Happy smile from Breiðdalsá river!Breiðdalsá
The season went out with a bit of a whimper as we suffered from floods and high water during the last few days as the curtain was brought down on our most productive season yet. The final number of fish in the catch log was 1,430 (252 more than last year). What was most pleasing about the result is the fact that the catch was spread fairly evenly throughout the season, with July now producing almost as many fish as either August or September; and what fish they are in the early season! July is the best time for a fresh run salmon in the high teens or 20 lb plus.
During the season we found that salmon were distributed throughout the river system and all beats were producing fish. The largest fish of the season, 10 kg, was caught in August, on a Sunray Shadow. The catch-and-release rate was high all season, with some good fish returned to the river which we hope will spawn successfully. As usual during the latter weeks a good number of fish were donated to the hatchery by our rods.
Not so many mountain trout and sea-run char went into the fishing book this season, which was a little disappointing. However, the size of some of the char made up for that with several fish in the 4 to 5 lb bracket.
Into a big fish in Jökla!Jökla System
We saw a steady improvement in the fishing this season, and the main river remaining clear until the end of the season certainly helped our cause. Jökla and the three tributaries produced 508 salmon and the Fögruhlíðará contributed another 57 salmon, bringing the total to 565. The river was lightly fished and so gave a good catch per rod, which stood very well against some of the more celebrated and expensive rivers in the country!
Sea-trout were not that much in evidence this season, but as usual the sea run char were ever present and provided some wonderful sport.
One of the last fish of the season in Hrútafjardará, 102 cm and about 11 kg!Hrútafjarðará
This river has in recent years produced between 400 and 600 fish a season, but did manage 318 in 2011 which is around average catch on long term basis. Given the circumstances though, it was a decent result in the end. Most rivers in the west and northwest suffered a lack of fish this season, which is a mystery. A prolonged drought slowed fishing right down for a number of weeks, which did not help.
As usual there were some decent fish amongst the catch, going up to 10 kg. One hundred and twenty sea char were recorded in the book.
Minnivallalækur
A cold spring hampered the early season fishing on our trophy brown trout stream and it wasn’t until June that things really got under way. Autumn was also generous, and warm, and provided some good fishing. It’s not an easy river for the first time visitor to crack and it takes time to learn the wiles of the river and its trout. In all 250 fish were recorded, with the best fish at 7 kg taken on a tiny pupa in August. If clicked here you can see video about that fish caught by Danish angler named Mogens Nielsen. The fish was 1 meter long! One of his fishing friend´s named Martin had once four fish in the same morning and his victory dance is getting famous, see here as well!
Nice sea-trout from Tungulækur in SeptemberTungulækur
Fishing here continues until 20 October, few days away from the time of writing. The sea-trout fishing began normally in late August and started slowly after good spring fishing. As we entered the present month the run started to build and one weekend produced 30 fish to the two rods. The largest fish we’ve had so far have measured 83 and 82 cm.
BOOK NOW!
We have started booking trips for the 2012 season and demand is already higher than ever before, and very much in Breiðdalsá river and Jökla fishery following a record year in those rivers. Early bookings are advisable and please ask for further details and I will do my best to plan for you suitable fishing for salmon, trout, arctic char and even hunting as well!
