Huislanti Fly Fishing

Back against the river bed

2012-01-17T09:49:00.014+02:00

I started a new sport just recently and this evoke me to think about the knowledge that we collect over the years in the action. First time for everything is unique. For the second round you loose the adrenaline and the third one is aching muscles with a realization that it's going to take somewhat another five hundred times until you're really there.

I began fly fishing roughly at the age of 7 years. My dad was shifting from the spinner fishing towards this variant and I just followed. Can't really say that I learned a lot about the finesse in the first ten years. It was more about camping and observing. Anyway fantastic times growing up to the nature respecting person.

Ever since other sports have changed but fly fishing stays. The reason for starting this new sport now was that I wanted to find a way to keep up the physicality in the winter times. The snow is not guaranteed anymore in where I leave, so that's it for the winter sports. Other activity that I love, sea kayaking, is frozen over the winter months so I picked a sport that takes me as far from the river valleys as possible. This logic is weird but if I push myself to the limit I know that opposites complement each other (menwomenyinyang :)

When I stood there and was watching up, I wondered how hard this can be. Using all the knowledge that I have. Now let's pause for a moment.. I am in a good physical condition, I paddle, wade, jump over the boulders easily, balance on surf in the skiff, cast all over again and fight hard with a fish.. what more there is to add.

Well, a lot more. And when I found myself repeatedly lying on my back on the floor I started to realize the position as a rookie for the sport. This is how I started climbing and to be more specific bouldering.

While I am writing this I am in Calgary (-27C - Go Flames - Go Kipru) and close to the Rocky Mountains. A fantastic nature right next to the money making oil sands. On a clear day the Rockies are well visible to the city and my mind starts to wonder - if I continue going to the wall three times per week that makes 156 times per year. With the tempo it takes roughly 3.2 years to evolve the new finesse. So about summer 2015 I can picture myself climbing up to the Plain of six glaciers where the mighty Bow river gets her enormous flood powers in every spring. All I can hope is that the Canadian oil companies won´t destroy this beauty with their pipe lines. Native rabbits, coyotes, cougars and Obama... how about some ecological choices.. huhuuu US congress anybody listening Mother Earth?

Thanks to the persistence I can still enjoy about fly fishing while learning other interesting skills. Just there I realized that what if I would have to start learning the fly fishing finesse all over again. I think I wouldn't dare to take the challenge. I bet that my brain supportive psychology system (if such exists) is messing with my adventurous mind, you know the left and right blocks. What else would explain achieving some finesse and I still wanting more. We humans never stop, until it's too late.

Well anyway, I have picked three fairly ecological activities that are supporting each other. Kayaking up stream is way faster than running, not to mention going down stream. Climbing to the top of the boulder gives more visibility spotting fish than standing on the ground. And fishing, what would I do with out it.. just climb and paddle with empty stomach… no way! If only there was enough of the wild trouts in Finland to take one for food.

On top of the boulder, it's a bird perspective! hmmm birds and fish, I think I choose the camouflage.

Finesse or not it´s hard to get the same kick out of the sport after a while. Not to mention decades. There are big fish and difficult conditions but.. fly fishing in general, it's not for adrenaline junkies, even if the attractive fishing films are suggesting so. But high mountains! Olalaa!

And fish for food, I can go to supermarket.

Englishman in the action

Jon the fresh englishman was my guest in Läsäkoski last spring while we were preparing our usual party for the Iceland fishing trip (Iceland 2011). Three days of chill out fishing on this picturesque rapids and getting the pressure out after dark times.

Jon came one day late and completely out of the gear. No problem, I fixed him waders among the rest and we started wading the very first ten meters to get to the opposite island just across villa Taimen. He proceed somehow until the stronger current made his feet trembling...

I stayed close and calmed him down.. keep your weight down and move slow, take tiny steps. Fine he did.. until there was only two meters to go back to the land.. he speed up out of relief and SPLASH the feet turned upside down. There he had his back against the river bed. Poor guy froze, he was just lying in the water looking up to the clouds… I woke him JON! get up. Wet clothes and first time adrenalin! No problem.

We continued walking over the small island to learning school: roll casting. I put him a short fishing length line and taught the practice. Repeat cast and couple of steps to down stream. So he did, acting like a machine. And when I moved up stream to begin my fishing he screamed already FISH ON.. first timer's luck.

This fight was awesome. Big trout pulled hard. Jon didn't want to be second and pulled even harder. I tried to shout him to give a slack line. Well... we all know what happened.

Jon is hooked for the rest of his life. I am lucky I got to see this perfect introduction next to him. I know (and I hope he knows) that the next couple of hundred times are not going to be as rich for him in experiences but I bet it was as cool as flashing my first 6A. As they say, the only way is up.

Iceland 2011

2012-01-08T12:36:00.047+02:00

Last spring is way back. Nevertheless I did the spring fishing in Iceland as usual. Season 2012 booked already with almost the same combo but I´ll get back to that on January 2013 :)

Ok I'll try to be more active! ..That's my new years promise.

Finnish trio with Icelandic reinforcement: Juha, Matti, me and Diddi. We left 30th of May and headed straight to North where Diddi had fixed the car ready to go. Full of excitement and high hopes. Though the forecast was not supporting the atmosphere.

First stop was the U river. Trouts were there as supposed, can't quite remember the quantity but something like 40 trouts per angler in six to eight hours. Nymphing up stream with small # 16-20 green and black super simple nyphs.. gotta share this one, Icelandic hot shot reporter was fishing Myvatns beat and for some reason he decided to dip his fly to our beat. He had seen that we were hooking fish and wanted his share. We welcomed this guy cause we thought he was landlord's friend. Gave him a fly and told where to drop the fly.. but man you gotto go to your knees. Too proud - zero fish. Later on Hördur asked us why did we give him a clearance to fish on his river. Funny arrogant icelanders, he almost took his shotgun.

Hördur cooked us a fantastic lamb dinner in the evening. Nice seeing this old fox once a year, it's becoming a must ritual. He puts us always to the right place - hopeless finnish guys. Fishing in here was a minor point and a slack release.

Next stop Laxa i Aðaldal Arnes salmon lodge. Tactical planning in the big lodge's leather sofas with the drink of the Gods. Diddi joined to our party and we fished couple of days both Mulartorfa and Stadartorfa beats. Water was cold and weather was equally cold. No bugs were hanging outside. Streamer fishing.. boring!

Two windy days and humongous trouts at a steady pace.

Matti loves Mulartorfa and he has many meters to prove this love. Somehow it was challenging for me this time, I got bites enough but landing seemed to be mission impossible. And once you start to think like that it's a streamer fishing mental jail.

I was fishing with Diddi and we had a hard time finding the fish in Stadartorfa. We waded couple of hundred meters and once we found the easier water flow we caught some trouts with nymps. This fish was hard fighting beauty 50cm.

Windy days but nice and calm sunsets. We stopped fishing around 10pm. and went hot tubing to the lodge. There was no point working too hard since we had the main beats still coming.

Right above the damn. Looks so calm :)

Laxardal welcomed us with a cranky american. We entered the lodge with a cheery feeling and went straight to read the catch reports. We knew already that it was and had been difficult conditions due to the cold spring. Shocking true and cranky american started his show with cursing the river and cursing us to coming to his river. His guide was a bit embarrassed but he got his world police rights to tell us that we were in polite towards their group. Ok. Apologies and a new start. Hello my name is Jukka and so on. Finally he left with his private jet after we from his opinion (my opinion) scored clearly too many times. Do I even need to say that for us it almost sucked. Less than three fish per angler per six hours. Super cold and windy, hard work producing fish. But the lodge.. it saves a lot! Especially without millionaires.

