The twentieth of June is an important day in Icelandic salmon fishing as several important rivers are opened up for fishing. This time most notably the rivers Laxá in Adaldalur, Vatnsdalsá, Víðidalsá, West Rangá and the small but prolific Ellidaár, which run right through the capital Reykjavík. Which is unique. There was quite some action to lift the eyebrowes that have been growing heavy thes first few weeks.
Having said that, the larger volume rivers have delivered. The smaller rivers have for the most part been in trouble. The Big Laxá in Adaldalur started off very well with the local farmers fishing below the falls. They hooked, landed and released of course three large salmon, 84, 90 and 94 cm. Lost a few as well. The black Frances was the preferred fly.
River Vatnsdalsa delivered a few salmon, all bright and big springers and river Vididalsa was much the same. Both are very low in water but fishable.
The river West Rangá went off with a bang, just like the river East Rangá did a few days earlier. As the first day on the West Rangá came to a close, 18 salmon were listed in the catch book. Most of them multi winter salmons.
Last but not least, the small city stream Ellidaár had a tremendous start, the first day yielding 15 salmon, most of them 78 to 89 cm multi winter salmons which is very unusual for this river. It is an almost clean grilse river and multi winter salmons are actually rare. Most seasons only about three to five mws are landed. So, this is a mystery.
