Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-06-25
FISHING IN ICELAND.

As I HAD come to Sorg on account of
the capital fishing to be had in the neigh
borhood, / managed to get the owner of
the farm at which we were stopping to
accompany me next day, in the absence Of
Bjarni, my servant.
The Sorg is a large fosse, or waterfall
at the southern end of Thingvalla Lake,
which carries the water into Olavesvatn,
the second lake; thence it flows out, in
three cascades, to the river. 1t was
a fourmie ride from the farm;
and, as we assembled ridge after ridge
Of high ground, the scenery was very
grand and soon after, when we struck
the river and rode along the banks to-
ward the lake, it became quite magnif-
cent The water in the stream (which
was much fiOOded) was of a most eXtraOr-
binary shOtColor, varying from deepest
ultramarine to light emerald-gr
no brown in it whatever; in fact, it
had more the appearance Of dye. 1t
rushed along at Il pace | never saw
equaled before, and with a loud, moan
ing, roaring sound. The banks, for
many yards on either side, were quite I'M
safe from the undermining action OF the
current; and so rapidly did the great
waves dart past that stones of immense
size, That | pushed in, were carried down
a long way before they sank out Of sight,
for the water was SO clear that we could
see many feet down into it whenever a
shadow crossed the surface. A mile far
ther on we reached the first cascade, tear
ing wildly over mass of rocks, roaring
and leaping down into the stream below
Beyond this, higher up the valley, we
saw the other two, one above the other;
and as each waterfall brought its own
river, which met the streams Of its neigh
boTs in one writhing, seething whirlpool
two hundred yards below, and as the inn
mense pillars Of spray rose from these
terrible waters and united into one vast
column Of white vapor which hung over
the whole panorama, Illuminated bY the
hot rays Of a midsummer sun, the effect
was as magnificent as anything l ever
saw in my life.
Another miles riding, and we reached
tie fall lit the head Of the smaller lake;
and, just as we sighted it, the sky sudden
~ clouded over, and the rain-clouds drift
ed up over the water.
"Ihats capital, " said the farmer; "you
will be able to fish today"
What do you mean?"
Why, the sun is gone in, and the flies
won't worry US; they are never very bad
unless the sun is hot"
ooh, yes" | said, 81 have heard that
there is q sort of gnat in Iceland which is
very troublesome, and some one suggested
that | should bring mosquito-veil but |
have seen nothing of them as yet"
No, because YOU have not been to the
lakes where they are usually found. If
you came to this place on a hot day you
would be driven away; and if you went
to My-van" (Which signifies "gnat-
water'0 "yOu would have to look out for
your horses. Why, friend of mine had
two horses bitten to DEATH
l felt little incredulous of the friends
horses, but said nothing
why" the farmer continued 1T is
these couatless myriads Of gnats that
make the fishing SO good. The fish gorge
themselves with them, and you will see
for yourselfpr presently q regular surface Of
fish on the water, waiting for the fly"
This, found, was perfectly true; for,
on nearing the lake, the immense masses
OF closely packed fish on the top OF the
water near the waterfall was Il sight that
quite staggered me.
We hobbled the horses, and. when |
had put up my rod, tried the fish with
various kinds of artificial fly, but not one
would they take. | suppose they had
had enough of the natural ones. We then
dug up some worms and hardly had | let
nv bait touch the water before m i'm
mense fish sprang upon it. How I
wished for my salmOn-rod, instead of the
tlimsy trout-tackle l had brought with
met 1T was impossible to pull it in, and
/ was forced to let it drag me up and
down the bank, over the rocks, into the
water, and, in fact, do with me just what
it pleased for half an hour before dared
+a1- IN T 7
should have had no fear; but my farmer
friend became so excited, as he had never
seen a fish caught with rod before. that
he could hardly contain himself When
the fish was pulled into the shadows I
managed to explain to him that he must
get into the lake, between the monster and
the deep water, and do ali he could 10
drive 1t out.
He cautiously crawled down the bank
waded round to the fish, drove it into s
little niche in the rock, and then, falling
upon it as if it had been a wild beast, !
drew his jack-kn and cut of Its had
The fish weighed about ten pounds, /
which was not bad, considering the very
slight tackle had at my command. The
whole mornings sport was but a repeti-
ton of this maneuver. Each time
dropped my bait into the water l caught
a fish. and each fish cost me good half
hours struggle, many were lost. One
old fellow took particular note of, for,
after swallowing the hook, he went of
steadily across the lake, slowly and with
out the least hurry. l knew I had got a
giant by his way Of taking it, so prepared
Tor the worst On he went, steadily; my
reel at last gave out. The irresistible pull
continued; the rod bent double; then l
concluded the hook pricked him, for he
gave one immense spring, four feet clear
above the water, took away all my gut
and broke the top joint of the rod in two
places.
This accident, of course, checked fur
ther proceedings for the day, and we