Fishing at Heidarvatn
Angling at Heidarvatn is made unique by its mix of fishing venues and target species, all enjoyed in solitude across the vast and inspiring Heidar Valley landscape. Guests can fish in both river and lake scenarios for a mix of Atlantic salmon, sea-run and resident brown trout, and Arctic char, depending on the season.
The Fishing Program
Fishing at Heidarvatn is split between the River Vatnsa and Lake Heidarvatn, with a limited number of rods available on each, at any given time. The river is reserved to two anglers staying in the Riverside Lodge only while the lake accommodates up to six anglers from either lodging option. This low angling pressure ensures that the Heidarvatn fisheries are kept to the highest standard, that solitude is fostered, and that guests never feel crowded while on the water. Guests have a half-day of fishing upon arrival and another half-day of fishing on their departure day.
Click here to read more about fishing in the River Vatnsa and Lake Heidarvatn.
Species & Seasons
The fishing season at Heidarvatn starts at the beginning of May and concludes on the 10th of October. At any given time during the fishing season, between the River Vatnsa and Lake Heidarvatn, anglers have the chance to catch multiple species during their stay.
The Atlantic salmon run typically begins in mid-July, with the peak of the run usually found between mid-August and mid-September. Nevertheless, depending on weather and conditions, excellent salmon fishing can be had from the beginning to the end of the season.
The sea-run brown trout migration begins shortly after the salmon run, with both species present in good numbers between late-August and mid-September. Like the salmon, sea-trout are found through the fishing season’s end.
From May through mid-July, the focus is on trout and char, with exciting opportunities for sea-trout available in the lake before their downstream migration. Additionally, at the beginning of the season, there can be excellent fishing in the river for resident brown trout. At the same time, stillwater techniques in Lake Heidarvatn can be extremely effective for Arctic char. The resident trout and char fishing usually remains productive in the lake until the middle of August, though they can still be caught through the end of the season.
View our fishing calendar and learn more about the fishing for Atlantic salmon, sea-run brown trout, resident browns, and Arctic char at Heidarvatn by clicking here.
Recommended Tackle
Single-handed rods of 9’ or 9’6” are preferred for all fishing scenarios at Heidarvatn. Ideally, guests will bring multiple rods, ranging from a 4- or 5-weight for resident trout and Arctic char to a 7- or 8-weight for sea-run trout and Atlantic salmon.
Reels are consequential for sea-run trout and salmon only, and should have at least 100 yards of backing. Click-and-pawl drags are acceptable, so long as anglers are comfortable applying additional drag resistance manually.
Weight-forward floating lines are used in the vast majority of fishing situations. At certain times though, intermediate- or slow-sinking lines may also be advantageous while fishing the lake.
All leaders should be tapered and 9-feet in length. For Atlantic salmon, 10 to 12 lb test is recommended; for sea-run trout, 20 lb test is preferred. For resident brown trout and Arctic char, typical trout-sized leaders and tippet are appropriate, i.e., 2X to 5X (5 to 10 lb).
Fly patterns vary by the target species and a detailed list of recommended patterns will be provided with each reservation. Generally speaking, salmon prefer classic patterns sized 12 to 18; effective colors range widely, from natural hues to white, red, and orange. The sea-trout prefer larger, streamer patterns, sized 10 to 12 and with brighter colors such as orange, white, olive. Resident trout are targeted using a variety of traditional trout patterns; streamers, dry flies, and nymphs are all effective, depending on the venue (river or lake) and time of year. While fishing for Arctic char in the lake, classic stillwater nymph patterns are used, ranging from size 16 to 20. All flies used at Heidarvatn must be single-hook and barbless.
Click here for a general packing list.
Angling Code of Conduct
In order to preserve the quality of the fishing and to encourage catch and release, anglers staying at Heidarvatn are required to fish single, barbless hooks. We request that anglers do their best to follow the Keep Fish Wet Best Practices - namely, to minimize air exposure and contact with dry surfaces, and to reduce handling time. We ask that anglers do not beach their fish and instead, recommend they carry a net, which are available to borrow. Additionally, we ask that anglers wet their hands before touching fish, and release them carefully or dispatch them efficiently.
Per Icelandic regulations, all fishing tackle must be cleaned and disinfected before used in the country. Heidarvatn has a disinfection cleaning station available on-site for guests.