Some will and some won't have driven through the north-western Icelandic town of Blönduós. Always a happy place signifying progress while driving north. Even the most senior policeman is a very happy, positive man and a wonderful guide, fisherman and photographer. His stories of drug manufacture in remote farm locations in his area and incompetent Chinese tourists wrecking cars left, right and centre are worth a lack of concentration while fishing.
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I thought your article on conservation efforts to bring wild salmon back to Britain’s rivers was interesting (“Floundering”, November 7th). But the main factor that reduces the survival of salmon is excessive exploitation by mixed-stock fisheries in coastal waters. A degree in rocket science is not needed to launch an immediate remedy: all killing of wild Atlantic salmon by any method should cease for the next three years. This should ensure a robust biodiversity and help stocks return to their historical abundance. Although the salmon-runs verge on total failure in British and Norwegian rivers, 2015 saw a record year in Iceland, which has no mixed-stock fisheries.
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Many rivers in Iceland have enjoyed all-time record catches in 2015. Naturally stocked rivers have fared best, but those that supplement natural stocks with hatchery-bred smolts have had better-than-average years, too. An estimated 75,000 salmon were caught in the 2015 season. This compares to the best year of 84,124 in 2008 and 74,961 in 2010. However, if the catch from hatchery stocked rivers and the number of fish recaptured as a result of catch-and release are discounted, the estimated total catch from naturally stocked and therefore sustainable rivers in 2015 is about 52,400 salmon, which is near the all-time record year of 1978 when all 52,697 salmon were caught and killed.
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This bright Atlantic salmon was caught in July by Frontiers client Douglas K. on the Vididalsa River in Iceland. It measured 38” and was caught during the morning session. The Vididalsa is having a terrific season and clients have not only enjoyed the fishing, but the fine accommodations, excellent cuisine and hospitable staff at the lodge as well.
For further information and to book for this or next season please contact Tarquin Millington-Drake on 0845 299 6212 Ext 1 or at tmd@frontierstrvl.co.uk. For US clients, contact Ben Hoffman at 1-800-245-1950 or bhoffman@frontierstravel.com or Mollie Fitzgerald at mjfitzgerald@frontierstravel.com.
We are now past the half way mark of the key month of July and the die is cast for most rivers in terms of how their season is progressing, certainly in terms of numbers of fish. Most are doing very well with fish now pouring into the rivers. It was a very late spring/summer, in fact one could argue it still has yet to come with temperatures in the northern half of the country still hovering at 4 – 6 degrees.
If we had warmer weather the fishing would be phenomenal. The only strange even occurring, which is likely down to the coldness, is that on the rivers in the west, the salmon are piling into the lower beats of river like Grimsa, Kjos, Thvera/Kjarra, Langa, Hitara etc but not going to the top beats which is very unusual. Some think it might be linked to fall-out from the eruption in the winter falling on the snow and now melting and coming down the rivers but this is conjecture at the stage.
Basically, most are having great fishing with lots of fish being caught and personal bests in terms of numbers and size being achieved by many guests.
In between looking after guests we have also been out there looked at some new trout and salmon rivers so look out for those as autumn approaches.
"Norðurá has been doing well and the start was very good" reported river manager Einar Sigfusson. "At this moment we are at 130 salmons and grilse but the grilse are still very few, maybe 15 but we expect them soon. Anna and I have been fishing Nordura the last 3 days and the group landed 39 and probablylost 15-20. There is now a salmon between the waterfalls and I got one at Berghylsbrot yesterday. Anna got a nice fish on the 22nd at Stekkur 90 cms or about 15lbs, a very strong fish and long fight. New fish are comming in and this morning was very good at the bottom beat esspecially. I have to say that this looks very promissing and we are looking forward to the summer."
Best Einar
For further information and to book for this or next season please contact Tarquin Millington-Drake on 0845 299 6212 Ext 1 or at tmd@frontierstrvl.co.uk. For US clients, contact Ben Hoffman at 1-800-245-1950 or bhoffman@frontierstravel.com
Richard Scrope and I headed to Iceland as guests for the opening of the Thvera River and decided that we would not have all of our tackle disinfected before our departure. Our motive was to test the process of having it done at the airport on arrival, something we have not tried for a while. So on landing, after collecting our bags, we presented ourselves at customs and let them know we needed to have tackle disinfected.
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