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 A Big Fish River.
Blanda is the longest and perhaps the most powerful Salmon river in Iceland. The past few years, Blanda has become Iceland´s most consistent June river. LAX-A offers you the possibility to fish in four different beats, very productive all of them.
- The River
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Beat 1.
Highly productive beat, fished by 4 rods, annual catch from 600 to 1000 salmon for the 4 rods. The best spring fishing in Iceland is for sure at beat 1 on Blanda and almost every salmon is two winter fish. Follow the link for further information.
Beat 2.
July and early August is the best time for Beat 2. at Blanda , this beat is 22 km long and fished only with 4 rods. Annual catches is 150 to 400 salmon. Follow the link for further information.
Beat 3.
This beat is fished with 3 rods and is 18km long, great water and is on prime time in July and
early August. Unexpensive fishing and comes with a self catering lodge and a guide , 100 - 200 salmon is caught in July and first days of August. Anglers fishing Beat 3 are welcome to stay at the new Blanda lodge in full board and lodging if they wish. Beat 3 can be an excellant combination with the Svarta river , then up party of 6 rods can combine fishing at Blanda and Svarta and rotate on two totally different rivers with in only few minutes distance to drive. Follow the link for further information.
Beat 4.
This beat is the most exciting beat of all the Blanda beats, endless pools for over 20km of a river, canyons, fast water, slow water in fact all kind of diffrent pools you can imagine. In fact, beat number 4. at Blanda is a tributary of the Blanda river, rather small and is gin clear. This beat is for the adventurous anglers who like to walk and explore new and untouched pools, the beat is so long that there are pools where no one has been for days. The lower part of the beat is productive and well known and have good acces. The prime time is very short, July and early August The salmon is often big up here and annual catch is from 120 to 400 salmon for these few weeks. It is also a great idea to have a party of 6 rods and fish Blanda beat 4 and the Svarta river in a combination. Half an hour drive from Svarta to beat 4 at Blanda. 3 rods fish Blanda beat 4. Follow the link for further information.
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 There is a good bonus here, number of big Arctic Charr and Brown trout is around, great nymph and dry fly fishing. 2009 Report: Blanda did very well this season with over 2.400 salmon caught. Blanda is the longest and perhaps the most powerful salmon river in Iceland. The journey up difficult falls and heavy flows to reach the spawning grounds, have combined a production of exceptionally strong and acrobatic fish. Also, a dam at a hydroelectric station near Blanda's headwaters has "cleaned" Blanda up, so to speak, as the glacial silt that used to colour the river, now mostly sinks to the bottom of the man made lake while the power station uses the water, letting only "cleaner" water down the canyon. This has over the past few years strengthened Blanda's spawning stock tremendously and made the river far better fit for angling. Only in late August does the powerstation allow coloured water down the canyon, when the dam overflows. Blanda boasts one of the country’s highest salmon to grilse ratios, and is also one of our earliest rivers. The past few years, Blanda has become by far Icelands most consistent June-river. Large, 2years salmon sometimes begin to ascend the river as early as in late May providing the most exciting spring fly fishing in the country.
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| Nils Jorgensen with a nice two winter female from the Breidan pool. |
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| Kristinn Gunnarsson ( Kiddi ) our master guide holding a 23 pounder male from Dammur Pool. |
From Beat 2 , up in the valley , there you will find endless fly water. |
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One extremely important factor concerning the Blanda is that long draughts that sometimes ravish waterlevels in Icelandic rivers, at any given time during the season, do not bother the Blanda. It is a large volume river and lowering water levels might even be welcomed rather than feared. The same we could say about the Rangá rivers, they are safe, despite draughts. Very, very important indeed.
- General Information
Blanda river
 Location: North of Iceland, about 270 km from Reykjavik. To get there you take High Way One North, through the tunnel at Hvalfjörður (it costs 800 ÍKR to drive through) After the tunnel you turn right and follow the sign to Akureyri. You drive through Borganes and over Holtavörðuheiði mountain. After the mountain you drive by Hvammstangi and follow the sign to Blönduós. Drive through Blönduós and follow the sign north to Akureyri. Then drive 19 km and then the lodge, Hólahvarf, is on your right hand side.
Fishing season: June 5th to September 20th
Prime time: June 5th to August 10th
Average catch: 5 year average 1010 (4-8 rods)
Average size of fish: 10 + lbs.
