In autumn, you might expect rivers running over their banks. Some rivers are more fragile for rain than others and easily become colored. It’s difficult to fish in these conditions but not impossible. Below are some tips how to fish for salmon when water conditions are high and how things can turn into exciting conditions when new fishing spots emerge.

Normally the water rises because of rain. This is good for both salmon and anglers because salmon needs fresh water and will usually start to run up the river when it rains.

In most rivers in Iceland, you don’t need to wade but if you need to reach a stream by wading, be careful not to wade too close to the mainstream. Salmon can be in different places than normal when the water level is high so be careful and scan the surroundings with the fly before wading. Salmon usually move to the upper part of the pool in these conditions and them usually don’t lay in the normal spots in the pools. They avoid the heavy streams and take the easier way up the river so the salmon can lay in a shallow water which means that they can be in places where you normally should wade to.

What gear should be used when fishing salmon in high water conditions

Salmons are not as spooky in high water conditions as they are in low water conditions. When the water level is high and rivers are brownish my personal pick is to use is double-hand rods or a line between #8 and #10, all depending on the conditions and river you are fishing in. Single hand rods are useful in smaller rivers and the length is usually between 9 - 10 feet. My personal opinion is double hand rods are better when fishing bigger pools and streams. I personally only use double hand rods between 12 and 13 feet and you shouldn't have to use larger rods for salmon fishing in Iceland.

Floating lines are not practical in high water conditions. Go for intermediate lines or sinking lines to present the fly at the correct speed and depth. If you only have a floating line you can go for some sinking tips which can play an important role when fishing in the fast running water. This is because normally the water is colder and the salmon will lay close to the bottom of the pools. But the main reason is that the speed of the current. We need to get those flies close to the salmons so they can actually see it.

If you will experience floods early summer (June/July) you need to keep in mind that sometimes salmon has been waiting for days in fjords and areas close to the river to get the perfect circumstances to run up the river. In this conditions, it’s better to use intermediate lines and medium size flies (1/4 - 1/2 tubes or 8 - 10 doubles or trebles). You need to know what the salmon is thinking, it has lost a lot of time and needs to hurry up the river to find the best spots. During mid-summer (July / august) the salmon normally moves slowly up the river in floods so bigger flies have been better for me.

Mending the line is an important thing when fishing in fast current. You need to focus on the right drift of the fly and it doesn't matter which type of rod you are using, focus always on the right drift. You should mend upstream when fishing fast running water, but you can then switch to mending downstream when you reach the bank. This will help you to get a good drift of the fly and it will fish better.

Best flies to use in high water conditions

Anglers always have different opinions when it comes to which flies are the best in high water conditions. One thing is for sure that bigger flies are better than smaller flies. I personally always go for the 1" brass tubes when fishing in those difficult circumstances. Also depending on a time of year, you should try to pick flies which match the color of the year. Early summer, I personally go for black and yellow flies. Inconspicuous flies are not something that works better in high water conditions. You have to remember that the light will not be the same as in clear water conditions so go for flies which contain black, yellow and/or orange colors in them. Also, fluorescent colors are good when fly fishing in difficult conditions and I personally try to go for these colors when I fly fish for salmon in Iceland in high water conditions.

Best flies in high water conditions in Iceland are 1" Frances, Sun Rays, The Monster fly, Friggi and other patterns that are large and black.

Leader

When fishing a sinking line or tip, the leader should be shorter than normal. Normally you should use a leader which is around 9 - 15 feet but when fishing heavy tubes on sinking lines the leader should only be around 6 feet. This setup has proven to be more successful for me and it also helps you control the fly in the stream. Casting a heavy fly using a long leader can be difficult but if you are a good fly caster you should go for longer leaders.

How to fly fish a salmon in high water conditions

As mentioned above salmons can lay in different spots than normal so my advice to you is to fish in different places than normal. Usually, the upper part of the pools are better but as mentioned before the salmon can be everywhere. Don’t wade out the normal spots, start slowly and work your way to the spot and cover bigger areas. I never forget once when fishing in Ranga River. I had my double hand and was pulling the line out of the reel and I had a 1" red Frances brass tube. While I was pulling the line the fly was dangling in the water, only around 1 meter from the bank when suddenly something hit the line. After 15 min fight, I landed 8 lbs salmon. It was in really difficult conditions and the water level well above normal and the color of the river was completely brown. This is why it’s really important to fish the fly all the way to the bank.

When fishing pools where the current is strong, it’s better to try to cast the fly into the current and mend the line so it reaches the calmer areas of the pool. This will get the right drift of the fly and increase the chances to hook the big one.

Tight Lines and safe releases Páll Ólafsson

TIP: Best conditions when fishing for salmon in Iceland is when the water level starts to rise and also when the water level starts to get down. Normally these are the conditions that I strive for and hopefully, you will be lucky and get the same conditions.