Reykjadalsa in Reykjadal

This river originates in the northern highlands just west of the famous Myvatn and winds a long way down the lush and fertile Reykjadalur before entering the lake Vestmannsvatn close to the end of the valley. Vestmannsvatn is a rather large lake and an outstanding trout lake. Reykjadalsá empties into its south end and emerges again from the north end as Eyvindarlaekur which winds along slowly a few extra kilometers until entering the big Laxá in Adaldal at one of the all time best pools on the river, Óseyri.

One of the better salmon pools in the river. Good for trout to. Low water in this picture. All photos by Jón Eyfjörð Friðriksson.

A typical pool on the lower Reykjadalsa.

Reykjadalsa used to be a better salmon river than it is nowadays. It was in sharp decline several years ago, this a river that often produced several hundred salmon in a single season. It has very much come back, probably due to the catch and release policy practiced by the managers. It nowadays easily accounts for perhaps two hundred salmon. But it would do much better in that department if it were not for the clientele. It so happens that Reykjadalsa and Eyvindarlaekur are also outstanding brown trout rivers and much of the clientele actually make the flight to Iceland for the brown trout. They take freely dry flies, nymphs and streamers. Among the clients there are actually people who move from a pool for the next pool if a salmon is showing an interest in the fly, thus taking attention and time from the brown trout!

This nice brownie took a weighed nymph.

Brown trout fishing starts far earlier in the spring than does the salmon fishing and trout statistics for this river run into thousands. There is no quota as there are so many fish. Many are released but many are also killed, however the rivers and the lake seem to produce an endless supply of brown trout.

Apart from the very top of the river, most of Reykja and Eyvindur are slow moving flats, sometimes with short runs at the top of the pools. There are channels, pots, cut banks, small cliffs and the lot. The vegetation and bird life almost rivals that of the neightbouring guiding lights, Myvatn and Laxa.

Reykja along with Eyvindur are fished with four to six rods and have free access to the lake should they choose to. The lodge is well placed in the center of the valley, an excellent facilty and full service is an option, that is why we list the river as such. For some groups the guides do the cooking, while other groups choose to have things self catering.