Trip Report – Chilean Patagonia 2012
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Back in October I had posted photos of trips from Nov 2009 and March 2011. I just returned from another 2 week trip to Coyhaique, Region XI Chile.
This is the first time I had been in their summer so I had never actually seen the Cantaria bugs. Here is a male Cantaria and a Dung Beetle. Delicious!
The first week I spent much of the week guiding as three of our guests were older and required a little closer watch while on walk and wades.
I never get tired of photographing the scenery here. John Bennet was kind enough to loan me a 16 to 24mm lens for the D50. It made better work of the scenery and close in stuff. Thanks John, You’re the best!
No coincidence that we know each other, all Canadians know each other. ;D
This is Jack B, he is pretty well connected in Toronto’s Fly fishing community and in fact consulted with Cuba and the Italians in getting the Avalon group started in Cuba. I know Cuba is just kind of getting on the US flyfishing scene over the last two or three years but Canadians have been coming and going freely forever.
This fish was, in my mind, the fish of the trip. Larger fish were taken but this one was particularly beautiful. I did not catch it, one of the guys did.
I didn’t catch this one either. Guide Jose guides in Alaska and Chile. Endless Summer!
OK, here is one that I caught. A tiny 21″ on my first day out. 😀
Did I say they have good beer in Chile. “Joost” – I think they mean Juiced!
This is the road home from the Emperador Guillermo.
No trip is without it’s glitches.
A little break on the Paloma River.
During the second week our 6 clients were replaced with 1. Keith S was with me for both weeks last year. This year he came during week 2 so it was he and I and Pancho for the entire week. My fishing picked up considerably.
This is him (Left) laughing and Pancho looking at me with a “WTF?” look on his face miliseconds after Keith popped off a 30ish fish on the Paloma. The fish took a dry coming up like a sub. Something had to have happened to Keith’s tippet on a previous fish. I saw the strike and it was not his fault. It was 3x tippet as well.
I managed this nice fish on the Paloma River. It was a great drift but the wind pounded us.
Fishing the Pampas.
The Pampas – A spring creek between the borders.
This is what came out of that tiny Creek on the Pampas.
I got this nice rainbow on the Emperador Guillermo River. A small stream that holds many smallish fish and a few 17’s. I nymphed the river almost entirely. I missed two browns that both went up a 3 foot waterfall!
I always wear a hat of some sort but this shot was minutes after I had fallen in the lake off of the cataraft. They say it looked like slow motion. The wind was blowing the raft, I was standing up, Pancho tried to slow the raft – I kept going. We were sight fishing for cuising browns like this. It was easier to see while standing. I just wanted a closer look. 😛
Over 2 days that we came to this lake Keith and I caught over 25 Browns and rainbows in the 21 to 27 inch range.
Until next year…thanks for lookin.
Un abraso compadre!Simon, I was corrected on the beetles. My buddy in Chile saw it and corrected that the small one is not a female Cantaria but a Dung Beetle. No wonder he didn’t stop to chat with her.
Thanks, Steve I recognize the term. You better wash your hands.
Great report Brian! I am one month away from my trip to Patagonia and to say I am excited would be an understatement! Your post seems to have added to that…. 🙂
Joel
Nice report and exellent pics! I am heading down to the Coyhaique area in 10 days. As a previous member said seeing this just increases my anticiaption. I can’t wait to be there. Although I hope the unrest the Chileans in the region are undergoing settles down a bit.
Barry and Moosedog – the town was boarded up a bit last week due to the protests but my understanding is that they left the small vehicles alone.
There were gas shortages because they didn’t let trucks through but my buddy is on the Simpson today fishing so I think things are back to normal or close to it.
They are protesting the cost of living and goods and services prices in the area because it’s so remote. Last I read the government is at least listening.
I’ve never heard of people being threatened or anything close to that.I don’t know if either of you guys are DIY/ staying with friends, lodges or what but if you need a local contact in case of trouble, send me a PM and I’ll hook you up.
Have a great trip, both of you. Post lots of pics!
The last few days have been windless and fishing on the Simpson has been great. My buddy is sending me photos tonight. You have to get on the Paloma – it is fantastic and has big fish. Emperador Guillermo as well, smaller but lots of nice fish. Those guys don’t nymph much other than hopper/dropper so if you are so inclined you will nail nice fish.
Have at er!
BJoel and Barry – just got an update from my friend in Coyhaique.
The riots are really bad right now. Most of the tourists have left and there is no gas. My buddy was able to guide because he has 2 trucks and both had gas. Tomorrow he has to take his clients to the airport and the trip which takes usually 1 hour will take 3 hours because there are three roadblocks between Coyhaique and Balmaceda. After that he has a 20 litre spare then he’s out of business.
I would contact your people down there to see if they are still operating.
My friend saw no guides on the rivers the last few days he assumes no one has gas.
Tourists are safe, it’s just darn inconvenient and no gas.The worst trouble is in Puerto Aysen – just past the Simpson but Coyhaique is having it’s own troubles.
If either of you require more specific info or get contradictory info from your outfitters send me a PM.I asked my friend to update me with photos etc over the next while so I will hold onto the info unless you guys ask rather than take up the board for all this.
Joel may have better luck in a month but for you Barry you might want to take alternative measures. It may end as fast as it started but it does not look good right now dude.
Thanks Brian….I have been following the situation as closely as I can from here and I spoke with my outfitter yesterday and it does not look good. He is almost out of gas, and the food shortages are also affecting him. I fear this trip will not come off. As you can imagine it is a big disappointment. :'(
Unless it ends today or tomorrow we will likley just reschedule until next year. Just the incremental increase in airfare if we were to try for the end of March would be about $1000.
I appreciate the offer for help though. It’s really too bad for the locals as I imagine a lot of tourist dollars will not make it to the area for the rest of this year.
Boy can I pick them…..my last trip there was during the 2010 earthquake……it just goes to show you that there’s always something! ::)Hey Guys,
For what this is worth, I just had a Norwegian fishermen show up here in Rio Pico who had planned on fishing Coyhaique for a week or so but found it impossible due to the unrest, and so skipped across and barely made it to a service station on our side before he ran out of fuel.
Well we canceled the trip. The outfitter simply cannot move around without gas, and food is becoming scarce as well. Will try to reschedule for earlier in the season next year…maybe December or early January.
As we sayaround here…..this is a wicked bummah! :-[
Goodluck Moosedog…hopefully your trip will still come off okay.Last trip there in 2010 the earthquake happened.
This trip the protests & complications that come with them.
Perhaps we should look a bit to the east to try th fishingWell, we’re here; and we’ll be here next year too. Actually these days I’m here all year round, just bird hunting instead of fishing through the winter.
Well we canceled the trip. The outfitter simply cannot move around without gas, and food is becoming scarce as well. Will try to reschedule for earlier in the season next year…maybe December or early January.
As we sayaround here…..this is a wicked bummah! :-[
Goodluck Moosedog…hopefully your trip will still come off okay.My trip is still a go! Wild dogs couldn’t keep me away at this point. Plus, I will be in the good hands of Justin Witt. Should be an epic trip!
Joel
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