Fishing options near Reykjavik.
Are you in Iceland or on your way to Iceland and you are interested in doing some fishing?
Fishing near Reykjavik – If you are staying in Reykjavík, Anglers – Fishing in Iceland have some very good river fishing within roughly 45–90 minutes of the city. Anglers.is offers day trips from Reykjavík, including guiding, transport and fishing permits, and can tailor the day for fly, spin or worm fishing depending on the water. We offer also self-guided fishing. At some rivers you can by the day ticket, and then go fishing by yourself.
Please note that all rivers in Iceland are privately owned. There is no public water on the Island.
Our top river choices near Reykjavík
| River | From Reykjavík | Main fish | Why choose it |
| Sog (Sogið) | ~45–60 min | Arctic char, brown trout, salmon | Big, beautiful spring-fed river with excellent char fishing and the possibility of salmon. Guide Recommended. |
| Hólaá | ~60–75 min | Arctic char, brown trout | Excellent small-river fly fishing, especially for char. Guided or self-guided options. |
| Brúará | ~70–80 min | Arctic char, brown trout, occasional salmon | Beautiful clear-water river and very good technical nymph fishing. |
| Galtalækur | ~90 min | Brown trout | Beautiful small stream that holds small and big brown Trout. Technical fishing. |
| Minnivallalækur | ~75–90 min | Brown trout | Famous for quality and potentially large wild brown trout |
Sogið would be my recommendation if you want the best all-round river experience. It is only about 45 km east of Reykjavík and is Iceland’s largest spring-fed river. Anglers.is offers fishing there for Arctic char and trout as well as salmon. The trout/char season runs from April through September, while salmon fishing begins in late June.
Hólaá is particularly attractive if your main target is Arctic char. It runs from Lake Laugarvatn toward Lake Apavatn and holds both char and brown trout. During summer, char concentrate in the cooler flowing water, making it particularly suitable for upstream nymphing and small flies.
Brúará is another excellent char river. The Spóastaðir beat is one of its better-known sections, with Arctic char as the primary target. Anglers.is specifically notes that knowing the river makes a significant difference, so it is a particularly good choice for a guided day.
If you only have one day, Anglers.is also offers a Golden Circle fishing tour. You fish one or two areas and combine the fishing with Þingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss. Fishing permits, transport, equipment and guiding are included.
For a dedicated fishing day, though, I’d choose Sogið for the overall experience, Hólaá for Arctic char, or Galtalækur if your priority is a large brown trout.
But what if your main focus is on catching Arctic Char?
If your main objective is simply to catch Arctic char, I would choose Hólaá, particularly July and August.
Hólaá flows between Laugarvatn and Apavatn, around an hour from Reykjavík. As summer progresses, char move into the river’s cooler flowing water and can become concentrated there. Anglers.is describes the river as sometimes being packed with Arctic char on warm summer days.
It is particularly good for upstream nymph fishing. Small midge patterns around sizes #14–20 are productive, and there can also be dry-fly opportunities. Because the river is relatively small and accessible, it is also an excellent choice for someone who has never fly-fished for Arctic char before.
Best period: roughly late June–August
Technique: upstream nymphing and occasionally dries
Fish: mainly Arctic char + brown trout
Distance: about 90 km from Reykjavík
For Bigger Char, River Sog is Recommended.
For more information, please contact us and we will help you set up a a day or days you will remember a long time.
Tight lines.
