THE RIVER
Laxá í Aðaldal, affectionately known as “The Queen of Icelandic Rivers” or “Big Laxá” (The Big Salmon River), is Iceland’s most iconic salmon fishing destination. Flowing gracefully from Lake Mývatn toward the vast Skjálfandi Bay, this legendary river offers a unique combination of breathtaking natural beauty, rich history, and world-class fishing. Known for producing record-breaking Atlantic salmon, including catches up to an impressive 120 cm, it has long been a bucket-list destination for anglers worldwide.
The river accommodates a total of 12 rods, divided across 6 beats, with 2 rods per beat. Anglers follow a morning and evening rotation, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to fish all six beats and the whole river over a standard 3-day package.
The river’s character is as varied as its reputation is grand. With over 50 marked pools, it transitions between calm, wide stretches and faster currents, weaving through lush greenery and dramatic lava fields. Pools often feature grass banks and black lava sand bottoms, which can create the illusion of depth. Some beats, like the dramatic Falls Pool, offer thrilling challenges as anglers fish from cliff faces, watching salmon rise to the fly before the water cascades into the pool below. Fishing here requires skill, determination, and a bit of daring.
Number of rods in whole river: 12 rods
6 beats
2 rods per beat
Fly only
Catch & release
Season:
20 June to 20 September
Adding to its charm is the river’s unique tradition of boat fishing - a practice exclusive to Laxá í Aðaldal among Icelandic salmon rivers. The pools vary in width, from 15 meters to over 50 meters, making boat fishing not only practical but an integral part of the experience on some of the pools
Laxá í Aðaldal is a strictly fly-fishing river, operating on a catch-and-release basis to preserve its exceptional salmon stock. Renowned for producing trophy fish, the river regularly yields salmon exceeding 20 pounds, and each season, a few remarkable 30-pounders are landed, granting the lucky angler a place in the exclusive “30-Pounder Club.” Anglers who land a 20-pounder receive a coveted 20-Pounder Club badge, while those very few wearing a golden badge mean that reached the 30-Pounder Club . To honor this achievement, Icelandic watchmaker JS Watch created a special “30-Pounder Laxá” timepiece for the club.
No other river in Iceland produces more fish over 20 pounds! In fact most river don’t have 20 pound salmon but we do!
The river’s rich history is as compelling as its fishing. Since the late 19th century, it has attracted anglers from around the world. Among them was Yorkshireman Charles H. Akroyd, who, in 1877, cast his fly on the Nes beat and recorded impressive catches, establishing Laxá í Aðaldal as a legendary destination for salmon fishing.His visit started the fly fishing tradition in the Nes family. Akroyd left all his fishing gear with them and taught them the art of fly fishing—a tradition still going strong to this day, with the 7th generation of Nes family anglers guiding on the river.”
The serene beauty of Laxá í Aðaldal is rivaled only by its ever-changing light over Skjálfandi Bay and the surrounding snow-capped mountains. Guests are often mesmerized by the view, especially during the magical midnight sun in July, which can be enjoyed from the lodge’s dining room.
We’ve included a detailed map of the river showing all beats, rotation and fishing spots. You can explore it below or download a PDF version for convenience.