Dramaturgical point for the prove.

We fished Laxardal last year (spring 2010, check 76 reasons to return) so we knew what was coming. Wide stream and big fish. Nymphing and fighting but no, not from the same pools as earlier. So all over again and thinking big. Fish here and there but no jackpots. Weather was clearly against the action. Fish were passive and seamed to interest only towards fast stripping black streamers. The faster the better.

Within three days fishing there remains always some beats that are resting in the pool order. So despite the last years experience it was a first time when we found our way up to the hill. The river runs in the valley but we kept going up. Matti was driving and he found a hole. What a true man! Think think think! For a moment we were thinking of the farmer's tractor.

You know the feeling - that its good to know the whole area before you start fishing just one spot.. there might be a paradise after the next turn. That kept us on the trail even if it felt a bit scary. Well, Musso is a 4WD and as soon as we realized to use all four wheels Musso proved to be a strong muscle car. Huh! Beer and back to fishing! Sight fishing for tractors.

Down from the lodge there are lot of good looking pools but based on the statistics no fish. This means a) there is o fish b) nobody fishes there. We figured b). Big big empty pools expect the shadows chasing the streamers. Some bit some just followed. Anyway fish all along the river system.

What more to add. Fish pictures like from the previous trips.. documenting is not the most important anymore. Fishing mostly alone, friends concentrating on their fishing, and using the timer in the camera. Always catching some weed to the pics and not to mention dark sky at most of the time. Blaa! It gets worse...

Prime beat: Laxa i Myvatnsveit. Fantastic fishing, probably the best trout fishing of my life. Here at the lodge Hofn I actually met Hördur for the first time. Back then he was still hosting the lodge. Back then the Icelanders were rich and concentrated more on celebrating than trout fishing. And still the average catch per year is #1 in Iceland. Wort visiting!

We just had the worst summer weather you can imagine. Passive fish but when the activity window opened it was plenty. Average size is a bit smaller than in Laxardal but the quantity is.. well it is plenty.

Since we had been using streamers so far we kept the method and what a perfect set up for pocket fishing between the small islands and their creeks. You see a fish spot and there is a fish. You can't miss the bigger pools and there they lie on the bottom unless there is a hatch going on. The difficulty, when cold, is to get the flies down.

The Italian job.

Can´t remember his name but what a gentleman and what remains beyond is the fishing method. Only #3-4 rods, long (4m) tippets with small #20-16 pheasant tail nymphs. Ok, he had been fishing Myvatnsveit for 17 years on a row. He knew the spots and the tricks. He hooked double more and quarter bigger. A small minus to this perfection was the #8 Icelandic peacock fly. Nice guy, not an italian at all :)

Iceland weather is like a bad joke. It´s a joke, right, but doesn't make you laugh longer than two seconds. But be sure to focus on the wind brakes besides laughing, the sun is up there at all times and when ever the black flies get their change they will hatch. I experienced some, dry fly on and thank you 61cm. On the upper beat there are so many small islands that there is always a hatch going on, some of the edges.

We will focus on this beat more on the next season. Hopefully the weather is more mercy. This time it was simply too cold for the trophy pics.

Last but not least: Kaldakvisl.

Diddi arranged us a special treat. This pearl is now under a lake. While fishing this highland river the construction was on going reality. You know the sound before explosion... well we heard that and then the explosion! Now picture four of us wading in the crystal clear stream with 8 pound chars under every foot step... and then huge rocks starting to fall down from the sky splashing water all over. Extreme conditions follows us. These might be the last pictures of this rough scenery. Beautiful fish.

The net is 60cm.

I rest my case, R.I.P. Kaltakvisl.

76 reasons to return

2010-06-15T23:31:00.072+03:00

Iceland 2010

After shaking, dancing and praying the plane finally departed from Helsinki. Even if I appreciated the volcano´s comment to our modern society it nearly ruined our priceless Spring journey… don´t mess with my stuff.. canceled flights until the very last moment. Still at the airport the only thought cruised our minds, they´ve over booked the plane. Well, Reykjavik night welcomed us and the following night was pouring. River runs trough and head ache follows for sure.

Jeep Jamboree, perfect setting for the vacation. Wheels straight and towards Minni. Traditional shopping in Selfoss, Bonus, Vinbudin, meats and beer. Then hurry hurry 40 km more to the bridge for trout spotting. Do I even need to say that there they were.

musso and Jamboree

Minni should be renamed to Windi

Quick set up and the crew separated. Two ran fishing, two chose hot tubing with Cohibas. Some day I´ll have the strength to resist jumping to the waders right away, that´s a promise.. since as we all know the first trout of the season is a guaranteed hassle without a proper mental rehearsal. Jumping and swimming and jumping and swimming the other way, like fish do, but totally aware of the net, so always choosing the direction off the net. This was promising anyway.

trophy pic right after fish signed out the contract

Four guys and three days of fishing divided to five days. Rematch was true after a long long too long winter, only this time I was supposed to be prepared. Passive fish and as difficult conditions as last time. Not like this on Tv.

Ha ha hard wind. The nature takes over no matter what. One fish per day and I was happy, I really was. Extremely difficult spooky fish. Step into that water and they´ll close their mouths. It´s for the fish best to keep the fishing hours in 12h per day. Fish conspiracy! Must say it´s pure luck to meet the conditions and the peak eating. We caught fish here and there but knowing there was more it was close to frustration. Home pool is absolutely perfect but.. they don´t seem to like flies. Or maybe the tying thread was just wrong color.

how often do you see 4 horses and dozen trouts in the same picture

it´s a long road to see 4 horses and dozen trouts in the same picture

3d´s cookings recommended, right hand side. Chef and future guide at the same cover.

We were lucky after all. Great company, perfect catering, two over 70 cm fish and dozen six to seven pounders. What more can a fly fisherman ask. Maybe next time we skip the ash part.

Juhas pb 71 reasons

time to fish

Aftermath: cold weather, hard wind and ash on the ground, all this was nibbling the perfection. In the horizon the volcano was still blowing ash and steam up to the sky. We inhaled probably loads of non healthy particles in the beautiful sunsets.

And then in the very last day, Juha experienced the window - the fish was actually rising and eating from the surface. And yet with his experience, being an O guide and all, he could not lure them to take his dry flies or micro nymps... Minni is not for the weak minded nor the catch centered. Pure hunting as it should be. Nevertheless we´ll be back.

the moment

5 wt rocks

First destination done. Everybody succeeded somehow. Time to find some fresh air more fish.

Golden circle for the first timer and then up to north.

Some people chase rainbows down there

Last kilometers to Akureyri

North

Horse shoe in the Arness lodge parking area was inviting Jamboree for a dance. Empty salmon lodge for three Finns. Leather sofa, light beer and master planning the up coming two days below the damn.

Pick one out of eight rods

first cast two fish.. second four.. third six...

bubble an earth is he talking about?

Mulartofa and Stadartorfa, of which the second was totally new acquaintance. Cold air was shouting for streamer fishing. We don´t prior the method but for covering the water it´s simply the most efficient way. After all Laxá is a big stream for big fish. I never caught really big trouts from there though that´s the place to meet the biggest salmon in Iceland.

still not a bad average

The river must hold fish up to 12 pounds but it´s hard to find. This was my fourth time and I am still missing fish over 65 cm. Amazing but so is the quantity of three up to six pound fish. Our first day catch was over 50 good size fish. I was soloing in the upper beat while the rest were covering the exiting canals of the lower beat. Following day we switched the places but kept the tempo. Fantastic fishing.

