GEAR & FLIES
Laxá í Aðaldal stands out not only for its stunning landscape, pristine river, and exceptional fish but also for its distinctive fishing style. This river is ideal for traditional spey fishing with long-belly floating lines, long leaders, and hook flies. However, the majority of our guests prefer fishing with Scandi-style shooting heads. Regardless of your approach, the river truly shines with a full floating line, long leaders, and double-hook flies. Not only does this enhance the casting experience, but nothing compares to the thrill of surface takes!
Here are some gear tips and top-catching flies to help you make the most of your time on the river.
RODS
Most of the river is best fished with double-handed rods around 12 and 13 feet in length, rated for line weights #6–8. Certain pools, like the famous “Stíflan,” have fish holding close to the bank in shallow water. In these situations, a shorter rod with a light quiet line is ideal. A 12-foot rod in line weights #6 or #7 works perfectly here.
On the other hand, to effectively cover a large, wide pool like Vitaðsgjafi, you’ll need more power. A 13-foot rod with a #8 line is well-suited, though a 14-foot rod can also be used. However, keep in mind that heavier rods like #9 are not ideal for fishing with small flies. They often pull the fly and may even straighten a delicate double-hook fly like air. I’ve had countless conversations with anglers losing fish after fish on #9 rods and actually also #8. These rods are designed for large rivers, fast water, and big flies, not for the subtle precision required with small salmon flies and delicate setups.
On Beat 1 located below the stunning waterfalls, I recommend using a single-handed rod. The fishing here requires short casts, often under 10 meters, with fish holding close to the rod tip. A long double-handed rod can be cumbersome and may spook fish before your fly even reaches them. Instead, a short, fast-action rod rated for line #8 is ideal. The fast current demands the extra power in a #8 to manage and hold a fish effectively in this challenging water.
- Nils Folmer Jørgensen
Double hand/spey rods: 12-14 feet - line #6-8
Best allround rod: 13 foot line #8
Leader: 12-15 feet tapered leader with 3 feet tippet
Tippet: 16 - 20 lbs or 0.30 to 0.38 mm.
Single hand: 9 feet - line 8. Practical choice for beat 1.
Leader: 9 feet tapered leader with 3 feet tippet
Tippet: 16 - 20 lbs or 0.30 to 0.38 mm.
FLIES
For Laxá í Aðaldal, bring a selection of size 8 double-hook flies and Sunray-style tubes in 1/2” and 1” sizes. The salmon here have a unique tendency to react to surface-level flies rather than weighted tubes. You will experience salmon chase your size 8 fly repeatedly, rejecting one pattern after another until finally taking the right one — this thrilling interaction is something truly special about Laxá í Aðaldal.
Sunray-style tubes are excellent for provoking aggression in the fish, though they don’t always result in a take. This playful challenge is part of the joy and strategy of fishing this remarkable river.
One technique that’s often overlooked but can be highly effective when nothing else works is the riffling hitch. Despite its proven success, it remains underutilized here. Finally, it’s always good to have some weighted flies just in case — there are those odd days where a Francis can do the trick.
On January 23rd, 2025, we said goodbye to a yet in our valley, legend Pétur Steingrímsson, whose legacy will forever be woven into the story of Laxá í Aðaldal. A lifelong expert guide on the river and master fly tier, Pétur’s innovative patterns and unparalleled teaching continue to inspire anglers. His flies, including the iconic Metallica, Sally, Maria, Bill Young, and Doctor Vende, remain some of the top catchers not just on this river, but across Iceland, ensuring his presence is still felt every time they are tied to a line.
Here are some of the flies that have proven, year after year, to be top catchers on Laxá í Aðaldal:
Flies: Nighthawk, Metallica, Erna, Radian, Meridian, Sally, Ketill Mani, Autumn Hooker, Randy Candy, Silver & Grey, Lagsi, White Wing, Beygjan, Stiflan, Nes,
Helvítis Guðmundur.
.
Tubes: Frances cone, Sunray Shadow, HKA Sunray/Valbein, Colly Dog, Stormy Daniels
Taken from our yearly fishing log-book:
Best fly 2024: Erna
Best Tube 2024: Valbein(Sunray style)
