Stillwater · Volcanic · Norðurland eystra, IS

Mývatn

Wide panorama of Lake Mývatn, the calm open water surface with volcanic hills and lava fields beyond.
Fair · Trout
Þingvallabobbi · 10-14
A respectable few hours, if you choose your moments
Good wave on — drift country. A useful wave. Work the productive shore.
49% confidence
limited data

Mývatn is often best in june september.

What moved it
  • WindNW 10 km/hLight breeze
Today's fly
Þingvallabobbi
Þingvallabobbi10-14
Static, sub-surface
Conditions on the water
Live gauge
Wind
Light breeze
NW 10 km/h
N
NW
from the north-west
Wave20 cm ripple
Water temp—
Air temp13°C
CloudClear
Pressure1013 hPa
Rain · recent0.0 mm

Some readings unavailable — check directly before 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 3 guilds with Pro.

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Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey

Hatch predictions

Top prey shown — see all 5 with Pro.

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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
RB
Red Buzzer
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
  1. Wide panorama of Lake Mývatn, the calm open water surface with volcanic hills and lava fields beyond.
    Lake Mývatn panorama
  2. The Skútustaðir pseudocraters rising from the calm surface of Lake Mývatn, Iceland.
    Pseudocraters on Lake Mývatn
  3. Broad panorama across the open water of Lake Mývatn with lava fields and mountains.
    Lake Mývatn
  4. Rootless pseudocrater cones of Skútustaðir reflected in the still water of Lake Mývatn.
    Skútustaðir cones, Lake Mývatn
  5. Panoramic view of Lake Mývatn, the calm reflective water surface and surrounding volcanic hills.
    Lake Mývatn panorama
  6. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
Why this score
  • Wind conditions (ripple) closely match what this water fishes best in.
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
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
Thermal Layers & Troutreading depth and temperatureEuro Nymphingsubsurface methods
Booking & contacts
Permits & access