Laxá in Leirarsveit River, Iceland

The River Laxá in Leirársveit is a classic among the salmon rivers of Iceland’s west coast. It has one of the country’s most consistent salmon runs, with catch figures that place it among Iceland’s top 20 salmon rivers every year. Located just half an hour by road from Reykjavík and an hour and a half from Keflavík International Airport, it eliminates the need for time-consuming long transfers.

From its source at Lake Geitabergsvatn to its mouth, the Laxá in Leirársveit runs for 14 kilometers and is divided into seven beats with a total of 45 named pools. Below Geitabergsvatn, it flows through two more lakes, which generally help maintain good water levels throughout the season. The period from mid-July to mid-August is considered prime time, when a maximum of seven rods fish in rotation across all the beats.

Light tackle is generally used, with a single-handed six- or seven-weight rod preferred by most anglers. It is considered a very angler-friendly river because most pools are easy to wade or fish from the bank, and its crystal-clear waters hold good concentrations of salmon.
The upper river runs through narrow, rocky terrain, while the lower river widens and slows between gentle hills and green meadows. Here you will find some of the best pools for surface fishing with hitch flies. Between these two sections, the river descends over two waterfalls.

The average salmon weighs around three kilograms. However, a significant proportion weigh between four and seven kilograms, and fish of ten kilograms or more are caught almost every year.