Northern Iceland - Wild Brown Trout Fishing

Northern Iceland offers some of the most exciting and varied wild brown trout fishing in the world. The region is home to rivers with excellent natural food supplies, strong populations of wild trout and some truly spectacular fishing environments.

At the heart of our programme is Laxá in Aðaldal, one of Iceland's most famous trout rivers and a genuine world-class brown trout fishery. Alongside it, we can also arrange fishing on the Mýrarkvísl and Reykjadalsá, two very different tributaries offering further opportunities for brown trout, with Arctic char and Atlantic salmon also available depending on the river and time of year.

The great attraction of fishing in this part of Iceland is the flexibility. Trips can be built around your group, fishing preferences and budget. We can arrange everything from a fully catered and guided lodge experience to a more independent trip for a group of friends, with self-catering accommodation, a hire car and fishing arranged around your own plans.

Laxá in Aðaldal

Laxá in Aðaldal is the best-known of the three and is widely regarded as one of the finest brown trout rivers in the world.

Fed by the nutrient-rich waters of Lake Mývatn, the river supports an exceptional abundance of aquatic life, including midges, caddis, snails and other insects. This rich food supply produces strong, beautifully conditioned wild brown trout, with fish averaging around 2–4lb and considerably larger trout caught each season.

The fishing is varied, with a number of different beats offering everything from shallow, productive runs to deeper pools, lava formations and weed beds. As the season progresses and insect activity increases, dry flies and emergers can become particularly effective.

There are several different beats available on the Laxá, allowing us to tailor the fishing to the size and requirements of your party. The river also offers the possibility of salmon and, occasionally, Arctic char, making it an exceptionally versatile destination.

Mýrarkvísl

The Mýrarkvísl is a smaller and more intimate river, offering a fascinating mixture of open plains, faster water and canyon fishing.

It is particularly attractive for brown trout, with good opportunities for dry-fly fishing and sight fishing. The river changes considerably as it progresses downstream, providing a surprising amount of variety for its size. There are also runs of Atlantic salmon during the summer, while char can be encountered in certain areas.

Mýrarkvísl works particularly well for anglers who enjoy a more varied and exploratory style of fishing, and it provides an excellent complement to the larger Laxá.

Reykjadalsá

The Reykjadalsá is another highly versatile northern river, flowing for approximately 35 kilometres through a remarkable variety of landscapes.

The lower and middle sections offer relatively shallow, gentle water with grassy banks and excellent conditions for dry-fly and delicate nymph fishing. Further upstream, the character changes dramatically as the river becomes faster and eventually enters a beautiful canyon, creating opportunities for close-quarter and sight fishing.

Brown trout are the principal attraction, but the river also receives Atlantic salmon during the summer and holds Arctic char in certain areas. This variety makes Reykjadalsá an excellent choice for anglers who want to experience several different styles of Icelandic river fishing during the same trip.

Tailor-Made Fishing in North Iceland

One of the great advantages of fishing in northern Iceland is the ability to build a trip around exactly what you want to do.

For those looking for a fully serviced experience, we can arrange comfortable lodge accommodation, meals and guiding. Equally, a group of friends can choose a more independent approach, staying in self-catering accommodation, hiring a car and fishing at their own pace.

Different rivers and beats can be combined to create an itinerary focused primarily on wild brown trout, or additional salmon and Arctic char fishing can be incorporated where appropriate.

This flexibility also makes North Iceland ideal for anglers who want to combine fishing with a wider Icelandic holiday. The region around Lake Mývatn, Húsavík and Akureyri offers spectacular scenery and plenty of opportunities to explore.

Whether you are looking for a dedicated wild brown trout trip, a comfortable guided experience or an independent adventure with friends, we can create a North Iceland itinerary to suit your group and budget.

Please contact us to discuss your requirements and we will build a bespoke itinerary around you.