The river
Stóra-Laxá
Ninety kilometres from a highland lake to a glacial river, through canyons that almost nobody sees.
One of Iceland’s great big-fish rivers
Stretching 90 km (55 miles) from Lake Grænavatn to the glacial river Hvítá, Stóra-Laxá is one of Iceland’s most celebrated Atlantic salmon rivers. Renowned for its exceptional runs of large multi-sea-winter salmon, it is widely regarded as the premier stronghold for trophy salmon in southern Iceland.
From its rugged highland origins, the river flows through dramatic volcanic canyons before opening into beautiful meadows and wide, crystal-clear pools on the lower beats. Stóra-Laxá offers a remarkable diversity of water, from fast, technical canyon runs to slower glides and classic holding pools, making it an exciting destination for experienced and aspiring salmon anglers alike.
The river is fished in three distinct sections by a maximum of 12 rods a day, which keeps fishing pressure low and the experience genuinely exclusive. Two comfortable lodges serve it: a fully catered lodge for the lower section and a self-catered lodge for the upper. The Gorge is fished by the day and sold without accommodation.
A non-profit fishery
We are a non-profit operation. All profits are put back into the health of the river — buying out nets at the mouth, and building better habitat for smolt and parr.
That is also why the river is fished the way it is: fly-only, catch & release on all fish, and two sessions a day rather than dawn to dusk, so both the angler and the water get a well-needed break.
The three sections
- Lower Beat · Neðra svæði
- Eight rods on the water up to and including Hundastapi — and, until 2 August, the whole river besides.
- Upper Beat · Efra svæði
- 3 rods from Hundastapi up, through the tougher terrain where Stóra-Laxá cuts the canyons of the Hreppar valley. On sale separately only from 2 August; before that it is part of the Lower package.
- The Gorge
- A single rod where few have ever set foot: a very high proportion of multi-sea-winter fish, and the salmon furthest from the sea in all of Iceland.
Laxárgljúfur — the canyon
Above the meadows the river cuts into Laxárgljúfur, a gorge of black rock and crystal-clear water that is as much of the reason to come here as the fish are. The walls run for kilometres; the pools between them are short, technical and often unfished for days at a time.
The canyon is where the character of Stóra-Laxá shows itself. Salmon are mobile with water level — they push up from late July in good water — and there are always trout in the gorge.
How the river is fished
- Fly only
- Single-handed and double-handed fly, no bait and no spinner.
- Catch & release
- On all fish, not only salmon. No restriction on hooks.
- Two sessions a day
- 08:00–13:00 and 16:00–22:00, with the middle of the day a rest for the pools and for you.
- Up to 12 rods a day
- 8 on the Lower Beat, 3 above Hundastapi on the Upper, and 1 in the Gorge — counted separately, 12 a day across the river.
- A guide with your rod
- Included on the Lower and Upper sections and not declinable — one guide per two rods below, one across the 3 above. Optional in The Gorge.
- The rod is the licence
- No separate permit. Imported gear must be disinfected, which we can handle on arrival.
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Getting to the river
The river is inland from Flúðir in the south of Iceland — the Lower Lodge is about ten minutes from the village, and roughly ninety minutes to two hours from Keflavík International Airport, or a little over an hour from Reykjavík.
Most anglers fly into Keflavík and take our private transfer straight to the lodge, so nobody has to drive after a night flight. If you would rather have your own vehicle, the lower lodge is reachable in a normal car; the upper lodge wants something with clearance, and the Gorge needs a capable 4×4 and a walk in.
Where we are
Lower LodgeSkarð, Skeiða- og Hrunamannavegur804 Selfoss, IcelandTen minutes from Flúðir, South Iceland
- Phone
- +46 704 869 305
- stora@storalaxa.is