This is the famous „Steinbogi Pool“ in Jökla where the video is taken from the cliff at the opposite bank.Here in Iceland we have been counting the days now. The darkest part of winter has passed and we actually have several hours of daylight. Which of course tells us that the new season is just around the corner. Only just over a month away in fact, as the first rivers open up as usual on the 1rst of April.
Our main early spring fisheries, Tungulækur and Minnivallalækur, are well booked in the spring, yet there are still openings so we may very likely be able to shoehorn you in if you get back to us quickly. It's early days yet for any forecasts for the spring fishing but what we will say is this: We have had a wierd winter. Some heavy snowfalls in November and Desember, ongoing for weeks. The only good thing about it all was the thought that some of the snowfields would preveil throughout the traditional/following unstable weather, featuring rain and sleat. Some of which we have had in abundance in January and February. A lot of the lowland snow is gone, but happily there is still a lot of the white stuff in the interior, giving hope that the rivers will be in a healthy state come summer.
Minni is an inland brown trout river of the highest quality. Yet very technical and demanding. Especially during the summer. In the spring the fishing is more basic stuff with streamers and upstream nymphing with the browns trying frantically to fatten up and stave off the feeling of hunger as the water temp grows higher. It's the same on Tungulækur, the countries outstanding sea trout fishery. The river was excellent in the final few weeks of last late season. Staring off rather slowly, the runs and fishing picked up well late in the season 2012. So if you want to catch well proportioned native sea trout, Tungulækur is the place to be.
On the salmon front, the rarity of openings on Hrúta have actually turned up due to cancillations. Hrúta is an excellent three rod river which allows for a lot of privacy for small finely tuned groups. We also have a few openings on both the Breiðdalsá and Jökla fisheries. Both river systems produced outstanding record catches last season and there is nothing to say that the coming season will not be even better.
To conclude our newsletter, here is a wiff of what you may expect on the Jökla. High up in the system you'll find the "Steinbogi", translated: Rock bridge. Named after a monstrous rabble of cliffs and rocks that have almost dammed the river in the narrow gorge. The river actually seems to disappear for a while under the massive rocky carpet. Walking on top of it is wierd to say the least, as the thunderous gurgling of the river is right under your feet. As the river surges from underneath the cliff blanket, it hurtles down the gorge with strong currents, yet mirrorlike flows, brilliant for hitching. The salmon that run highest up into the system stop here and hold at various points in the gorge. In early July last year, a few friends came to Steinbogi but couldn't enter the gorge due to high water. But they could see several fresh salmon holding below. So in an effort to have some fun, the pinched the hooks off a double hook which they rigged to an inch long Sunray Shadow. So, with a fly with no hooks, they cast from the top of the cliffs to the holding salmon below......and the result? Have a look here and please do not salivate unto your keyboard!
