Iceland Fishing Regions and Season

Fishing in Iceland is a great experience with plenty of regions suitable for fishing. The crystal-clear rivers and lakes are the perfect breeding ground for all kinds of fish and offer great fishing conditions. One of the most popular fish in Iceland is salmon, and you will find that many rivers are named ‘laxa in’, which literally means salmon in river. Some of the most popular fishing regions in the country include River Grimsa, Laxa in Kjos and Langa Salmon River. The rod fishing season in Iceland runs from the 1st June to 30th September so this is the best time to come, and the temperature is fairly mild at this time.

Types of Fishing in Iceland

Iceland offers a varied fishing experience with a lot of different landscapes. If you are looking to take a fishing vacation then you will want to make the most of different species of fish in the rivers and lakes. Some of the fish that you can expect to see in Iceland include;

• Atlantic Salmon; there are rivers formed in the highlands that are perfect for salmon fishing. These rivers are usually a bit faster and warmer. Rivers such as Hofsa in the North-East or Midfjardara in the North-West are great salmon rivers.

• Brown Trout; with many volcanic eruptions around the country, the rivers and lakes pick up a lot of nutrients and often warm water from hot springs and underground reservoirs can seep through. Making rivers such as Sog River and Litla River perfect for Brown Trout.

• Arctic Char; this is the most common fresh water fish in Iceland and they are found in rivers and lakes all over the country. It is very prominent in slower flowing sections of the Vatnsdalsá and Vídidalsá rivers.

• Sea Trout; along with the brown trout in Iceland, you can also expect to find sea trout in the country. The sea trout is often overlooked on fishing trips but it is something that you should definitely do. They are most common the south east and west rivers.

• Sea Angling; there is also plenty of opportunity for sea angling in Iceland, with a fishery zone of 760,000 square kilometres. You can find some of the largest fish stocks in the north Atlantic here, including cod, herring and halibut.

Preparing for Your Trip

If you are looking to go on a fishing trip to Iceland then you might be thinking about where the best place to stay is. Many of the top salmon fishing rivers around the country are served by purpose built fishing lodges. These often serve either the entire river or if not most of it and are generally comfortable and modern. The temperature in Iceland is largely mild despite its geographical location. The average temperature in July is around 10 °C, but has been known to reach 25 °C during the warmer months. However temperatures can fluctuate and drop, so be prepared for colder climates too. Due to the short season in Iceland, It is commonplace to travel with fishing guides, who are often professionally qualified and speak good English.

If you are planning a trip to Iceland for fishing then you might want to consider renting a car to get around to the many different areas. We provide car rental for all kinds of purposes to make sure that we meet your individual needs. Take a look at the affordable car hire we offer online.

Download this guide as a PDF and take it with you on your trip.