Brown Trout up to 36-pounds
Iceland Brown Trout Fishing
Lake Thingvallavatn
Fly Fishing for Wild Browns
Lake Thingvallavatn, at 32 square miles, is the largest lake in Iceland. The huge and fertile water mass provides an excellent environment for giant wild native brown trout up to 36 pounds. Lake Thingvallavatn is only a 40-minute drive from Reykjavik, the capital.
Lake Thingvallavatn
Lake Thingvallavatn lies along the North Atlantic Ridge, where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates separated from each other. Canyons and fissures mark the National Park's landscape and cut the lake bottom in many places, reaching its deepest at 377 feet, with an average depth of 111 feet.
The lake's catchment area is 90 percent underground, and the water from thousands of cold springs has a constant temperature of 37 to 39'F. The spring water is filtered through layers of the surrounding lava, making the lake gin clear and large browns averaging 8 pounds easy to spot. Three out of five of Iceland's freshwater fish species live in this lake—brown trout, Arctic char, and the three-spine stickleback.
Exclusive Beats:
Exclusive Beats: the outfitter has exclusive beats on Lake Thingvallavatn. With streamers, you'll target brown trout up to 36 pounds. Twenty-pounders are frequently landed during peak season.
At Lake Thingvallavatn, anglers will have the option to fish until dark. The best fishing is at twilight—not in complete darkness.
Guided Hours: You're guided up to nine hours each day. Each beat has its own season and a limit of two to six rods. All fishing is catch-and-release. At Lake Thingvallavatn, the evenings are commonly the best time to catch brown trout, although the daytime can also be productive.
Each evening after dinner, your guide will pick you up from the Lodge for another round of fishing, and you’ll fish until dark.
The Fishing Program:
Fishing Hours: The fishing hours are flexible, 12 hour limit per day.Guides: Two anglers per knowledgeable, English-speaking guide.
Heavy tackle is recommended. 6 to 9-weight rods and at least 12-pound leaders. Floating lines are most common, but intermediate and sink-tips can also be used. Streamers are really effective, and dry flies and nymphs work in the right conditions.
Equipment: No equipment or flies are supplied. An $80 per day rental includes a rod, reel, line, waders, and boots. All flies should be new or unused as Iceland has a strict policy that requires anglers to sterilize their tackle before visiting the country.
Fishing License: A license is included in the package.
Travel Time: The drive to the fishing areas takes 5 to 20 minutes from the hotel.
Villingavatn Beat 3-A - One of the World's Best
Villingavatnsaros Beat 3A
Season: April 15- September 15. Villingavatnsaros (meaning the mouth of river Villingavatnsa) is one of the greatest brown trout beats in the world. The beat offers the opportunity to catch the giant ice-age brown trout on small nymphs and dry flies. Streamers work great. The beat has a two-rod limit. Some hiking is required.
Villingavatn Beat 3-B
Season: April 1 - September 30. This beat lies next to the famous Villingavatnsárós. Two points on the beat are usually the best spot. By the western point, anglers can wade into the lake to cast toward a drop-off, which often holds fish. The beat has a two-rod limit. This beat is best early in the season, from April - June. Very little hiking is required.The Kaldarhofdi Beat 4
The Kaldarhofdi Beat 4
Fly and Spin Fishing - the Kaldarhofdi is the only beat in our Iceland packages that includes spin fishing.
Season: May 1 - September 15. May is prime time. This beat is in the southmost part of Lake Thingvallavatn, where River Sog runs from the lake. The beat also stretches south into Lake Ulfljotsvatn.
Excellent for Arctic char fishing, especially in June through August. Six to ten rods are permitted on this beat. Some hiking is required.
Villingavatn Beat 3-D
Villingavatn Beat 3-D
Season: April 1 - September 30. Lake Villingavatn has been kept under the radar for years and has only been fished by a few. From the lake, a small stream runs into Lake Thingvallavatn, connecting the two lakes and allowing the Thingvallavatn trout to enter the lake. The beat has a four-rod limit.
Stealth is often needed here as the fish can be right up along the bank, and wading is not advised. Casting along the banks and towards the weed lines usually produces the best results. Streamers are often most productive here, for instance, patterns resembling sticklebacks (local bait fish). However, the browns will take nymphs and dries in the right conditions, especially when a caddis or mayfly hatch is on. Some hiking is required.
Mike Sadar's Trip:
"Fishing was slow, but the size was big. Both Chris and I landed six apiece, with mine being at 5, 11, 11, 14, 17, and 21 pounds. Chris had a similar size. We caught these fish in deep holes in the lake using super long tippets (25 feet). Plan to go back." - Mike Sadar.
Chris Lusin with Large Brown
You'll Stay at a Three-Star Hotel
For this package, you can stay at a three-star hotel within 20 minutes from the fishing beats. You'll enjoy breakfast and dinner at the hotel and a boxed lunch while fishing.
Villingavatnsaros Beat 3A Beauty
Getting to the Lodge:
Arrival Day: You'll fly to Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland. A Lodge representative will greet you at the airport. Depending on the time of your arrival, you’ll either be driven directly to your fishing location for the day or to the hotel, which is about 25 miles and a 40-minute drive from the airport.
Departure Day: Your guide will drive you back to Reykjavik for your return flight home—a 40-minute ride from Lake Thingvallavatn.
Sample Itinerary:
Day 1: Pick up at your hotel in Reykjavík or the airport early in the morning (or another preferred time). Drive to Lake Thingvallavatn and fish one of Fish Partner’s exclusive beats with the guide. Fishing hours are optional (12 hour limit per day). Check-in at the hotel is available from 3:00 p.m. (earlier if possible). Lunch at the lake and dinner at the hotel.
Day 2-5: After breakfast, fish one of Fish Partner’s exclusive beats in Lake Thingvallavatn with your guide. Lunch at the lake and dinner at the hotel.
Day 6: After breakfast, you'll check out of the Lodge. The guide will drive the group back to the international airport for flights home.
2025 USD Rates:
Lake Thingvallavatn:
Season: April 15 - Sept. 15, 2025:
5-nights and 5-days guided fishing
Two anglers per room and guide:
From $5,600.00 per person
One angler per room and guide:
From $9,950.00 per person
Highland Rivers and Lake Thingvallavatn Combo:
Season: June 1 - August 31
5-nights and 5-days guided fishing
(3-days at Highland Rivers and 2-days at the Lakes)
Two anglers per room and guide:
From $5,920.00 per person
One angler per room and guide:
From $8,650.00 per person
Click here for Highland Rivers page
*Prices may vary depending on currency fluctuations.
Information Packet.
The Packages Include:
• Roundtrip ground transfers between Reykjavík and the hotel
• Ground transfers to daily fishing beats
• 5-days guided fishing
• Fishing license
• All meals for fishing days
• 5-nights hotel lodging, double occupancy
• Wi-Fi at the hotel.
The Packages Do Not Include:
• Airfare to Reykjavík, Iceland, and return• Ground transfers in Reykjavík
• Optional lodging and meals in Reykjavik
• Fishing equipment
• Optional $80.00 per day fishing equipment rental
• Alcohol
• Gratuities to guides and staff
• Global Rescue
• Travel Insurance
• Anything not mentioned under inclusions.
Lake Thingvallavatn
Iceland Brown Trout Fishing
