East Ranga

9070 salmon in 2020

The East Ranga is one of the most productive Atlantic salmon rivers in the world! In 2020 the river topped the Icelandic charts with 9070 salmon caught on the 18 rods. The season runs for 120 days and the five year average catch is 4300 salmon per year.

Salmon fishing at its finest!

While the East Ranga is famous for its productivity, an interesting note is the steady growth in numbers of multi sea winter salmon. These fish have an average weight of 14lbs and offer terrific sport throughout the season. Although the majority of salmon are around the 5-7lbs mark, these smaller salmon are particularly notable for their impressive strength:size ratio.

The river is fished over approximately 22 km from an impassable waterfall at the head of Beat 9 to the junction with Þverá on Beat 1. Along this length of the river, the pools variously sit under high bluffs, curve from cut bank to cut bank or gently ease up to purple lupin lined banks, each beat offering a variety of characteristics and at the same time maintaining enviably attractive fly water.

As any East Ranga “regular” knows, some of the most classic pools hold such a volume of salmon a and offer such intense sport, that there remain areas of most beats where fishers can still explore and find new taking spots.

Lodge

The Aurora Lodge Hotel is East Ranga´s fantastic fishing lodge. The lodge sits above the middle part of the river offering a panoramic view of the river and the stunning snow capped Mount Hekla. The lodge complex is comprised of 10 buildings, all linked by a wood walkway and a veranda, pair of hot tubs and a small sauna.

Guests are accommodated in fully furnished rooms each with either a twin or a double bed with private bathroom.

The main lodge building houses three elements. Firstly there is the kitchen and spacious dining area where superb meals are served. Secondly the living room filled with comfy leather chairs and sofas, and a full service bar. thirdly the central hall, with tackle shop, reception, quieter seating and at the end a double height glazed wall with fire and armchairs and a perfect view of the river and mountain vista.

General infromation

Location: Rangarvallarsysla close to Hvolsvollur about 100 km from Reykjavík.
Fishing area: From Tungufoss waterfall down to the junction with Þverá in Fljóthlíð.
Season: 1/7 – 20/10.
Daily hours: 7.30-13 and 15-20.30
Tackle allowed: Fly only from opening to noon 01.09. From noon 01.09 – fly, spinner and worm.
Quota: Each rod is allowed to keep four grilse 69 cm and under per shift. Salmon 70 cm and over must be released.

Rotation policy

Each beat is fished by two rods for one shift. The next shift the rods “jump” over two beats and fish the beat third down from where they started. On the third shift they jump again two beats but on the fourth shift tehy go one beat down from where they started.
Example: Angler draws beat 9 as starting point. Then the rotation looks like this: 9-6-3-8
Six day fishing rotation would look like this: 9/6/3/8/5/2/7/4/1/9/6/3

Best flies

Range of tube flies such as: Fish Skull ¾ – 1” tube (pink, green, blue), Frances ¼ – ½” tungsten or copper (black, red, orange), Snaelda ¼ – ½” tungsten or copper (German, Franken’), Friggi ½ – 1” (claret, black, purple, chartreuse), Monkey tube(black, yellow, pink) overall 7-9cm, Hot-head Sunray Shadow / Collie Dog overall 5-9cm Surface flies: Larger Hitch Tubes ¾ – 1½ “ tube, Bomber hook size single hook size 4 – 6, Green Machine hook size 6 – 10 Hooks / Tube Hooks: Single sizes 4 – 10 Double / treble sizes 6 – 12

Head guide and administration

Gunnar Guðjónsson
Tel: +354 696 1200

Sales

Jóhann Davíð Snorrason
+354 793 7979 – johann@kolskeggur.is