Far flung in the northeastern expanses of Iceland, Eleven’s Hölkná fishing cabins exist for one reason and one reason only—to deliver a guided fly fishing trip on eight miles of remote water in pursuit of the most highly sought-after fish in the world: Atlantic salmon.

 

“The Hölkná, even by sparsely populated Icelandic standards, is far off the beaten path. You feel like the only person to ever cast eyes on this beautiful Atlantic Salmon river—and you basically are.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Atlantic salmon are also known to the scientific community as salmo salar, meaning the leaper. Whether the original definition was meant to give credit to their leaping ability over waterfalls or as a great jumper on the end of a line, it all bodes well for the lucky few who’ve experienced the guided fly fishing at the Hölkná Cabins. For they will experience a rare opportunity to be one with the salmon, on unfished waters, in fantastic scenery, with a fly fishing guide who will instruct, explain gently, and in the evening, assist with the making of a perfect medium rare steak or leg of lamb or Manhattan.”

 

“The chess match with these five to twenty pound salmon is a never-ending conquest that includes tradition, perseverance, skill, and experimentation—plus plenty of coaching from your fly fishing guide.”

 

 

 

“This guided fly fishing experience shows you raw Iceland. Real Iceland.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BELOW: Winter phase ptarmigan in flight

 

 

BELOW: Cameron fights a salmon surrounded by crimson berry shrubs and tundra.

 

 

 

 

 

THE PERKS

Eat up, drink up, and soak in that you’re only about 100 miles from the Arctic Circle, 150 yards from the river, and have a seasoned fly fishing guide who has seen your salmon’s great, great, great grandparents.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE FOOD

A quick pit stop at the grocery store will equip your time on the Hölkná. It’s not just peanut butter and beer either—Icelandic goods are as uncommon (and phenomenal) as the scenery.

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE CABINS

The two fishing cabins are remote, but not rudimentary. Think hot showers, cozy beds, heated floors, warm fires, and Icelandic wool blankets—which are as iconic as they are functional, especially for taking in views from the porch.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BELOW: Sunrise on the Hölkná, which is frequently accompanied by coffee, eggs, and reindeer sausage.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“2022 was a record year…more than 150 Atlantic salmon were landed.”

 

 

 

 

 

“Oh, and the Northern Lights could invite themselves into your world and surround you with a cosmic art show that is spellbinding.”

 

 

 

Words and Photography by: BRIAN O’KEEFE

 

Read more stories from The Drift, by Eleven Angling >

 

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