Hafralonsa: Outstanding statistics
Hafralonsa is a very scenic river.
Several of our listed rivers produced record catches last season. Among them was the Hafralonsa up in the northeast, with 580 landed salmon. In some ways the river stands out among the rest. Lets look at it more closely.
While so many Icelandic rivers were wracking up their records, it should perhaps not come accross as strange that Hafralonsa should be among them. But yet it stands out. Other rivers in the northeast were not doing the same. The closest neighbours, Svalbardsa and Sanda were no better than average last year and experienced anglers in the region felt that they contained fewer salmon than in 2007. Slightly further east Sela went into a very small decline despite producing a superb catch, while Hofsa turned out no more than average. Yet Hafralonsa produced its best ever haul of 580 salmon and it was the third year running that the river bettered itself. In fact the summer of 2005 was the fifth best ever season for the river, making it the four best ever season for the river over the past five years.
One of many mws's from the river in 2008.
And what‘s more: The mws look to be healthier in Hafralonsa than in most other rivers in Iceland. Of the 580 landed fish, 264 were grilse and 316 were mws‘s. Quite a few were very big by Icelandic standards, 9 to 11,5 kilos. To put these past few years into a better focus, the average catch from Hafralonsa over the years 1974 to 2008 is 256 salmon.
So the Hafralonsa spiral is still on its way up while it has taken a slight curv down in the neighbouring rivers. Research on the juvenile stocks in the river have revealed an extearmely healthy state so the Hafralonsa anglers and outfitters have good reason to look forward to, not only the coming season, but coming seasons as well.
Hafralonsa is a fly only river, 209 of the 580 salmon were taken on a red or black Frances! The Sunray Shadow picking up 80 fish.
