Eldvatn‘s upturn in fortunes

A huge spring sea trout moves slowly back int the river.

Speaking of the spring season, we recently obtained last years statistics for Eldvatn, the sea trout river, one of the „openees“ pencilled in for the first day of April. Pretty good statistics at that!

Eldvatn usually didn‘t have a spring fishing period, as the landowners had the feeling that all was not well and the rivers sea trout stock could not handle the killing fields. Once catch and release was installed by the current outfitter, things started to change, and a river in decline has suddenly shown its first upward spiral. Last season, the total for Eldvatn was 350 fish. There where a few dozen salmon and char but the majority of the catch was sea trout, giving credence to the claim that the rivers is starting its come back.

Outfitter Pétur Pétursson of the G&P outfitter also managing Vatnsdalsa and Reykjadalsa, told us that this upturn was to be expected but also that the river will continue to be monitored. Anglers are allowed to taka home all the salmon and char they want, as they are not overæy important to the river. The sea trout however will stay installed as a must-release fish on Eldvatn, as is the way forward on most of the worlds top sea trout rivers.