We’re adding something new at Battle Hill next summer.
From July 27 through August 20, we’ll run a series of guided fishing packages built around big water, two-handed rods, and access to the lower Skaftá by hovercraft.
For anglers who enjoy swinging flies and exploring a river, this is a chance to experience a different side of the Battle Hill fishery.
Why a hovercraft?
The lower Skaftá, below the famed Vatnamót has long presented an access challenge. There is water here that is extremely difficult to reach by conventional means, limiting where we can take anglers.
This summer, we’ll use a hovercraft to reach those stretches. It gives us more room to explore the lower river and more options when planning a day’s fishing.
The fishing is the reason for the trip. The hovercraft is what makes access possible.
Single-handed or double-handed—both have a place
If you’ve fished Battle Hill in spring or fall, you’ll know how varied the fishing can be. The summer program expands our options onto the lower Skaftá, where both single-handed and double-handed rods work well.
For anglers who enjoy Spey casting and swinging flies, there’s plenty to look forward to. If you prefer fishing a single-handed rod, that’s a good option here too. Our guides will help you match your approach to the water and conditions.
We’ll also fish our usual Battle Hill fisheries. Those waters can be hit or miss in late July and early August, so this won’t simply be the spring or fall package moved into summer. The lower Skaftá and the new hovercraft access are what give the program its focus.
Back to Battle Hill
After fishing, we’ll return to Battle Hill Lodge for dinner and the evening together.
Good company is a big part of these trips: comparing notes from the day, talking through tomorrow’s possibilities, and enjoying time at the lodge. Each departure is limited to eight anglers, with one guide for every two guests.
Why start in late July?
The sea-trout season is already getting underway by then. Sea-run browns begin running upstream in late July and early August, and those runs continue into late September.
On the upper sections, we’ll be looking for the early runners. The lower river offers another opportunity: sea-run browns move in and out of the ocean throughout the season.
That’s a big part of why we’re introducing this program. While fishing on our usual waters can still be hit or miss this early, hovercraft access lets us reach more of the lower Skaftá and fish closer to where trout are moving between the river and the sea.
Six summer departures
The packages run:
- July 27–31
- July 31–August 4
- August 4–8
- August 8–12
- August 12–16
- August 16–20
Each trip includes three full days and two half days of fishing, plus four nights at Battle Hill Lodge.
The price is USD 5,500 per person, based on twin occupancy and sharing a guide. Accommodation, full board, fishing licenses, and guiding are included.
If exploring the lower Skaftá and fishing for sea-run brown trout sounds like your kind of trip, we’d love to hear from you
Written by Sindri Hlíðar Jónsson, Co-Owner of Fish Partner. With over a decade of experience guiding and managing fisheries across Iceland, Sindri has helped hundreds of anglers discover Iceland’s unique fly-fishing destinations.
Sindri Hlíðar Jónsson