Best Times & Seasons to Fish in Iceland (Complete Guide)

Iceland offers some of the best fishing in Europe. Understanding the best seasons and times to fish can greatly impact your success.

The best times to fish in Iceland are during the summer, from June to August when the weather is milder and fish are abundant. Additionally, July and August offer extended daylight hours, providing more time for fishing.

Month	Iceland Fishing Location
January	Laxá in Adaldalur River – Winter salmon fishing in picturesque surroundings.
February	Lake Thingvallavatn – Ice fishing for trout in a frozen landscape.
March	Vatnsdalsá River – Spring salmon fishing in northwest Iceland.
April	Jökla River – Prime time for Arctic char angling in eastern Iceland.
May	Lake Þingvallavatn – Trout fishing in the stunning Thingvellir National Park.
June	West Rangá River – Peak season for salmon fishing in southwest Iceland.
July	Lake Mývatn – Abundant brown trout and Arctic char fishing amidst volcanic scenery.
August	Hofsá River – Autumn salmon fishing in the beautiful East Fjords.
September	River Sog – Prime time for large salmon runs and excellent fishing opportunities.
October	Reykjadalsá River – Sea trout angling in northern Iceland as fall colors paint the landscape.
November	Lake Villingavatn – Winter fishing for brown trout in serene surroundings.
December	Reykjavík Harbor – Deep-sea fishing for cod and other species from Iceland’s capital city.

In this article, we will discuss the best times and seasons to fish in Iceland. We will also talk about where some of the best fishing in the state is on a month-by-month basis.

Best Times: Creeks/Rivers to Fly Fish in Iceland

Laxá in Adaldalur – June to September for Atlantic salmon.

Jökla River – April to October for Arctic char.

Svartá River – June to September for brown trout and salmon.

Laxá in Leirársveit – June to September for Atlantic salmon.

Hofsá River – June to September for Atlantic salmon.

Nordurá River – June to August for Atlantic salmon.

Thverá River – June to September for Atlantic salmon.

Hítará River – June to September for Atlantic salmon.

Blanda River – June to September for Atlantic salmon.

East Rangá River – June to September for Atlantic salmon.

Vídidalsá River – June to September for Atlantic salmon.

Sog River – June to September for Atlantic salmon.

Húseyjarkvísl River – July to September for Arctic char and brown trout.

West Rangá River – June to September for Atlantic salmon.

Grímsá River – June to August for brown trout and Atlantic salmon.

Best Times: Lakes to Fish in Iceland

Lake Þingvallavatn – May to September for brown trout and Arctic char.

Lake Mývatn – June to August for brown trout and Arctic char.

Lake Villingavatn – Year-round for brown trout.

Lake Langisjór – June to September for Arctic char.

Lake Hraunsvatn – June to September for brown trout.

Lake Vestmannsvatn – June to August for brown trout.

Lake Þingvallavatn – June to September for brown trout.

Lake Frostastaðavatn – June to September for brown trout.

Lake Elliðavatn – April to October for brown trout and Arctic char.

Lake Þingvallavatn – June to September for brown trout and Arctic char.

Lake Kleifarvatn – May to October for brown trout.

Lake Djúpavatn – June to September for brown trout and Arctic char.

Lake Jökulsárlón – June to September for sea trout and Arctic char.

Lake Þingvallavatn – May to September for brown trout and Arctic char.

Lake Hraunfjörður – June to August for brown trout and Arctic char.

Best Times: Saltwater Fishing in Iceland

Breiðafjörður Bay – May to September for cod, haddock, and coalfish.

Reykjavík Harbor – Year-round for cod, haddock, and pollock.

Westfjords – June to September for Atlantic salmon, sea trout, and Arctic char.

Westman Islands – June to August for Atlantic salmon, sea trout, and cod.

Faxaflói Bay – May to September for cod, haddock, and halibut.

Arnarfjörður Fjord – June to September for Atlantic salmon and sea trout.

Seyðisfjörður Fjord – June to September for Atlantic salmon and sea trout.

Hvalfjörður Fjord – June to September for Atlantic salmon and sea trout.

Snæfellsnes Peninsula – May to September for cod, haddock, and pollock.

Húsavík – June to August for Atlantic salmon and cod.

Borgarfjörður Eystri – June to September for Atlantic salmon and sea trout.

Flatey Island – June to August for cod, haddock, and pollock.

Grundarfjörður – May to September for cod, haddock, and coalfish.

Djúpivogur – June to September for Atlantic salmon and cod.

Vestmannaeyjar – June to August for Atlantic salmon, sea trout, and cod.

Eyjafjörður Fjord – June to August for Atlantic salmon and cod.

Vík í Mýrdal – May to September for cod, haddock, and pollock.

Ísafjörður – June to September for Atlantic salmon, sea trout, and cod.

Skjálfandi Bay – June to August for cod, haddock, and pollock.

Hafnarfjörður – Year-round for cod, haddock, and pollock.

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Species Seasonal Breakdown

Halibut

The best time to fish for halibut in Iceland is during the summer months, from June to August. Halibut are most active during the early morning and late evening hours. Some of the top locations in Iceland for halibut fishing include Faxaflói Bay, Vestmannaeyjar, and Húsavík.

