Vididalsá - Salmon

The River

Vídidalsá is one of Island´s classic rivers with perfect fly water and a reputation for producing exeptionally large salmon. It is located about 230 km from Reykjavík and is fished with only 8 rods.  

 

	Jumping on rocks fighting a big salmon in the canyons at the Fitjá river.
Víðidalsá is a medium to large size river with pools averaging 20 to 30 m in width.	In to a fish at Laufásbreiða beat 1.
Sneaking down in to the HrÍsagil canyon at Fitjá river.	Faxi pool at beat 1.
Faxabakki pool at beat 1.	In to a salmon at Síðukrókur pool at beat 2.
Getting ready at Kotbakki pool.	Upperpart of Ullarkvörn at Fitjá.
From the Canyon at beat 3.	Landing a fish with some assistance at Skipstjórabreiða at beat 1.
Steinthor from Iceland with a great Vidi Chromer, all 2 winter salmon is released.	From beat 2.
Kaelir pool at beat 2, home of the monsters at Vididalsá.	The old bridge at beat 2.
Hiding behind a rock , spotting a big salmon in Fitjá Canyons.	Laxapollur pool at Fitjá tributary , this pool alone produced over 200 salmon in 2008 season.

 

General Information

Location: North West of Iceland, about 215 km from Reykjavik. To get there you take High Way One North, through the tunnel at Hvalfjörður (it costs 800 ÍKR to drive through) After the tunnel you turn right and follow the sign to Akureyri. You drive through Borganes and over Holtavörðuheiði mountain. After the mountain you drive by Hvammstangi and then 24 km after that the Víðidalsá lodge is on your right hand side. There is a sign, Tjarnarbrekka, and there you turn right and take the next right also and you are at the lodge.
Fishing season: June 24th to September 24th
Prime time: July 10th to August 25th
Average size of fish: 9 lbs - All salmon over 70 cm must be realeased.
Guide: One for every two rods
Tackle: Single and double handed rods 9-10" and 13-15". Weight 7-10
Fishing hours:
June 24th –August 20th 07:00-13:00 & 16:00-22:00
August 20th – September 24th 07:00-13:00 & 15:00-21:00
Best flies: The water temperature is quite steady in Víðidalsá from early summer until late September, so the same selection of flies goes for the whole season. When temperature drops in September, the angler would do well to bring heavier tubes/flies. The best flies are:
Hitch tubes and micro-hitch
Black & Red Frances (micro-cones and flies, sizes 14 – 20)
Colburn special (sizes 12 – 18)
Collie Dog
Green Butt (micro-cones and flies, sizes 14 – 20)
Green Brahan (micro-cones and flies, sizes 14 – 20)
Black & Blue (micro-cones and flies, sizes 14 – 20)

Lodge: Full service lodge, Twin room with bathroom to each rod, living room, dining room, bar and sauna, wader drying room. Jacuzzi on veranda.

Clothing: In spite of the relatively mild climate, you should bring warm clothing and, most importantly, quality rainwear and a windcheater. Please check out the average temperature table here below. Chest waders and wading shoes. Nicer clothes to wear for dinner.

Tackle disinfection: Iceland has always been free of diseases like UDN and Gyrodactylus salaris and we intend to keep it that way. There is a strict policy of visiting anglers having their tackle sterilized before coming to Iceland. This should be done in a 2% formaldehyde solution for 10 minutes and performed by a veterinary surgeon. (Tackle sterilized in Virkon S is also acceptable.) A signed inventory of what has been sterilized should be provided by the vet for presentation to the customs officers at Keflavik airport. The most important items to be treated are: rods, reel/line, waders and flies.

The process can be carried out by staff at Keflavik airport. The office is located at the far side of the baggage reclaim hall, downstairs in the airport. Just notify one of the personnel in the area that you need your tackle disinfected and they will have a member of the staff come and complete the process. The price for one fishing set is 3.500 Icelandic kronurs.

Flights

There are two airlines that offer a scheduled flights to Iceland.

Icelandair, www.icelandair.is

Iceland Express www.icelandexpress.is.



Documentation & Visas

Citizens from the European Economic Area (comprising the EU, Switzerland and Liechtenstein), US and Canada need only a passport valid for at least three months after the planned date of arrival to enter Iceland for up to three months.



Currency: Icelandic Krona. Visa and Eurocard/Mastercard credit cards and Maestro and Visa Electron are accepted widely.



Language: Icelandic, but Icelanders speak English as well.



Electricity. Most facilities operate on 220-wolt, 50-cycle system. A Converter will be necessary for any electrical items that require a 110-volt, 60-cycle system.



Duty-free: Allowed on arrival one of the following choices:

1 lither of alcohol and 1 lither of wine.

1 lither of alcohol and 6 lither of beer.

1 lither of wine and 6 lither of beer.

One carton of cigarettes can be brought in to the country per person



Good to know:



Daylight                            Sunrise                                Sunset

May                                     3:55 AM                             10:12 PM

June                                    2:42 AM                             11:32 PM

July                                     3.23 AM                              11:00 PM

August                                 4:58 AM                               9:22 PM

September                           6:29 AM                               7:33 PM

October                               7:55 AM                               5:48 PM





Average temperature: °C                                            °F

May                                        7, 2                                      44, 9

June                                      13, 1                                      55, 6

July                                       15, 2                                      59, 4

August                                   13, 3                                      55, 9

September                             13, 0                                      55, 4

October                                  6,1                                         43,0                                     



In case of an emergency dial 112, but guide and lodge staff will be insistence for any problems that might occur.

If you want to hire fishing equipment, please send us the name and the shoe-size for each individual. And please let us know if a single or double handed rod is preferred.

Please note that fly casting instruction can be arranged by your guide: please let us know to give him advance time.

 

Accommodation

Tjarnarbrekka lodge

Vididalsá has a fully serviced lodge, Tjarnarbrekka, where anglers are looked after in grand style. There are eight twin-bed rooms, all with ensuite facilities. Three meals a day are served by a fine chef and there is a cozy lounge in which to enjoy the company and share the day's adventures with fellow anglers.

If you are looking for fun and a relaxing fishing holliday, Víðidalsá is the right place to visit.

Víðidalsá lodge garden	Víðidalsá lodge front side, 8 bedrooms, all with private bathrooms.
Relaxing in the sitting room at the lodge.	The chess room.
The Jacuzzi , there is also a sauna at Vidi lodge.	Dining room.
Evening at the lodge.	The lodge.
Cozy dining room.	From the Vidi lodge.
Breakfast at Vidi lodge.

 

In next page, you can see more pictures and comments !