Iceland's sea trout season off to electric start

Yesterday, anglers fishing out of Battle Hill Lodge landed an impressive 60 fish. And last week, one of the lodge’s guides, while scouting the rivers for incoming anglers, landed a mammoth 102 cm (40.2 inch) sea-run brown trout, setting an impressive benchmark for the coming season.

A dozen sea trout in a single day is enough to make even the most demanding angler deliriously happy, and a few of the five anglers fishing beats at Vatnamot and on the Geirlandsa had even more than that to smile about. It made me smile, too, as I'm headed to Iceland this September 20-26, when we'll be hosting 10 anglers at the lodge.

In April and May, the sea-run brown trout that call the rivers surrounding Battle Hill Lodge in Iceland home make their way back to the salty waters of the north Atlantic to gorge themselves on the ocean’s plenty after a long, icy winter spent in freshwater. These spring-run fish are aggressive, eager eaters that often reward anglers that head out onto the island nation’s waters not long after they’ve been released from winter’s grip.

After the spring season (which opened April 15) kicked off with a few days of heavy spring rains that produced challenging conditions, Battle Hill’s rivers — Vatnamot, Fossalar, and the Geirlandsa — have receded to ideal levels, the spring sun is shining, and the first of this year’s two sea trout seasons is off to an electric start.

 

Over roughly the next four weeks (Battle Hill’s spring sea trout season closes May 15), sea-run brown trout will continue to make their way to the Atlantic where they’ll spend the summer fattening up and packing on inches before they return in the autumn to spawn. When they do, they’ll spread out throughout the whole of the three-river system that flows past the lodge, being chased by eager — and very lucky — anglers as they do.

The question that inevitably arises for most fly fishers considering a trip to Battle Hill Lodge to chase Iceland’s native, trophy sea-run fish is when is the best time to visit? Is it during the spring season, when the fish are happy, willing, and eager to strike a fly? Or in the autumn when the biggest fish of the season are caught and anglers have the entirety of Battle Hill’s rivers to explore?

From the sounds of things thus far this spring, the best time to go seems to be any time.

50% OFF Battle Hill Lodge

If you're able to travel on short notice, you can join the team at Battle Hill Lodge for this year's spring run — and you can do it for half off the normal price. Thanks to a cancellation, we are able to offer the week of April 27 - May 3 at 50% of the normal spring rate. Head here for full details or give us a ring at + 1 (208)-557-8388.

Fall Run Fishing

If you're unable to hop on a plane to Iceland in time to make it there for this year's spring season, don't worry. We still have room during this year's fall run season, when all the fish tiring the arms of spring-run anglers will return — only bigger! For details on booking an autumn visit to Iceland, head here and send us an inquiry or call + 1 (208)-557-8388. 

As we've been doing since we introduced Battle Hill Lodge to international anglers late last year, we're reminding anglers that those that book a 2023 visit to the lodge will have rebooking privileges for 2024. That means that before next year's calendar is opened to the public, anglers that visited in 2023 will have first rights to book a 2024 visit. 

Hosted Travel

If you'd like to join us September 20-26, 2023 for our hosted trip to Battle Hill Lodge, you still can. We have 4 of 12 spots still available. Drop us a line and we'll get you added to the group!