Ground up into tiny particles by constant water action, where it occurs volcanic lava forms much of the river bed. As far as trout are concerned such silt is black gold dust as it creates the perfect habitat for millions of midges. Equally this dark 
~Walking to and from the water sees clouds of small midges gathering on your waders and jacket…A good omen as far as I’m concerned…
Our man Stjani treated us to an experience I’ll never forgot, a day on the mighty Laxa. This is pretty much midge central and the trout here can go totally daft under the right conditions. Our day started with heavy cloud and rain,but this didn’t deter midges from emerging. Of course, trout plucking such tiny items from the surface rarely betray their presence and ultimately the skill lay in detecting subtle rise forms, especially in the more turbulent areas of a pool. Naturally, you do lose a few trout in fast currents, thankfully though enough came hand, making this an unforgettable experience…
~Ace guide Gummi (who’d I swear can sniff fish out…) gets the measure of a fat Laxa midge feeder~
~Even icy rain fails to dampen your spirits when trout like this are in the offing. Several fish of this ilk were encountered of this special day…can it get any better?
~Colin & Ian were tireless in their search for rising fish~
I’d like to think that the epic battles with Icelandic trout and char zapped our energy. However, an overdose of fresh air the relentless search of rising tout and nervous energy generated when approaching huge fish was perhaps nearer the mark. Lucky for us, intrepid guide Stjani Ben is a first class chef too. Following a long shift by the water he rustled up meals you’d expect to see served up in a classy downtown restaurant rather than some backcountry fishing lodge. Food fit for Kings fuelled our adventurous tendencies. Paul~
~Stjani, Colin and Ian tucking in to some well earned grub before hitting the river for an evening session~
Like the UK, any daytime breeze usually dies away towards evening time in Iceland. Of course, with 24 hours daylight you still have good visibility come midnight (a surreal sensation) which is when hatches can peak. Then it’s a race against time as believe me these midge feeders take some landing. The difficult part is to stay calm and refrain from attempting to horse fish in otherwise disaster strikes. Of course you do lose a few, which is to be expected at the extreme end of fly fishing!
~The wait was worth it as this leaper latched onto my midge pattern~
The northern tip of Iceland doesn’t really have many roads, so fishing often incurs a bit of a stroll. Determined as ever Ian Swettenham clambered up and down dale in search of arctic char. Following a slow start our efforts were well rewarded with a string of hard fighting fish. Sadly, risers were thin on the ground, but a brace of nymphs presented upstream saved our bacon.
~The long walk led us to a remote stream in a quiet corner of Iceland~
~Ian clutching a well earned char~
Our Viking leader-Stjani Ben led us further north still, into what seemed like a microclimate where incredibly, little, if any snow existed? Here a cluster of rivers flowing as clear as gin spill into the North Atlantic. Sea run arctic char find their way inland and the best part is they continue feeding as they head up a river system. Armed with tiny nymphs we were treated to stint of first class sight fishing. Even more surprising was the sheer size and tenacity of these saline powerhouses..talk about “pack a punch”.
~A white leading edge to their fins and splash of orange make male char the most handsome of fish~
~Icelandic char like this lump pull like trains when hooked, making for memorable sport on light tackle and small nymphs~
Iceland’s capital Reykjavik, nestles on the southern coastline where surrounding fields resemble those close to home. Here, we boarded a plane destined for Akureyri the final leg of our northbound journey. The flight may have only lasted some 40 minutes, yet it’s amazing how the climate can change in such a short time..
~Departing Reykjavik, plenty of lush greenery is evident from my window seat~
~Our approach to Akureyri lived up to its reputation of “The Frozen North”
Perhaps best known for its prehistoric landscape of volcanoes and geysers, Iceland is home to a family of salmonids that thrive in frigid waters. Naturally, salmon head the bill, but late June is the height of summer here and given 24 hours of daylight sufficient warmth drives enough flylife to get the trout going. A small group of us (Team Fly Odyssey) headed north to the fringes of the Arctic Circle and with settled weather forecast things look a lot more promising than they do back home just now.
Paul~
~Sheep might well be a feature of the Icelandic landscape, but the rivers here are packed with hefty inhabitants like this beauty from my last visit~
The quest for trophy trout takes us to many places, often the more well trodden paths of known “big fish” rivers. Sadly these haunts endure an inordinate amount of pressure making their inhabitants increasingly edgy. Last week was spent searching unchartered waters, trying to sniff out mythical beasts. Naturally, some rivers drew a blank, but every now and again a real gem turns up, which produces specimens beyond your wildest dreams. We found such a place that yielded a brace of thumpers over 4lb including this beauty of 5lb 6oz. Fish like this are an achievement anywhere, but taken from a tiny, unassuming stream makes their capture that bit sweeter.
~5lb 6oz of spotted muscle-well worth the long walk~
The great and the good gathered in Appleby, Cumbria last weekend to attend the WTT AGM. Obviously, most discussions centred around habitat improvement, insects and trout recruitment. Thankfully there was also room for more light hearted, informal talks. Along with Stuart Crofts, I earned my supper by giving such a presentation. Sadly, Stuart couldn’t sign off until his after dinner speech which was well received. It was then down to some serious banter over a beer or three! Despite any number of opinions on how best to winkle out trout, all agreed that anyone pursuing them really ought to support the Trust: www.wildtrout.org
~Stuart Crofts gesticulating as only a Yorkshireman can~
The day before saw WTT Research Officer Peter Hayes (below) and myself pestering a few trout on nearby Eden. The cruel easterly might well have kept fly hatches pinned back, but we found a few willing takers to dry flies'. Like myself, Peter’s not shy when it comes to casting at fish-if that’s what you call “research” then count me in…
