Each season brings its own rhythm, surprises, and unforgettable moments. Here are some of our favorite moments from 2025, a collection that captures what makes fishing in Iceland so special: the wild rivers, the powerful fish, and the people who make every trip unique.
One of the First Fish of the Season
Baldur Guðmundsson with one of the first fish of the 2025 season, a beautiful 75 cm brown trout from the Laxá in Aðaldal. It was caught during the first week of the season. Thie season began on April 1st with an unforgettable opening evening on the Presthvammur beat, where we landed around 45 brown trout in just four hours.
The first days were cold but calm, with snow still on the banks and the river running clear and lively. Despite the chilly water, the trout were active and in great condition. This fish took a small nymph in gentle current, a perfect example of why early-season fishing on Laxá is always something to look forward to.
late spring Dry Fly Magic on Laxá in Aðaldal
Nick Mound joined us from May 25th to 28th, 2025 for 3 incredible days of trout fishing on Laxá in Aðaldal, one of Iceland’s most productive and scenic rivers. We focused on the famous trout beats throughout his stay and were rewarded with excellent fishing from start to finish.
The week leading up to Nick’s trip brought exceptional weather, over a week of 20°C sunshine in North Iceland, and by late May, everything along the river had turned a deep green. The warm spell gave nature a real boost: insects hatched in huge numbers, and trout began feeding on the surface like it was midsummer. Seeing so much surface activity that early in the season is rare, usually dry fly fishing on the Laxá doesn’t peak until mid-June.
During those days, Nick caught countless fish on dry flies. It didn’t seem to matter which pattern he tied on, if it was a size 14 or 12, the trout would take it eagerly. The fish hadn’t keyed in on any one insect yet, they were simply hungry and aggressive in the warm, late spring conditions.
We love this photo because it captures exactly what makes fly fishing in Iceland so special: the beauty of the river, perfect early-summer weather, and that unmistakable expression of joy after a great catch.
Jeff’s Icelandic Grand Slam on the Lónsá River
In August, Jeff Georgia accomplished something truly special, the Icelandic Grand Slam. Over three days of fishing on the Lónsá River in North Iceland, he landed a sea-run Arctic char, brown trout, and an Atlantic salmon, all within the same trip.
Jeff’s main goal was to target the sea-run Arctic char, a prized species in Iceland known for its power and brilliant colors. But the river had a surprise in store. While fishing light tackle for char, Jeff also hooked into both brown trout and salmon, completing the rare Grand Slam, a dream for any angler visiting Iceland.
He landed several Arctic char, a few trout, and one salmon, all within just three days of fishing. The conditions on Lónsá were excellent: steady flows, mild weather, and clear water. The salmon was an especially exciting catch, as they’re not very common in this river. We usually see just a handful each summer, most often in late summer or autumn.
These photos capture the spirit of that trip perfectly, the variety of species, the beauty of the river, and the quiet satisfaction of an angler who experienced the best of fly fishing in Iceland in a single, unforgettable visit.
Sight-Fishing for Salmon on Mýrarkvísl – Pool 24
These three photos of Sami Lababdi, captured by John Brown, tell the story of one of the most exciting moments of the 2025 season on the Mýrarkvísl River in North Iceland. While scanning the water from high above Pool 24, we spotted several Atlantic salmon holding tight against the far bank — perfectly visible from the top of the cliff above the pool.
We carefully made our way down to the next ledge where casting was possible. It was a challenging setup: standing high above the river, having to throw the fly line down at a steep angle without catching the opposite ledge, yet still allowing the leader to straighten completely so the fly would begin swinging right away. The salmon were lying close to the far bank, so the cast had to be spot on.
No stripping was needed, the weight of the fly line naturally pulled the fly upstream, creating a perfect drift. All we had to do was watch the salmon rise aggressively, take the fly, and then wait for the fish to turn before setting the hook.
Sami executed it flawlessly, and as the final photo shows, it paid off, the fish ended up safely in the net.
Moments like this capture the essence of salmon fishing on Mýrarkvísl: clear water, technical casting, and the thrill of sight-fishing to powerful Atlantic salmon in one of Iceland’s most beautiful small rivers.
Exploring the Upper Reykjadalsá
These two photos of Richard and Venetia capture one of the most memorable adventures of the 2025 season — a trip to the very top of the Reykjadalsá River in North Iceland. The upper section of Reykjadalsá is remote and difficult to access, so very few anglers ever there. At first glance, it doesn’t look like much, just shallow runs and small pockets of water in breathtaking scenery.
Once they started fishing, Richard and Venetia quickly discovered that nearly every tiny pocket held a good sized trout. They worked their way up the valley from opposite banks, casting big foam flies like Fat Albert, It’s always amazing how well such patterns perform in shallow water, even though there isn’t a single local insect that looks anything like them.
They caught a good number of beautiful trout, and by the end of the day, they were casting into even the most unlikely spots, places so shallow you’d never expect a fish. Yet every now and then, a bow wave or a fin would appear, chasing their fly.
This adventure was a perfect reminder that trout fishing in Iceland often rewards those willing to explore, sometimes the smallest pockets in the wildest places hold the biggest surprises.