Once again the salmon season is now over for me. It happens every year since 1990, my first time ever in Iceland. 1990, 1991, 1992…2000…2011, each summer, without interruption, I am in Iceland for 15-20 days/year fishing for salmon in different rivers.

It is a pure pleasure and privilege to be fishing in this fantastic country; sometimes in very small rivers, sometimes in medium or big size, sometimes watching blue or sometimes green waters, sometimes fast flowing or sometimes still rivers. It does not matter, all situations and conditions push the angler to breath with peace and relax.. until one salmon jumps stopping our dreams.

I know many fantastic, productive and extremely beautiful rivers in Iceland and this year I was fishing for 8 days in one river which follows many of my dreams, the Nordlingafljót. This river, divided into three beats, is a paradise for fly anglers, with more than 80% of pure fly pools where many flies, including hitch, can offer the best. Also worm, when it is practised correctly  can give great sport as well as being one of the most effective.

Nordlingafljót is a river where behind each stone, small hole, little stream, one big or very big may be waiting for you (it happened to me this summer in the tail of the pool 26, where I hooked an eighteen pounders in not more than half meter of water). This is the second part of this interesting river, always multiwinters. The number of them depends, of course, on the year (in 2009 during the first fortnight the number of multiwinters was close to 50% of all catches!) but even this summer ,not specially noticeable for a great fishing in the country, we caught between 15-20%, being some very large and extremely good fighter (the afore-mentioned 18 pounders was landed in the pool 22, in fact 700 meters downstream from the 26!).

Now sitting in the terrace of my Spanish house, a wave of nostalgia invade me. Only the Nordlingafljót knows how much I miss it.

Nordlingafljot – one of my favorite salmon

rivers in the world

One of my favorite salmon rivers in the world is the Nordlingafljot in Iceland, a gin-clear river rushing over volcanic rocks and tundra. I have spent many a wonder summer there catching salmon – stalking really, because only five rods are allowed to fish the nearly 15 miles of river, and you are really hunting the fish. Had many a beautiful eve fishing with a small fly and single-handed rod catching five or six silvery salmon between 8 and 20 pounds.

If you are looking for an unforgettable fishing and walking vacation, check out this website.  If you like what you see, contact the man running the river, Johannes “Joi” Sigmarsson. Joi is an old friend, his email is on the last page of the website, and he is fluent in English. Tell him I sent you.

Here is the blog. (http://www NULL.richardcmorais NULL.com/2010/03/14/nordlingaflot-one-of-my-favorite-salmon-rivers-in-the-world/)

NORÐLINGAFLJÓT SALMON RIVER

The Nordlingafljot is one of the most attractive salmon rivers in Iceland. The natural surroundings, adjacent to the Husafell area, are spectacular, the river itself a dramatic combination of gravel-flats and waterfalls and gorges, ensuring the variety of pools fished are great. With 75 marked pools, plus smaller pools unmarked in between, the Nordlingafljot offers a fishing experience to please any angler. With only six rods fishing over 13 kilometers of river there is enough space to move freely around. In addition, the chances of catching salmon on the Nordlingafljot are higher than in most other rivers in Iceland. The average has been over 2,5 salmons per rod per day for the past years if we count out the record year of 2008 when the average catch went over 5 salmons per rod per day.

Nordlingafljot has a shorter season than most other rivers, between late July and late September, intensifying the number of salmon caught and the fishing experience. Furthermore, the river is ideal for families or small fishing groups and the Husafell area offers interesting attractions and services to travelers, everything from heated swimming pools to Icelandic pony rides. The old farmhouse at Husafell serves as our fishing lodge, and has been modified to meet the needs of fishermen without affecting the original charm of the house.

The season: from July 18^th until the end of September. Best weeks are usually the last week of July and the first two weeks of August.

Daily fishing hours:  a07.00 until 13.00 and again from 16.00 to 22.00. After August the 14^th the hours change to 15.00 to 21.00 in the afternoon because of shorter daylight.

Number of rods allowed: the season starts and ends with 5 rods but 6 rods are allowed during high season, from July 30th to September 12^th.

Both fly and worm fishing is allowed in Nordlingafljot. Many foreign fishermen who come to the Nordlingafljot prefer to come as a group, taking all the available rods for the week and fish with fly only. The most popular flies are: Red/Black Frances, Snælda, Blue Charm, Hairy Mary, Collie dog, Black Sheep, Sunray Shadow and various shrimp patterns.