Highlands Lodge - Iceland Fly Fishing

The Land of Fire and Ice

The island itself is a mesmerizingly beautiful landscape of volcanoes, rock, rivers and waterfalls; the scenery is magnificent. The island has three separate oceans and seas crashing against its borders. The cold waters of the Norwegian Sea flank its eastern edge, with the Arctic Ocean on its north and the Atlantic to the south. Its stark and extreme landscapes filled with glaciers and active and dormant volcanoes provide a stunning backdrop whether fishing or traveling through.

The Highlands are truly the heart of Iceland. With their unyielding beauty and spectacular scenery, they offer you an experience unlike any other. The Highlands are virtually untouched by civilization and rank amongst Europe’s largest unpopulated area. The vast wilderness – mountains, deserts, canyons, lakes and rivers – demonstrate the powerful forces of fire and ice which have shaped the landscape on this volcanic island over centuries. Amidst all of this beauty are Brown trout and arctic char, peacefully cruising the gin clear streams of the Highlands as they have done since the last ice age. It is truly difficult to put into words – it has to be experienced and lived.

Headed out on your next adventure with us? The Fly ShopⓇ has you covered. As a thank you to our travel guests, enjoy 15% off all retail purchases for a year! — the perfect chance to gear up before your trip.

Whether it’s flies, leaders, apparel or a new rod and reel outfit, we’ve got everything you need to make your journey more comfortable, more successful, and more fun. (some exclusions apply)

Seasons

For the Highlands, the season runs June 1 - August 31.

June/July into mid-August brings the most stable weather to Iceland and is the most popular time to visit. This is the best time to visit if you want a chance at fishing dry flies as there are some great caddis hatches in the Highlands. There are also some immense midge hatches which are great for fishing, but can sometimes be annoying as they buzz around you…and there is one species of biting midge.

Late August/September is when the biggest browns of the season are caught, as they are on the move to spawn and have a summer of eating under their belts. These pre-spawn fish are aggressive and streamer fishing is our go-to method. Late season is riskier due to possible blowouts from glacier runoff, though there are always back-up places to fish in the event of this happening. The chance of storms rolling in also increase in this later season as weather patterns becomes a little less stable.

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Primary Season

Getting There

Everyone will make their own arrangements to arrive in Reykjavik, Iceland, the only international airport on the island. Stopovers anywhere else in Europe can be easily arranged. You will need to arrange with your hotel in Reykjavik the first night a shuttle 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 early the next morning to get you to the lodge, 2 hours away for a full days fishing.

Lodging

Highlands fishing lodge was completely renovated for the 2019 season, the lodge offers a quiet and secluded stay in the Highlands. It has six double/twin bedrooms that can accommodate twelve people although our maximum angler capacity is ten. The bedrooms are not big, but each has a sink and a large wardrobe. A shared bathroom with two toilets and three showers makes this fishing lodge very comfortable. The cozy living room and dining area are perfect to relax in after a long day of fishing, enjoying a good meal and a drink or two. Its location right on Sporðöldulón Reservoir means ample fishing opportunities right outside the lodge, be it in the reservoir itself or the small spring creeks feeding it. The Highland Fishing Lodge is a full-service lodge - all meals are provided and wine, beer, flies, tippet and other necessities are available at the lodge shop.

Fishing

Anglers will fish both Kaldakvísl and Tungnaá rivers. The Kaldakvísl is truly a hidden gem. Fished only by a select few, the Kaldakvísl has now been made exclusively available only to the customers of Fish Partner. Diversity and contrasts are the river’s main characteristics. On the 12 km (7.5 mile) beat, one can find beautiful waterfalls, great canyons, fast water, slow water, rocks, sand and so much more. The river is full of Arctic char, their size averaging at 3-4 lbs., although specimens weighing up to 7 lbs. can be found there, as can big brown trout.

The Tungnaá is a gin clear spring river that flows through beautiful micro-canyon areas, with both fast and slow running pools filled with big Arctic char. This smallish south Iceland Highland stream is probably one of the best-kept trout secrets in global angling. It is a technical river where stealth, among other attributes, is needed. The quarry are native brown trout and monster char. They are on average 2-5 pounds, with monsters ranging to 10 pounds sometimes landed.

Rates

Highland Rivers – Fully Guided - June 1 - August 31
5 Days Fishing the Highland Rivers:
• $6,000 per person based on double occupancy and shared guide
• $8,500 Single angler. Single room and private guide

3 Days Fishing the Highland Rivers:
• $3,995 per person based on double occupancy and shared guide
• $6,375 Single angler. Single room and private guide

Can also combine with Lake Thingvallavatn as a package combo.

Inclusions:

Included in your angling package at Highlands Lodge are: Transportation to and from Reykjavik to the lodge / Five days of fully guided fishing in the Highlands (including fishing licenses) / Five nights at Fish Partner's Highland Fishing Lodge, all meals and light refreshments during the day

Non-Inclusions:

Not included in your angling package at Highlands Lodge are: Airfare to and from Reykjavik / Accommodations and transportation in Reykjavik / Equipment (rods, waders and flies) / Wine and alcoholic beverages / Staff and guide gratuities

Travel Insurance:

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

The Highlands

Seasons Details

Seasons

Getting There Details

Getting There

Lodging Details

Lodging

Angling Details

Fishing

Inclusions Details

Rates

Why We Endorse The Highlands

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