Iceland's largest natural lake, partly within Þingvellir National Park and famous for trophy brown trout plus multiple Arctic char forms. Spring-fed, crystal-clear water in a tectonic rift valley. The practical season in the national-park area runs from 20 April to 15 September, with stricter early-season fly-only and brown-trout-release rules.
Rules at a glance
- Free fishing
- Fly only
A patient day, if you fancy it
Good wave on — drift country. Take your time — read the water before you cast.
40% confidence — limited data
This venue is often best in june september.
Live now
Conditions on the water
Trends shown where the gauge supports them
Wind
E 19 km/h
Gentle breeze
Wave
40 cm chop
Water temp
—
No reading
Air temp
4°C
Cloud
Overcast
Pressure
—
Rain · 24h
0.0 mm
No rain
Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.
How to fish · for brown trout
The brief
When · where · method · kit
How to fish it · for brown trout
When
Through the Icelandic season — late April through October on Þingvallavatn. The famous urriði (Þingvallavatn brown trout) average bigger than anywhere in Iceland; long midsummer light extends fishing into the small hours.
Where
Drift lines along the rift cliffs and lava-shore margins. Þingvallavatn is a tectonic-rift lake — fish hold on the structural edges.
Method
Drift on a floater with a team of three — small wets and dabblers; midge-tip when fish hold deeper. Drogue on the bigger drifts.
Kit
10 ft #6/7 boat rod; floating and intermediate lines; 6 to 8 lb fluoro. Drogue and a long-handled net — Þingvallavatn browns run large.
Today's tactical plan
The plan
Plan A · Plan B · what to watch · bank or boat
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
Keep an eye on changing conditions — wind shifts and cloud breaks can trigger short feeding spells.
Boat — drift
A gentle ripple is ideal for drifting — broadside drift covering the wind lanes should be productive.
Hatches & runs
What's on, when
Twelve months at a glance
Through the year
0–3 scale · May highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
1
Large Dark OliveHatch
1
2
2
1
March BrownHatch
1
2
1
Iron BlueHatch
1
2
2
1
Blue Winged OliveHatch
1
2
2
2
2
1
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
Today's fly · curated pack
Top pattern + the box
6 patterns from this venue's curated pack
Evidence
Why today scores what it does
The factors driving today's verdict
Why this score
- late spring conditions with overcast skies and breezy wind.
Detail · next 12h
Precipitation
The reading most likely to move tomorrow's verdict
About this water · Lough note · 4 min read
Þingvallavatn · profile
Who this water suits
Strengths · watch-outs · best for
About this water
Þingvallavatn, on the water
Field guide · contributor-editedÞingvallavatn · about
What this water is
Background · character · contributors
About this water
Iceland's largest natural lake, partly within Þingvellir National Park and famous for trophy brown trout plus multiple Arctic char forms. Spring-fed, crystal-clear water in a tectonic rift valley. The practical season in the national-park area runs from 20 April to 15 September, with stricter early-season fly-only and brown-trout-release rules.
- Lake
- Volcanic
Þingvallavatn · directions
How to get to the water
Directions
Þingvallavatn · zones
Where the rules change
Seasons · zones · per-species rules
Seasons & zones
- Trout20 April → 15 September
- Char20 April → 15 September
Þingvallavatn · permits
Licences, sorteo, the rules
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
- In the Þingvellir national-park area, the season is 20 April to 15 September
- From 20 April to 1 June only fly is allowed and all brown trout must be released
- Fishing is forbidden in Öxará and at its mouth, and Hallvík closes from 1 July to 31 August.
Þingvallavatn
Google Places
Iceland's largest natural lake, partly within Þingvellir National Park and famous for trophy brown trout plus multiple Arctic char forms.
Species
A patient day, if you fancy it
Good wave on — drift country. Take your time — read the water before you cast.
40% confidence — limited data
This venue is often best in june september.
Conditions
Wind
E 19 km/h
Gentle breeze
Wave
40 cm chop
Water temp
—
No reading
Air temp
4°C
Cloud
Overcast
Pressure
—
Rain · 24h
0.0 mm
No rain
Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.
Condition match
59%
Cloud50%
Wind65%
Temp60%
A reasonable day here, though cloud isn't quite in the sweet spot.
How to fish it · for brown trout
When
Through the Icelandic season — late April through October on Þingvallavatn. The famous urriði (Þingvallavatn brown trout) average bigger than anywhere in Iceland; long midsummer light extends fishing into the small hours.
Where
Drift lines along the rift cliffs and lava-shore margins. Þingvallavatn is a tectonic-rift lake — fish hold on the structural edges.
Method
Drift on a floater with a team of three — small wets and dabblers; midge-tip when fish hold deeper. Drogue on the bigger drifts.
Kit
10 ft #6/7 boat rod; floating and intermediate lines; 6 to 8 lb fluoro. Drogue and a long-handled net — Þingvallavatn browns run large.
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
Keep an eye on changing conditions — wind shifts and cloud breaks can trigger short feeding spells.
Boat — drift
A gentle ripple is ideal for drifting — broadside drift covering the wind lanes should be productive.
Why this score
- late spring conditions with overcast skies and breezy wind.
Through the year
0–3 scale · May highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
1
Large Dark OliveHatch
1
2
2
1
March BrownHatch
1
2
1
Iron BlueHatch
1
2
2
1
Blue Winged OliveHatch
1
2
2
2
2
1
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
Gallery · 1
Terrain map
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
- In the Þingvellir national-park area, the season is 20 April to 15 September
- From 20 April to 1 June only fly is allowed and all brown trout must be released
- Fishing is forbidden in Öxará and at its mouth, and Hallvík closes from 1 July to 31 August.
Directions
About this water
Iceland's largest natural lake, partly within Þingvellir National Park and famous for trophy brown trout plus multiple Arctic char forms. Spring-fed, crystal-clear water in a tectonic rift valley. The practical season in the national-park area runs from 20 April to 15 September, with stricter early-season fly-only and brown-trout-release rules.
- Lake
- Volcanic
Seasons & zones
- Trout20 April → 15 September
- Char20 April → 15 September
About this water · Lough note · 4 min read
Iceland's largest natural lake, partly within Þingvellir National Park and famous for trophy brown trout plus multiple Arctic char forms. Spring-fed, crystal-clear water in a tectonic rift valley. The practical season in the national-park area runs from 20 April to 15 September, with stricter early-season fly-only and brown-trout-release rules.
Other water nearby · 5
Booking & contacts