Richard Arnold and guide „Tommi“ playing a big fish in Breiðdalsá in July in low wader and difficult conditions.
As we finish the salmon season of 2012 we reflect on a genarally disapointing outcome. Overall, the Icelandic salmon season was one of the poorest ever and we won't lie, it really took everybody by surprise. It seems the grilse runs were very lacking and the returning fish were rather thin, indicating that they had either had a bad winter on the feeding grounds or they were severely knocked back while running to sea last spring and summer, when a very cold period of weather was indeed worrying.
However, the fisheries biologists while hopefully come to some conclusions when they have gone over the data....which they have not done at this point. As far as our rivers are concerned, we were hit hard as most and periods of low water during prime time were not helping out. However, the fishing started off well and while we waited in vain for the big grilse runs, the mws runs were nevertheless substantial so there was always hope and plenty of sightings. Every group was catching fish, only not as many as we all expected. In September particularly, we had some good bursts of rain, waking the early runners from a slumber, and inducing some fresh fish to enter late. So in fact, we had a very good September, allt things considered, and that applies to both Breiðdalsá and Jökla rivers.
Still some good moments in 2012 season, for example fantastic fishing for Nils Jörgensen in late August in our 3 rod river Hrutafjardará.
Hrútafjardará river was difficult due to all the before mentioned factors, but a late burst helped a lot. Odd times some great fishing was made like well known angler named Nils Jörgensen who had a great few hours fishing in late August as can be seen in this video CLICK HERE from him.
As the grilse were rather few and lightweight, the average weight of the catch was probably the highest we have had and as usuall we had a number of salmon in the very big bracket, 90 cm and upwards with a few reaching the magical 100plus centimeter milestone.
Minni was its old usual self, only there were probably more overweight browns in the catch than ever since we took over the rivers management, which was of course years ago. As usual the fishing was best in the early weeks and then again during high summer when the foreign groups are catching them on dries. However, a few locals visited the river in September to find that it is an underrated time to fish it! Which is perhaps something to look at for the future....
Plus, we might add, our clients on Tungulækur generally returned back home with a smile on their faces. The spring fishing was good, and as we write this newsletter, the river has been responding well including a sea-trout close to 20 lb caught this week.
Into a fish in Steinbogi pool in Jökla. He had taken riffling hitch tupe and was salmon number five this morning taking on that method there! Arctic –char fishing was better this year, particulary in Jökla river and tributaries and it is clear that this new fishery is looking more promising every year. And now can fish run to upper part of the river system since 1. August a fish pass was open and we had some great fishing up there for the first time for both salmon and char. We will be able to offer more rods and new beats for 2013 on this exciting new destination! One of our great guides named Boggi fished one of these new pools in a canyon only for a very fit anglers to fish in, and in this video CLICK HERE you can see the result! (But most pools in Jökla are easy fishable and good access to).
Despite the lack of grilse run the demand is already high for 2013. Most of our regular anglers seems to return to us again and we are confident it will only be up again the fishing and we will do our best to make the service and operation as good as ever.
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Look forward to hear from you!
Sincerely,
Throstur Ellidason
