The fishing

The Fishing Program with Patagonia River Guides

Patagonia River Guides has a straightforward “blue-collar” approach to its fishing program. Each guide has all of the finest equipment necessary to make your fly fishing experience ideal including: trucks, boats, rods, reels, flies, lines, leaders and tippet. Two anglers fish together with a professional guide and assistant guide to give every angler the finest one-on-one experience possible.

A Typical Day of Fishing with Patagonia River Guides: Fishing programs start on your schedule, which is normally an 8:00 to 8:30 am departure after a hearty breakfast and a meeting with your guide. The lodge is centrally located and the rivers we fish are normally within less then an hour drive. The longest drive is one hour and fifteen minutes to the Rio Rivadavia and the shortest is the put-in at our lodge on the Rio Grande. Most days end around 6:00 to 7:00 pm at which time, you are driven back to the lodge for a hot shower, cocktails in our cocktail lounge, and then a magnificent dinner complimented by a great bottle of Argentine wine served by one of their chefs.

You will be treated to a blend of floating, wading and a combination of both on area spring creeks, lakes and rivers. Your options depend on your desires and what is fishing best. Fishing techniques include dry fly, dry-dropper, streamers, and nymphs. Patagonia River Guides try to fish dries at all times when the conditions are right and the fish are feeding; however, it is necessary to go under the surface at times.

The fishing schedule is designed around the best fishing times. Really, the Argentines have mastered the art of squeezing two fishing days into one.

The Esquel region resembles fishing in the American West in many ways. Rivers in this area originate in the Andes Mountains or the Patagonia Steppe. All the rivers except for the Arroyo Pescado, Tecka and the Chubut flow east to the Pacific Ocean. Strange but true, the continental divide is actually on the Eastern side of the Andes Mountains. The rivers in this area are as varied as the countryside and there are many creeks, lakes, and rivers, all of which contain excellent numbers of trout. Some of the rivers are large and carry a substantial volume of water year-round; others are small and intimate and require a stealthy approach. About half the rivers PRG fishes are floated while the other half waded.

The Rio Grande “Futaleufú”
The Rio Grande, not to be confused with its name sake in Tierra del Fuego, is a lot like Montana’s Missouri River. It is not only one of Argentina’s most prolific trout streams but also one of it’s most beautiful. The Rio Grande is a large river containing lots of flat water, riffles and deep pools all of which give you a chance to catch good numbers of fish on dry flies. It has been a tail-water fishery for about thirty years and is maturing more and more every season. It is one of the best terrestrial fishing rivers in the country. The Rio Grande is PRG’s home water in the Esquel Area and the lodge sits on the bank of the upper river. We float numerous sections all with varied water and fishing conditions. The average fish is 16 to 18 inches and it is not uncommon to boat 30 fish per day here.

Arroyo Pescado
The Arroyo Pescado is one of the best spring creeks in the world! It is situated about thirty minutes east of Esquel in the Patagonian desert and flows about three miles before joining up with the Rio Gualjaina (which in turn joins the Chubut). It can be fished from January 1st through May 1st and is strictly enforced by the private estancia. There are daily hatches and rising fish depending on conditions. Arroyo Pescado offers something for everyone here including pink Chilean Flamingos, Magellan and Ashy Head Geese, a variety of ducks, black neck swans, ibis, parrots, greater rheas and condors. The water is extremely clear and shallow in most parts so the fish can be selective like on any spring creek. The best way to fish the river is by sight fishing. Trout on Arroyo Pescado range in size between 16 - 22 inches.

The Corcovado
The Corcovado is a fabulous fishery that stretches more than sixty miles in Argentina before crossing the border into Chile, where it is renamed the Palena. It originates at Lago Vinter, one of the largest lakes in the region, which keeps the river cold and full of water for most of the season. It offers some classic trout water and contains some very large brown trout as well as average sized rainbows. The lower stretches around the town of Corcovado fish well with streamers, large dries, and nymphs. A day on the Corcovado provides a combination of white water and classic riffle, pool water. You will also enjoy some wading in the many riffles in the river. Some of our largest brown trout of the season are landed on this river, and they are very strong and stocky due to living in this fast flowing river.

The Nant Y Fall
The Nant Y Fall is a lake fed stream with spring creek characteristics. It is best to fish this river in the early season and late season when the water temperature is cool. Some large Rainbows can be taken here and the average can be more than eighteen inches. The only way to fish the stream is by wading on private access. You will have spectacular views of the Andes and will be in the middle of a large waterfowl habitat giving you opportunity to see many of the birds in Patagonia. When this stream is fishing; it’s a must try.

The Rio Corintos and The Rio Percey
These two streams flow about 30 miles each before meeting and flowing into the Rio Grande. They offer walk wading opportunities for those wanting to get their feet wet. Not all the fish are large on these streams but the occasional fish over 18 inches can be caught on a large dry fly. The character of water is often times like that of a freestone, pocket water stream, and also spring creek like. These rivers are a nice choice for those that want to wade fish with a light rod and enjoy fishing in spectacular scenery.

The Rio Chubut
The Rio Chubut is a small willow lined stream and is one of the only moving waterways which flows east to the Atlantic Ocean. The only way to fish it is to float and camp for three days and cover about fifty miles of this river. Although the scenery of the Chubut and the Patagonia steppe is not as beautiful as other rivers, you will enjoy comfortable camping and nightly asados (barbeques) with friends and guides. It is a great river to catch good numbers of rainbows from 12 – 14 inches on dries and pancora (fresh water crab) streamers. The best time to fish the Chubut is in the spring and early summer when there is still plenty of water for the expedition.

