River Svarta in Bardardalur – Brown Trout 

The brown trout river Svarta in Bardardalur is situated in the northern highlands, some 55 km inland from Husavik. The Svarta offers approximately 4 km of gorgeous trout water before joining the main glacier river Skjalfandafljot. The river’s source Lake Svartarvatn is set on a high plateau of rolling heathland with views to distant mountain tops to the south and the steep-sided Bardardalur valley to the west. The Svartarvatn lake and the many small springs on the south and east bed of the lake make up the important spawning grounds for the huge brown trout population to be found in the Svarta river.

The Svarta river boasts a high percentage of brown trout in the 3-6 pound category and several larger ones are hooked every year, often breaking leaders and bending hooks. Around every corner there is a new challenge. Svarta is under the stewardship of just three farms and their management of this remarkable resource has been most commendable. The river has been fly only and catch and release for a long time as well as the fishing pressure has always been light. Sanctuary areas have been established in the upper river where absolutely no fishing is allowed. This has paid back handsomely as the annual average total catch has frequently been 300-400 brown trout with the average weight mark of 3 lbs.

Travel

By air. Reykjavik – Akureyri, approx 50 minutes, followed by one and half hour to the river Svarta in Bardardalur.
http://www.airicelandconnect.com/ Air Iceland Connect

Driving. Main road. Reykjavik – Svarta in Bardardalur, approx. 6 and half hours.
Another alternative is a cross country 4×4 driving through the highland road Sprengisandur, a very old connection between the north and the south of the country. A great opportunity to explore Iceland Read more