Sogið - Bíldsfell Beat

Welcome to Bíldsfell Beat

The river Sog – or Sogið – is Iceland’s largest spring fed river and flows from Thingvallavatn, Iceland’s biggest lake. Less than an hour’s drive from Reykjavík, the Sog is renowned for the lush and beautiful surroundings. It is famous for its big salmon and has for decades been popular with anglers. For more information contact styrmir@starir.is or ingo@starir.is.


Bíldsfell Beat Lodge

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Anglers are offered accommodation in a spacious and charming and newly renovated self-catering lodge close to the riverbank on the Bíldsfell-beat of the Sog. The lodge provides four double rooms and a spacious open living room with dining area and a well equipped kitchen. A veranda on the south side of the lodge has a grill and dining area. Life-wests for anglers are provided and recommended as the river is broad, deep in parts and the current can be strong. Fishing the Bíldsfell-beat of Sogið is suitable for smaller fishing parties.

Cleaning can be provided upon departure. Fishing guides and a private chef can also be arranged upon request. Please familiarize yourself with house rules and fishing rules upon arrival.


General information

The voluminous river Sog – or Sogið – is the largest spring fed river in Iceland. The water is very clear and flows from Thingvallavatn, Iceland's biggest lake. The Sog is 19 km long of which 12 km are passable for salmon but close to the lake are three dams built in the middle of the 20th Century, Iceland's first hydro-power plants. It flows through beautiful and lush landscape, mixed with farmland on the western bank and a birch-forest with numerous holiday-homes on the east bank. The river Sog ends its course when it mixes with the glacial milky waters of the river Hvítá.

The Sog has for many decades been popular with Icelandic anglers. It is famous for its big salmon and also holds large and powerful char. The pristine and clear waters of the Sog, with various pools and long and exciting runs, is ideal for fly-fishing with double handed rods.

The Sog is dived into five beats two of which, Alviðra-beat and Bíldsfell-beat, are now leased by Starir flyfishing club. In the past the beats used to be fished with a mix of fly, bait and spinners but now it's strictly fly only. Although some spots are easily reached with single-handed rods, either from the bank or while wading, double-handed rods give anglers better coverage of many of the runs and pools. It is a wide and powerful river and therefore anglers need to be very careful while wading and life-wests are provided to anglers and strongly recommended.

FISHING SEASON
Salmon from June 24th to September 24th.

PRIME TIME
Mid July to early August.

RECOMMENDED FLIES
Black and Red Francis, Collie Dog, Black Sheep, Dimmbla, Green Highlander, Sunray Shadow, cone heads and tube flies.

RECOMMENDED TACKLE
Double-handed rods: Floating & sinking lines. 


Bíldsfell Beat Details

The wide, voluminous and mystical river Sog has for decades been very popular with Icelandic anglers and now foreign visitors have started to discover the allure of this beautiful river, and its powerful salmon. We are proud to offer this massive river for a part of the summer with a strict catch and release policy.

The Sog is Iceland’s largest spring fed river, flowing though farmland and birch-forest from the famous Thingvallavatn-lake. These last decades a number anglers have caught their trophy salmon, and additionally many enjoy casting flies for powerful char which can weigh up to 3 kg.

The salmon can run 12 km of the Sog’s 19 km and the Bíldsfell-beat is the uppermost one on the west bank of the five beats on the river. The beat is fished with three rods and as it is very long and has numerous marked fishing spots, each angler has great space and exciting water for himself to fish.

The Bildsfell-beat has close to twenty marked runs and pools but to many of the beat’s fans it is more and less one long exciting fishing spot, which can hold salmon in various

places. The percentage of large salmon caught on the beat over the years is high and the allure of the big ones in the Sog has for decades been legendary. Additionally the beat holds great number of strong char and many anglers choose to focus on casting flies for the exciting Arctic char.

Some of the runs and pools are easily reached from the bank while other need wading and due to the width of the river this is a dream beat for double handed rods. Life-wests are strongly recommended.

The access to the fishing spots is quite good, and regular cars can be used to get close to the pools.

Fishing Season

Late June until late September

Prime Time

Early July to mid August

Recommended Flies

Streamers, nymphs or dry flies for Char and Trout. Standard patterns for the Salmon.


Drive to Bíldsfell Beat

Sogið

Distance from Reykjavik
71,8 km.

Driving time
Approx. 58min

GPS
65°28'29.8"N 20°31'22.1"W

View driving instructions

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