Fly Fishing in Iceland

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FLY-FISHINGOUTFITTER

Who are we?Fish Partner is a fully licensed travel agency and tour op-erator that offers a wide range of high quality services for fishermen and travellers from all over the world. Fish Partner organizes various scheduled tours: professional angling tours, fishing vacation packages, combinations of day tours and fishing adventures, a multitude of fish-ing-related activities, and tailor-made tours to many of the greatest rivers and lakes of Iceland. Not only do we offer one of the largest selections of fishing spots in Ice-land, but we also offer our customers the opportunity to combine their trips with activities available from our trusted tour operator partners. We also know that an-glers have different needs and expectations. Therefore, we offer the services of tailoring the perfect fishing trip to your needs.

Our Promise and PassionWe at Fish Partner have decades of combined experi-ence of fishing, guiding and setting up fishing trips for foreign and local fishermen. For us fishing is a passion, one that we could not be without. Therefore, we know the importance of a well-organized fishing trip. From the attributes of the fish, the beauty of the landscape to the quality of the food and the smoothness of the trans-port, we know that every detail is essential to the overall experience. Our passion and our promise to you are to do everything we can to make your fishing experience in Iceland an unforgettable one.

The Land of Fire and Ice – A Trout Fishing ParadiseIceland is without a doubt one of the top trout fishing destinations in the world. The island is especially fa-mous for its large numbers of big brown trout, a central attraction for many trout fishermen travelling to Iceland. Every year many brown trout, some of them weighing 20 lbs or more, are caught in Iceland by international an-glers, a memory they can cherish their entire lives. Arctic char and Atlantic salmon are also found in abundance in Icelandic rivers and lakes, both strong game fish and worthy opponents. Iceland is home to countless lakes and rivers bustling with these fish, and is the ideal set-ting for exclusive fishing in a tranquil atmosphere. The unspoiled nature and magnificent landscape of Iceland are unsurpassed the world over, and our fishing destina-tions include volcanic craters, black sand deserts, lava, secluded heaths and desolate fjords.

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Photo by Matt Harris

The SpeciesThere are five species of freshwater fish in Iceland, three of which are targeted by fly fishermen. Those three are all part of the salmon family (Salmonidae); the Atlantic salmon, the Arctic char and the brown trout. The other species are the three-spined stickleback and the eel. All these species require to or are able to live in the sea for part of their life cycle, which explains how they origi-nally arrived on this Atlantic island.

Brown TroutIf you are reading these lines, you most likely have heard of the brown trout. This favorite of so many anglers can be found swimming wild in countless streams and lakes in Iceland. The brown trout has two different types of life cycle. They either spend their entire life in freshwa-ter (landlocked brown trout), or spend their first years in fresh water as fry, before later migrating to the sea every summer and returning every winter to the home river (sea trout). Iceland is known for its incredibly large brown trout, mainly the ice age trout of Lake Thingval-lavatn, which got landlocked there during the ice age. Common size for brown trout in Iceland is 2-5 lbs, while the ice age trout can reach over 30 lbs and averages 8 lbs.

Arctic CharArctic char is the most widespread freshwa-ter fish species found in Iceland. It inhabits a wide range of habitat from lakes and small mountain streams to roaring glacier rivers, but throughout its habitat, it requires cold, clean water. Like the brown trout the char can either be landlocked or searun. Com-mon size for char is 1-4 lbs, with the biggest one ever caught in Iceland being 22 lbs.

Atlantic SalmonIceland has been known for its world class Atlantic salmon fishing. There are numbers of excellent salmon rivers in Iceland, of which some are amongst the most beautiful waters one can find. The Atlantic salmon is a searun species and runs up the rivers during the summer. The salmon season starts in early June and ends late September. The main runs take place in late July to early August, depending on rivers and parts of the country. In most rivers major-ity of fish are grilse (one winter at sea), opposed to multi sea winter salmon. However, several rivers have large numbers of multi sea winter salmon in the 10-25 lbs range.

What is Fishing in Iceland all About?In addition to the abundance of big fish and amazing riv-ers and lakes, Icelandic fishing is primarily known for ex-clusivity. All fishing rights in Iceland are either privately owned or owned by municipalities. Outfitters like Fish Partner lease the fishing rights and make them available to fishermen. All rivers and lakes are controlled by limi-tations of rods and some with catch and release and fly fishing only. Fishermen can therefore know exactly what to expect. No need to wake up in the middle of the night and race to your favorited spot – it is reserved for you throughout the day!

