The brief was to go out much earlier than my traditional Iceland trip to find fewer grilse but meet up with some of the bigger fish that are often getting stale by August. And East Ranga delivered. The fishing was not easy, cold water, heavy tips and heavy flies and casting skills to match required, but the weather was fantastic, the bird life as ever, spectacular.
On the first afternoon good cloud cover and mild conditions, we got 10 fish. A couple of grilse amongst them but most were absolute clonkers from 12 to 18lbs.David H opening his scorecard with 3 fish, David B with 1, Norman G with 1, Cecil D with 2 and myself with 3.
The following morning, bright sun from a cloudless sky, always the kiss of death in Iceland when the water is so clear and only 3 fish for the morning including a couple of 12 pounders. The trend continued in the afternoon even though the sky clouded over but I think the morning had stopped any fish running as the only beat that produced anything was beat 1 being fished by another couple of rods, which got 6.
The following morning we got a couple more from beat 1, but they were fish that had been in a while so I think the previous lot had either cleaned it out or the fish had moved on. We also got a couple more from beat 7.
In the afternoon, the two Davids got a fish each on beat 1 and David H lost an absolute monster after a long fight which he described as an Alta fish – and he fishes it every year so he knows! On beat 5 Norman G got 2 fish including an 87cm fish they reckoned was over 20lbs and Tony R got another. All these big fish by the way went into the boxes to be kept for the hatchery.
On the final morning, Cecid D lost a huge fish right at the net on beat 8, whilst Michael B gunned 4 out of beat 3 – 16, 16, 5 and 6lbs. Meantime on beat 4, Norman G got a grilse this time, whilst it was Tony R’s turn this time to land another whopper of 86cms.
So the score for our three days: 28 Salmon to our 8 rods. Not big numbers and (I tell you this just because it should be noted for those who think this game is easy) that not everyone was successful, poor Richard C had to brave a blank, which he did with very good grace. But for those of us who were lucky some of the best fish you could catch anywhere. And of course because this is a hatchery salmon ranched system we get to bring home our fish beautifully smoked or prepared for the table.
My thanks to everyone in the party for your good company, to all the staff on East Ranga for a fantastic trip and great food and finally to Sindri for putting up with Cecil and I and making our three days so memorable.
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