Frequently Asked Questions

Some tips and information before you head to Iceland on your fly fishing trip!

Below you can find some information before you head to Iceland to fly fish. I receive many different questions about Iceland when someone asks me what they should expect, what they need to know and what they should know.  Below are some information about laws, rules and general questions and answers that I receive.

Currency?

Iceland has its own currency called Króna which is more or less useless outside Iceland today.  Places normally don't take Euros, but you can use debit and credit cards in almost all places in Iceland without any problem.  ATM's are located in almost all towns across Iceland so don't worry about carrying too much money with you to Iceland.... you can use your credit card for almost anything.

Laws and regulations on salmon fly fishing in Iceland

All fishing right belongs to the owners of the land which the river is associated with.
Fishing for salmon in saltwater is forbidden.
Net fishing is forbidden - except for few farmers.
The fishing tackle must be disinfected before fished in Icelandic Rivers. This can be done at Keflavik airport for a small fee. You can find more information here.

In all parts of Iceland, call 112 to reach Iceland Police, ambulances or fire department. 

Do you need neoprene waders or not or should you take your Gore-Tex waders?

Normally you don’t need neoprene waders when fishing in Iceland. You should take your breathable waders with you but just have enough warm clothes with you. If you are going hunting or you fish late in the autumn you can ask around and see if you need neoprene waders but in most occasions your breathable waders should be enough.

Sunscreen!

Yes, it's true. We have sunshine in Iceland. There are maybe not many days where you might see the sun but when it pops out from the clouds it's actually quite powerful and normally people get surprised when they look in the mirror the day after realizing that they are like an apple.

Driving in Iceland

In Iceland, you drive on the right side.  Please note that we have numerous gravel roads in Iceland and especially if you are going fishing.  These roads can be quite dangerous since the grip is not the same so please try to drive in the road marks and stay out from the gravel as much as you can.  Seat belts and headlights are mandatory if you don't wear them you might be stopped by the police and fined. Some Icelandic car rental agencies do not allow rental cars on unsecured mountain/highland roads so please check with the agency before heading towards your location.

There are speed limits in Iceland so be careful.  Even if you are driving in a middle of nowhere the police might be hiding behind next tree ... this is a joke, there are no trees so they might be hiding behind the next corner.  On a gravel road, the speed limit is 80 km/h otherwise it's 90 km/h on hard surfaced roads.

Last thing you should know, don't drive off the road and don't drink and drive.

Catch and release

Many rivers practice catch and release and more and more rivers are making it mandatory. Mostly salmon rivers do catch and release today but some trout rivers are starting.

Clothes?

I get this question a lot and normally I tell people to bring enough layers to fight rain, wind, and temperatures down to 5° but have them as light as possible. If you fish late summer or autumn I would suggest warmer clothes but if you are going there in June, July or August you don't need to worry too much about the temperatures (5° is a normal temperature).

Here is a list of some basic stuff that you should bring with you before coming to Iceland and fly fish;

  • Good fishing hat
  • Polaroid sunglasses - I normally go for yellow or brown (I use yellow on cloudy rainy days but brown on sunny days)
  • Gloves can come in handy if it chilly and windy.
  • Good wading or rain jacket is mandatory
  • Few layers of warm clothes and spare ones if you fall in the water
  • At least one good sweater (you could also buy one of the amazing Icelandic wool sweaters in Iceland)
  • Warm socks
  • A lightweight bag can come in handy if you have to bring some stuff to the river. Sometimes you need to walk some distances to reach the pools.

About Fly Fishing Iceland

Brekkutangi 29, 270 Mosfellsbær, ICELAND

  • Email: info@flyfishingiceland.com
  • Phone: +354 787 4746

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