Fish Partner offers a great variety of lakes and rivers with banks and distances that is impossible to cover in one fishing trip. While fishing in Iceland with Fish Partner, you can expect to fish some of the best trout, char and salmon streams in the world, all by yourself or with the best guides in Iceland, standing in the middle of the most scenic landscape in the world. And at the end of the day a world class meal in quiet and cosy lodges or hotels.

Range of ServicesWe at Fish Partner offer wide range of services. As fishermen ourselves we un-derstand that people have different needs. Therefore, we offer everything from a single day licence to fish up to multi-day trips where every detail from the fishing and guiding to the food and transportation is arranged by us. Everyone should find something in our Experience packages or our Day tours. If you have specific ideas, do not hesitate to contact us directly. And remember, there are no stupid questions!

How is the setup?Common setup in a full-service tour is that our guide picks you up at the air-port when you arrive. Most often we go straight to the fishing grounds from the airport, or we can make stops on the way if desired. When salmon fishing in Iceland the day starts at 7 am and finishes at 10 pm, with a break from 1-4 pm. These timings are more flexible when trout fishing, but a limit of 12 fishing hours per day is always applicable. In the Highland we fish from 9 am to 6 pm and take lunch on the bank. This gives you a chance to relax or sightseeing in the evenings. In Lake Thingvallavatn we fish into the night, as the dusk is very often the best time.

Who is it for?Although we at Fish Partner enjoy taking experienced anglers out on the river and try for these big trout that are playing hard to get, we also love to teach be-ginners what fly fishing is all about. Our guides have decades of experience of teaching beginners in the sport. To be able to share our passion with potential new fishermen and hopefully get them hooked, is really what makes our job worth it!

Lake Þingvallavatn is 83.7 km² (20,700 acres) and lies along the North Atlantic Ridge, sitting on the partition between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. It is filled with spring water which has filtered through the layers of surrounding lava, making Þingvallavatn gin clear and easy to spot fish in. Three of the five species of freshwater fish found in Iceland live in Þingvallavatn – brown trout, arctic char, and three-spined stickleback. The giant brown trout of Þingvallavatn has evolved there in isolation since the

Þingvallavatn

Distance from Reykjavík: 40 km/25 milesFishing season: 15 April - 15 September (difference between beats)Average size: Brown trout 8 lbsNumber of rods: 2-10 (difference between beats)Tackle: #6-8 single handed rodsBest flies: Streamers, nymphs and dry-fliesAccess: EasyAccommodation: Several options

Lake Þingvallavatn (Thingvallavatn)

last ice age. This legendary fish is the most coveted catch of many a fisherman, Icelandic or otherwise. Tales of battling these mighty fish are akin to fairy tales, and are never forgotten by those lucky enough to play a part in them. These extraordinary brown trout can grow to a weight of over 30 lbs, and specimens in excess of 20 lbs are frequently caught in peak fishing times. In Þingvallavatn, you never know what the next cast will bring.

Lake Thingvallavatn – The BeatsFish Partner has four exclusive beats on Lake Thingvallavatn, the home of the monster ice age brown trout. The beats are different in character but all have in common that they hold numbers of big browns.

Beat 1 - Kárastaðir Private Beat The Kárastaðir beat is in the north end of Lake Thingvallavatn where river Öxará, the brown trout’s main spawning stream, runs into the lake. The giant trout travels in groups and is often found circling around the beat where fishermen can run into great adventures.

Beat 2 - Black Cliffs Private Beat The Black Cliffs beat is a shoreline in the northwestern part of Lake Thingvallavatn. Off the Black Cliffs fishermen can wade far into the lake to a lava drop-off where those brown giants are lurking.

Beat 3 - Villingavatn Private Beat Villingavatnsárós (means the mouth of river Villingavatnsá) is one of the greatest brown trout beats in the world. The beat offers the opportunity to catch the giant ice age brown trout on small nymphs and dry flies. The beat is only fished with two rods.

Beat 3-D - Villingavatn (The Lake) Despite being small, Lake Villingavatn is the home to some very large brown trout.

Beat 4 - Kaldárhöfði Private Beat The Kaldárhöfði beat is in the south most part of Lake Thingval-lavatn where River Sog runs from the lake. The beat also stretches south into Lake Úlfljótsvatn. This beat is also known as excellent Arctic char fishing, especially in June through August.

Beat 5 – Efri brú The Efri-Brú beat is situated in Lake Úlfljótsvatn and is a top-class Arctic Char fishery with a high average size char as well as a good amount of brown trout caught each year.

