The Icelandic season has opened to some low water conditions for this time of year, especially on the West coast. There have been some very mixed temperatures making fishing pretty challenging, but some stunning bars of silver have been landed as the various rivers opened up for fishing. As can be the case in Iceland, we seem to have been experiencing their rain here in the UK. There is very little snow in the mountain areas to top water levels up, but the forecast for this coming week is good and will bring some much needed rain across the country as a big low front forms in the Atlantic.
The opening group on Midfjardara fished from the 15th – 18th of June in rather challenging conditions. Air temperature fluctuated from 20° C down to 3° C with water temperatures from 19° C down to 7° C. The river is super low, but despite these conditions the group managed to land 16 salmon to the six rods for the 3 days. The majority were caught on the Austurá and down in the main river. The group that followed on that afternoon on the 18th landed 8 salmon, the largest a whopping 97 cm sea-liced fish from beat 1.
The Nordurá is also low, but there is enough water in the lower river for the fish to run. The biggest issue they have been experiencing was some very cold conditions with water temperatures down to 4 ° C. Nevertheless 7 fish were caught on the opening and a lovely 76 cm hen fish came out of Laxafoss at the end of last week, so the fish are making their way that far. As of this morning the lower pools on the river have suddenly filled with fish, so if the rain forecast for this afternoon materialises and the oxygen levels in the water increase then those fish will move up the river en mass.
On the opening of the Grimsa the four opening rods had a cracking morning with nine salmon hooked and five landed. These were all good size springers. Fish were caught on all beats, beat 4 Efstihylur, beat 3 salmon was caught in Klöpp, on beat 2 two salmon were landed in Strengir and from beat 1 one salmon was landed in Langidrattur. The anglers lost four fish at their feet from Gullberastadastrengur on beat 3, Klopp on beat 3, Strengir on beat 2 and Langidrattur on beat 1. All salmon were caught on small flies and hitch. The largest salmon of the morning was from Strengir at 90 cm.
The Laxa I Kjos Laxa in Kjos opened for fishing on last Saturday. The four opening rods started the day in very low water and bright sunshine. Before lunch, the air temperature had reached 23 ° C, and the conditions were really tough. Two large salmon were hooked on opening day, and both were lost after a good battle. The first salmon of the season was an 84cm fish landed from Klingenberg on a Black Francis, and another one was lost in the same pool. We are seeing good run of salmon, but they are not taking in the low water and high temperatures. The rain that is forecast for this week should breathe new life into the river. However the sea trout have already made an appearance with a stunning 10 lbs landed in Kvislafoss.
The Langá opened for fishing last week. Many fish are in the river already and they have been seen scattered across most of the pools. Fifteen fish were already up in the canyon so it appears fish have spread widely up the system. This time last year there was no fish this far up. Despite the lack of rain Langá is in fine shape, as Langavatn supports the water supply in the river. The group of anglers who opened the river landing and lost a good number of salmon in the morning session. The largest was a 90 cm fish from Glanna, where many more big fish were seen in the pool. The fish took Red Francis.
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.