The salmon season in Iceland is only a wink away. Will the record be bettered?
A silvery grilse clears the sea falls on Ellidaar, in downtown Reykjavík. Photo by Heimir Óskarsson.
The Atlantic salmon season of 2009 is fast building on the horizon. And it comes on the back of such a stunning record season that hardly anybody knows what to expect this year. But for the most part people have concluded that the coming season has a considerable margin for slipping from 2008 without losing a label of excellence.
Last season was one which saw awesome grilse runs. On Nordura a record of some 392 salmon were caught in three days, almost the equivalent of three top groups over prime time.
Last season also saw a considerable improvement in the runs of the mws’s. These have been in stark decline but certain measures on many rivers have been implanted over the last years and that, along with more favorable conditions in the Atlantic, is being credited with the improvement. It is nice to know and see that the genes have not thinned out to the extent that the mws would disappear, as fisheries biologists in Iceland had predicted that might happen in twenty years if there was no turnaround.
A familiar sight. Sea lice. Photo by Heimir Óskarsson.
And last but not least, the season of 2008 saw far more huge salmon than we have seen in Iceland for many years. We are speaking of the 18 pound plus salmon, especially the ones that exceed 20 pounds. Although most if not all of them are released these days, and so not put on scales, they were there for everyone to see, measuring from 100 to 110 centimeters. Plus a few even bigger ones that snapped the leaders. On a few rivers such as Laxa in Adaldal and Breiddalsa, the guides actually have scales built into their landing nets. There, salmon no longer than 96 to 98 cm were far exceeding the twenty pound mark. One of 98 cm was probably some sort of national record, as it weighed a full 11,7 kilos.
Of our listed full service rivers, these registered records in 2008: Grimsa on 2.225, 1.115 up from 2007 and 109 up from its previous record. Haffjardara on 2.011, up by a massive 721 from its previous record. Hafralonsa on 600 salmon and we have the outfitters word that it is a record. Hitara was in outstanding form, registering1.289 salmon, up on its previous by over 400 salmon. Langa finished with a record of 2.972 salmon, dashing a twenty year old record by 567 salmon. Finally Nordura finished the season with 3.308 salmon as opposed to 3.138 salmon during its previous record year in 2005. Also we could add, that Breiddalsa was only 27 salmon off a new record with its 910 salmon and Vatnsdalsa and Midfjardara were registering by far their best seasons for years, along with several smaller rivers such a Ellidaar. Others, such as Laxa in Kjos, Laxa in Leirarsveit, Hofsa and Sela all had good solid seasons. 
A twenty pounder is put back in Vatnsdalsa. Photo by Einar Falur.
Of our listed self catering rivers, several listed records. Andakilsa had 832 salmon. It is a river that usually produces anywhere between 150 and 300 salmon. Leirvogsa broke a record established in 1988 when the catch was highly supplemented by escapee’s from fish farms and “lost” ocean ranched salmon. This year’s catch of 1.191 had no such “implants”. The record was up by 134 salmon. Skoga had a stunning turnout of 1.560 salmon. Skoga has a smolt releasing program and cleared its one year old record by over 700 salmon! And Vatnsa increased its year old record. A self sustaining river with a huge smolt program for enhancement it exceeded 900 salmon on its two daily rods, up by over 200 from its previous record set in 2007. Finally, Krossa, a tiny two rod river, produced 346 salmon!
As we have gone into in previous pieces and news items, fly fishing in Iceland is now cheap compared with what went on before. “Thanks to” the global economic situation and the pathetic standing of the Icelandic Krona. Sales for the rivers for the coming season started slowly but despite the economic climate, they have been picking up in recent weeks and while local anglers are putting on a brave face, there is a marked increase in foreign anglers grabbing this unique chance of fishing Iceland’s world famous rivers. There are yet availabilities so please contact our listed outfitters and swamp them with your interest!