Photo by Matt Harris

The HighlandsThe Highlands are the true heart of Iceland. With its uncanny beauty and epic scenery, the Highlands offer you an experience unlike any other. Here, you can truly become one with nature, as the Highlands are com-pletely untouched and uninhabited by men. The vast wilderness - mountains, deserts, canyons, lakes and riv-ers - bears witness to the powerful forces of fire and ice which have shaped the landscape on this volcanic island over centuries. The geological extremes are unlike those found anywhere else. Next to dark sands, one can find bright glowing green moss, red rocks or boiling water. Amidst all of this beauty, there is the trout and the arc-tic char - peacefully cruising the gin clear streams of the Highlands, as it has since the Ice Age. The experience cannot be put into words - it must be lived.

The Highland Fishing Lodge – ÞóristungurWhen fishing the Highland rivers, guests will stay in Fish Partner’s Highland Lodge. Completely renovated for the 2019 season the lodge offers a quiet and secluded stay in the Highlands. It has six double/twin bedrooms and can, therefore, accommodate 12 people. The bed-rooms are not big but each bedroom has a sink and a large wardrobe. A shared bathroom with two toilets and three showers is at the lodge. The cozy living room and a dining room are perfect to relax after a long day of fish-ing and enjoying a good meal and a drink.

The Highland Fishign Lodge

Rivers Kaldakvísl and TungnaáIn the Highlands there are two amazing Arctic char and brown trout rivers exclusively for Fish Partner’s custom-ers. River Kaldavísl, being a big river with canyons and waterfalls, is very contrasting with the smaller River Tungnaá where you often need to sneak up to the fish.

River Kaldakvísl is truly a hidden gem. Words fail to describe the landscape’s beauty. Diversity and contrasts are the river’s main characteristics. On the 12 km (7.5 miles) beat, one can find beautiful waterfalls, great can-yons, fast water, slow water, rocks, sand and so much more. The river is full of Arctic char, their size averag-ing at 3-4 lbs, although char weighing up to 7 lbs can be found there, as can big brown trout. The river has a four rod limit. It’s hard not to fall in love with Kaldakvísl once you’ve had the chance to get to know her.

Tungnaá is a formerly milky glacial river that became gin clear in 2013 because of a newly opened hydroelectric power plant. The new plant transformed this formerly rough, dark river into a fascinating crystal-clear stream. This Highland stream is probably one of the best kept trout-fishing secrets in the world. The river offers a more technical challenge, where stealth, among other attri-butes, is essential. The native brown trout and arctic char average 3-5 lbs, with some monsters reaching up to 12 lbs.

Kaldakvísl and Tungnaá

Distance from Reykjavík: 200 km/124 milesFishing season: June 1– September 15Peak time: June 20 – July 20Average size: 3-4 lbsTackle: Single handed rod #4-6Number of rods: 8Access: 4x4Lodge: The Highland Fishing Lodge

The Northern Highlands – Upper BlandaFor the first time in decades the area above Blöndulón reservoir, in the Northern Highlands, is available for fishermen, and now exclusively for Fish Partner´s cus-tomers.

Fish Partner is excited to introduce this newest fishery which is south of Blöndulón reservoir and consists of all the rivers flowing into the upper Blanda river and the reservoir. There are seven main rivers in the area and several smaller creeks. Access to the rivers is limited and fishermen must hike along the rivers while fish-ing. Nature is untouched and wild and in the Northern Highlands, you can truly experience exclusivity and the feeling of being alone in the world.

The rivers hold brown trout and Arctic char and are ideal for nymphing, dry-fly and streamer fishing. Since this is an unexplored territory the licenses are very af-fordable and the number of rods limited. It is fly fishing only and catch and release.

Simple accommodation is available at Hveravellir hotel, as well as the option of camping.

Northern Highlands

Distance from Reykjavík: 215 km/133 milesFishing season: June 20 – September 20Peak time: July 10 – August 30Average size: 3-4 lbsTackle: Single handed rod #4-6Number of rods: 8Access: 4x4Lodge: Hotel Hveravellir

GljúfuráGljúfurá is a small and beautiful river in North-Western Iceland. The river runs into Lake Hópið, which is by the seaside. The name Gljúfurá means “canyon river” and it takes its name from its many canyons and gullies it runs through. The lower and mid sections of the river are easily accessible by 4x4 vehicles whereas the upper sec-tions require hiking into the hills. Those willing to take the hike are rewarded with well rested pools fish that haven’t seen a fly in a while.

Gljúfurá would be considered a late run salmon river with the main salmon runs not showing up until late July and early August and the best salmon fishing being August and September. Starting in May though, the lower sections of the river get great number of sea run brown trout and sea-run Arctic char. The sea run brown and char fishing tend to remain consistent throughout the season with the average weight of char being between 1 and 3 pounds and seatrout up to 6 pounds regularly caught. In the upper section of the river, there is good resident brown trout fishing with average sizes for those being in the 2-3 pound range.