Cod

The best time to fish for cod in Iceland is during the summer months, from June to August. Cod are most active during the early morning and late evening hours. Some of the top locations in Iceland for cod fishing include Reykjavík Harbor, Breiðafjörður Bay, and Skjálfandi Bay.

Haddock

The best time to fish for haddock in Iceland is during the summer months, from June to August. Haddock are most active during early morning and late evening hours. Some of the top locations in Iceland for haddock fishing include Reykjavík Harbor, Faxaflói Bay, and Breiðafjörður Bay.

Pollack

The best time to fish for pollock in Iceland is during the summer months, from June to August. Pollock are most active during the early morning and late evening hours. Some of the top locations in Iceland for pollock fishing include Reykjavík Harbor, Faxaflói Bay, and Vestmannaeyjar.

Coalfish

The best time to fish for coalfish in Iceland is during the summer months from June to August. Coalfish are most active during early morning and late evening hours. Some of the top locations in Iceland for coalfish fishing include Breiðafjörður Bay, Reykjavík Harbor, and Snæfellsnes Peninsula.

Wolffish

The best time to fish for wolffish in Iceland is during the summer months from June to August. Wolffish are most active during early morning and late evening hours. Some of the top locations in Iceland for wolffish fishing include the Westfjords, Reykjavík Harbor, and Faxaflói Bay.

Atlantic Salmon

The best time to fish for Atlantic salmon in Iceland is during the summer months, from June to September. Atlantic salmon are most active during the early morning and late evening hours. Some of the top locations in Iceland for Atlantic salmon fishing include the Westfjords, Hofsá River, Seyðisfjörður Fjord, and Vatnsdalsá River.

Brown Trout

The best time to fish for brown trout in Iceland is during the summer months, from June to August. Brown trout are most active during the early morning and late evening hours. Some of the top locations in Iceland for brown trout fishing include Lake Þingvallavatn, Lake Mývatn, Lake Vestmannsvatn, and Lake Hraunfjörður.

Rainbow Trout

The best time to fish for rainbow trout in Iceland is during the summer months from June to August. Rainbow trout are most active during early morning and late evening hours. Some of the top locations in Iceland for rainbow trout fishing include Lake Þingvallavatn, Lake Elliðavatn, Lake Kleifarvatn, and Lake Þingvallavatn.

Arctic Char

The best time to fish for Arctic char in Iceland is during the summer months, from June to August. Arctic char are most active during the early morning and late evening hours. Some of the top locations in Iceland for char fishing include Lake Þingvallavatn, Lake Mývatn, Lake Hraunsvatn, and Lake Djúpavatn.

Brook Trout

The best time to fish for brook trout in Iceland is during the summer months, from June to August. Brook trout are most active during the early morning and late evening hours. Some of the top locations in Iceland for brook trout fishing include Lake Þingvallavatn, Lake Elliðavatn, Lake Vestmannsvatn, and Lake Frostastaðavatn.

Arctic Grayling

The best time to fish for Arctic grayling in Iceland is during the summer months from June to August. Grayling are most active during the daytime, especially in the early morning and late evening. Some of the top locations in Iceland for grayling fishing include Lake Mývatn, Jökla River, Thverá River, and Laxá in Adaldalur River.

Sea Trout

The best time to fish for sea trout in Iceland is summer and early autumn, particularly from June to September. Sea trout are most active during the early morning or late evening hours, so those are the ideal times to go fishing. Some of the top locations in Iceland for sea trout fishing include the Westfjords, Westman Islands, Seyðisfjörður Fjord, and Arnarfjörður Fjord.

For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Norway, check out this guide. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Denmark, check out this guide. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Sweden, check out this guide. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Finland, check out this guide.

Best Fishing in Iceland on Seasonal Basis

Winter

In the winter months of December, January, and February, some of the best locations in Iceland for fishing are Reykjavík Harbor, where you can catch cod, haddock, and pollock; Lake Villingavatn, known for its brown trout; Lake Þingvallavatn, where you can find brown trout and Arctic char; and Hafnarfjörður, which offers opportunities to catch cod, haddock, and pollock.

Spring

In the spring months of March, April, and May, some of the best locations in Iceland for fishing are the Seyðisfjörður Fjord, where you can catch Atlantic salmon and sea trout; Lake Elliðavatn, known for its brown trout and Arctic char; the Arnarfjörður Fjord, where you can find Atlantic salmon and sea trout; and the Borgarfjörður Eystri, which offers opportunities to catch Atlantic salmon and sea trout.

Summer

In the summer months of June, July, and August, some of the best locations in Iceland for fishing are the Westfjords, where you can catch Atlantic salmon and sea trout; Lake Mývatn, known for its brown trout and Arctic char; Reykjavík Harbor, where you can find cod, haddock, and pollock; and the Westman Islands, which offer opportunities to catch Atlantic salmon, sea trout, and cod.

Fall

In the fall season, from September to November, some of the best locations in Iceland for fishing are the Hofsá River, where you can catch Atlantic salmon; Lake Þingvallavatn, known for its brown trout; the Laxá in Adaldalur River, where you can find salmon; and the Jökla River, which offers excellent opportunities to catch Arctic char.

For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in the Netherlands, check out this guide. Check out this guide for a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Germany.