Guide: Can be arranged.
Tackle: Double-handed rods 13 - 15', weight 9-11
Best flies: In early season Blanda can be a bit cold, then the safest bet is to get the fly/tube down to the salmon, we recommend sink tips (fastest sink rate) or sinking lines. It is not necessary to use huge tubes or flies – weight is more important than size. In the beginning and at the end of the season, these are the best flies:
Red Frances (1/4 – 1 inch)
Black Frances (1/4 – 1 inch)
German Snaelda (1/4 – 1 inch)
SunRay Shadow (½ - 2 inches)
Black Sheep (1/4 – 1 inch)
Skógá (¼ - 1 inch)
Cascade (¼ - 1 inch)
Mid season, from July 10th until c.a. 15th of august, the water temperature is higher and floating lines and riffling hitches can be extremely effective. The best flies/tubes are still the same patterns, but this time tied as flies or lighter plastic tubes – rather than brass tubes or cone heads. In addition to the fore mentioned section we also recommend:
Collie Dog (¼ - 1 inch)
Black & Blue (sizes 12 – 16)
Green Butt (sizes 12 – 16)
Various hitch tubes.
Clothing: In spite of the relatively mild climate, you should bring warm clothing and, most importantly, quality rainwear and a windcheater. Please check out the average temperature table here below. Chest waders and wading shoes. Nicer clothes to wear for dinner.
Tackle disinfection: Iceland has always been free of diseases like UDN and Gyrodactylus salaris and we intend to keep it that way. There is a strict policy of visiting anglers having their tackle sterilized before coming to Iceland. This should be done in a 2% formaldehyde solution for 10 minutes and performed by a veterinary surgeon. (Tackle sterilized in Virkon S is also acceptable.) A signed inventory of what has been sterilized should be provided by the vet for presentation to the customs officers at Keflavik airport. The most important items to be treated are: rods, reel/line, waders and flies.
The process can be carried out by staff at Keflavik airport. The office is located at the far side of the baggage reclaim hall, downstairs in the airport. Just notify one of the personnel in the area that you need your tackle disinfected and they will have a member of the staff come and complete the process. The price for one fishing set is 3.500 Icelandic kronurs.
Flights
There are two airlines that offer a scheduled flights to Iceland.
Icelandair, www.icelandair.is
Iceland Express www.icelandexpress.is.
Documentation & Visas
Citizens from the European Economic Area (comprising the EU, Switzerland and Liechtenstein), US and Canada need only a passport valid for at least three months after the planned date of arrival to enter Iceland for up to three months.
Currency: Icelandic Krona. Visa and Eurocard/Mastercard credit cards and Maestro and Visa Electron are accepted widely.
Language: Icelandic, but Icelanders speak English as well.
Electricity. Most facilities operate on 220-wolt, 50-cycle system. A Converter will be necessary for any electrical items that require a 110-volt, 60-cycle system.
Duty-free: Allowed on arrival one of the following choices:
1 lither of alcohol and 1 lither of wine.
1 lither of alcohol and 6 lither of beer.
1 lither of wine and 6 lither of beer.
One carton of cigarettes can be brought in to the country per person
Good to know:
Daylight Sunrise Sunset
May 3:55 AM 10:12 PM
June 2:42 AM 11:32 PM
July 3.23 AM 11:00 PM
August 4:58 AM 9:22 PM
September 6:29 AM 7:33 PM
October 7:55 AM 5:48 PM
Average temperature: °C °F
May 7, 2 44, 9
June 13, 1 55, 6
July 15, 2 59, 4
August 13, 3 55, 9
September 13, 0 55, 4
October 6,1 43,0
In case of an emergency dial 112, but guide and lodge staff will be insistence for any problems that might occur.
If you want to hire fishing equipment, please send us the name and the shoe-size for each individual. And please let us know if a single or double handed rod is preferred.
Please note that fly casting instruction can be arranged by your guide: please let us know to give him advance time.
- Accommodation
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 Blanda lodge The Blanda lodge is a new and beautiful lodge, about 19 km from Blönduós. It was built in 2006. The lodge has spacious 12 twin rooms, all with bath and shower. The living room is big and comfortable and the dining room also. It is a full service lodge with tvo Jacuzzis, sauna and veranda. Phone number at the lodge: +354 451 4070 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting +354 451 4070 end_of_the_skype_highlighting (During the summer)
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