History of salmon fishing in Miðjfarðará and Litla-Kverká

Salmon has always been present in Miðfjarðará and salmon fishing was benifical for farmers in early days. The salmon was in early days mostly caught in nets, but there are some sources about local farmers and visitors angling for sport. The salmon stock Miðfjarðará was considered to contain unusually large fish, but they have become smaller in rencent years, i.a. because young farmed fish was realeased in the river during the 1990s to 2000, and also from mixing with escaped farmed salmon.

In the 1960s several individuals interested in salmon fishing, with ties to the area around Miðfjarðará, began looking into improving the salmon stock in the river for angling purposes. They bought land around the river and concluded a leasing agreement with other landowners. Fishing licenses were only sold to selected people and they built a small lodge near there river, although it was without running water and electricity.

Various experiments have been conducted in order to improve the stock in the river. During the 1990s small fish was relelased into the river. This was stopped around 2000, as the result of this was unclear.

The aformentioned group and their relatives leased the river until fall 2008. Then the board of directors of the Landowners' Fishing Union decided not to extend the contract. Following an open invitation to submit tenders for the fishing rights, the board concluded an agreement in 2009 with the current leasee. A year later the Union decided it was necessary to provide accomodations near the river and for that purposes bought a house, in co-operation with the leasee, which was transported to the area. In relation to this, the leasing contract was extended for five years.

Plans are being discussed to lengthen the fishing area of the river, but in order to do that three water falls must be made accessible for the salmon to jump. This would however double the fishing area in the river.

The current number of rods permitted for fishing is two.