The Rio Gualjina (Rio Tecka)
This small stream is born on the Patagonia Steppe and offers miles of uninterrupted wade fishing. The fish are not all large but the ability to fish a light rod and dry flies makes up for the size of the fish. Both rainbows and browns can be caught. This is a good choice for those that want to walk and cover water.

The Los Alerces National park Area
Los Alerces National Park was formed to protect one the last stands of giant sequoia trees, Los Alerces, in South America. These trees aren’t as large as their cousins in the United States but older. Los Alerces encompasses more than 500,000 acres and contains over two dozen rivers and lakes. Most of the national park never gets touched because there are no roads in the park except on the eastern edge. The ecosystem would be described as Valdivian rainforest making it different than most of Argentine Patagonia. Fortunately, the park ranger planted trout here in 1964 and they are flourishing. You can catch rainbow trout, brown trout, brook trout, and land locked salmon in the emerald waters, and you will enjoy the park as much for the scenery as the fishing. A large part of estancia which contains our lodge forms the Southern border of the park and is a nice location from which to base your expedition.

The Rivadavia River
The Rivadavia has to be one of the most beautiful rivers in the world. It flows from Lago Rivadavia five miles until it reaches Lago Verde. The fishing is challenging but very rewarding as the fish average over 18 inches. Most anglers get very excited about their trip to the Rivadavia because of the beauty and the numbers of fish you can see and fish to. The water is gin clear and the banks are lined with beech trees and fallen logs, which make the casting challenging. Wading and sight fishing with small nymphs is a good way to hook up as well as fishing large dries over the logs or chucking streamers under the tree lined banks to entice the large browns. There is also a fishable spring creek that flows into the Rivadavia and offers some exciting sight fishing. This river is the favorite choice for most experienced anglers because of the challenge, beauty, and the fishing. The Rivadavia contains rainbows, browns, brook trout, and landlocked salmon.

The Arrayanes River
The Arrayanes River connects Lago Verde to Lago Futalaufquen. The slow and deep river stretches about four miles and offers some exciting fishing mostly in the early season (Nov-Jan). It is named for the strange trees with orange bark and snarled branches (resembling manzanitas). The most exciting way to fish the Arrayanes is to sight cast dry flies to cruising rainbows suspended just under the surface or pull streamers on sink tip lines to find the large browns. You won’t believe the distance a fish will move for a dry fly and how slow they eat your fly! It is a good choice when the conditions are right.

The Frey River
The Frey is the largest river in the park and one of the most remote. You will have to cross two lakes to get there, which means the river has much less pressure and eager fish. The river is slightly difficult to access from shore so floating is the “best” only choice. You’ll like fishing the Frey and the journey to get there is part of the experience.

The Carrileufu
The Carrileufu originates just outside the National Park and flows through the northern border. It is best known for early-season landlocked Atlantic salmon; however, it also holds hard fighting browns and rainbows. This beautiful river with some of the clearest water on earth flows from Lago Cholila through the dry Cholila Valley, once home to Butch Cassidy. The river eventually flows into Lago Rivadavia and is the source of the Rivadavia River. Early in the season (Nov-Jan) is best and floating is the best way to access this river.

Lago Verde and Lago Kruger
These small lakes are hard to beat when they are fishing well. Nice fish will readily rise to eat large dry flies cast to the bank. Coupled with the beauty of ten thousand foot peaks, this is a good option for those wanting to fish dry flies and see the beautiful lake system of Los Alerces.

Lago Menendez
This lake is one of the most remote in the National Park; offers some of the most incredible scenery on earth all with eager trout that readily take a dry fly. You will be fishing under the Torcillas Glacier and have the opportunity to see the rarely seen Alerces Tree. The journey to Lago Menendez is half the fun and experience as are the trout (some over 25 inches).

Rio Pico Area
The Rio Pico Area is located about three hours south of our main lodge and offers anglers the chance to explore a region that hasn’t changed much in the last century or two. This is an area which gives you the chance to catch large fish and to enjoy Patagonia without any outside influence from modern technology or tourism. Nightly barbecues, fine wine, and stories told around the fire place add to this amazing experience. Rio Pico is mostly known for its high desert lakes stacked full of large rainbows and browns. This type of still water fishing is exciting because of the size of the fish and the potential to sight-fish. Lakes are not the only reason to visit this area because there are several rivers and spring creeks that can area provide plenty of heady action and exciting moments.

The Rio Pico
The Rio Pico is a willow-lined stream that is entirely spring fed in its upper reaches and fed by the Rio Nielson and Rio Las Pampas in its lower reaches. Access is challenging but rewarding and normally requires some hiking and walking. There are both rainbows and browns in the Pico and you’ll have the possibility of catching large fish in a small river. Walking the bank is the only way to fish this river until it picks up tributaries toward the Chilean border and has enough water to float.

The Rio Nielson
The Nielson is a delightful river filled with mid-sized rainbows and some larger browns. It is a great place to fish dry flies to eager fish while trekking through vast local estancias. This is a perfect size freestone stream that offers miles of riffles and pools to walk and spot fish.

The Rio Las Pampas
Named after the frontier town of Las Pampas, this river is very similar to the Nielson and offers great wade fishing in a super remote setting. Walking the bank and spotting fish seems to net the bigger trout while blind casting will keep you and your dry fly occupied for hours.
Lago Uno, Dos, Tres, Quatro, and Cinco (Lakes 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5)

Their names are not a joke or secret code to hide their location. These high desert lakes stuffed with large rainbows and browns and one of the main reasons to come and experience the Rio Pico program. They offer the angler some legitimate shots at fish up to ten pounds. Fish can be taken on dry flies, streamers and nymphs depending on time of year and conditions. If you are not a still water fishermen, you soon will be after a couple spectacular days on these lakes. It’s definitely worth the time and effort and very exciting to fish for these huge specimens some of which you will see before you cast to them.