We took one fish, in the name of science that I learned from Japanese, for eating and celebrated the scientific results, that I learned from Japanese, by drinking wine and eating trout soup. Stomach full of rocks and cased caddis. Some unidentified nymphs and larvae that were surprisingly large. Never saw any documentation about those while living in Iceland?

Another notification was 15mm stone flies - they were not supposed to grow over 8mm. What an earth.. lack of volcano predictions and giant bugs.. so much for the geographers diary... and entomology from the 19th century.

Laxá i Laxardal

Juha making friends

After this the fish jumped three times

So far it all was really just a practice for the main beat in Laxardal, covering full board and cozy beds. We had huge expectations for the following three days. We were supposed to get the opening but no surprise the elite group of svfr were doing the honor for the three days prior to us. Luckily we met two locals from the elite making their exit and still they were kind enough frightening us by the swimming possibilities, as well as pointing us some basics and tipping few pools from the map covering 30 kilometer area including the both banks.

Another luck turn was the fact that despite the beat is sold for ten rods we were five fisherman in total. So instead of twenty men sharing rods and wading the lava bed we executed our desire without any limitations, meaning negotiations running competitions etc.

Three bums and two directors, btw they were sharing a rod

Strong stream with a lot of fall took us some time to find the fish. All sudden we hooked seven. This was six pound fish lying side by side on the mild thigh deep current. Code was broken.

can you see the code?

New place is difficult at first but after succeeding it was easier to take the challenge of the more than sixty numbered and named pools. Over the top we caught many fish from the unnamed areas just trusting our experience reading the water. This was a nice prize.

meet Matti, he is happy

Bigger fish than below the damn but more than a double price for fishing.. comme ci comme ca. Over priced I say. Quality fishing with Icelandic salmon touch. Strange enough here we caught more fish with upstream nymphing. Really anything close to cased caddis was functioning. We noticed that Pheasant tail tied Icelandic bulky style is actually really good caddis imitations. Ask the fish.

First generation of the black fly

Last but not least our hidden chill out destination. U river coming from Laxá and going back to the stream after three kilometers and changing name in the middle. Go figure! Outstanding stock of trout. Small pools with three up to six pound fish. 71 was our count after easy on and off fishing. And we fished 300 meters from 3000 meters. Fish were crazy taking olive green size 16 bead head nymps. Cast and fish and cast and fish and cast and fish and stroke.

myvarg attack

Humongous a a aaanything wih fins

Here is a local saga for sharing: Hördur the pure Icelandic arctic fox has the ideology of the known legend of Robin Hood. Great character used to guide president Clinton in the past. Always welcoming the hopeless finnish guys with a warm hospitality. Even organized a barn disco with most tender lamb and the local inbreeders... and while I´m writing this.. I suddenly realize, it´s better to experience all this in the real more than that I try to explain - so just go to Myvatn and ask for the fox. He´ll be there ready to take you up to Kraká.

team Finskur

Key West

2010-03-30T22:03:00.014+03:00

Took time to deal this trip - mixed feelings without trophies.. hell it´s permit fishing.

Always a pleasure to visit the States. Even Orvis bags relaxed meeting the trunk of the Cadillac after a long long too long flight. Funny enough the plain made a surprise stop-over in Halifax. Second sentiment for the salmon fishing in Nova Scotia but unfortunately the famous Miramichi river was flooded.. so we kept going south to the warmer surroundings. Little we knew.

Off course I had read about the historical cold weather and the belongings from the great Flies and Fins but still coming from the real winter we were hoping to meet the Caribbean subtropical climate.

Noup. It was cold! Why did I ever second guess taking a fleece..

We headed straight to Islamorada and started searching our pre booked accommodation. Turned out that Google maps or old man had made a mistake. Ultimate destination by the map was a private house in a closed community. When we actually managed, it took 45 minutes driving back and forth with in 1/2 mile, to find the hidden spot, owners first sincere comment was: "how did you get in from the locked gates" and then after deciding not to salt us he told to keep on driving 30 miles more.

Off we went all the way to Marathon. First night in the Bonefish resort - a last resort in deed. Cold sea breeze cold Corona and cold sunset... but still with a mile wide smile can´t really complain.

Day 1 DIY

We stopped at the Kmart and bought 3 days fishing license for 30 usd.. "yes yes fish everywhere".. Lower Matecumbe.. Long Key State Park.. Bahia Honda - all wadable and beautiful flats but no fish. No bones no nothing. Did I mention the cold water? No more diy.

Seashells that´s all.

After spending way too little time wading and searching around we packed the gear and started the Cadillac. Destination Key West.

Nice city. Hippie atmosphere, spring break, St. Patricks day and loads of partying people. We spend two days walking around enjoying the place. I pimped my gear in the Saltwater Angler with last season Simms on a half price. Personnel were helpful and seemed to know what they were doing.. guiding and trading.

Good spirit included feminine energy. She was introducing her Mirage reel experience with a great credibly. It´s incredible light... the spirit I mean. Don´t get me wrong but I wondered how would it feel to be guided by a woman. Probably not any different than any other guide but still. Good guides and bad guys - well it´s nice to wonder.

Don is the man. Did n´t take him a long time to fill us with the facts for the next three days. No tarpon, no bones and a little permit. North wind and woolen sweater. Big surf and cloud cover. Now that´s a way to start the season... if you are after a challenge. Take permit fishing in bad weather, well it´s just not likely (yea yea I know) to happen in Caribbean. So and so, maybe I should feel lucky to meet the extreme.

Anyway he poled the skiff and found us permits. Respect! Not many, too little to cover from the winter disease.

Sure! there were tarpons cruising under the piers.

Sunset view and margaritas. Something more to share, maybe next time. Bummer! Even missed the "perfect" photo..

2010

2010-03-02T21:15:00.005+02:00

New season new drama. My season begins in Florida on the next week. Easy going 7 days under the Caribbean sun with my old man. Just two of us and a pink Cadillac. Driving highway 1 all the way to the Keys. Luxury is needed after dark times, loads of work and waiting. After salt comes fresh water but serious trout season begins in May when I jump back to Iceland. This time three guys and two rivers, 10,5 days of continuation. First stop in Minni and then to Laxá.

Stay tuned!

Just another fly fishing story from the Pasific

2009-12-27T13:11:00.027+02:00

You never know until you return! I packed my fly fishing gear to travel with me to Mexico. More precisely to the city of Mazatlán just opposite to the tip of the Baja California. Big gamefishing paradise with only a bits and pieces of information about fly fishing possibilities. Www gave off course a couple of suggestions, mangrove light tackle etc... but my emails never led to any responses.

Mazatlán means a deer land but like any other place the wild life has retreated instead of the humans. The cozy fishing village´s population has grown into third of billion. It is most visible in the northern end of the city called dorado (golden) zone. New blocks are build with a wind speed including authentic Senor Frog shops in every 100m. Luckily I had the luxury of living in the cultural and atmospheric old town. I stayed in the very same hotel La Siesta, where Jack Cerouac was writing poets about the hippie movement already in the 50´. Accompanied by live musicians, local people, cheap food, good beer and tequila. In December!

3:1:1 = 60% tequila, 20% Triple Sec, 20% fresh lime

So there I was checking the horizon on the rooftop of the second highest light house in the world. Nice beaches more than 11 km and rocky shores, plenty of good playing area where small fish are chased by the predators such as roosters. On the way up to the mountain my pulmonia ride passed the old harbor so while climbing down from the heights I figured asking just some fishing fleet.

