Sea-run Brown Trout Fishing in the land of Vikings

Iceland offers some of the finest sea-run brown trout fishing in the world in historic, picturesque locations that will give fly anglers an experience of a lifetime. Renowned for its striking beauty and unique landscape, much of this region was carved out by one of the deadliest super-eruptions in history.

For thousands of years the native sea-trout has lived in these rivers, and survived many volcanic eruptions and lava flows. This makes those fish a unique and very hard living fish that runs year after year in the beautiful rivers of Skaftafellssysla region.

For decades these rivers have been in the hands of local fishing clubs and entirely closed for others to fish. Finally, that has change with the new lease between our Icelandic partners and the landowners.

The best Icelandic sea trout fisheries are now open for international anglers…

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Reservations & Rates

$8,300 - $9,500 USD per person, depending on the fishing week

Included in your trip to Battle Hill Lodge are transportation to and from Battle from Reykjavik, 6 days of fully guided fishing (1 guide per two anglers), fishing licenses, six (6) nights lodging at Battle Hill Lodge, all meals, and light refreshments during the day.

Not included in your Battle Hill Lodge trip are airfare to and from Reykjavik, accommodations and transportation in Reykjavik, equipment (rods, waders, and flies), wine and alcoholic beverages, or gratuities.

The Fly Shop® is not in the insurance business, but we recommend Travel Guard (AIG) and Global Rescue (IMG) coverage as a service with a desire to see your best interests protected. It is impossible to know when an unfortunate situation (loss of luggage, fly rods, illness in the family, or an accident) may occur. However, such things can and do happen, and this insurance can provide a means of recourse against non-refundable financial losses.

Travel Insurance Information

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Seasons at Battle Hill Lodge

There are two seasons to fish out of Battle Hill Lodge, Fall and Spring.

The Fall season is the most predictable in terms of fishing and runs from late August through early October.

The sea trout start running late July through the last day of the season, usually late October.

Spring season is from mid-April until mid-May. These fish have stayed all winter in the rivers, and in are good shape. They are not like Atlantic salmon kelts; sea trout feed in the rivers over winter. In the spring we only fish the Vatnamót and Geirlandsá.

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Getting to Battle Hill Lodge

Anglers will make their own arrangements to arrive in Reykjavik, Iceland, the only International airport on the island.

Airlines that service Reykjavik, Iceland include:

British Airways | easyJet | Delta | Lufthansa | airBaltic | Finnair | Icelandair | Norwegian | American Airlines | Jet2 | Play |SAS |SWISS | United | Vueling | Eurowings | KLM | Wizz Air

Stopovers anywhere else in Europe can be easily arranged.

You will need to arrange with your hotel in Reykjavik for the first night a shuttle to pick you up at the airport. You may also be able to take a taxi or Uber, but it is a good 45 minutes from the airport to downtown.

You will overnight that first night in Reykjavik and Fish Partners will pick you up around 10:00 AM the next morning to get you to the lodge around 2:00 PM for a light lunch and then head out fishing for a half day.

On your last day you will have breakfast at the lodge, then one of the staff will return you to Reykjavik. You can overnight in town and catch flights in the morning, or hop right on the red-eye home.

Please schedule all outbound flights at your convenience, but remember, booking flights too early in the afternoon will force you to depart in the early morning.

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Lodging at Battle Hill Lodge

The Battle Hill Lodge is a renovated farmhouse on a historic farm in the South East of Iceland.

Updated with a clean style and modern amenities, the Battle Hill Lodge can sleep up to 10 guests in four twin rooms and two single rooms spread out over two floors, with two and a half bathrooms.

Roughly 1km from Ring Road no.1 this house is easy to get to, but also very isolated. While here you will be alone in the world to enjoy the sound of silence. The garden outside offers beautiful views.

Directly out your front door, you can view the Brunahraun lava field, which is protected and is part of a greater national park that is one of three UNESCO heritage sites in Iceland. If your eye continues further you can see the largest glacier in Europe, “Vatnajökull”, with a large cliff called “Lómagnúpur” between the two. To the east of the parking lot, you can take in the beauty of the land shaped by mighty forces of Icelandic nature, the area offers opportunities to experience the untouched majesty of the Icelandic highlands, picturesque mountains, thundering waterfalls, iconic canyons, as well as some of Iceland’s newest lava fields.

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Fishing at Battle Hill Lodge

The Fishery – has it all! All the three rivers we fish have one thing in common, they are all tributaries of the mighty glacial river Skaftá. From the Battle Hill Lodge, we mainly fish 3 areas:

The Vatnamót River - Vatnamót means “River Junction” in Icelandic. This place is often called the junction of junctions in Iceland. This is where the Fossaálar, Geirlandsá, and Hörgsá rivers meet the Mighty Skaftá.

The Fossálar River - This river is extremely beautiful and has diverse pools. Part of the Fossalar river is on UNESCO’s natural heritage list, so you can imagine the beauty of the landscape in this area.

The Geirlandsa River - Believed to be the main spawning tributary of the Skaftá river, often called the most beautiful seatrout river in Iceland.

The rivers run in a volcanic area so you will both experience fishing in lava fields and black sands surrounded with glaciers. This area will allow you to fish with both double-handed rods and swing flies as well as nymphing through some extremely beautiful pools with a single-handed rod.

