NEW SEASON
Even with persistently tough weather last summer East Ranga was one of Iceland’s two most prolific rivers, producing over 3800 salmon in four months to an average of 16 rods.
As we look forward to the 2023 season there is an opportunity to make an informed guess on what lies ahead. All Atlantic salmon rivers share the need for good numbers of strong smolts to navigate to saltwater in optimal health, giving the best chance of a successful migration to and from feeding grounds in the north Atlantic and arctic oceans.
By all accounts 2022 was a very good year with colder weather meaning we retained the smolts in the river longer with very low mortality and very little predation on the journey out of the river, where by this time the sea temperatures were warmer than average. 2022 also saw a high percentage of large male grilse landed in the 5-8lb range, and we are therefore hopeful for a strong run of two sea winter female salmon this summer, accompanied by grilse from the 2022 smolt ‘class’.
Despite a recent dump of snow; spring is taking hold in Iceland. The snipe are drumming, the curlew are arriving and tiny wild flowers are starting to push into the light. The new lodge managers Marta and Julita have taken on the roll with great gusto and are already hard at work getting the lodge back up and running from its winter closure, improving elements of the guest rooms and main facilities whilst addressing all the small annual snagging items and touch-ups to provide a welcoming and fresh ‘home’ for our fishers.
To ensure everyone fishing has the very best chance of success East Ranga has purchased a full range of brand new loan tackle, with Mackenzie 14ft 9wt rods, high quality new reels and lines to match. There is no charge for use of this loan equipment, including waders and wading boots of which there are a range of sizes in the loan inventory. Add this to the lodge’s small but accurately focused selection of flies & terminal tackle, and our fisher’s worst pre-travel nightmares about lost luggage, broken rods, or leaky waders are eased.
We look forward to welcoming fishers back to the lodge in late June.
