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Laxa i Kjos (mainstem) & Bugða (tributary)

 The Laxá is the main river, originating in lake Stíflisdalsvatn. Close to the sea, the shorter but prolific Bugða tributary enters, having started its run in lake Meðalfellsvatn. Laxa in Kjos is a medium volume river by Icelandic standards and is fished by 8 rods, the Bugða tributary being small by the same standards and fished by 2 rods, the full 10 rods rotating over five beats and sharing the lodge. From late June, when the salmon run begins to strengthen, the rivers are fly fishing only with voluntary catch and release, a practice that is consistently on the up in Iceland.

Technique 

The rivers are ideal for “light” line fishing, 4# to 8# weight rods, small flies, notably hitched tubes on floating lines and even dry flies have been known to get results here. Bugda in particular, with pools such as Foss, Moeyri, Bakkahylur and Einbuin lends itself to extremely close quarters combat with light line and the most delicate presentation. Kjos, whilst intimate and visual, invites a longer cast in pools such as Kotahylur, Spegill (the "Mirror" Pool) and Laxfoss and guests might be well advized to bring a small double handed rod (12ft 8wt is ideal), some larger flies and a sink tip line as well in case the river is hit by a spate.

Phenomenal Sea-Trout run 

Although known primarily as a salmon river, Kjos has a phenomenal July run of strong, large sea-trout. Averaging in the 3-5lb but with several fish in the 8-11lb range, these fish tend to colonise the middle "Meadows" section of the river, a section characterized by low gradient, cut bank pools where fishers can often sight cast to an individual sea-trout. Although taken on traditional Icelandic and British salmon and sea-trout patterns, Kjos has become quite famous for sea-trout being caught on the dead-drift dry fly. Black patterns such as the Hawthorn or Black Bodied "Blue Bottle" in sizes 10 & 12, presented on 8-10lb tippet, have proven to be very effective, often inducing languid takes that lead to extraordinarily hard-fought battles.