We are now less than six weeks away from the start of another Icelandic salmon season, and the sense of anticipation is building. It has been a relatively late spring across Iceland this year, with an excellent snowpack still lying in the mountains. That bodes extremely well for water levels as the season progresses. Each year there is a familiar, almost methodical electricity surrounding the annual salmon run—something that never really dulls, no matter how many seasons you witness.
While the plight of Atlantic salmon remains a concern in many parts of the world, Iceland continues to stand as something of a bastion for the species, drawing fly fishermen from across the globe to its rivers. Finding the right river at the right time can still be a challenge, but for those who have left things slightly late this year, there are some surprising opportunities still available. With everything that has been happening globally, it is perhaps no surprise that attention has been elsewhere—yet it seems that focus has not fully returned to fishing, leaving a few valuable openings.
Broadly speaking, Icelandic salmon fishing falls into two distinct categories: rivers offering strong numbers of fish with a lower average size, and those producing fewer fish but of a significantly larger average weight. For consistent action and numbers, we tend to look to the west coast, where there are still a handful of rods available in July on the Midfjardará, Nordurá, and Langa. There are also a few rods remaining on the Nordurá at the end of June—arguably one of the most exciting times to be there, as the runs begin to build and the first of the larger fish arrive: fresh, silver, and wonderfully aggressive.
For those in search of larger fish, attention naturally turns elsewhere. There are some prime rods still available on the Stóra Laxá at the end of June and into early July, along with a scattering of opportunities throughout the season. This is a particularly intriguing prospect this year, following recent net buyouts and the consolidation of the lower river—developments that should significantly improve the number of fish reaching the system. In addition, there remain a few July openings, as well as single rods in August and September, on the Vididalsá, a river long respected for its ability to produce salmon of real quality.
All told, the coming season in Iceland is shaping up with plenty of promise: strong water conditions, encouraging developments on key rivers, and—perhaps most enticingly—a handful of well-timed opportunities still on the table. Whether your preference leans toward numbers or the pursuit of larger fish, there remains a chance to be part of what is consistently one of the most compelling salmon fisheries in the world. As ever, those final weeks of anticipation are part of the experience—soon enough, the rivers will be alive again. For a full run down on current availability please have a look HERE.
For more details on fishing in Iceland please do not hesitate to contact Peter McLeod or Alex Jardine or call our office on +44(0)1980 847389.