Asking about fly fishing and next thing I was negotiating a price for a deep sea fishing. Not the kind I was looking for but with my spanglish it took five minutes to make the guide to understand it. No luck or any further info.

I was still trying to contact couple of fleets by mail but no answer. My primary purpose for the journey was artistic so the attitude for finding was more or less hasta mañana. But still while training I kept the other eye on my inbox. Finally it paid off:

Job from Ifis community replied and he was willing to arrange a guide and boat at anytime. It was supposed to be the peak season but I was only a second fly fisher in Mazatlán in the year 2009. Can´t help thinking what´s the role for drug wars and H1N1.

I confirmed the booking by pay pall and set up a pick up for the morning. So called Super Panga for light tackle and 8 hours. Not bad, single fishing with Mexico fishing license, boat and guide in total 200 USD.

In El Cid, the new harbor, I met my captain José and told him about my fly fishing wishes. Somehow I had ended up with an idea that I was supposed to have an experienced guide for fly fishing. Obviously this was not the case. I started explaining more precisely what I wanted to do while he was smiling and packed the live baits to the cold box. Not the best start.

He drove the boat just out of the harbor area and let it drifting on the deep water. With any further explanations he started having breakfast and I started blind casting.. until captain started to prepare his rods for the troll after 10 minutes. I paid no attention for his actions but when he started the engine it was quite clear to stop the casting.

For maximizing the result it´s better to troll large areas than fly fish on a spot in Pacific. Sure! and this is exactly what he had in his mind when we started moving slowly towards the next spot. At first I had no problem to enjoy about the beautiful sun rise but then I thought that it´s my eight hours on the table. I kindly asked José to drop out of the trolling and move as fast to the next spot as possible. He probably kept me crazy since I had to repeat it three times before he gave up.

The customer taking a document of an early state ingettingtoknowsocialactivity.

We spend the next six hours for find a schools of fish and tuning the mental harmony. I spotted mostly the schools, his reaction was to hurry in between them and due to that I tried to cast flinging fish from a fast moving boat. Hoah! I was struggling to have fun.

I got some ok presentations for the schools but I had no idea what they were or they were feeding on. Big waves challenged my balance time to time by rocking the boat in four directions simultaneously. It´s fair to say that these pangas are not made for fly fishing.. but it is possible. Anyway the guide saw exactly the same but didn´t offer any solutions. We kept driving into the schools and every time fish moved a bit further. He was happy casting dead fish with his spinning rod while I was trying to to develop the situation by estimating the school moving direction. What a mess.

I tried several streamers and shrimp patterns but only activity was caused by a white and yellow Puglisi. Two times I got a follow but that´s all out of six hour casting. I confess that I was trying everything that I can think of but it was not enough. At the same time I was happy just to get a chance and the mental side started to show some improvement as well. At least now my captain waited that I gripped something before he accelerated the boat.

I was not surprised when he suggested to change the sport to a deep fishing. I was running out of time and decided to try the hot version of the fishing that we normally do trough the ice holes at this time of the year in Finland. Here he knew how to be a perfect captain and did all the preparations as he have been doing for tourists for at least 40 years. Smooth, easy and I got fish.

José prepared baits and joined pulling the fish after I got first snapper.

Then I got my surprise. Something strong took the shrimp 30 meters below me. Quarter of hard pull and captain swung the hook.

Permit is food like any other fish in Pacific.

On a fishing day I spotted two whales from a distance. After that I chose whale watching cruise over another day of fishing. This was excellent choice because for 75 USD I got to see 11 different Humpbacks. They are amazing creatures. Closest encounters within just five meters.

I didn´t left the sea with out catching a fish on a fly. I read few articles about surf fishing and wondered watching the waves on my home beach if they would be fine for that. Soon I spotted fish jumping and right after one large fish riding with a surf. Didn´t take me too long to pick up my rod from the casa. And there I stood and I casted to the sun set.. and finally got my fish. A 15 centimeter fish with a shrimp fly.

My journey was complete.

Lord Liberty

2009-09-20T23:03:00.015+03:00

His highness.

Proloque

You know the time when Autumn knocks a door. You start to plan the last fishing trip and after that it´s more or less one day stop overs here and there. The fishing is totally depend on Mother Earth´s mood at this time of the year. Your part is to pack everything especially head lamp and prepare mentally for great hatching or dead freezing cold black nights.

Sun sets nine in the evenings. The fishing becomes most productive but you need sixth sense to be able to fish in a black out. I mean the way that you really enjoy.

Finland is about 1160 kilometers long. The best fishing is in Lapland, of course about 16 hours drive, but luckily there are alternatives a little bit closer. Thanks to the fact we, Matti and me, decided to take a chance and try our luck. Not in the sense of fishing but transportation. Since it was only 400 kilometers drive to the destination we gave a walk to Lord Liberty.

Finnish people are the most fast nation in the world. Think about Keke Rosberg and Kimi Räikkönen.. and Häkkinen and Kovalainen and Mäkinen and Kankkunen and Grönholm and the rest 5,5 millions. Then picture an Italian turbo diesel from 70´s. No power steering or ABS so law tells you to keep 80 km per hour as maximum speed. Now.. you want to make the last trip a special, right.? Take this vehicle among the rally nation and as freebies you get to enjoy about crazy takeovers.

The fishing part of the story

check the place Äyskoski at
http://www.bluewhite.fi/showpage.php?id=71

We had great time fishing three days in Äyskoski. Besides the good quality fishing this place has one benefit regarding the Autumn weather. As they announce: If the weather isn’t at its best, you can enjoy indoor entertainment, for example champagne, beer or whiskey tasting.

We caught nice fishes, mostly graylings. That reminded me about one thing from my past. While living in Iceland I was wondering that what would Finland has to offer to an Icelandic angler. All I could think of worth marketing was tour Lapland. Nothing to compare against Icelandic fishing waters but at least we have trees.

Thymalus thymalus ate caddis from surface.

Well we have also grayling.. and big trouts and other species and so on but we have this very beautiful fish. And what is best about this species it´s eating almost all the time. Don´t get me wrong it can be tricky but most of the time it´s easy. For some reason it seems to be trusty towards fishermen. It doesn´t swim away while wading like trouts but instead it enjoys food in your eddy.

Driving your own casa is something that some people value and others just don´t understand. We enjoyed with full blast. It´s right kind of privacy in the woods or rapids. Take kitchen for example, it´s with you all the time. Anyway we had really nice time and Matti was even successful catching a nice trout on the last minute cast. We got the experience that we expected and little bit more...

Epiloque

We started rally back after weekend. And lord o why o lord the grand old car surprised us. I was driving easy back to Helsinki when we decided to take a break. We were exactly in the middle of the drive and Liberty decided to give up his clutch. #%&##%"€

It was midnight and no way to get to Helsinki. Only option was to park the car to the buss station and wait for the next morning. Location: Joutsa City. Mission: find a bar. Luckily Alabama welcomed us and irritation was temporarily gone.

Go to Joutsa!

This is Cuba!

2009-09-16T23:10:00.029+03:00

Beautiful colors

... and big bones

I booked the far most expensive fishing of my life. Value - I got the most experience fighting with the fishi fishi fishes. What a way to challenge your gear against the nature. Salt sun wind wet hot rain and beautiful women. Ok mosquitos as well.

