Tungufljot: A rather slow season has come to an end
The Bjarnarfoss pool. The uppermost pool on the river. Photo by Guðmundur Bergkwist.
Apart from Tungulaekur, the sea trout fishing in Iceland has been slightly below par this season and while it is not known exactly why, a theory is that the water levels were lower than usual for September and October resulting in the main runs entering the rivers later than usual, landing them off season.
While Tungulaekur has a hatchery and smolt releasing program to supplement its natural stock, the Tungufjot does not. Tungufljot is one of Iceland‘s main „big“ rivers with „big“ fish and usually comes into its own as September drags on. The high points in the fishing are attached to warm low pressure systems that result temporary flooding and the fishing tends to pick up dramatically as the water exceeds and receeds.
One of the biig ones of 2009, caugth during the spring end of the season. Photo by Sigurberg Garðarsson.
Conditions of the sort were scarce as September wore on but there were some fish entering the river nevertheless. Then, as October crept in, there were finally some low pressure floods. However, with little remaining of the season anglers were hopefull that the rains would trigger massive runs. It didn´t happen though, two groups towards the end had 30 fish each on the four daily rods over two days. Other groups caught less. Usually the highest scoring groups have half as many.
So either the sea trout are in their cyclical decline at the moment, the runs were for some reason later than usual or something else is wrong. Neighbouring rivers fared similarly, but there were some huge fish caught in the region as usual, fish ranging to twenty pounds or more. Tungufljots best we heard this year were several 12 to 14 pounders. Final statistics are not available as of yet. All in all it was a rather slow season, but there were ok numbers of fish. Perhaps there had been more action had the conditions been consistently better. Autumn fishing in Iceland is though always unpredictable although the fish are definately „there“.
