Straumfjardara
Low water didn't stop this fellow landing a 17 pounder from Upper Junction.
Straumfjardara is a medium volume river located on the south coast ofSnaefellsnes peninsula, which is centrally placed on the west coast of Iceland. With water supplies from two mountain lakes and a couple of smaller springs, the river has a pretty steady flow although long draughts may bring on low water conditions. The river is accessable for salmon all of 12 km and has dramatic falls and fish ladders in the upper reaches.
The average salmon in the river are 6pd grilse and 12 -14 pd mws salmon. They big ones may go up to 18 - 20 pd on occasions. Every summer some over 14 pd are caught and sightings of bigger fish are quite common. The average catch statistic, over the last 10 years is around 430 salmon pr. summer. The season starts around 20th June, and finish 10th of September.
Casting the fly over Olnbogi (Elbow). The new lodge is in the backdrop.
Straumfjardara is friendly in size, so to speak, as it can be waded easily on most of the pools in normal water conditions as good gravel and small stones make up for a solid riverbed. But it is never be approached without any caution in a pair of chest waders, for stones can be slippery. In heavy rains, however, the river can grow enormously and fast and fishermen have to be careful. A good pair of chest waders makes one feel comfortable in all water and weather. It is also comforting to know that usually when the river rises fast, it subsides pretty quickly as well
During good conditions, Straumfjardara is a river of dreams for the single handed rod, lines 6 - 9. Floating lines are mostly favored. Early and late season if the river goes cold or heavy, a sinking tip is a must to have stored somewhere close by.
Grænistrengur, a fine pool with a beautiful backdrop.
Popular flies through the years have been patterns like the Red and Black Frances, Collie dog, Hairy Mary, Blue Charm, Black and blue, Munroe Killer, Green Highlander and an Icelandic heavy water tube named Snaelda, plus some hitch tubes and extra small black and silvery flies. Most used are sizes # 8 and up to #16 double or treble hooks flies. Tubes are bigger, a hald to one inch being most common.
The river is divided between four rods who have access to over 27 pools evenly located throughout the river. From the top pool called the Sprayer ( Rjúkandi), a large waterfall which does not allow the salmon to run further up, and all the way to the estuary where the river enters into a brackish water limbo of sorts, leading to the ocean further down.
Your resident outfitter Ástþór Jóhannsson along with his grandson.
The pools vary in size and character. Some are narrow and close and have to be fished with care, without spooking the salmon. Others are slower, faster or wider. Some are locaded between small rock boulders or in canyons, while still others are wide, open and easy to negotiate.
The pools are easily accessed with fourwheel drives on the lower part, but the upper part is more for walking from the paths. But there is never more than a 5 minute walk at the most from the vehicle or the lodge down to the nearest pool. Most of the pools do not need long casting skills so it is really comfortable fishing from top to bottom with the salmon frequently in full view. They leap a lot, playing the extrovert. Letting the fisherman know that they are ready for the battle.
Gíslakvörn, on the upper river, is one of the best pools, always full of fish.
The lodge is located centrally on the river. It offers full service and is one of the finest lodges avalible in the country, plus being one of its very newest. It has five bedrooms, with two beds each and shower in the hall. The lodge is heated with thermal water. It has a livingroom with a fire place and a dining room and all the faculity needed by anglers ( heater for wet cloth, cooler for the fish etc. Guides are avalible to assist the guests. The kitchen is one of the finest to be found in a fishing lodge in Iceland. It has a very personal and friendly athmosphere and the lodge‘s location provides a fabulous view to the river and the looming mountains above. An axcellent place to relax and rest your weary bones after a day on the river.
Until we finish our listing of the outfitter, you can get further info at: snasi@simnet.is (ask for Ástþór) and at konni@litrof.is There are availabilities on Straumfjardara for the coming season.
