri Hvitsstadahylur and Jardlangsstadakvorn so far and top flies have been Collie Dog, Red Frances, Haugur and Green Brahan. We shall wait to see what happens in the next week where we would expect the numbers to start increasing.  

We still have last-minute availability—click HERE or contact Peter McLeod or Alex Jardine or call our office on +44(0)1980 847389.