In yesterday's blog post I shared how Lars and Mads discovered Iceland's overlooked brown trout fishery and why it's such a perfect opportunity for Cape Cod anglers. That was the background—the "what" and the "why."
Today's story is different. It's about what actually happens when you're out there.
You'll read about their early struggles—literally wearing out boots and tents while exploring Iceland's remote highlands, searching for consistent fishing that always seemed just out of reach. You'll meet Arni, the local Icelandic guide whose late-night stories over whiskey and Northern Lights revealed the secrets of Lake Þingvellir that changed everything.
You'll learn how they cracked the code: larger lures, deeper water, and understanding the underwater drop-offs where trophy brown trout patrol. And you'll follow along on a real trip from autumn 2023—when storms hit, conditions turned tough, and one guest went two full days without a fish.
What you're about to read shows exactly why I'm confident bringing MFCC members to Lake Þingvellir this summer. It's not just about the fish (though the fish are incredible). It's about the journey, the persistence, and having guides who've earned their knowledge the hard way.
Now, here's Mads with the full story...
Meet Lars (left) and Mads (right)—the Danish fishing guides who discovered Iceland's best-kept secret for trophy trout, and who'll be leading our MFCC expedition this July.
As mentioned in yesterday's post, Lake Þingvallavatn [Thingvallavatn] is home to the mighty Icelandic Brown Trout which patrol its depths. These big fish are fearless, taking large baits as one of their primary prey items are smaller trout. Here, we fish for the giants of the lake, dreaming of the moment when our lure is suddenly stopped by one of these incredible creatures.
The natural beauty around the lake is breathtaking, and the fishing feels almost untouched. Iceland is the place where everything comes together perfectly - when the lure is inhaled, and a huge Icelandic Brown Trout makes a powerful run into the depths. The reel is screaming and the rod bending under its power.
Dreams and Challenges
Iceland had always been a dream of ours, and it wasn't until rumors of the enormous Icelandic Brown Trout reached us that we seized the opportunity to visit this legendary land and began our quest for Iceland's giants. However, we quickly discovered that it was far more challenging and demanding than we initially imagined.
On our first trips, where we were test fishing and checking out accommodations, we drove around the island, fishing the outflows and inland waters near the salmon rivers. We explored the highlands, trekking many kilometers to remote and pristine waters. We literally wore out tents and boots without finding the dream fishing we had hoped for. The nature and landscape were incredible, but it required a lot of time, and the fishing was inconsistent, shaped by the island's ever-changing weather.
The early days: trekking across Iceland's remote highlands in search of productive water. Before they cracked the code at Lake Þingvellir, Lars and Mads literally wore out boots and tents exploring the island—countless kilometers hiked, inconsistent fishing, but unwavering determination.
Meeting Arni and Cracking the Code
During our travels, we met Arni, a local Icelandic fishing guide. Over a long night fueled by whiskey and the Northern Lights, a friendship was formed, and many fishing stories and experiences were shared. He strongly recommended we focus on the biggest lake in Iceland - Thingvallavatn.
We'd previously fished the lake and caught some nice trout and char, but no trophy fish. Armed with new fishing spots and a revamped strategy, we set out to land the legendary 32+ inch Brown Trout.
It quickly became clear that we were on to something. The key was to fish with larger baits and fish them deeper in the water where the giants lurked. Using lures that mimicked the lake's small char, we fished in the deep waters where schools of fish would pass by. With a sudden pull, our lures were inhaled, and the bite felt almost like a bottom strike before the big fish turned and made long runs into the depths.
On our first day, we landed 8 fish, two of which were over the magical 32 inches. By the end of our four days at the lake, we had landed 60 fish, including 4 over 32 inches, with many others around 24 inches. Our local friend Arni visited us at the lake, and we fished together on the last evening with a good amount of joy and whiskey.
Arni—the local Icelandic guide who changed everything. Over whiskey and Northern Lights, he shared the secrets of Lake Þingvellir that Lars and Mads had been searching for. His local knowledge turned years of struggle into consistent success.
Our Adventures
This trip marked the beginning of our Icelandic adventures, where we now focus on fishing at Thingvallavatn, and every year, we organize several 4-6 day fishing trips for smaller groups. Thingvallavatn covers 32 square miles and is over 370 feet at its deepest, so it's no wonder that monster-sized fish can lurk in the deep.
The coastline is rugged, with deep waters close to the shore, which makes it perfect for spin fishing, allowing us to target the big fish that rarely come within fly fishing distance during summertime.
We now always catch plenty of fish on our trips, and depending on the wind, weather, and luck, we have days that are a bit slow while others are amazing. On our best day in 2024, our group of 4 experienced anglers landed 50 fish, half of them above 24 inches. But of course, not every day is the same – the following day, we only caught 5 fish on the same spot. That's the nature of fishing – unpredictable but exceptional when it all comes together.
