Iceland report from Roxtons

publication date: Jul 30, 2007

by Louise Mackenny - Roxtons

The East and West Ranga Rivers spring into action

We have just returned from a three day trip to Iceland based at the East Ranga Lodge and can confirm that after a later than normal start both the East and West Ranga are really picking up and good numbers of fish have been caught over the past week. The weekend produced 130 salmon on the West with numbers not far behind that for the East.

The northern and western Icelandic rivers are catching salmon but not in the numbers of previous seasons due to very low water, the result of an unusually dry spring and summer throughout Iceland. The jet stream is continuing to direct the Atlantic weather systems south of Iceland towards the UK. All of us here in the UK are willing this to change - whether or not we are off to Iceland!

The guides are saying that the fish are waiting in the estuary for the much needed rain to arrive before starting their run. The Midfjardara has seen 150 salmon caught since the start of the season, light rain is forecast and hopefully there will be enough of it to top the rivers up and encourage more salmon to run.

On the East and West Ranga the water levels are good and fishing tactics remain normal - generally intermediate or sink tip lines and fairly large flies. On the other rivers with low, clear water conditions, be prepared to fish long fine leaders (perhaps an 8lb leader) with small flies and small hitched tubes.

For more information on fishing in Iceland, please contact Louise Mackenny.

Roxtons Field Sports, Hungerford, UK. Tel: +44 (0)1488 689701.

Email: fishing@roxtons.com