25th of August 2001

This was Joe's first time in Svalbardsa and this is his first Atlantic Salmon. Taken in Laxahylur close to quitting time that day. Joe had brought with him this very strange fly called the mouse, and we had laughed of him and told him he would never catch anything on that thing. Joe did not listen and put it on late in the evening in Laxahylur and guess what, his first Atlantic salmon was hooked and landed few minutes later. Pretty happy camper. Next year Joe brought us gifts from the US and that was one mouse a piece...but non of us have ever caught any thing on it so far...


27th of August 2001

Hilmar had section 2 this day and me and Joe section 3, but there is very little fishing on section 3 so late in the season so when you have section 3 you sleep late and do the dishes. We fished couple of pools on section 3 but nothing was happening there so we decided to drive up to section 2 and see how Hilmar was doing. We met Hilmar on the way up there and he was completely exhausted as he had just caught a 14pound salmon in Nedri Eyrarhylur. He told us he was so tired that he was going to the lodge to take a nap and offered us to go fish Nedri Eyrarhylur as it was full of salmon. Me and Joe rush up there and I start fishing. After couple of casts there is a big strike and this huge salmon clears him self out of the water scaring the shit out of me...I was fishing with a 6 weight rod and this fish was way too big for that small rod. After running up and down the pool for about 20 minutes then I was lucky enough that the fish took the shallow route down the river and stranded it self. It was a 16pound male and the biggest fish I had ever caught so far.

Now it was Joe’s turn and after couple of casts... big strike again! Good fight for 20 minutes and then he pulled him in. In the landing the hook came out and Joe threw the rod down and grabbed it. It was a 15pound male.

Classic photo from Nedri Eyrarhylur in Svalbardsa. 15 and 16pound males, taken with about 30min. in between.


29th of August 2001

Joe saw him show head and tail by the small creek running into Laxahylur and kept casting th fly for almost 30 minutes and finally he took it, so at this point at his first trip to Svalbardsa had given him two 15 pound salmons and one 5 pound and he was hooked!

The core group of Svalbardsa, my self, Throstur (the cook), Hilmar, Joe, Vidar and Vidars son Magnus. 28 Salmons caught in 6 days 5 over 14 pounds, Joe two 15p., Hilmar 14p., Ingo 15p., and my self 16p. (Ingo is missing from the photo as he just come´s and goes as the wind in our tours...