With our years of experience in spin and coastal fishing from Denmark, we've adapted and refined our techniques for Iceland. We've discovered the best baits and the hotspots that the fish frequently visit. This gives us the best chance to encounter our dream fish and hit the prime fishing during our Iceland trips.
From shoreline to abyss in just a few meters. Þingvellir's dramatic underwater cliffs and drop-offs mean trophy brown trout patrol depths you can reach with a cast—no boat needed, no long hikes required. Just you, the edge, and fish lurking in the darkness below.
The Guest Who Almost Quit (And Thank God He Didn't)
The importance of persistence most certainly came into play when we guided a group of fishermen in Iceland back in autumn of 2023.
When we arrived in Iceland at the end of August, the first autumn storm was sweeping across the island. We couldn't fish the usual spots and had to find shelter from the wind behind the steep cliffs.
We fished with great focus and did manage to catch some decent fish. However, fishing isn't always easy, and one of our guests hadn't caught a fish during the first two days. We called him Hightower, and despite being 6' 10" tall and putting in a determined effort, the big Viking's thoughts started wandering towards the Blue Lagoon, the local attractions, and giving up fishing.
Day 3: One-on-One with Lars
Fortunately on day 3 the wind calmed, leaving the lake in perfect conditions. We wanted to give Hightower special attention and decided that Lars would spend the day just with him to guide him as best as possible.
Early in the morning, Lars took Hightower to one of the greatest areas in Lake Thingvallavatn. Lars pointed out hotspots and told Hightower about casting angles, different lures to try, and how to retrieve each lure at different speeds.
The weather during the start of our August 2023 trip made fishing quite difficult. The nature was wonderful, but of course we wanted fish! Fortunately with some persistence our luck would pay off in a big way later on in the adventure.
The Breakthrough Fish
Suddenly, the rod bends and a joyous roar echoes across the lake from Hightower. The relief after hours of fishing and the wide smile on the big man's face effectively ended all thoughts of the Blue Lagoon and geysers.
A hectic fight starts, and line is quickly coming off the reel. Unfortunately, the fish made a big jump and took another run deep into the lake where the line snapped on one of the rocky edges near the shore. Despite losing that fish Hightower was now re-energized, and his belief in catching a fish was coming back.
It was time for a break, and we all headed towards our meeting point for hot dogs on the grill and a talk about the fishing. One of the other guests had taken a longer solo trip and landed one of the lake's giants – a brown trout of 34 inches, which was affectionately named "Tadpole" because of its appearance.
When It All Comes Together
After hot dogs and a cold beer, Hightower and Lars aimed for another one of the lake's hotspots. With determination, Hightower worked his lure over the reefs and allowed it to sink into the depths.
Suddenly, his lure got stuck far out, and at first Hightower thought he had just snagged on the bottom. But all of a sudden, the rod bends and line is coming off in a long run into the lake. After 15 minutes, the fish begins to tire and is carefully pulled closer to shore where it's landed. It was another huge brown trout.
Seeing the big guy trembling with joy, tears in his eyes and a wide smile on his face—when you've fought that hard, lost faith, and then experienced triumph—it's hard to imagine a greater joy. We felt grateful to have been part of it.
Hightower with his fish of a lifetime—caught on Day 3 after two fishless days and serious thoughts of giving up. The curry-brown coloring, size, and proportions of this Lake Þingvellir brown trout made it one of the most beautiful fish Lars and Mads have ever seen caught in Iceland.
The fish was one of the most beautiful we've caught in Iceland. Its curry-brown coloring, its size, and proportions were truly a catch of a lifetime. After photos and releasing the fish, a cold beer was cracked open. It was time to relax and enjoy how the hunt had finally paid off.
However the relaxation didn't last long. Twenty minutes later Hightower was on again, as another big fish grabbed the lure, and then another, and another...
The last three days were completely different than how things started. Everyone landed plenty of fish all around the lake. The joy of fishing was euphoric, and we indulged in both schnapps and treats at the house. We'd caught a couple of smaller Arctic char, which were smoked on the grill and eaten with great pleasure.
Hightower with another great Icelandic Brown. One of the keys that unlocked Iceland was using large lures imitating Arctic char. After a lot of experimenting, Lars and Mads discovered that Þingvellir's trophy brown trout want substantial baits. These aren't timid fish picking at small offerings. They're aggressive predators hunting char, and matching that forage size changed everything.
The Nature of Fishing (And Why We Keep Coming Back)
Dreams sometimes do come true, and Iceland is certainly a good place to venture if you dream of scenic landscape and the chance of catching a huge Brown trout.
As often happens, in between big catches are some broken lines and straightened hooks. Nevertheless, that's all part of the adventure. And as always, the biggest ones are lost but live on in our dreams.
It just means there's always something to come back for. 
Tight lines 🎣
Lars & Mads
www.fiskelodge.dk
