Blönduós | Iceland
Long Valley Lodge
Overview
The Blanda River, in northwestern Iceland, differs starkly from most of its Icelandic counterparts. Most rivers on the island nation flow through relatively sterile landscapes on often short, punctuated runs. By contrast, the Blanda is one of the longest rivers in the country, flowing for over 75 miles from its origin at the Hofsjökull glacier to where it meets the North Atlantic Ocean at Húnaflói Bay near the town of Blönduós. For most of that run, the Blanda and its main tributary, the Svartá, course through a rich, verdant valley with diverse flora and fauna (including a bounty of bird species) and dense bug biomass.
The result is a system brimming with life that is home to healthy populations of five different salmonid species — resident brown trout, sea-run brown trout, resident Arctic char, sea-run Arctic char, and highly coveted Atlantic salmon — offering anglers shots at the “Icelandic Grand Slam."
The Fishing
Though the river’s salmon runs are highly cyclical, in 2015, anglers on the Blanda caught more wild salmon than on any other river in Iceland. In many other years, the river has been amongst the top echelon of salmon producing rivers in the country. The Blanda is also well-known for having one of the highest ratios of MSW (Mutli-Sea Winter) salmon in Iceland. Thanks to its healthy population of often large, north coast Atlantic salmon, for generations the river has been managed exclusively as an Atlantic salmon fishery — with anglers on all but the Blanda’s main tributary focused solely on salmon fishing.
But, after its inaugural season under new salmon and trout focused management, it appears that, all the while, commingled with the river’s itinerant salmon and almost wholly ignored by half a century of visiting anglers, resides one of the most vibrant populations of large brown trout found anywhere in Iceland and, quite possibly, anywhere, period — with brown trout averaging 20 inches, larger catches a daily occurrence, and resident fish exceeding 30 inches in the system.
Though the coming seasons will shine a light on just how great the potential of the Blanda system is, anglers already have plenty of reasons to be encouraged — and come in search of some of the most memorable fish of their lifetimes.
Accomodations
LODGING: Long Valley Lodge is a modern, spacious lodge capable of hosting up to 24 anglers. Situated directly on the Blanda, offering beautiful views of the river valley and the surrounding mountains, the lodge is both luxurious and unassuming. Ample living space both indoor and out give guests plenty of space to rest, relax and socialize. Each guest room includes an en suite bathroom and the lodge also offers a hot tub and sauna for visiting anglers and other guests to enjoy.
FOOD/DRINK: Breakfasts match the Icelandic tradition, with eggs, fresh vegetables, cheeses and meats, as well as yogurts, cereals, muesli, and fresh fruit. Lunches are typically served at the lodge, during a break between the morning and afternoon sessions, offering a mix of light and heartier fare. Each night, a hearty three-course dinner is served in the lodge’s main dining room, a variety of local meats, seafood, and pasta dishes.
CONNECTIVITY: The lodge has fast, dependable WiFi and cellular coverage is excellent throughout Iceland. You’ll have service in places you never thought you would.
Sample Itinerary
You’ll arrive at Long Valley Lodge early afternoon, after a late morning departure from Keflavik or Reykjavik. You’ll have time to settle into your room, ready your gear, and enjoy some light snacks before heading out for the afternoon session to chase the Blanda’s trout, char, or salmon.
You’d be forgiven for doing a double take when seeing photos of anglers floating down an Icelandic river on a raft or drift boat. But at Long Valley Lodge, you’ll embark on Iceland’s only trout float, in pursuit of the river’s large brown trout, Arctic char, and even salmon.
Atlantic salmon are the star of the show in Iceland and on the Blanda. The river isn’t just known for producing healthy populations of Atlantic salmon. It’s also known for producing some of the largest salmon caught each year in Iceland — a common characteristic of Iceland’s north coast salmon rivers. During your week at the lodge, you’ll get your chances to ply the river’s famed “Beat 1” and “Beat 2,” in search of these mythic fish, as well as salmon producing beats elsewhere on the Blanda and its tributary, the Svartá.
The gin-clear Svartá is a small water angler’s dream, offering a seemingly endless array of riffles, runs, pools, and cutbanks dotted with healthy populations of all five salmonid species found in the Blanda system.
Talking about notions like average fish size and maximum fish size and so on is playing with fire. Regardless of where you wet a line, there are never any guarantees. But there’s no getting around the fact that there are few places on the planet where anglers have more opportunity to land large numbers of large brown trout than on the Blanda system. Looking for a new personal best? Chances are you might find it here.
Whatever remains on your Blanda TODO list, whether landing another breathtaking Atlantic salmon or unforgettable brown trout, you’ll have your final half-day session to cross it off. After the morning’s fishing, you’ll return to the lodge for lunch and await your transfer back to Reykjavik.
Included
- Ground Transfers Transportation to and from the airport or Reykjavik is included
- Lodging Double occupancy rooms with en suite bathrooms
- Meals Three chef-prepared meals plus snacks daily
- Beverages Non-alcoholic beverages are included (beer, wine and spirits are available for purchase)
- Guided Fishing Daily guided fishing for five salmonid species
- Fishing Licenses All required licenses and permits
Getting There
Anglers visiting Long Valley Lodge fly into Keflavik (KEF), the airport that serves the island nation’s capital city, Reykjavik. From there, guests take an included ground transfer approximately 3 and ½ hours to the north coast of Iceland, arriving at the lodge shortly after.
Having been to Iceland flyfishing on two previous occasions, I was confident in my expectations for my upcoming trip to Long Valley Lodge in its northern region. Wow! I was wrong - my recent trip was an unforgettable experience that far exceeded my expectations. While the primary draw for many is its world-class Atlantic salmon fishing, what truly sets Long Valley Lodge apart is the stunningly diverse and productive brown trout fishery.
The lodge itself is a comfortable and welcoming base of operations, but the real star of the show is the magnitude and diversity of its surrounding waters. I was privileged to fish a wide range of rivers, streams and lakes, each with its own unique character and challenges. This incredible diversity—from powerful, glacial rivers to smaller, intimate creeks that also include lakes and even highlands waterfalls. Yes, every day was a new adventure. The main event for many is the Blanda River, renowned for its strong runs of Atlantic salmon. However, for a devoted trout angler, the brown trout fishing was a revelation. We consistently caught large brown trout in both the major rivers and the countless smaller, gin-clear streams from the valleys to the highlands. The sheer size and fighting spirit of these fish were astounding. In addition to the impressive brown trout, we also found healthy populations of Arctic char in many of the waters, adding another exciting dimension to the fishing.
The experience was elevated by the exceptional team of guides. They were not only experts, but they also possessed an encyclopedic knowledge of the local area. Our guides knew countless places for fly fishing, constantly adapting our day to water conditions and our personal preferences. They were patient, encouraging, and genuinely shared our excitement with every fish caught. Their passion and expertise ensured that we made the most of every moment on the water.
Long Valley Lodge offers an extraordinary fly fishing experience. Whether you're a salmon enthusiast or, like me, you're in search of a remarkable and untapped brown trout fishery, this lodge provides the perfect blend of spectacular fishing, a vast diversity of water, and expert guiding.