Leirvogsa is more of a stream than a river. While being small of volume, it has consistently rivalled Iceland‘s famed Laxa on Asum for the title of „the best Icelandic salmon river“. This is due to the rivers often outstanding average catch per rod. A mere two daily rods have at times produced up to over 1.000 salmon in a single season of ninety days!

Leirvogsa is actually within the Reykjavík city limits, only about a 20 to 30 minute drive from the city center, according to the traffic. Yet most of the fishing area is secluded and set in beautiful surroundings at the base of Reykjavík‘s picturesque mount Esja. The river originates in the lake Leirvogsvatn and is hardy more than a trickle at the start. Tributaries from Esja turn up the volume and it is a sizeable stream when in falls into the canyon of the scenic Trollafoss. As the canyon fritters away at the road bridge at the farmstead of Hrafnhólar, the river mainly winds down the valley with cut bank pools before entering another far shorter, yet very scenic canyon just below the fishing lodge. At the end of the canyon, the river turns fast and rocky and stays that way ‚till it finds its estuary. The final fast rocky stretch is an amazing fishery. Fished usually with worms, the pools are often brimming with salmon fresh from the sea and the fishing is often hectic. Further up the river has many dream pools for fly fishing.

Leirvogsa is fished from morning until evening and it is very popular among the local anglers. The lodge is a small hut that may be used for overnight use, but most anglers fishing Leirvogsa commute from Reykjavík and only use the lodge for mid day resting and lunch. Plus hopefully adding some fish to the catch book. Leivogsa had a stunning season in 2008, registering an all time record catch of 1173 salmon. Plus some 200 sizeable sea trout. 2009 was also outstanding although the record was never in danger. Still the river produced a catch of 877 salmon on its two daily rods.