Reykjavík's new mayor catches traditional salmon
Mayors first salmon from the Sjávarfoss pool. Photo by gg.
Reykjavík's cute little salmon river Ellidaar was opened yesterday morning as the newly appointed mayor Jon Gnarr was the first to fish the Sjávarfoss pool in traditional style. It took him five minutes to register the rivers first salmon of 2010.
It is tradition that the mayor of Reykjavík should try to haul out the first salmon of the season on this river. This time Jón Gnarr, having behind him a short career as a fly fisherman focusing on trout, tried his luck.
Surrounded by lupines further downstream. The guide has spotted a grilse and soon it was on the bank.
Fishing the Fosspool with worms, according to the tradition, he had landed the first salmon within five minutes, a good looking grilse of some 6 pounds. Not only the rivers first of 2010 but the mayors first ever salmon as well, and he fittingly bit off and swallowed the adipose fin as further tradition requires.
Within an hour he had landed another fresh run grilse and lost a third that sped under a rock and broke the line. The seasons start on the river was all in all the best for years as 16 fish were hooked and landed, nine on the morning shift and a further seven later in the day.
