Sogid (Sogið) is Iceland’s biggest volume clear river and quite an impressive river. It has a tranquil look to it as it passes through its valley hardly breaking up a white tip, but this appearance belies the power. The undercurrent is such that it makes Sogid a dangerous river unless the mind is clear to the danger. It is the only Icelandic river requiring the use of life vests and rightly so. However do not be put off. If care is taken then all should be well, especially if newcomers to the river hire themselves an able guide. Sogid is in the south of Iceland. It stems from one of Iceland’s biggest inland lakes, Thingvallavatn were the site of the first free parliament in the world is to be found. Thingvellir is a national park and is not only historically important to Iceland, it has some seriously beautiful scenery as well plus a prolific and interesting trout fishery consisting of inland char and one of the oldest living strains of native brown trout in the world, with specimens exceeding 20 pounds!

Upstream Sogid moves through the lake Ulfljotsvatn and below it, its two falls, Irafoss and Kistufoss have been dammed for electricity. The power stations are interesting places to visit, but the first salmon beat starts below the lower dam and is known as Sydri Bru. It is a short one rod beat with one outstanding pool, Landaklopp and outside chances of taking fish in one or two pools further down river. It has a tiny lodge in which four persons can sleep. The beat is mostly taken on a day by day basis and usually commuted to and from the towns and villages close by. The next beat, on the west bank is called Bíldsfell. It is fished with three daily rods and apart from being a good solid salmon fishery, has some big arctic char. Bildsfell has an excellent self catering lodge overlooking several key pools. Facing Bildsfell is Asgardur, another three rod beat with a beautifully situated self catering lodge. It also has some fine big char to compliment the salmon fishing. Below Bildsfell, on the west bank again, Alvidra takes over beneath the Alftavatn lake which is nothing other than a widening of Sogid. Alvidra is yet another three rod beat with a good solid self catering lodge.

Facing Alvidra we have Thrastarlundur which is a one rod beat which ends at the road bridge. Thrastarlundur has no lodge and is a day by day fishery, popular with anglers in the Reykjavík area as well as the closer by Selfoss and its neighbouring villages. Thrown in between the salmon beats are two separate char beats, the upper one on the lower part of Asgarður and the lower one on the upper part of Thrastarlundur. Sogid is known in Iceland for many abnormally big char so these are pretty popular beats that can yet often be acquired with short notice. Sogid is a good salmon river that has profited from some glacial river net buyouts in recent years. It is within an hour’s drive from Reykjavík and is a river steaped in tradition. Many of Iceland’s angling pioneers fished this river and in the early days it was famous for huge salmon. They are still caught from time to time but as fits modern day salmon fishing in Iceland, the catch is mostly big grilse with a good sprinkling of mws’s and the chance of the odd giant. Take a double handed rod and take care.

Sogid had its second excellent season in a row in 2008 and it seems obvious that the net buyouts in the glacial system, led by the Angling Club of Reykjavík, have greatly benefitted the river. The season total was some 600 salmon for the beats named, Sydri Bru, Asgardur, Bildsfell, Alvidra and Thrastarlundur. Last year was even better and a record catch was recorded for the river. All in all, 730 salmon were landed.