The Vídidalsá river, and its tributary Fitjá, is one of Iceland’s best known and most sought-after salmon rivers, where numerous salmon over 20 pounds are landed every summer and over 1.000 salmon in total in the best years. It offers excellent char fishing and holds some huge brown trout aswell.
For more information please contact ingo@starir.is
The Víðidalsá and its tributary, the Fitjá flow from the highlands in North-West Iceland. Salmon can travel 25 km up the Víðidalsá, while the Fitjá River salmon can run approximately 27 km up the tributary. There are over 100 marked pools, fished by eight rods on four beats. The pools are quite diverse, from the long productive runs on the lowest beat, to mysterious bank pools in the farmland meadows higher up in the valley, and fast flowing stretches in the ravines of the Fitjá River.
The Víðidalsá and Fitjá are renowned for large salmon. The river system produced the highest average weight of salmon in Iceland in 2023, and every year many 20-pound fish or bigger are caught. In addition to good salmon runs, there are a lot of sea run char and trout. In the best summers, over 1000 salmon are caught.
The Víðidalsá lodge is the epitome of luxury and comfort. It boasts a large and attractive living room, a dining room and a large terrace with panoramic views of the river valley and the mountain range. There are 14 newly-renovated rooms for the anglers, six suites and eight other single and twin-bedded rooms, each with a private bathroom. There is an outdoor Jacuzzi on the terrace and an outdoor Finnish sauna where one can relax after a day’s fishing. Our award-winning chefs and attentive staff do their utmost to make your stay a memorable one.
All of our guides are English speaking, highly experienced and have fished the river for decades.
Over the centuries, the Víðidalsá River was an important food source for the people in the valley. Fly fishing, however, began there in the 1880s when English fishermen first leased the fishing rights in the lower part of the river. Later, Icelanders leased the fishing rights until 1936, when a British nobleman took over until the Second World War. Since then, the river has been managed by Icelandic leaseholders. Anglers travel from all over the world to experience the quality fishing on this great river, where the odds of catching a trophy salmon are high.
The delightful tributary Fitjá was first leased for fishing in 1948. Some powerful salmon had always managed to jump up the lowest waterfall, but before long, a salmon ladder was built there. About a third of the salmon caught on the entire fishery are now caught on Fitjá.
The first fishing lodge came into use in 1895. Since the 1930s, fishermen have stayed at Lækjamót farm where the current lodge is situated.
Disinfection of fishing tackle by a veterinarian prior to entry to Iceland is no longer a requirement. Your tackle can now be disinfected on arrival at the lodge, before you start fishing.
FISHING SEASON
Middle of June until late September.
PRIME TIME
Early to mid July until mid August.
RODS
Eight rods who fish on four beats in rotation. Rod sharing is welcome.
RECOMMENDED FLIES
Green Brahan, Colburn Special, Collie Dog, Sunray Shadow, Hitch Tubes, Madelaine.
RECOMMENDED TACKLE
Single-handed rods and small double-handed rods. Floating lines.
Starir ehf.
Social Security: 5009091370 | VAT: 103778
Office: Freyjugata 15, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland
Office : 898-4180
