Flyfishing in the Land of Fire and Ice

Atlantic salmon fishing always seemed out of reach, an aristocratic pursuit reserved for anglers who reside in a different tax bracket than yours truly. But, as luck would have it, a few years ago I found myself on a wild Icelandic river, an active participant in the “Sport of Kings”.

 

I had no expectations and assumed this would go the way of my introduction to steelhead fishing so many years ago…it took me two years of concerted effort to land my first fish.

However, it took me two casts to land my first Atlantic salmon…

 

…and she was a beauty!

Iceland is a unique flyfishing destination and perhaps the best place to catch your first Atlantic salmon. The rivers are very manageable and much easier to fish than most of the Western steelhead streams I’ve floundered on over the years.  Of course, Iceland is know for its waterfalls and scenery, and if you go, you’ll want to take plenty of time to see the sights once the fishing is done.

Take a couple of days to tour the capital city of Reykjavik, where Iceland’s 1000 years of history and culture is on display in the city’s statues and museums.