So AIR FRANCE fucked up my dream. I was pissed O boy I was pissed. Luckily I am used to changes in my profession so I was able to reprogram my brain. Rum 50´s cars palms cigars salsa!

Welcoming salsa for 1 CUC

I arrived to Havana one day late to the original plan. Fast sleep , buss ride to a small domestic airport and a sun rise flight to Cayo Largo. There I was in a Paradise.. with a storm. No hurry to fish! Blind casting as first experience on sight fishing destination - no thanks. Second breakfast instead and easy start chatting with guides and four other British fishermen.

Everardo the guide

Chill set up for four different fishing gear and exploring my guide. Fresh guy and we hit the major note in the very beginning. Two young men ready to show of what we´re made of.. no really we started by hiding anticipation and the first moment the storm gave a break we were the leading skiff out of the harbor. Out to the channels and blind casting of course. I was practicing casting with #12 Helios and intermediate line. I must say that as much as I love my #8 I had to struggle with the rod. On windy conditions it took me two long days to learn proper casting with that rod. Proper equals healthy hand after a fishing day.

Home harbour

Rainy day

No real action on the channels. One follow with a 40-50 lb. Tarpon but that´s all. I don´t lie, I was struggling with my attitude. In Jardines I was supposed to hook 10-15 tarpons per day. This was not the tempo.

First saltwater fish

Thanks to the guide he saw my effort and decided to reward it. We went fishing to the flats. He knew it all the way and soon I learned why it was a bad idea on a rainy day. It was very difficult to see the fishes against the bottom. After circulating a while he spotted tailing school. Super excitement! Out of the boat and wading to the velvet. Sneaking like two ghosts, precise cast and a hook up. Bang the silver bullet ride 50 meters in a blink and circulated among the baby mangrove. Guide was giving directions, put your rod to the left put your rod to the right.. man I was hooked.

Thin rays goes along with permits

First day was short with the result of five bones. Five times of so much fun! I missed many fishes and learned that my casting accuracy was not the best. It was easy to absorb the clock system but waves and constant prowl caused my feet off front most of the time. My two was around twelve and so on.

catch and release!

Second day was still windy but break ups on the clouds. I practiced my skills with several fishes and lost many opportunities with false casting. At this point I noticed that my guide was giving me only directions to cast. I mean directions without a distance. This method taught me to spot the bones by myself. Two men see more fish!

Businexxx or pleasure

The relaxation is for sale. In a single skiff I was working for 8 hours per day. Poor guide poling but let´s not go there. I stood in the front and did my part of finding fish to cast. I was in a total bliss and every time we returned to the lodge I was happy tired ready to go to the bed right after the dinner.

Home path for five nights

I caught my tarpon. Baby tarpon for the first timer. Though it´s an obvious reason to return I rather choose swimming over AF. The action was fast - strip strip strip a bite strike jump jump strike shark SHARK! The bastard was planning to eat my tarpon. Luckily the guide was doing his part. While he was sending a serious message to the mammal, I was commanding my rod. I had read that you can´t scare a shark when it´s decided to eat but this the time punching pole was loud enough. The baby was in the net.

My babe!

Why it´s called fishing, it´s not a fish

Shark fishing became my third goal on the trip. On third day it was clear enough that Cayo Largo was not a tarpon paradise. Yes to paradise but no to tarpon sight fishing.

Sharks are tricky animals. The best way to get a bite is to hook a bonefish and lure a shark attack with detriment. I didn´t feel like messing with the nature that much. So I ended up with empty hands. I got several lemons to follow the flies but missing the flame of life they didn´t work out. Sharks can sense a difference between steel and organic.

Iguanas feed on human toes

Permit permit permit permit permit... in total it´s nine times of permit. I don´t have a picture of permit. What a beautiful fish. They don´t call it the most difficult for no reason. Cayo Largo is among the best places to get a Grand Slam. But it all starts from a permit. I was offered the chance for nine times. Once I got a bite and somehow missed the strike. Other eight times they just followed or spooked. Huuuh. Striping is an art form. One more reason to return.

Out in the flats, in the kingdom of permits

Paradise with a kind of pine tree

Hidden lagoon. Save the best for the last. One hour of riding with the skiff and we reached the big water. First time I saw deeper water with the corals. Cayo Largo is endless flats. Lot´s of action with out the Crown. Anyway we poled closer to the islands and last hidden ace was a path trough the mangrove. We entered to the magic lagoon - you know the type you get to see only with David Attenborough´s whispering. This was the case, thousands of small jelly fishes flying on the water.

Can you hear the mosquitos

No wind, birds singing, rain showers every now and then.. Tarpons! They were rolling but always out of reach. Poling closer but no visual contact. The major difficulty was the bottom, it was dark brown. Simply impossible to see the fishes until it was too late. We played this hide and seek for four hours. I managed to fool one but it fooled me back by rocketing towards me. Two jumps and it was off, I never got a chance to strike properly. These fishes were 40-50 pounders.

Statistics

Go to Cuba! It´s worth it!

Sum Sum

2009-09-06T13:42:00.009+03:00

Summer is turning into autumn. It´s been the best summer so far. In total I caught more than hundred and fifty good fishes. I experienced top fishing both salt and fresh water conditions. Only one day with empty hands. I caught many new species although I wasn´t successful with permit or shark. I learned Bimini knot and I learned to tie a shock tippet and I cast #12 single hand Helios in strong wind and i i Wau!

Iceland is fantastic. I can´t tell a bad thing about fishing in there. Sure it´s not gold all the way but worth spending every cent. Season is continuing until the end of October. Sea trouts are inhabitating the rivers as we speak. Fresh salmon is reported still every day. Next spring is on the table for sure.

Cayo Largo

Thanks to Air France I never reached Jardines de la Reina. My flight in Paris was canceled so I missed the connection in Habana. Avalon took care of the aircraft's mistake and replaced me to Cayo Largo. Thumbs up Avalon! I got my baptism to salt water fishing finally. The bad mood was forgotten for the moment I saw first car from fifties. Habana is a living postcard and by that I mean the surreal atmosphere that is present in every picture taken from Cuba. I´ll get back to this trip soon.

Huopana

check http://huopanankoski.fi/galleria/

Fresh water fishing in traditional rapids was my highlight in Finland. The biggest fish was 56 cm trout. Though it was very difficult fishing I caught 8 nice fishes in three days. We were 10 fishermen all together. In fact the classic place is fished every day with 10 rods trough out the season. What a jam.

Picturesque place but late season low water. Caddises were hatching every night but no sound of eating fishes. The fishing pressure must have impact on this. Sad but true I caught most fish with streamers. Sad because I waited to hook at least one nice fish with dry fly.

It´s my own choice and I am eating it all the way. Four weeks of fishing and I dare to get bored in three days to Finnish fishing realism. Here is a free warning - it´s dangerous to jump around. Another one - it´s expensive to fly around. Last one - sure way to stem your circulation of blood.

24 frames per second

2009-06-06T22:09:00.031+03:00

Iceland 2009

Quick introduction: Huislanti went Huisfinlanti. Busy busy but here is one second from our 11 days of nonstop fishing and more than 24 meters of brown trout.

We started by spotting the fish.

Then changed the gear. Running with three legs is faster than two.

As both lighting designers we search for the moment. Then a perfect cast.

Hooking a fish is essential. Has to happen fast especially when concentrating to the golden light.

Stranding a fish to the black lava beach. This is Iceland not Caribea.

..and measuring the prey. Seriously no need to touch the fish with hands, just speak friendly.

Last action is a kind of dance or worshiping, anyway kneel under the fly.

