You have memorialized the perfect day in a life of a fishermen. I love the production and the change of scenery and how you were able to fish so many different slots, runs, pools, big, small, narrrow, etc., and give the viewer the closest thing to a real Icelandic salmon experinece most of us will ever know. And, not to mention all those silver bullets swimming away, so they/we, and particulary the people of Iceland, can continue to have an extraordinary fishery for generations. Thank you.
Incredible water and fishing trip of a lifetime great video, looks like they hit a variety of flies you were throwing at these salmon. I am in the US we fish for steel head and big browns in the fall on Nymphs and egg patterns. A few years ago we fished up in lake Ontario in a feeder stream it was called trout brook its a small creek, it rained flooded it out i just happened to see a splash and salmon still coming up and the steel head already inn the stream were gorging on there eggs . For 3 days we were chasing steel head and salmon in a creek 3 feet deep on nymphs and eggs all to ourselves ,it was the best days we EVER had on the water fly fishing. You need to be on bottom its common to hook into 5 fish and land 1, after we moved up to a shock leader and 25 pd fluorocarbon we started to land some beautiful king salmon on blue crystal eggs 10s and12s small ones, brassies the browns inhaled they could not let it go by them without slamming it, and large pheasant tails tied on 2x strong hooks size 12s and 8 short shank nymph hooks. Funny how only the big browns wanted the brassies and nymphs, steel head mainly eggs. There not easy to catch when you hit that day, when it all comes together, and you hook up and fight these fish you know the day is going to be special its worth every minute.😁😃😃 tight lines.
Pretty river...like almost all Icelandic rivers...but lots of small fish in this river...Better fish Stora Laxa ,Vididalsa ,Hofsa or Sela ,for a chance of a decent fish (over 15lbs). Who knows that the officially recorded average weight in Iceland is only about 6lbs. I remember fishing YOKANGA (Russia)in the early century. Funnily ,on my second cast I hooked a 30lbsfish . Most unfortunately ,he was heavily bleeding and we could not revive him.On the way back in the helico ,no angler even looked at that fish...was nice...but nothing to speak of !! One year I fished the Varzuga (russia),and caught around 10 fish per day...all around 6lbs...never came back !! Among the years ,Icelandic prices became ridiculously expensive (say around 3000 gbp(or more) per rod per day for a top week on a Top river...definetely NOT worth it !! I was lucky enough to have fished (and deeply enjoyed) 23 different rivers there before it became completely crazy....But those who like grilse or tiny spring salmon can go there !!!
Not sure who it was casting the first six minutes but would it not have been more productive to cast at a much squarer angle - the casting was more or less directly down stream wherein you wouldn't be covering a lot of the holding/taking water. Not a criticism - just an observation.
I am a very lucky boy in that I have an amazing client / friend who has takes me on his trip. Iceland is truly an amazing place and it’s much more than just the fishing. I really would recommend it but easy for me to say!
you do tend to lose plenty of fish in Iceland, very fresh fish and tiny flies doesn't help. the good thing is there's normally another fish soon after!
I hate asking this question, and hardly ever do, but I'm only guessing the reason you're not fishing a two-hand rod is because in Iceland there's no brush to impede your backcast, right? It's just that it seems in your other videos you're proficient with the Spey rod and I did notice you're also using the single-hand when fising your homeland with brush behind you. . . reason? Also, if you wouldn't mind, what is the "setup" you're using here and in several other videos because if I'm not mistaken the reel appears to be Hardy, but I can't make out the rod. Thank you.
its a small river so a double handed rod just isn't needed. The flies we use are tiny so the small rod also helps with presentation. Reel is Hardy. I have two sage trout rods while my salmon rods are all guideline -
You have memorialized the perfect day in a life of a fishermen. I love the production and the change of scenery and how you were able to fish so many different slots, runs, pools, big, small, narrrow, etc., and give the viewer the closest thing to a real Icelandic salmon experinece most of us will ever know. And, not to mention all those silver bullets swimming away, so they/we, and particulary the people of Iceland, can continue to have an extraordinary fishery for generations. Thank you.
