Large River · Volcanic · Vesturland / Borgarfjörður

Þverá/Kjarará

A major west-Iceland salmon river formed by the confluence of the Kjarrá (upper) and Þverá (lower), running some 64 kilometres through the Borgarfjörður district.

Species

A good day — worth the effort

Low and clear — careful approach country. Small and bright, long leader, careful approach.

50% confidence in this read
Water temperature for atlantic salmon
Cool — slow
10°C est.ideal 10–14°C
0°14°28°
Why this score · for atlantic salmon
  • Temperature9530% weight
  • Flow4525% weight
  • Clarity9520% weight
  • Feeding Time1015% weight
  • Pressure8510% weight
Conditions
○Regional est.
Level
Dry recently
No gauge reading
Water temp
9.8°C
Estimated
Clarity
Clear
Air temp
9°C
Wind
NE 10 km/h
Light breeze
Pressure
1002 hPa
Rain · 48h
0.0 mm
No meaningful rain
Rain · ahead
1.8 mm
No meaningful rain · next 48h

No gauge on this water — readings are regional estimates from weather, not a live gauge.

Evidence
ModelledModerate confidence

Modelled from regional ecology — no survey or occurrence data for this water yet.

How to fish it · for atlantic salmon
When
Late June through mid-September. The Þverá / Kjarará system is a west Iceland classic — wild fish, named-pool tradition, intimate scale.
Where
Named pools through the Þverá and Kjarará beats. Strict named-pool fishing — book through the lodge for beat assignments.
Method
Hitch tube on a floater is the Icelandic signature — small cone-head sizes 12 to 14, hitched across-and-down. Conventional small wets and tubes when the hitch isn't on. Single barbless mandatory; mandatory C&R on most beats.
Kit
11 ft switch or 10 ft #7/8 single-hander — most Icelandic beats reward short-rod accuracy. Floating line. 10 to 12 lb fluoro tippet.
Why this works
Good — water temperature is working for you, but time of day is the limiting factor today.
Salmon run timing
2024 season

Through the year
0–3 scale · June highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Salmon runRun
1
2
2
1
GrannomHatch
2
2
Evening SedgeHatch
2
3
3
3
2
Western Green DrakeHatch
2
2
Flav (Small Western Green Drake)Hatch
2
3
2

Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.

Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • Two lodges with seven rods each
  • Booking is essential and typically arranged well in advance through operators.
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
About this water

A major west-Iceland salmon river formed by the confluence of the Kjarrá (upper) and Þverá (lower), running some 64 kilometres through the Borgarfjörður district. Two lodges work seven rods each, and the river consistently ranks among Iceland's top three producers. The water is glacially influenced but manageable, with a mix of classic pool-and-riffle beats that suit both single-hand and double-hand approaches. This is a volume river by Icelandic standards — not a tiny exclusive beat but a big, productive system where coverage and persistence pay off.

  • River
  • Volcanic
Seasons & zones
  • Salmonlate June → mid September
Other water nearby · 5
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