The River Kjarra is the upper part of the River Thvera-Kjarra which is located in spectacular, natural surroundings in Borgarfjordur, southwest Iceland, approximately 140km from the capital Reykjavik.
The length of the Kjarra river is 45 km and has 91 marked pools in total; all private water. The beats comprise a variety of pools and streams which provide first-class fly-fishing. Most of the beats are easily accessible, with no trees to hinder casting.
The salmon fishing
The fishing is organised on a three-day basis, commencing in mid-afternoon on the first day and ending at noon on the final day. Fishing is permitted for a period of 12 hours per day, usually from 7 am to 1 pm and from 4 pm to 10 pm, with a quality lunch break in between. The maximum number of rods allowed to fish the Kjarra at any one time are seven. Rod sharing is permitted, though limited to a maximum of two persons per rod.
The Kjarra river is fished with single handed 9ft rods no 7-8 with floating lines and small flies of sizes 10 to 16. Here are a few examples of the most popular and productive flies and tubes used in the River Kjarra during the past few years: Red Frances, Black Frances, hitch tubes, Hairy Mary, Black Sheep, Blue Charm, Monroe Killer, Sunray Shadow, Collie Dog, Green Braham and Green Butt.
There is a bag limit of five fish per day for each rod but after that you may catch & release. Your catch can be chilled or frozen so that you can take it with you when you leave. Alternatively, you can leave it with the outfitter for smoking and shipping at a later date. Catch and release is becoming more popular, and especially for 2-year-old fish, longer than 70cm (28") should be released for conservation reasons.
Guiding Service included
Four English-speaking ghillies will be on hand, equipped with four-wheel drive vehicles. The knowledgeable ghillies usually provide their services on a shared basis to fishermen. They will provide the necessary assistance, guidance and transport between pools to ensure you enjoy your stay on the river to the fullest extent.
The fishing lodge "Vigholl"
You will stay at Kjarra comfortable lodge and be treated to first-class cuisine prepared by leading chefs. The lodge features an attractive lounge and dining room; eight twin-bedded rooms, all with private bathrooms and shower. A sauna and jacuzzi are located on the terrace. The lodge has central heating, a drying-room and storage areas for your fishing gear along with refrigerators and freezers for your catch.
Your meals will be served at fixed times. Breakfast provides a good start to the day; two-course lunch served during the break or an optional packed lunch. After a wonderful day of fishing, the renowned and award-winning chefs will prepare a delicious gourmet three-course dinner to be served by the caring and attentive staff. Wine, beer, spirits and soft drinks are available at extra cost.
Statistics
The Thvera (with 7 rods) and Kjarra river (the upper part of Thvera-Kjarra with another 7 rods) consistently rank amongst the highest of Icelandic rivers in terms of catch. The ten year average salmon catch is 2,090 or 23.1 fish per day for the 14 rods, or equivalent to 1.65 per rod per day. The average size of catch is 6.9lbs. However, a fair number of salmon caught annually are in excess of 20 lbs with a good many ranging between 11 to 20lbs.
The Freshwater Fisheries Institute of Iceland maintains catch-statistics for some 100 rivers. Over the last thirty-five years, the average annual number of rod-caught salmon is 34,500. During the same period, the ten most prolific rivers in Iceland yielded an annual average of 1,400 salmon each. Thvera and Kjarra yielded an annual average of 1,959 salmon over the same period.
