Erfalik Lodge

GREENLAND INSTEAD OF ICELAND

CELAND HAS SEEMINGLY been the rage forever, and justifiably so, with the waterfalls, volcanos, and some of the world’s finest Atlantic hiked the glaciers of Skaftafell or bathed in the Blue Lagoon, then switch to trend instead and hop over to Greenland. The Danish-owned (for now!) island is only 750 miles from Iceland—just slightly farther than driving from Denver to Bozeman. (Erfalik guests arrive via Copenhagen.) The fishing program is walk-and-wade for Arctic char, most of which are decent-sized, with the occasional 10-plus pounder. This is primarily six-weight water, and a fighting butt is a good idea. Tourism is relatively new to Greenland in general, and flyfishing is newer still. The lodge (downside: bunkbeds; upside: single rooms) was built in 2019, and sits above a fjord in the southwest corner of the island, about 50 miles south of Sisimiut—the second-largest “city” in Greenland (population 6,000; average temp in February and March: 7ºF). The town has existed in some form or another for more than 4,000 years, and the harbor is on the south shore of Kangerluarsunnguaq Bay. (Good luck with pronunciation.) Erfalik guides are young and not yet particularly flyfishy, but they are friendly and eager and English-speaking. A somewhat surprising aspect to the fishery: above-average action skating bright foamy flies. And if that’s not happening, then it’s streamer-swingin’ time.