Three rods are allowed in Gljúfurá and are they sold together - meaning your group will have the whole river to yourself. It is fly fishing only and catch and release (limit to keep is one sea trout or sea char per rod/day).

Included is a small and beautiful lodge overlooking the river. The lodge has two double/twin rooms and one single room, all basic amenities, hot tub, large veranda, BBQ and basic kitchen. This is a perfect river for small groups that prefer privacy.

Gljúfurá

Distance from Reykjavík: 200 km/124 milesFishing season: May 15 – September 30Peak time (salmon): July 25 – September 10Average size: Salmon 8 lbs, char and brown 1-3 lbsTackle: Single handed rod #5-7Number of rods: 3Access: 4x4Lodge: Gljúfurá Fishing Lodge

Laxá in Aðaldalur (The Big Laxa)Laxá in Aðaldalur is a world-class brown trout and salmon stream for fly fishermen only. It is often said to be the best brown trout river in Europe. The river is located in Aðaldalur in northern Iceland, 480 km (300 miles) from the capital, Reykjavik. Big Laxa is a very fertile river that is home to a huge stock of brown trout that average of 3-4 lbs. However, 6-8 lbs specimens are not uncommon, and even bigger trout are caught every season, the biggest browns weighing in at 10-13 lbs. This river is ideal for dry fly fishing, but upstream fishing with strike indicators and nymphs can also be effective.

Big Laxa

Distance from Reykjavik: 480 km/300 milesFishing season: May 1 – September 20Peak time: Trout - June 1 – July 20. Salmon - AugustAverage size: Trout 3,5 lbs – Salmon 10 lbsTackle: Trout -Single handed rod # 6-8,Salmon - Double handed rod.Number of rods: Depends on beat.Access: 4x4Lodge: Several options

Árbót Private BeatÁrbót beat is an extraordinary beat with great character, and offers an excellent option for those looking for bigger brown trout and salmon. It is 3,7 km (2.2 miles) long, and limited to two rods only. It has many beautiful pools that sport both trout and salmon. The season runs from May 1 to September 20. Peak season for trout is from mid-May until the end of June. From mid-July onward, you can be sure to find salmon in every pool and the salmon fishing can be excellent. The river is well known for its huge salmon, weighing up to and over thirty lbs.

Atlantic Salmon FishingIceland has some of the finest Atlantic salmon fishing in the world. We at Fish Partner have been fishing for the Atlantic salmon since we could walk. Our selection of excellent salmon fishing options is constantly increas-ing. We also cooperate with other outfitters and lease-holders of some of the greatest salmon rivers in Iceland.

For information on more salmon options than you can find in this brochure and our webpage, please send us an e-mail to: info@fishpartner.com.

Day toursWhat a better way to spend your spare day in Ice-land than fishing? Fish Partner offers a variety of day tours, both close to Reykjavík and in Iceland’s central highlands. All the tours are suitable for experienced fishermen or beginners, since our guides will take you to the fishing grounds. Whether you are a beginner or a sea-soned angler, allow us to set up the perfect day of fishing in Iceland. All our day tours can be found online at www.fishpartner.com, but here to your right are some great examples.

Photo by Matt Harris

TravelIceland is without a doubt one of the coolest destinations in the world. In the vast, untouched wilderness, there are countless amazing places that make a lasting impres-sion on those who visit. Between such places are a number of beautiful villages with great restaurants that offer visitors a chance to take in the local atmosphere. With its vibrant culture and nightlife, Iceland’s capital, Reykjavík, is also a must-visit destina-tion. 

As Fish Partner is a fully  licensed travel agency, we also offer non-fishing tours and activities around Iceland. Whether you want to add some sightseeing to your fishing trip or just simply travel around Iceland, we can tailor a unique package for you. If it can be done in Iceland, we can organize it! The possibilities are endless, but here’s a short list of interesting things to do: 

• Horseback riding • Whale watching • Northern lights tours • River rafting • Hiking • Monster jeep touring • Heli-skiing • Ice-climbing • Snowmobiling • Ocean safari touring

Highland River FishingThis tour offers a unique opportunity to get to know the Icelandic Highlands and to do some world-class Arctic char and brown trout fishing in one trip.

Trophy Trout AdventureThis day tour offers a chance to catch a giant brown trout in one of Fish Partner’s exclu-sive beats in Lake Thingvallavatn.

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