Elliðaár - Veiðiheimar

Southwest Iceland

Photo credit: Högni Harðarson

Fishing season

21 June – 15 September

Baits allowed

Flies

Maximum fishing rods

6 rods

Fishing limits

Catch & Release

Accomodation options

Angling lodge

Guidance

Not available

Accessibility

For beginners, Family friendly, Easy access, Requires permission

Price range for fishing rods

For half a day

16600 ISK to 30300 ISK

What can be fished

Salmon

Description

The Elliðaár rivers are truly the pearl of Reykjavík and it is rare to be able to fish for salmon in the middle of the capital. The catch has been fairly stable in recent years, with an average catch of almost 1000 salmon. In the summer of 2018, 960 salmon were caught in the river. It is a bright future because the Ellíðár rivers are completely sustainable and according to scientists’ measurements, the juvenile stock in 2015 was well maintained and above average.
SVFR offers great fun spring fishing for trout in Elliðaánir in May, where 2 rods are fished and only flies are allowed. Further information on this possibility is mentioned in the Trout Fishing River in Southwest Iceland.

Accommodation & Facilities

Angling lodge

The hunting lodge stands in the islet between the east and west branches, just above the road up Ártúnsbrekka. Everyone who has a license in the river must attend, at the beginning and end of the fishing season, to draw around areas and record catches. The hunting lodge has toilet facilities for hunters.

Fishing rules

At the beginning of the fishing season, hunters (both if there are two on a pole) must come to the hunting lodge and hand over their license to the fishing guard. The area is reduced to 15 minutes before the start of the fishing season on each shift. Fishermen are obliged to come to a hunting lodge after the hunt is over, even if they have not caught anything. Fishing takes place on four rods in June and from 16 August until the end of the fishing season. Hunters are obliged to allow the taking of scales and other samples if requested.
If hunters or others become aware of poaching outside office hours, you can call the hunting warden at 892-9252 or you can call SVFR’s office at 568-6050
It is not permitted to fish closer to the salmon ladder in the Elliðavatn dam than 50 meters. The same applies to Árbæjarstífla and the counter at Rafstöðin, where it is not permitted to fish 50 meters above and below these structures. Fishing is prohibited in the western branch of the Elliðaán river, from Höfðabakkabrú to the sea.