Best in twenty years in Elliðaár
Opening day 2008. Photo by Heimir Óskarsson
Last summer was Elliðaár‘s best season in twenty years according to statistics. The river produced 1.457 salmon compared to 936 last year. Some ten years ago the river was hit badly by a decimating plague and went into free fall for several years, hench the ten year average catch total of 630 salmon. However it has been recovering rapidly over the last few years. The rivers record was though well intact at 2.071 salmon.
The season's total for Elliðaár is intereasting as the quota for killed fish stands at two grilse pr rod. The river is fished over half a day and a new set of anglers turn up after the midday break. Many anglers simply stopped fishing and went home once their quota was well placed in the trunk of the car, while others continued to fish out their shift on a catch and release basis. While things were really hot, there were anglers who arrived at the lodge in the morning, and had their quota safe and sound in less than ten minutes!
Following the rivers demise, strict rules were set to help the salmon stock come back. Rods were cut down, the season was shortened and quotas for killed fish have fallen from eight to two over the space of a few years.
