Hörgá

River Hörgá is a typical rain fed river, cold with variable water levels and often “flashy” in summer. It is the third biggest river that flows into Eyjafjörður, after Eyjafjarðará and Fnjóská. River Öxnadalsá flows into Hörgá just outside Staðartunga. Many tributaries flow into the rivers from side valleys and passes. River Barká, which is a glacier river from Barkárdalsjökull, often colors Hörgá enormously. Sea run char start to migrate into Hörgá in July and those which migrate farthest into the valleys come first, although char spawn all through the river. The usual weight of sea char is about 0.5 – 1.0 kg with the heaviest about 3 kg. The char migrate far beyond Bakkasel in Öxnadal, to waterfall Básfoss in Hörgárdal and to waterfall Byrgisfoss in the tributary Myrká. In late August and into the autumn, immature small char migrate into Hörgá, often in large groups. In recent years the share of trout and sea trout has been increasing in the catch, mainly in the lower part of the river. The heaviest trout caught is about 3 kg. The river is sold in 6-hour shifts/half days.