GEIRLANDSÁ
The river runs through the valley of Síða just east of the hamlet of Kirkjubæjarklaustur. Its source is in “Geirlandsbotnar “about 500 meters above sea level. The river is roughly 22km (14 miles) and is home to two spectacular waterfalls, Fagrifoss and Hagafoss. The latter being the furthest upriver anadromous species can reach. From Hagafoss the river runs several miles through spectacular canyons that hold endless pools and runs to cast a fly into. To reach Hagafoss anglers must hike almost a mile up the canyon, which is only recommended for those in decent physical shape. Those that do will experience one of the most spectacular scenes found anywhere. Below the canyon section, the river meanders through gravel banks before being joined by the tributary river Stjórn. There the character of the river changes again, the bottom changes from gravel to sand, and the river name changes to Breiðbalakvísl. Although known for its large, both in size and numbers Sea-Run brown trout, Geirlandsá is also home to a decent number of Atlantic salmon. The river can both be fished effectively with a single and two-handed rod.

FOSSÁLAR
Fossálar is known for its amazing beauty, you will surely be mesmerized by the cacophony of cascades; some gently fall while others tumble and babbles actively down from the massive cliffs. It seems like a landscape painting and captivates the onlookers. This river is located amidst the lava field and falls with many smaller waterfalls. During the super-eruption of Laki in 1783, this lava field was created. It was considered one of the deadliest eruptions in history. Part of the Fossalar river is on the UNESCO’s natural heritage list, so you can imagine the beauty of the landscape in this area. Famous for its large, both in size and runs size, Sea-run brown trout in this river are highly thought of and sought. The roughly 15km (9.5mile) long fishery offers an amazing variety of pools and landscapes. Fossálar is a really challenging river and hard to read, that’s why the guides love to fish and guide it. The diversity of this river is just amazing.

VATNAMÓT
The fishery is huge, and is a junction where a few rivers combine before running into the great Skaftá River. Among the rivers are Fossálar, Geirlandsá and Hörgsá. The Vatnamót fishery has long been regarded as one of the best in Iceland for sea-trout. The fishing at Vatnamót is mainly made up of sea trout, and the fish there are famous for their size. Fish of 20 pounds and more are not uncommon and more often than not, the biggest sea trout caught each season come from the Vatnamót fishery. As well as sea trout, you’ll find healthy numbers of arctic char and salmon. All the Seatrout that run in the tributaries of the mighty Skaftá stops in Vatnamót before going to their home river. There’s a large number of pools and fishing spots at Vatnamót. The bottom mostly consists of sand and is ever-changing, so the fish are bound to move around. When at Vatnamót, the angler must be prepared to look for likely pools and runs. The area is easily accessible for the most part and it’s possible to drive right down to the bank in the lowest section and fish from it. For the upper sections you need to wade, it is not easy wading but the fishing is very exciting; like sight fishing the flats as it is shallow with new pockets appearing every day.

What Makes This Destination Special and Unique?

• PRIVATE
All rivers in Iceland are 100% private, there is no public access. This ensures that you will have exclusive access and be the first and only one on your stretch of the river every day of your trip. This guarantee’s that you are always on fresh fish and not behind other anglers or have someone come in and “Low hole” you as you’re getting to the best stretch of water first.

• EXPERIENCE
Fish Partner has more than 70 years of combined fishing experience and over 30 years of experience in servicing foreign and domestic fishermen as guides and tour operators in Iceland. For them, fishing is a passion, one that they could not be without. They know the importance of a well-organized fishing trip. From the attributes of the fishing program, the beauty of the landscape to the quality of the food and the smoothness of the transport, they understand that every detail is essential to the overall experience. All that experience translates into you not having to worry about a thing; your only job is to enjoy your trip at Battle Hill Lodge, start to finish – you are in very capable hands.

• UNIQUE
Iceland - the Land of Fire and Ice. The island itself is an amazingly beautiful landscape of volcanoes, rocks, rivers, and waterfalls; the scenery is magnificent. Its stark and extreme landscapes are impossible to duplicate in the rest of the world. Fish for native brown trout, Atlantic salmon, sea-trout, and char where they evolved with the surrounding landscape. We all want to catch fish on our trips, but the total experience of each and every outing is what makes for lasting memories. There are not many places in the world where you can experience such a unique pristine environment, while catching sea trout, then in Southern Iceland.

• GUARANTEED SOLITUDE
In the empty, quiet solitude of Southern Iceland, the crowds of the more popular Icelandic destinations vanish in this dramatically isolated area. It is a place to fly fish, wander the countryside and marvel at the wonder of Mother Nature, in an area where humanity has barely left its mark. Nowadays with so many of our popular fisheries becoming overcrowded, Battle Hill Lodge give you a chance to return to the way fly fishing was meant to be, fishing in solitude on pristine rivers.

• EASY TRAVEL & AFFORDABLE
Priced less than most western U.S. trout trips, Iceland offers a unique trout fishing experience incomparable to anything here in the states. With the same flight time as JFK to LAX, it is a quick nonstop flight from JFK to Reykjavik. If you are looking for an international destination that is exotic but still very affordable and easy to get to, fishing the land of Fire and Ice is just right for you.

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Making Reservations to Battle Hill Lodge

To make a reservation, please give us a call at 800-669-3474 during business hours (Monday - Friday • 7:30 AM - 6:00 PM), or email us at travel@theflyshop.com anytime. We can give you the answers you need, detailed explanations to questions you might have, or check on availability and confirm your reservation in minutes.