West Ranga River, Iceland 

Iceland

In recent years, Iceland’s West Ranga has definitively filled the niche of the country’s top producer of fly-caught Atlantic salmon. In 2009, the river boasted an unprecedented 10,749 landed salmon, making it second only to the Ponoi in terms of overall productivity. The West Ranga is a classic Icelandic river with gentle flats and long gliding runs, punctuated by impressive multi-tiered falls. Originating near the foot of Mt. Helka, the Ranga is rarely low and seldom colored, making it one of the world’s most consistent Atlantic salmon fisheries.

Hosting twelve to sixteen anglers per week, the fly fishing lodge on the West Ranga is both modest and comfortable, featuring private baths in all rooms. Anglers can also “share a rod” thus reducing the weekly rate per person. For those of you interested in the mystique of Icelandic rivers, this is the system to see.

Location:
West Ranga Lodge is located an hours’ drive from Reykjavik in southern Iceland.

Fishing Program:
Your fishing days start at 7:00AM until 1:00PM. You then take a lunch break until 4:00PM and fish until about 10:00PM.

There is one guide per two rods. If both rods are “shared rods” there could be four people with one guide.

Fisheries:
The headwaters of West Rangá are near the foot of the spectacular Mt. Hekla, one of the country’s active volcanoes. The river is entirely spring-fed making it very consistent in terms of water temperature and flow.

The West Rangá is a classic Icelandic river with gentle flats and long gliding runs, punctuated by impressive multi-tiered falls. Originating near the foot of Mt. Helka, the Rangá is rarely low and seldom colored, making it one of the world’s most consistent Atlantic salmon fisheries.

Accommodations and Meals:
Hosting between 12 and 16 anglers per week, the West Rangá Lodge is a modest and comfortable full service fishing lodge, offering fine food and a friendly staff. It is a non-smoking lodge with accommodations in cottages, two rooms in each cottage with their own private bathrooms. The sauna and jacuzzi offer guests ample relaxation after a day on the water.

Sample Itinerary:
Day 1: Depart home.
Day 2: Arrive Reykjavik. Transfer to lodge and fish 1/2 day.
Days 3-8: Full days of guided fishing
Day 9: Fish 1/2 day, transfer to airport in Reykjavik.
Day 10: Arrive home.

Typical Daily Schedule:
6:30 AM: Breakfast
7:00 AM – 1:00 PM: Fishing
1:00 PM: Lunch
4:00 – 10:00 PM: Fishing
11:00 PM: Dinner

Complete Trip Details