Alex Jardine recently headed to Iceland in search of brown trout. He sent us a mouthwatering photo essay of his trip that we think you'll enjoy.
My desire to visit Iceland has always been to go and witness the Aurora Borealis not the fishing it has on offer, but this July I made the short voyage to take a look at the trout fishing on offer in Northern Iceland.
Having been fortunate enough to have fished in some of the great trout locations around the world, including New Zealand and the American West, I have always been on the search for the next spectacular trouting experience.
Iceland provides this spectacular experience; it displays a raw and rugged landscape defined by millennia of glaciers and volcanic activity. The weather can change in an instance due to its proximity to the Arctic Circle, but the fishing opportunities are truly astonishing.
Chironomid (non-biting midges) hatches can be huge, and it is these hatches which trigger a plethora of activity. Suddenly bird calls fill the air; arctic terns pluck the recently hatched flies from the surface, and huge ice age brown trout gorge themselves.
Hooking these fish is only half the battle, and they know it! As the discerning angler you have to stand there as you watch metres of line disappearing of your spool, and if this wasn’t enough excitement, they like to jump…a lot! On the landing of these true bars of gold you have to stand and admire their beauty, strength and endurance. This is a land of greats.
The Release
Waiting for the rise
Midges
The Spotter
Locked on
The Fight
The Jumper
Admiration
Family Outing
Teamwork
Pure Gold
Alex Jardine works for fly fishing outfitters Aardvark Mcleod