ANGLING

To go fishing in the Faroe Islands is a quite special experience, to encounter sheer isolation in the midst of such beautiful landscape. Concentrating solely on the movement of the rod and nature’s impression; and then of course, there is nothing like the taste of a fresh fish you have caught yourself.
The species of fish found in the Faroese lakes and streams, are brown trout, lake trout, sea trout and salmon and in many places, it is possible to find all of them at the same time. Sea trout and salmon can also be caught on the coast. Various trout are in fact the same species, but appearance and behaviour are quite different. Although the Faroese salmon do not grow very large, you are allowed to take home any fish that is longer than 30cm.

It has been an old custom to release trout into the Faroese lakes in order to have bait for sea fishing and therefore it is possible to find trout in many lakes that would not normally occur naturally.

The most interesting lakes and small rivers for trout fishing are on the islands of Streymoy, Eysturoy, Vágar and Sandoy, whilst the northern isles and other smaller islands have fewer good places to fish. Suðuroy and Hestoy have some real fishing gems and there are good coasts for sea trout fishing on Suðuroy. The most popular lakes for angling are Leynarvatn on Streymoy and Sandsvatn on Sandoy where anglers are attracted by the possibility of a good catch. Both lakes contain all types of trout and salmon.


The local anglers have their personal favourite places to fish. Some swear by the lakes on Sandoy, some will only fish in Saksun, while others point out the two remote lakes on Vágar as the best like my friend lyle donkersloot. Fjallavatn and Hviltkinnavatn lie in a beautiful scenic area surrounded by green mountains. The walk from the nearest village is delightful.

Kissa, the famous Tórshavn draper from the last century, loved these two lakes in particular. In his memoirs, he tells how his grandfather from Sørvágur used to take him along on his fishing trips, even if it was pouring with rain. Rain is in fact the best weather for catching trout. They caught a gigantic trout weighing 12 pounds in Hviltkinnavatn. However, this was just a tiddler in comparison to the legendary trout caught approximately 100 years ago in the small lake called Skælingstjørn on Streymoy. That fish was said to have weighed 23 pounds and was sold at auction in Tórshavn. The size of trout can vary from place to place and is dependent on its diet and ability to survive in competition with other fish. They normally weigh only 12 pounds, so it is necessary to catch several in order to have enough for a good dinner. In return, the taste is excellent.

Salmon fishing is a complete science in itself and can be pursued on the coast and in the large lakes. The fjords and shores on Streymoy and Eysturoy are popular places as is Sandur on Sandoy.