Then feel the endorphin and chillax.

Maybe some coffee while the pool calms down.

For more advanced fly fisherman: Alternative ways of fighting with the fish.

Running competition (fish is swimming).

Fighting and Zen.

Acrobatic aspect.

Something for the fashionistas.. for the rest, it´s our base camp in Laxá.

Icelandic scale system (unique), this is why they speak so often about the big fish.

With catch and release fish you need to go beyond the reason.

Outcome 64 cm.

Takes three minutes to tie this minnow.

Saw it, took it and thank you goodbye.

Before..

..and after, pb. 65 cm.

Matti 170 cm and trout 60 cm.

Me 178 cm and trout 60 cm.

Underwater camera just kicks ass. Hint included.

What just happened? Too much of endorphin?

cheers!

Another leg on the walk

2009-05-13T03:26:00.007+03:00

All packed.

1/2 rod

Even if the economic situation has lowered the fishing fees in Iceland the salmon fishing is still expensive. It might be useful information that it´s possible to share rods in Iceland. For people coming from the Scandinavia it´s a strange thought because this kind of fishing culture is missing the other Nordic countries. That´s a shame. Most rivers f.e. salmon rivers in Norway have a 24h fishing license. Only machines are really fishing for 24 hours so why not to use a half of your license for observing the conditions and enjoying the fauna happenings. Sharing the costs and as a bonus you have a friend spotting the fishes for you. Change turns as you wish.

Even if I have been living here for 18 months the thought is still strange for me. I am actually blaming myself now for not taking this opportunity to try out the world famous salmon rivers with a half price. On the other hand the fishing is limited here only for 12 hours per day which is already closer to the human capabilities. The figure is balanced with the professional fishing. A week is divided equally between saltwater fishing industry and freshwater fishing. Due to that regulation the fresh water fishing is allowed 12 hours per each day of the week. This is unique system and advanced in my opinion.

1/2 flies

Friends are worth of gold when sharing experiences. I like to fish solo but I like fishing with friends even more. The fishing as its best is a social event with good food and little wine on the breaks. I like analyzing the possibilities and techniques, what went wrong and so on. With a fishing buddy it means conversation and most important, another angle. Also if you feel that you want to try out something new, just borrow the fly box.

My friend Matti is coming here next Sunday. He is still a bit fresh on the sport so he doesn´t tie his flies yet. He buys and gets them from friends, such as me. And I am happy to tie flies for him. It gets even better if he hooks fishes with them. But my heart starts to weep when the given flies are diminishing after one week and the hand approaches to my precious fishing flies. I know I have been doing the same thing for my father for more than ten years. Quite frankly I don´t understand how he stood my hand.

1/2 meter

Sharing a rod is a nice thought but if the skills are not at the same level it can become a nightmare. I have been fishing with my father in many places and even if I have used the very same flies from his fly boxes the results haven´t matched. Experience is invincible.

So I guess as long the balance between buddies is somehow functioning one should not complain who is giving and what. Luckily I am mature enough to tie my own flies nowadays. I have got my share of the experience. Getting 50 centimeter fishes surely eases the pain for sharing things.. flies on this case. So if I am getting greedy with the fishing hours or possessive of the flies I just remind myself how nice it´s to share the memories with somebody.

100 new tools for my buddy. Lets write some new chapters.

Tortuga

2009-04-29T16:36:00.003+03:00

Not much has happened recently except that I tied lots of small flies like a machine and booked a high class fishing in Cuba for the end of June. My growing interest towards salt water species has finally changed for a real time action. I am supposed to go to an artistic residency in Los Angeles in July. That is in the middle of the best atlantic salmon fishing season in north Norway and normally I would be up there in the lapland at that time. So in return I thought this would be a perfect place to try something different. Tasted the thought and took the fly.

I used to skip the over seas articles about bonefish fly fishing. I thought that I never have the money or heart for that kind of fishing. I don´t like the lake fishing so what is the difference. This was maybe seven years ago. Then the articles introduced tarpon fishing and by the time people around me started visiting Bahamas and other places in the Caribbean. I heard great stories about bonefish, better fighter than salmon and that is quite impressive after all without using a river stream. Soon they started telling stories about hooking monsters. Now they were talking about tarpons and I thought that I don´t even have the needed courage to face the situation with 80 pounder on the other end. The fishing guides say that you need to want to hook one, in order to be able to fight one.

So here I am thinking about all the species that are waiting for my flies in Jardines de la Reina. I´ve got two words: Murphy's law. I booked the fishing yesterday and today I read that Cuba is closing borders from Mexico because of the pandemic. My whole idea was to stay over a week in Cuba and then continue flying through Mexico to Los Angeles. It is so distant and at the same time suddenly so present. Now should I feel lucky living here isolated, worrying if any of my neighbors happened to spend their vacation in Mexico or California recently. It´s good to have a possibilities traveling around the globe. Or is it?

Well.. I just sit and wait.

Laxá i Aðaldal

2009-04-18T00:16:00.013+03:00

Last year I was fishing Laxá i Adaldal approximately the same dates that I have booked now. It was a new river for me back then and I had a big expectations for it. It claims to be the best trout river in Iceland but also in the world by some people. I don´t have a simple way to rank the rivers in my mind so I consider that´s mostly a commercial talk. There are a lots of great pools but if you fancy fishing small creeks this is not a river for you. Though there are multiple islands and small creeks in between them, the profile in general is open wide. The river changes from the sea to the upper parts despite the valley is rather flat terrain. First beats are for salmon fishing and after that begins the trout beats. And btw. most rivers follow this pattern in Iceland. Then comes a dam which separates the poor and rich trout anglers. I have kept below the dam and fished the Hráun beat. Hráun means lava field and even if the river runs through grassy field you have to enter the area by driving through a majestic lava field. 4WD rules most fishing in here.

Hráun is 3 km long beat on the east bank of the river. Mostly calm drifting water with 40 to 80 meters width. There are some rapids but in my opinion they are quite shallow or the water goes too fast through them. It´s possible to wade all over except the deep pools which are holding the biggest fishes off course. It also happens that the drift on these pools is even calmer making them like ponds. Since the depth keeps you distant the only thing left is to enjoy the big fishes rising without being able to cast far enough. The other difficulty with fishing and wading is the bank height. When back casting from the river, the loop is on a perfect hight considering the grass field. So watch out your bare feet while walking on the banks.. the sheep shit is another story.

When I was booking the permits I got recommended this beat. I can understand the reason easily because Hráun holds the biggest area for fishing and has all kinds of water. With in one day, at least for me, it´s impossible to cover the whole beat efficient. The other beats are cut to shorter and placed around Hráun district. They are divided more by their profile. So if interested make sure you get what you want.

I had really good fishing over three days. I caught more than ten brownies per day. The average catch was around a half meter. I had the first warm days of the spring and the hatching was powerful. The trouts were feeding especially on mosquitos. The poor insects were drifting on the stream drying their wings and at the same time the fishes were keeping them out of floating to the rapids. Some kind of symbiosis but hey I was delighted to participate to the drama.

There are studies in the internet about the trout behavior in Laxá i Adaldal. The study suggest roughly that the stomach content (for 2,5 cm - 63 cm trouts) includes 58% of the blackfly Simulium Vittatum, 24% of the mosquitos Chironomidae, 7% of the fresh water snails and 10% of the other preys. Other prey is including caddises Trichoptera and minnows. So one might think that this would affect to the fly selection.

