Neuquén & Rio Negro Provinces

Junin is the native name for the world famous fly fishing Mecca surrounding the alpine communities of San Martin de los Andes and Bariloche, in Argentina, Patagonia.

Home to the most famous of Argentine fisheries, the Malleo, Traful, Calleufu, Collon Cura, Guacamamuil, Chimehuin, Alumine, and of Rio Filo Hua Hum most of the really great fishing is located behind locked gates or road-less terrain on private land. Our choice of regional outfitters, Chimehuin Safaris, has access to each of the exclusive and private ranch properties where trout have been protected for decades. Jorge Knull and his staff of expert Argentine guides are incredible angling talents and personalities, reflections of Jorge, himself.

Working closely with Chimehuin Safaris, we are able to create customized itineraries built around the best available private angling, individual abilities and interests. In most cases, anglers will combine two or three different estancias, spending two to three days at each, for their angling holiday.

Once you are in the hands of Jorge and his talented crew, everything is covered and NO detail, big or small, is overlooked...it’s just Jorge’s way. Each of these expeditions is more than a fishing trip; it will become a wonderful memory.

This is marvelous fly fishing in a fish-filled, beautiful, and pro-American part of the world. It is an experience that every serious angler deserves.

Estancia Arroyo Verde

Estancia Arroyo Verde is not a lodge, but a traditional Argentine ranch belonging to Meme La Riviere. Former guests include Dwight Eisenhower, Joe Brooks, Ernest Schweibert, Mel Krieger and other Argentine angling pioneers.

The hacienda is charming and deluxe, surrounded by vegetable and flower gardens, stables, and ponds.

The estancia borders 12 miles of the magnificent Traful River (read Schweibert’s “Remembrances of Rivers Past,” the chapter called “River of Spirits”). It is home to huge and numerous Brown and Rainbow Trout and the occasional Landlocked Salmon. Large Rainbows are often seen sipping dry flies under the willows.

The opposite bank of the river is also private, and seldom fished. The Ted Turner family, ardent fly fishermen, own what was once the other half of the ranch. It is self-regulated, like Arroyo Verde, and both ranches allow only catch-and-release angling. A Forbes Magazine article described Arroyo Verde “the best fishing lodge in the world! Period.” But as fine as the accommodations are, this is an experience that centers around, and focuses on the tremendous trout fishing in the clear, deep runs of what most experienced fly fishermen agree is one of the finest rivers on Earth.

Trophies are not uncommon on the Traful, and expert nymph fishermen find it to be an angling paradise. Unlike many of the easily waded, prolific fisheries of Argentina, Arroyo Verde is tailored to the fly fisherman that predicates his trip on trophies, not numbers of fish.

Sight casting to large rising rainbows occupies much of the day, and streamer fishing for carnivorous Browns is very effective in the failing light. Meals are served late in the evening at Arroyo Verde, in the Argentine summer fashion and well after the fishing day is done. They are accompanied by fine wines, delicious desserts, and a sense of genuine hospitality that leaves most guests planning their return before their departure. Each visit is highlighted by a lakeside asado (traditional Argentine barbecue) on the last afternoon of the visit. Non-anglers often enjoy morning rides on the ranch with hostess Meme la Riviere.

The estancia accommodates only 10 guests, and does it in style. Rooms are well-appointed, and usually have private baths. Cost is approximately $700 per day, per person.

Estancia Tipiliuke: Río Chimehuin

Estancia Tipiliuke or "Larminat" named after the family that owns the Estancia is part of the historic Estancia Cerro de los Piños and surrounds more river than any ranch for a thousand miles. The Chimehuin River offers every type of fishing from semi-spring creek angling to deep pools. The morning and evening hatches are a sight to see, and the fish-rich river is incredibly prolific, often surrendering dozens and dozens of fish to each angler every day of the Argentine summer. Covering over 45,000 acres of mountains, valleys, rivers and springs, the vast extension and beautiful landscape offer a variety of activities such as: horse back riding, bird-watching, hunting and fishing. The farm has been raising cattle since 1909 and this continues as its main activity.

The lodge is a traditional stone-constructed house with wood paneled interior and features six double bedrooms, each with private bathroom as well as a dining room and wood-beamed sitting room and bar. A beautiful garden and a great variety of trees surround the lodge. Services include bilingual staff, full breakfast, lunch and dinner. Laundry is also available. The lodge is very comfortable, and the accommodations and meals are excellent by any standard.

Two of Argentina's most famous rivers run for over ten miles through the Estancia Tipiliuke, the Chimehuin and the Quilquihue. Small channels and fast water surrounded by willows and volcanic rock offer a wide range of possibilities and challenges for anglers. A big variety of hatches in the morning as well as in the afternoon are an every day experience enabling anglers to fish to their liking. The average measure for seasonal trout is eighteen (18) inches, although fish over twenty-five (25) inches are not uncommon. Cost is approximately $700 per day, per person.

Estancia San Huberto: Río Malleo

The Estancia San Huberto encompasses tens of thousands of acres, and over thirty-five miles of catch and release rainbow and brown trout fishing on the Malleo (pronounced Ma-Jay-O) River. The Malleo is about the size of the more wadeable portions of the Madison, a bit smaller than the Deschutes, and a bit wider than the Upper Sacramento.
It's a river that is loaded with fish and has hatches of mayflies, caddis and stoneflies sometimes so thick that it makes it hard to breathe without inhaling the critters. Access to the river is by truck and the fish range from stupid to ultra-selective, and pan-size to trophy.

The lodge itself is a former hunting lodge; complete with a century of mounted red stag trophies on the wall. San Huberto is owned and managed by Carlos Olsen and his charming wife Carmen.