Incredible water and fishing trip of a lifetime great video, looks like they hit a variety of flies you were throwing at these salmon. I am in the US we fish for steel head and big browns in the fall on Nymphs and egg patterns. A few years ago we fished up in lake Ontario in a feeder stream it was called trout brook its a small creek, it rained flooded it out i just happened to see a splash and salmon still coming up and the steel head already inn the stream were gorging on there eggs . For 3 days we were chasing steel head and salmon in a creek 3 feet deep on nymphs and eggs all to ourselves ,it was the best days we EVER had on the water fly fishing. You need to be on bottom its common to hook into 5 fish and land 1, after we moved up to a shock leader and 25 pd fluorocarbon we started to land some beautiful king salmon on blue crystal eggs 10s and12s small ones, brassies the browns inhaled they could not let it go by them without slamming it, and large pheasant tails tied on 2x strong hooks size 12s and 8 short shank nymph hooks. Funny how only the big browns wanted the brassies and nymphs, steel head mainly eggs. There not easy to catch when you hit that day, when it all comes together, and you hook up and fight these fish you know the day is going to be special its worth every minute.😁😃😃 tight lines.
Being I live in NY, I know how tough it is to find a place all to yourself. Sounds like a once in a lifetime, lol.
Fantastic. The small river stuff in Iceland looks outstanding.
Great video Ben. There is nothing to beat fishing in Iceland.
Great video mate and lovely place. Well done buddy 😊👍
Many thanks
Wowwww amaizing friend👍👍❤❤❤❤❤
Ben this is awesome! 😊
Awesome video!
Would love to try fishing in Iceland one day
Great fishing Ben, that looked like a dream trip to Iceland. Are you going again this summer?
Pretty river...like almost all Icelandic rivers...but lots of small fish in this river...Better fish Stora Laxa ,Vididalsa ,Hofsa or Sela ,for a chance of a decent fish (over 15lbs). Who knows that the officially recorded average weight in Iceland is only about 6lbs. I remember fishing YOKANGA (Russia)in the early century. Funnily ,on my second cast I hooked a 30lbsfish . Most unfortunately ,he was heavily bleeding and we could not revive him.On the way back in the helico ,no angler even looked at that fish...was nice...but nothing to speak of !! One year I fished the Varzuga (russia),and caught around 10 fish per day...all around 6lbs...never came back !! Among the years ,Icelandic prices became ridiculously expensive (say around 3000 gbp(or more) per rod per day for a top week on a Top river...definetely NOT worth it !! I was lucky enough to have fished (and deeply enjoyed) 23 different rivers there before it became completely crazy....But those who like grilse or tiny spring salmon can go there !!!
Great feedback- agreed Icelandic average 4 - 6lbs - great fun and amazing rivers but a 30lber !!
Not sure who it was casting the first six minutes but would it not have been more productive to cast at a much squarer angle - the casting was more or less directly down stream wherein you wouldn't be covering a lot of the holding/taking water. Not a criticism - just an observation.
Hi Ben. We’re considering fishing the Laxa I Kjos next July but it is pretty expensive. Honest thoughts?
I am a very lucky boy in that I have an amazing client / friend who has takes me on his trip. Iceland is truly an amazing place and it’s much more than just the fishing. I really would recommend it but easy for me to say!
Is losing a lot of fish specific for iceland and the way you are fishing or is that a general thing?
you do tend to lose plenty of fish in Iceland, very fresh fish and tiny flies doesn't help. the good thing is there's normally another fish soon after!
I hate asking this question, and hardly ever do, but I'm only guessing the reason you're not fishing a two-hand rod is because in Iceland there's no brush to impede your backcast, right? It's just that it seems in your other videos you're proficient with the Spey rod and I did notice you're also using the single-hand when fising your homeland with brush behind you. . . reason? Also, if you wouldn't mind, what is the "setup" you're using here and in several other videos because if I'm not mistaken the reel appears to be Hardy, but I can't make out the rod. Thank you.
its a small river so a double handed rod just isn't needed. The flies we use are tiny so the small rod also helps with presentation.
Reel is Hardy. I have two sage trout rods while my salmon rods are all guideline -
I let fly go with the flow i think you strip too much i think the river flow make enough live for the fly but its my opinion 😊 great fishing anyway😊
Hmm no, not going to iceland for tiny Salmon when i can walk the 100 meters down the the Gaula and fish big salmon.
lucky boy!
Be nice if they showed the fish.