Breiddalsa: The power of the smolts
Since being controversially ousted from the West Ranga several years ago, Throstur Ellidason took his smolt releasing scheme to the far east Breiddalsa, a far more difficult river to build up as a salmon fishery yet a far more beautiful one should it all work out. And work out it has.
Stating that the Breiddalsa is a far more difficult river to improve as a salmon fishery with major smolt releasing is no understatement. Comparing to the south coast rivers that have had major success as sea ranching salmon rivers, the sea is far colder off the east coast of Iceland so you can never expect as many to survive and return as on the south coast rivers.
But if you have a look at the columns in the photo you´ll see the extent of Throstur‘s progress. You‘ll see that over the last few years he has bordered on producing a thousand salmon river. He would have made the four number total every one of those seasons had not major draughts interruped the proceedings. He knows what he's doing.
While the annual haul of salmon has skyrocketed, Breiddalsa is still more about quality than quantity. Instead of producing a river where you can almost shovel out the grilse, Throstur has paired together mws salmon for the smolt rearing. It has resulted in Breiddalsa producing one of Iceland‘s highest average weights for caught salmon. It also established itself last season as one of Iceland‘s major „big“ fish rivers. By „big“ we mean 17 pounds and upward. There were several of over 20 pounds last season, the biggest weighing upto 25 pounds. Plus the smolt releasing, Throstur and his people have been improving the spawing grounds at various points in the river and fisheries biologists have determined that this has been a success.
Throstur has some availabilities for 2009. The economy crisis is to blame. It is difficult for locals to fish the river due to the currency issues. However, for foreigners, this is their chance.
