Svartá is an amazing 4 rod salmon river. The gin clear river is located in North West Iceland and is a tributary to the Blanda river.
The Svartá river is one of the country’s best-kept angling secrets for Salmon, a fly only river with great number of good pools. The river has a large number of loyal customers fishing there year after year. . Situated in the northern highlands. The river offers over 25 km of gin clear gorgeous salmon fly water, set in a magnificent scenery. Around every corner there is a new challenge. Fishing pressure has always been light as the river has never been marketed to foreign anglers. Average weight of the salmon is around 8 lbs. mark and they are caught up to and over 20 lbs. Make note that all salmon over 70 cm must be released.
Only four rods share the exclusive fishing right for over 25 km of water. The Svartá river is fly only, great for floating line and riffling hitch.
Accommodation is offered in a comfortable lodge with Jacuzzi. Best time is mid/late July until the mid September.
Weekly catch
| WEEK | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 |
| W. 26 | 36 | 7 | . | . | . | |
| W. 27 | 40 | 19 | 11 | 8 | . | 6 |
| W. 28 | 40 | 25 | 29 | 22 | 9 | 19 |
| W.29 | 44 | 17 | 7 | 52 | 23 | 41 |
| W.30 | 77 | 46 | 15 | 55 | 52 | 54 |
| W.31 | 78 | 47 | 5 | 40 | 37 | 103 |
| W.32 | 72 | 31 | 17 | 24 | 34 | 72 |
| W.33 | 30 | 20 | 14 | 41 | 33 | 101 |
| W.34 | 34 | 31 | 7 | 36 | 35 | 64 |
| W.35 | 52 | 20 | 11 | 23 | 21 | 36 |
| W.36 | 30 | 12 | 10 | 26 | 9 | 70 |
| W.37 | 8 | 13 | 11 | 24 | 34 | 15 |
| W.38 | 14 | 7 | 8 | 15 | 26 | 29 |
| W.39 | 17 | 5 | 13 | . | 4 | 19 |
If anglers prefer full service lodge then they are welcome to stay at the new Blanda lodge for full board and lodging, only few minutes to drive. It is a great idea to combine Svarta 4 rods together with 3 rods at beat number 4 at the Blanda river.
Since Lax-á took over the river, we’ve turned into a fly-only river and we are now introducing a mandatory release of all salmon over 70 cm in length. Annual catches have been on a steady rise since we started these conservation efforts, in 2009 430 salmon were caught and in 2010 those numbers had climbed to 560 salmon – with the ratio of multi-winter salmon above 50%! We are certain that we will be seeing these figures rising even higher in the years to come.
Location: North West Iceland, above Blanda river, about 290 km from Reykjavik. To get there from Reykjavík, you take High Way One North, through the tunnel at Hvalfjörður. After the tunnel you turn right and follow the sign to Akureyri. You drive through Borganes and over Holtavörðuheiðimountain. After the mountain you drive by Hvammstangi and follow the sign to Blönduós. Drive through Blönduós and follow the sign north toAkureyri. Drive apr. 30 km, pass the Blanda lodge, Hólahvarf, and turn right at the signs Svartárdalur and Húnaver ( gravel road 734) then Svartá river is on your right hand side. Drive apr. 3 km and then the lodge is a yellow cabin at your right hand side.
Fishing season: July 1st to September 26th. FLY ONLY. All salmon over 70 cm must be realeased.
Prime time: July 27th to August 20th
Guide: Can be arranged.
Lodge: Very good self catering lodge, full service available in Blanda lodge, Hólahvarf.
Fishing hours:
* July 1st to August 15th: 07:00 – 13:00 and 16:00 – 22:00
* August 15th to September 30th: 07:00 – 13:00 and 15:00 – 21:00
Best flies:
Svartá is excellent for using the riffle hitch and small flies, sizes 16 – 18 can be extremely effective when stripped. Floating lines and long leaders is what the angler should use in Svartá, at least until the autumn chills begin to affect the water temperature. The best flies are:
Black & Red Frances (sizes 12 – 18)
Black & Blue (sizes 12 – 18)
Collie Dog (¼ – 1 inch)
Blue Charm (sizes 12 – 18)
Black Sheep & Silver Sheep (sizes12 – 18)
Hitch tubes
In September, when temperatures fall, the water temperature can get quite cold some days. Those days a sink tip and heavier tubes (with and without cones) may be the answer, bring the following tubes in September:
Black & Red Frances (½ – 1 inch)
Black & Blue (½ – 1 inch)
Blue Charm (½ – 1 inch)
Black Sheep & Silver Sheep (½ – 1 inch)
SunRay Shadow (1 – 2 inches)
Map: Svartá Map
Clothing: In spite of the relatively mild climate, you should bring warm clothing and, most importantly, quality rain wear 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
Wow Air, www.wow.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.
Location
The lodge is large and spacious with 4 twin rooms, kitchen, living room and dining room. By the main lodge is another small house with one large twin room, bathroom and cooling and freezing facilities. A nice veranda with a Jacuzzi and barbecue surrounds the lodge.
The kitchen wing of the Svarta lodge has just been renowated in spring 2011 and offers anglers all the modern facility they need for cooking and cleaning, new oven, new cooler, new stove..
If anglers prefer full service lodge then they are welcome to stay at the new Blanda lodge for full board and lodging , only 13 minutes to drive.
Combo:
It is a great idea to combine Svarta 3 rods together with 2 rods at beat number 4 at the Blanda river , fish party of 5 rods and rotate daily on this two totally diffrent rivers, all 5 rods can stay at the Svarta lodge, or at the new Blanda lodge.