Like I wrote earlier the Rektor fly is developed for this river.. hmmm I got most fish with the #16 blackfly larvae. There are times and places for attractors but if I would have to guide somebody or choose one fly for the river it would be this:

ha ha just kidding.. the maraboumuddlerrektormodification would be my second choise

I was fishing Laxá two times during the last year. The second one was very close to be a disaster. Not because of the fishes, they were still there but in August the river was filled with WEED WEED WEED! There is so much free floating weed that after every cast you are forced to clean the fly. So if you want to get the world famous trout river feeling this is not a good time. And infact the river is getting weedy after June by the locals. The good news about this story is that I really learned how much is ok to strip nymps. To get any attention from the fishes the fly needed to separate clearly from the weed. So after realizing not to care too much about the floating weed, I began stripping the nymps. Cast to the upstream and fast pulls every three seconds and the rest is history. Not as many fishes and the average a bit smaller but still good fishing for another three days.

So I am really expecting upcoming five days. I think it´s the prime time for me and Matti.

360 degree turning head

2009-04-13T19:24:00.006+03:00

I am back here in Isafjörður. More experienced than a week ago. It was truly liberating to feel the action and give a try to the skills. Flies that I have been tying for the past four months were definitely better looking in the water. Also the little practicing with the casting paid off in fewer wind knots than normally early season. So now I know what it takes to continue chasing the prey.

I can´t stop wondering the Icelandic flies, if I think of the Rektor for example. It has been developed for the river Laxá i Aðaldal but seems to be present in various sizes in every anglers box. The fly is pure attraction and in my opinion quite ugly to the human eye. From the published data I know that fishes don´t see the colors as humans do, so on this case it´s better to trust on the catch statistic than my own eye.

I am beyond the belief that a fly would be the most important factor when fishing. It is significant when hooking the fish off course but to get there I can think of many more important behaviors that will affect to the possibility of catching a big fish. In Varmá I saw many anglers practicing back cast prior to the rolling which is fast and efficient way to redo the fishing with one cast. If you ad a white cap or pink scarf to this whipping, you can be sure that the fishes are at-least alert. While living in here and fishing in a crystal clear waters I´ve learnt a new meaning for a camouflage. It affects so much to the catch that just being a fact it should kneel you down. Now that´s a good place to start. The fishes are lying most likely close to the bank. There isn´t any trees so the bank is one of the few places to hide. Who said that it is an opposite bank. As well you should expect that it´s on your side of the river.

Presentation. That is the hardest part. For me it´s difficult at this time of the year when the fishes are passive. There are several factors that are influencing to the efficient fly action. You can always read and practice the conventional methods but every time while being on the bank I need something else. You can use easily a fishing day for changing fly lines, leaders and so on. So to minimize the unnecessary work it´s important to be able to read the water. In my experience it gets complicated when there are only few fishes in the district. You can fish the correct spots but the fish density may be against you. One conclusion could be that nothing beats the knowledge for the river you are fishing on. Then again good guides are worth of gold. Bummer I am a trout bummer.

I am learning all the time and I can´t help memorizing the last season. I was so overwhelmed by the location that I was literally running through the experiences. It´s a bliss to be able to change. During the winter I have studied the local fauna and determined the significant species for the fly fisherman. The season opening was just a scratch on the surface. In the near future I am finishing the tying and after one month there will be 11 days of hard core fishing in a three different locations. My friend Matti will join me and then it´s two heads instead of one all over this topic. We have booked 4 days in Minnivallalækur, 5 days in Laxa i Aðadal and 2 days in small Arnavatndalsá. That will be all the fishing in Iceland for this season. I am moving back to Finland but will it affect to the fishing.. hell no.

Summary

2009-04-11T17:46:00.007+03:00

Five days of fishing and 308 centimeters of fish. Rough conditions as it should be at this time of the year in here. Dressing properly is the most significant factor that can rune or rescue the fishing. Because of the constant wind a pair of good quality gloves are worth of gold. Especially when landing fishes and afterwards when your hands are wet they will get cold in a second.

River Varmá wasn´t as picturesque as Tunguflót that has more of the salmon river feeling on it. Varmá runs through Hveragerði city and continues to the sea some 11 kilometers later. The fishing beats are so close to the city that human activity is very present at all the time. When the night falls a sodium lights of "green house city" are lighting the sky. Plastic bags here and there with strange ropes and other obstacles on the river bed are part of the fact that we humans do interfere with the nature. From egoistic point of view it gets frustrating to fish with sinking lines (at this time of the year) and instead of fishes to get contact with peoples droppings. Now, I am too scared to think this ecologically from the fish perspective. Despite all this the small river holds a great stock of big fishes. It is a pearl indeed. We come and conquer but luckily the nature bears. But as we know things has to change.

Varmá ecosystem is rapidly influenced by rain. The terrain is geothermal and by the time it has transformed to the mixture of lava, sand and mud. So a heavy rain brings a lot of humus to the stream. When this happens rapidly the fishes are getting passive. However when the water is clearing it brings instant activity. On these terms it´s a matter of pure luck how the weather is going to be.

When I started fishing the river it was flooded. The heavy rain during the night had raised the level and colored the water gray. So not a pleasant first meeting. Luckily I met two friendly Icelanders who took me under their guidance. They were experienced fishermen in Varmá which was a huge benefit for me. Not knowing the system it all looked the same at these conditions.

They were using the traditional b/w fly Black Ghost. I went chartreuse and fluorescent. With no visibility and a heavy sinking line I hooked a lot of stones knowing that from the very same hot spot they caught 16 pounders the day before. We were covering a lot of water but had no contact for fishes in five hours. The water was clearing little by little and after I had changed the fly to size 1 white marabou muddler (ha ha) the first fish was hooked. Fresh run 53 cm sea trout. At this point I hail #8 Helios fly rod. It´s so soft when fighting with fish. Fast fight led netting and after measuring I released the beauty.

The regulations for spring fishing in Varmá is catch and release. The other term through out the entire country is the 12 hours of fishing per day. This is Iceland so even if the license defines the fishing hours strictly (7-13 and 16-22) the natives know that they can be bowed. I was the only one following these times by the book so at 9 p.m. I was alone fishing the best spots. This is weird for me because I am experienced hooking the biggest fishes when the sunlight disappears. This pattern happened in all three days.

Anyway the last hour of the day was probably the best fishing hour I have ever faced so far. It all started by hooking a big trout. At this point I was using two streamers. As tail fly I had a 14 cm streamer that I tied following the local catch fly Rektor. The original is tied with yellow black grizzly but my version is black and white. As dropper I used size 4 cone head Black Ghost. After hooking so many stones and loosing flies I had changed the fly line to intermediate. The fish took the tail fly and I felt immediately that it was a good size. After two 30 meter runs the fish chillaxed and I could reel it towards me gently. Then it was just a matter of finding a proper place for landing because my net was obviously far too small. While fighting I was standing on the bank 1,5 meters above the water level. After following the bank I found a grass stair closer to the surface and hand tailed the fish. I was truly exited. I took couple of photos quickly and regenerated the brownie. Personal best was true but there was more to come.

I relaxed for a moment enjoying the after burn and then I realized another pit. There was a fish surfacing continuously. I cast several times until the fish approved the dropper fly. I guessed that it was a charr and so it was. By using the same stair I slipped the fish to the net and after quick measuring released it, a silver 61 cm. There was still some activity going on and I put the fly back to the spot. Right after the flies dropped to the water I saw a big wave and fish rising towards Ghost. There it was the biggie. It was a serious pull of 10 minutes after I landed the fish from tail. It swam under every possible bank pit and it was a miracle that it stayed. I was hammered when I measured the charr. What a way to close a session.

