Iceland’s 2019 salmon season got off to a bright start on the first river, which opened on June the 1st. The new sensation, the Urriðafoss beat on the huge volume River Thjórsá, a glacier fed river in the south of Iceland. However, soon the signs of the overly snow light winter and weeks of warm weather with no rain became apparent. Most of the rivers were at such a low water level that experienced guides had not seen anything like it at the start of the season for decades. And it played its part.
While the river Þjórsá, with its Urriðafoss beat, was indeed low, it has such a great volume that it was never going to stop the salmon from running. In fact, the first day produced 24 multi winter salmons to three rods. River Blanda, a similarly glacier fed river in the north, also has an imposing volume despite the conditions and it too had a lively start to the season as it opened on the 5th of June. On the eve of the 19th of June, 85 salmon had been landed on four rods. Not bad. In fact, very promising. Later in the month, the East Rangá with the same characteristics, also had a fine start, the first day producing eleven multi winter salmons.
However, many other rivers that feed on snow fields and “normal” rain outpours were severely hit. One of them, the river Norðurá, opened on the 4rth of June and to tell the story like it is, when starting on the same date last year the flow was 40 cubic meters which was not considered a lot according to the timing. The river quite often being far above that level in recent years. This year however the flow was 3.5 cubic meters and many of the main spring pools were unable to hold fish, as the salmon that had run while the flow was slightly more during late May took to the deepest pools and were quickly spooked as few new arrivals braved the shallow water to join them. The first morning shift was promising though, seven fine multi winter salmons were landed. Up the the 12fth of June none had been added.
Similarly, the river Thverá/Kjarrá were difficult to handle although there were more fish in the river. There were very few takers and what helped was that the junction beat Brennan was fished along with the Thverá. The junction is with the glacier fed river Hvítá. So Brennan was well stocked with salmon that wait there until the conditions improve.
But it has not all been doom and gloom on the smaller rivers. On the river Miðfjarðará, 24 salmons had been landed from the first two days, the anglers there taking too drastic measures. Fishing the vast area, only four rods fished and only the smallest of flies were allowed. And if salmon were detected in a pool, only one fly was allowed. If it did not produce a salmon, the angler would head to the next pool so as not to spook the fish.
Another beacon was the river Grímsá, which for some reason holds its levels better than most other rivers in the West. Ten were landed on the river on opening day.