Fishing on the ranch is limited to the maximum of 12 guests that can be accommodated at the lodge. Each day’s fishing is accented by fabulous meals; each week’s fishing is highlighted by an indoor barbecue, and each evening’s fishing can be recounted at one of the most comfortable cocktail hours on the continent. San Huberto Lodge is a grand, old-world lodge, full of traditions, Argentine culture and fond memories. Cost is approximately $700 per day, per person.

Estancia Lagunas del Collon Cura: Río Collon Cura

This big property is located along the east shore of the Collón Cura River, on national route 40 (the one that connects San Martín de los Andes and San Carlos de Bariloche) about an hour and a half drive from Chapelco airport. They can accommodate up to 8 guests in comfortable double bedrooms in a separate building not far away from the main one.

From this location we have access to the lower stretch of the Collón Cura River, before it widens up and becomes an artificial lake called Piedra del Aguila (this lake by the way is more than 150 miles long and 10 to 20 miles wide). We can do 5 different day floats having specially prepared picnics and returning to the Estancia when the fishing is over. We float this stretch of the river because of the distances between the good spots. The wading, however, is easy and therefore we stop often to fish the runs. From mid February to the end of the season there is a very interesting migration of minnows or fry of last year's hatch. At this time the fishing turns spectacularly good. Although we do have hatches in certain side arms and ponds, the shores of this river do not have very dense vegetation and therefore are not a good habitat for mayflies and caddis. Keep your eyes open for those flying ants though.

The regular equipment should include heavy lines, around 200 grains and a good variety of streamer flies. Cost is approximately $700 per day, per person.

Estancia Quemquemtreu: Río Collon Cura

Quemquemtreu gives us access to the lower reaches of the Collón Cura River, before the Lago Piedra del Aguila (the lake is more than 150 miles long). We float the Collon Cura because of the distance between the good angling spots. The wading is very easy and we stop and fish, wading the runs throughout the day. There is a very interesting migration of alevins or fry around mid February to the end of the season. The fish go crazy for streamers. Chimehuin Safaris can do 5 different day floats and return to the Estancia each evening.

The lodging at Estancia Quemquemtreu is very old style typical Argentine. The lodge is located within the compounds of one of the oldest estancias of this area. It is a small town in itself with its own school, police quarters, general store, barns and the landowner's and workers houses. This lodge is no bigger than a family house with four double bedded bedrooms with private baths.
Cost is approximately $700 per day, per person.

Estancia Tres Lagos: Río Filo Hua Hum

Located a modest drive from the resort ski village of San Martin de Los Andes, Estancia Tres Lagos is nestled in a beautiful mountain valley, a vista replete with shallow, fertile lakes, heavily forested hillsides and miles of Rio Filo Hua Hum, a perfect little freestone fishery. The lodge itself reflects the multi-generational pioneer history of the owners' family, with many old photos and artifacts - it is a simple, cozy building that makes you feel you have been invited as a friend into their own home. The guest cabins are a short, tree-shaded walk away - warm and modern, with comfortable beds and en suite bathrooms. The river is divided into generous beats, with the water a textbook progression of riffles, runs and pools. Easily waded in most spots, the angler should expect to fish a variety of attractor dries and traditional nymphs, with streamers as a backup plan. The river meanders between two good-sized lakes, which for the stillwater angler are a great option. As well, early and late in the season the largest lower lake fish will run up into the river, adding the potential for a truly large brown or rainbow hookup amidst the indigenous 14-20 inch fish.

For non-anglers, there are endless hiking and horseback riding options, as the ranch is large, and encompasses both mountainous and valley terrain. They can even arrange for an overnight adventure, riding to a cabin in the hills, or camping out. Though the emphasis is on the fly fishing, it is a working ranch, a family-run operation passed down through the years - much like in our own West - and just listening to the stories of these people is fascinating. Tres Lagos is small and intimate and real - nothing glitzy or Americanized here - and is a perfect destination for a 2-4 day stay. Cost is approximately $700 per day, per person.

Alumine River Float: Río Alumine

The Aluminé River begins at Aluminé Lake and runs for 95 miles before meeting the Chimehuín River to form Collón Cura. The Aluminé has good dry fly fishing, excellent nymph fishing and sometimes spectacular streamer fishing. Here it's not uncommon to catch 15-25 fish per rod each day, the catch averaging 1-4 lbs.

A float trip down the Alumine River is a unique opportunity to experience river life in true Argentina wilderness, seldom seen by most visitors or anglers. The countryside is very similar to the Deschutes River country, in central Oregon-high desert, with magnificent canyon walls. The entire float covers about 40 miles and is deluxe by any standards. Each two anglers will share a raft, manned by an experienced oarsman/guide. A baggage boat floats ahead of the group to make camp and start preparations for gourmet meals cooked over an open fire, "Argentina Style". Five man dome tents are shared by two anglers, offering plenty of room to get comfortable and come complete with cots, sleeping bags, and air mattresses.

The fishing is a combination of nymph and streamer fishing, interrupted by incredible hatches of Caddis, Tricos, Hendricksons, and more... creating some wonderful dry fly fishing opportunities. Much of the dry fly fishing on the Alumine is sight fishing to sipping trout in back eddies and stillwaters. And lastly, if you hit it right, you will get into a small chartreuse inch worm coming-out that the fish go nuts over. It's a fish literally every cast when the worms are on, absolutely amazing...

Dinners are cooked over an open fire and complemented by the finest Argentine wines. You will spend the evening gazing at the Southern Cross, sipping good wine around the campfire and reliving the day on the river, dreaming of what is around the next bend. The Alumine float is one of our favorite Argentine fly fishing excursions, a must for those who enjoy wilderness river solitude and the smell of a campfire… Cost is approximately $700 per day, per person.