Litlaa
This could either be a spring or autumn photo from Litlaa. Photo Jón Eyfjörð.
Litlaa is a curious river in northeast Iceland. It is relatively short and has a lot of bends. Starting in a lake that was formed by massive earthquakes some thirty years ago. The name of the lake is Skjálftavatn, translated: Quake lake. The river takes in a lot of geothermal springwater thus its average temperture is far higher than is usual in Iceland, especially considering how far north the river is situated. As a result the aquatic live is very rich and in full bloom all year and the trout are feeding gleefully during winter instead of semi hibernating.
Brown trout of this caliber are all over the river.
Litlaa‘s main fish are sea trout and it is without a doubt Iceland‘s best sea trout river on the north coast and even better than many of the south coast rivers. The river also has a fine stock of stationary brown trout, some sea char and several salmon.
The "springers" are fat as the river is warmer than is usual in Iceland. Photo Jón Þór.
So it is quite a cocktail and you never know what sort has hit your fly until you see the fish that did. The size of many individual sea trout and brown trout is awe inspiring. Sea trout up to 23 pounds have been encountered and brown trout of 4 to 8 pounds are quite common. It is legal to fish by night in Litlaa and many an angler has had some unbelievable moments hooking huge trout under the midnight sun.
Litlaa is pure quality through and through. Photo Jón Eyfjörð.
Litlaa is fished with six daily rods. It does not have a lodge of its own, however the managers of nearby small hotels, Skulagarður and Framnes, have aquitted themselves well looking after Litlaa anglers.