The second day was cold, only +3 with cold wind. I fished through the same pools but no reaction. Since I knew exactly where the charrs were lying I changed streamers to nymphing. Soon I fooled a nice charr but this time it was hooked from the back fin. Fish pulled equally compared to the biggie. That was it. During the day I learned that the gates of the paradise weren´t constantly open. Even if the water was perfectly clear I couldn´t sight the fishes. On the deeper places the bottom simply disappeared.

The third day was a test. Whether was as bad as I can imagine at this time of the year. Lowering the temperature close to zero with a 20 m/s wind. I am telling you that it was crazy cold but I kept trying. No natives were present. Go Finn go! Absolutely silence until the very last hour of the day. Through the day I had covered about 3 kilometers of the stream with no results. Now I had returned to the hot spot. I cast continuously to the deep pool and tried every maneuver moving the fly I could think of. I even changed to salmon flies and when I was fishing with a copper tube Cascade I felt a hard pull that nearly took the gear out of my hands. Two kicks and it was off. What a way to end a session.

Last summary. Again? Definitely if you are after 16 pounder brownies. Despite the name, the water wasn´t so warm. It was only 5 degrees as in Tungufljót. It seemed that some change to weather or river condition is needed when the water is cold and the fishes are passive. I was reading the catch book and starting from the first of April there had been caught three 80 centimeter trouts and several 8-10 pounders. During my period the catch dropped dramatically. So I guess I should be happy with the first day actions. And I am but there is still to learn.

Varmá

2009-04-08T02:45:00.007+03:00

I am almost speechless. After struggling in the desert I found a paradise. Small river big fish. I say no more.. except that I began with 53cm.

charr 70cm

trout 63cm

pb. fat male.

2009-04-08T02:15:00.002+03:00

Tunguflót was a disappointment. Second day, rain all over.. so I skip the unproductive fishing and share another story. Relaxing in hot pot is superb. Especially in any kind of rain. In my opinion one of the luxories in Iceland (for fly fisherman) is that after hard work you can sit down and reward your muscles. Kind of a sauna but placed very often outside so there is always possibility for a refreshing extra. And if the fishing is all you can think of, you can combine the preparations for the next day. Here f.e. I am testing the knots.

Tungufljót day 1

2009-04-06T18:02:00.011+03:00

Waking at 555 am, hour later beautiful sunrise. Breakfast while softening the fly lines in the sink, then short drive to the river. Light wind with rain and four degrees. Trout beat begins from a bridge where a highway passes the river. Even if the famous Geysir hot spring area is close by the water temperature is only five degrees. It´s too cold for a fish to chase a centimeter. They are most likely lying on the bottom taking it nice and easy. My conclusion is that I need to find some warmer water. There has to be hot water coming to the river as well because of near by the thermal activity.

I give a try for Andre Brun´s charr. It´s quite authentic imitation and makes sense to me that big brownies would feed on them since there are only limited species on the menu. As an attractor I am using silver black bugger, local pattern Dyrbitúr. I face good looking deep pools and gentle runs with slow current but no contact with fishes.

Fishing in Iceland is divided in two parts, 7-13 and 16-22. On the first part I try also a smaller creek that is meeting Tungufljót somewhere downstream. From a hill next to Geysir you can see Laugá making serpentine on a valley and leaving good looking pools after every turn. After quick study with a self made net I spot nymphs (one species) and many different kind of tiny larvae or worm from the river bed. I change fishing gear to lighter and try cased caddis with tiny dropper. No result.

Second part is almost as empty regarding the fishes but as an adventure it´s another nice experience. After car is jammed to the mud I decide to continue proceeding grass field by walking. Off course it´s the hot spot of the day, wind disappears and the temperature rises to summer figures. Luckily there is a reward after sweaty hike, the path leads to hot spring drifting to the river. It´s opposite bank of Geysir which is reasonable. Shallow sand bottom with deep holes going somewhere to the heart of our polluting planet. Turquoise craters are creating lots of places for fishes to hide. They are experts since the only fish that I am able to see is three centimeter baby trout. She has landed herself to the beach. One of the few times when I practice release without catching.

All and all the first day is like anywhere else where you are fishing for the first time unguided. You need to read the water as you can and figure out where to to go by a map. Never not too easy. Luckily there are signs of spring that are cheering, birds are migrating and I spot several flocks of swans circuiting around me.

2009-04-04T16:27:00.003+03:00

Nightmare from my puritan approach to one to one imitation. Capnias are feeding on poor muddler.

2009-04-04T16:12:00.002+03:00

500 kilometers took nine hours of serious driving and finally I am sitting on a cosy black leather sofa, btw it seems to be an institution on every cabin around here. So relaxing with a glass of red wine and memorizing what just happened. The car faced the nature´s whole winter variety, snow, hail, wind, rain and the scary highlands where it all came together. When 24m/s wind and snow are crossing the road, I must say that they really know what they do when they close the highland roads. At some point I lost my visibility totally, all went white. So while I am tasting Frontera I am more and more convinced that it was a true sign to begin my fishing with white marabou muddler.

Some lucky guy was holding a nice fish on a fly rod when I passed bunch of rivers that are meeting the sea just before Reykjavik district. I smiled like a spring sun and from north to south the weather had changed completely. All the rivers I crossed down here had lost their ice cover. It´s amazing how little distances it takes to change the climate totally.

The best section was definitely to drive around the lake Thingvallavatn. It is so picturesque scenery. Not to mention that it is the most famous and popular fly fishing lake for charr and brown trout. I fished there for couple of hours last year and even if I spotted a few fishes I caught nothing. How ever I managed to leave around 30 flies to the bottom. Yes, lava can be tricky. I spoke to the local and he said, if you don´t lose your flies you are not fishing where the fishes are laying. So I tried hard.

2009-04-03T14:56:00.002+03:00

New day new weather. Driving through blowing snow.

Bending rods

2009-04-02T22:06:00.015+03:00

Never tied that many streamers. Never really liked the idea for imitating minnows and stripping endlessly. I wonder why. Something has changed. I even designed a leather fly wallet manufactured by my mother-in-law, just to fill it up with so many streamers. The leather itself is as special as turning a new page in my fly fishing history. It used to be a sofa in wsoy, Finnish publishing corporation. Many scary asses have worn it while they were introducing their book ideas to publisher and finally it finds his or her way to my vest after decades.

So now I am ready and packed with all the flies I tied during the winter, nymphs, larvae, dry flies, mouseminnows and the rest. I used loads of time to search the information about Icelandic insects. Very little has been studied or published. There are only one species of each: stone flies, may flies and dragon flies. Caddises are 11 species, all cased. This fact helped me figuring the strangeness that is characterizing the local fishing culture. There are so many fishes all over that probably only few people bothered to think carefully what flies they are using. I have a pile of local literature which is suggesting mainly attractor flies. Recipes are following mostly UK and the States patterns and still this is a Scandinavian country.

well..

It´s still winter up here in Isafjörður. To get out of the Westfjords is not an easy deal. It´s an unpleasant thought but my travel to south is in danger. The weather in Steimgrimsheiði is stormy and that means blocked roads. The plan is to drive south tomorrow, settle down to the lodge and get prepaired for cold experience. First two days are in Tungufljót and next three in river Varmá. The season opening gave some spectacular fishes from Varmá. The biggest was 14 pounder trout so I am waiting to break my personal best. Fingers crossed and hopefully the journey begins as planned.