EAST RANGA 2021 REPORT
What with a Christmas lockdown and a very drawn out unlock and covid spring (as well as a volcanic eruption) it was still a little unknown if we were going to get a hassle free year in terms of international travel. With many clients cancelled from parts of the Russia season the pressure was on to try and get Iceland under way. As luck would have it international travel resumed with a list of ever changing tests and forms. As we battled to keep abreast of these the Salmon were making their way back to Iceland to visit the mighty East Ranga river system.
We open the fishing in June to a largely local market. The early season can be a bit of a lottery in terms of catches but what we see caught is usually of a good size and fresh. Some lovely fish were caught in the run up to the first of July and some very good size fish at that. We regularly saw pictures of 95-100 cm fish landed and all through the river too. Therefore the advance party arrived with much excitement on the 29th June. Whilst we were all itching to get down to the river and cast a fly that had to wait as there was much to do both physically and from an administration stand point.
Alicja, Lenka and the team had worked tirelessly to ready the lodge for the first guests of the season. The rooms had an upgrade and a make over, the cabins a lick of paint and the stores stocked with delicious produce, wine and beverages. We started the with dinner at the lodge on the 30th June and no one wet a line until the morning of the 1st July. The fishing was mixed in early July with mainly large fresh fish landed up to around 20lbs. This would set the theme of the season in many ways. In classic spring fishing style we fished deep with large tubes and a searching approach. With a back drop of lupins and some really stunning weather there could not have been a better vibe to life both on and off the river.
As fishing progressed into July the bigger fish kept on coming. Whilst some beats took a long time to wake up the fish that ran in were big and strong and fresh. We were really heartened by the quality and apparent health of the fish we were catching. At this point the water was still high and cold with a little colour so heavy fishing tactics were the key but those who dare win and we had some good success with intermediate tips and some fish even on floating lines. The talk was always of “when the grilse arrive” as we continued to catch largely multi sea winter fish. A grilse caught on beat one was a topic of great excitement. Whilst the grilse did eventually turn up they were never there in the numbers of 2020. But on the plus side the big fish kept coming. And not only did they keep coming they, they kept getting bigger. Fish of 21 lbs were landed remarkably regularly. Deep strong cock fish with spade like tails. With a catch and release policy for fish over 80cms we were seeing the river fill up with these larger fish.
As July gave way into August the river was starting to show signs of both low water and clarity. East Ranga always pushes hard what ever the water height but a low and clear river that still struggles to warm up means often unusual tactics. Fishing with full floating lines and small cone headed tubes or sink tips and tiny doubles meant fish were not spooked by the line but also saw the fly close enough to take. That is not to say that fish did not venture up to the surface when the conditions allowed. We had some smashing takes on the Sunday Shadow variants that graced the leader of many rods throughout the summer months. However these were often fished deep as well. Make sure to talk to Albert about his Purple fly on a heavy sink tip.
August progressed with more and more smaller fish arriving. In fact they seemed to have arrived previously but due to cold low water they were not overly aggressive. That said they soon started to make up the bulk of catches as the seemingly never ending stream of bigger fish catches slowed. As August the 20th arrived the river was low and clear and even hot days did not seem to colour the water much. We were all crying out for rain but our prayers were answered in a most extreme way. The heavens opened around the 24th August and largely stayed open for the next month. Whilst we still caught fish in good numbers it was tricky as two months of dust and dry earth entered the river. It seemed to keep on going but quickly the fish acclimatised to the new state of the river and fishing caught up.
Throughout September and early October fishing went in fits and starts but the numbers kept on increasing. As the early worm fishers gave way to the Icelandic fishers the catches remained fairly steady with the odd weather related dip. With the new rules on catch and release after 4 fish there were a fair few fishers trying the fly for the first time and with success. As the season ran to a close the fishing began to do the same with only a handful of fish being landed most days into late October.
It is difficult to judge a year like this on numbers of fish after circa 9000 fish landed in 2020. There were days when greeting the clients off the river and the fishing had been a bit tough or their beat had not been as productive as it might but every time we were greeted with joy and enthusiasm. Not only were fishers pleased to be able to travel at last but the whole vibe of the river from lodge to guide to beat was just really special. We landed 3274 fish to 18 rods with Holsa landing 371 to 6 rods. This put East Ranga second for overall catches but more importantly, with 181.8 fish per rod, in the top 5 in terms of rod catches in Iceland. Whilst some rivers in Iceland did well compared to last year the general feeling was that returns were poorer than previous years. Having said that with all the catches in the book what has become clear is that 2021 was the year of the big fish at East Ranga with 135 fish landed over 90cms.
There are so many factors in the river and at sea that can effect this but we have to put our best foot forward. Anglers but there very nature are optimists and none more so than Salmon Anglers. We had a very successful smolting season in 2021 so all things point to a great season in 2022. It is easy to base judgements on what sort of season we are likely to have based on history and guess work. But the best way to experience a truly remarkable fishery is to just keep fishing.
