It was incredibly enjoyable to go ice fishing in December, just before the New Year. Despite the mild weather, there was still 30–40 cm (12–16 inches) of solid ice on Langavatn and Kringluvatn. This was not surprising, as Langavatn and Kringluvatn are located at around 158 metres (518 feet) above sea level and Kringluvatn at approximately 270 metres (886 feet).
This was the situation on one of the lakes we drive past to get to Lake Langavatn and Kringluvatn one morning.
What made the ice fishing especially enjoyable was the lack of snow on the lakes for most of the days, as well as on the access tracks. This made it very easy to drive right up to the lakes and choose fishing spots based on bottom structure. We generally looked for drop-offs where the depth changed quickly, or areas with large rocks or vegetation, which proved to be very productive.
The ice was perfect for ice skating, wich would have been a very nice method to travel from spot to spot across the lake.
Beyond the fishing itself, it was simply a pleasure to be outdoors. There was almost no wind on any of the days, and temperatures stayed above freezing, so we were warm the entire time. The days were also exceptionally beautiful. We arrived on the ice as daylight began to break, with the sky glowing orange from first light until it started to darken again.
A nice brown trout caught on Lake Kringluvatn, they grow big in that lake!
We mainly used shrimp and pink PowerBait as bait and both brown trout and Arctic char took it aggressively. Arctic char are often very subtle feeders, and their takes can be difficult to detect. Brown trout, on the other hand, usually strike the bait aggressively, making their takes impossible to miss. Because Arctic char often take so gently, we prefer fishing in shallower water where the bait can be watched closely. This approach can increase your hook-up ratio by as much as 50%.
Ice fishing is the perfect family activity.
Extensive thinning work has been carried out in Kringluvatn in recent years with very good results. The lake used to be overcrowded with small Arctic char, but today there are fewer fish and they have clearly grown larger. Kringluvatn also holds impressive brown trout like the one shown above, and we regularly hear stories of true monster fish in the lake.
Last December, on one of our tours, a very large brown trout took the bait from an ice fisherman. He hooked the fish, but it did not stay on. The bait was set in very shallow water, so the fish was clearly visible, he saw every spot on the fish and the angler described it as being so large that it would not have fit through the ice hole.
More photos from our tours
Want to try ice fishing in Iceland?
Our guided ice fishing tours offer a unique winter experience, targeting Arctic char and brown trout on carefully selected lakes in North Iceland.