Shallow volcanic lake famous for enormous midge hatches and superb brown trout fishing. Arctic char also present. The name literally means 'midge lake'. Prime June–August.
- Lake
- Volcanic
Rules at a glance
- Permit required
How to fish it · for Trout
When
Through the Icelandic season — late May through October. Mývatn's browns feed heavily on the famous midge swarms (the lake is named for the midge — "midge lake"); midsummer hatches are extraordinary.
Where
Drift lines along the shoreline reefs and around the inflow streams. Mývatn is shallow with extensive weed and lava structure — fish on and around it.
Method
Drift on a floater with small wets and midge patterns; dries to surface-feeding fish on the calmer days. Drogue on the bigger drifts.
Kit
10 ft #6/7 boat rod; floating and slow-intermediate lines; 5 to 6 lb fluoro tippet — Mývatn browns are big but the gin-clear water demands fine. Drogue and a long-handled net.
The plan
Plan A
Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work a bushy searching pattern on the bob and drop a contrasting nymph on the point.
Plan B
If the main plan is not working, switch to a smaller, more imitative pattern fished slower and deeper. A change of drift angle can also make a difference.
Watch for
Evening tends to be the best period in summer — stay late if you can for a sedge or spinner fall.
Boat — drift
A gentle ripple is ideal for drifting — broadside drift covering the wind lanes should be productive.
Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface
Hatch predictions
Top nymph shown — see all 4 guilds with Pro.
Start free trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey
Hatch predictions
Top prey shown — see all 5 with Pro.
Start free trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Through the year
0–3 scale · August highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
1
Black MidgeHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Daddy Long LegsHatch
2
3
2
Lake OliveHatch
1
2
2
2
2
2
1
Silverhorns & LonghornsHatch
1
2
2
2
1
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
Ranked for today
Trout fly box
12-18 · Pattern
Static, sub-surface
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
- Check geothermal lake access and regulations
- Some protected.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Condition match
66%
Cloud25%
Wind100%
Temp60%
A reasonable day here, though cloud isn't quite in the sweet spot.
Gallery · 6
Lake Mývatn panorama 
Pseudocraters on Lake Mývatn 
Lake Mývatn 
Skútustaðir cones, Lake Mývatn 
Lake Mývatn panorama Terrain map
About this water
Why this score
- Wind conditions (ripple) closely match what this water fishes best in.
Directions
Seasons & zones
- Trout 1 June → 30 September
- Char 1 May → 15 September
Icelandic Arctic char (bleikja) — fishery permit controls all dates. Common season May–mid-September; exact dates issued per fishery permit. Resident lake char prime late May–mid-July; sea-run char (sjóbleikja) peak July–August. Always obtain the current fishery permit before fishing char in Iceland.
Related guides
Booking & contacts
Permits & access
Mývatn
Shallow volcanic lake famous for enormous midge hatches and superb brown trout fishing.
How to fish it · for Trout
When
Through the Icelandic season — late May through October. Mývatn's browns feed heavily on the famous midge swarms (the lake is named for the midge — "midge lake"); midsummer hatches are extraordinary.
Where
Drift lines along the shoreline reefs and around the inflow streams. Mývatn is shallow with extensive weed and lava structure — fish on and around it.
Method
Drift on a floater with small wets and midge patterns; dries to surface-feeding fish on the calmer days. Drogue on the bigger drifts.
Kit
10 ft #6/7 boat rod; floating and slow-intermediate lines; 5 to 6 lb fluoro tippet — Mývatn browns are big but the gin-clear water demands fine. Drogue and a long-handled net.
The plan
Plan A
Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work a bushy searching pattern on the bob and drop a contrasting nymph on the point.
Plan B
If the main plan is not working, switch to a smaller, more imitative pattern fished slower and deeper. A change of drift angle can also make a difference.
Watch for
Evening tends to be the best period in summer — stay late if you can for a sedge or spinner fall.
Boat — drift
A gentle ripple is ideal for drifting — broadside drift covering the wind lanes should be productive.
Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface
Hatch predictions
Top nymph shown — see all 4 guilds with Pro.
Start free trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey
Hatch predictions
Top prey shown — see all 5 with Pro.
Start free trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Through the year
0–3 scale · August highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
1
Black MidgeHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Daddy Long LegsHatch
2
3
2
Lake OliveHatch
1
2
2
2
2
2
1
Silverhorns & LonghornsHatch
1
2
2
2
1
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
Ranked for today
Trout fly box
12-18 · Pattern
Static, sub-surface
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
- Check geothermal lake access and regulations
- Some protected.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Condition match
66%
Cloud25%
Wind100%
Temp60%
A reasonable day here, though cloud isn't quite in the sweet spot.
Gallery · 6
Lake Mývatn panorama Pseudocraters on Lake Mývatn Lake Mývatn Skútustaðir cones, Lake Mývatn Lake Mývatn panorama Terrain map
About this water
Shallow volcanic lake famous for enormous midge hatches and superb brown trout fishing. Arctic char also present. The name literally means 'midge lake'. Prime June–August.
- Lake
- Volcanic
Why this score
- Wind conditions (ripple) closely match what this water fishes best in.
Directions
Seasons & zones
- Trout 1 June → 30 September
- Char 1 May → 15 September
Icelandic Arctic char (bleikja) — fishery permit controls all dates. Common season May–mid-September; exact dates issued per fishery permit. Resident lake char prime late May–mid-July; sea-run char (sjóbleikja) peak July–August. Always obtain the current fishery permit before fishing char in Iceland.
Related guides
Booking & contacts
Permits & access