Argentina
- This topic has 9 replies, 7 voices, and was last updated Jul 25, 2009 at 7:20 am by
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Dave, Are you pretty tied down on rivers and areas? I’ve been down twice and had the most epic experience the last time in January. We split it up into two parts: the semi populated yet still awesome Esquel and the Nat. Park zone up north, including the Rivadavia, Futaleufu, and Arrojo Pescado. But first a week on a private ranch in the Rio Pico area down south about 4hrs by car, which sounds exactly like what you describe above on your wish list; exclusive location, incredible fishing, french trained chefs, in an authentic non touristy location. Obviously great food, but not the stuffy white tablecloth $5000+ per person per week situation. Mucho less $$$s in just a simple ranch house (maximum six anglers, perfect!), a “kincho” in back for eating well after landing 20+ inch ‘bows and browns on big bushy dry flies all day. And a river running though it.
Here are a couple snaps for our journey, plus a bunch more on my flickr page in the “Patagonia 09” set. Feel free to get in touch if you have any ???’s
Oh yeah, forgot to post the outfitters link. Great people and I can’t convey in words how fantastic the experience was for all of us:
http://www.argentinawaters.com/
Tell Laura & Gonzalo you found them here as I think they are IA lurkers from time to time. We surely geeked out on cameras and photos on our last trip. Good times and we’re going back soon..
A few parting shots:
One last point, DIY sounds like a great idea if you have a month minimum, and a boat, and some kind of lodge outfitter affiliation. As you know, many of the better waters there are float situations, spread our over vast distances, with lots of restriction, running through private land. Plus, you’d have to rent a car. That’s a lot of down time for two weeks on the ground. Like any new area (or Continent/Hemisphere) you’d do less wheel spinning if you get an outfitter/guide for at least the first half of the trip. Yes, it will cost a little more, but the quality of your experience will go up 1000%, he’ll pick you up at the airport, and take care of everything else.
If you want to do it yourself in the southern hemisphere, go to the South Island. Yes, it’s a bit further to fly but the bigger fish will make that jet-lag disappear in no time.
Sorry to weigh in late on this thread.
I fished about a week in Patagonia in February this year, on the Collon Cura and Mallejo rivers and a day at Lago Tromen. All with Lucas Rodriguez from http://trafulriveroutfitters.com/ Traful River Outfitters. I can’t recommend them highly enough.
We stayed in several places, but I enjoyed the folks and facilities at Quemquemtreu http://www.quemquemtreu.com/ the most, though it’s hard to find fault with the fishing closer to Junin de los Andes (the Mallejo and Lago Tromen, which we fished out of a lodge called San Huberto.) The fish there were bigger and took hoppers eagerly, but I liked the float fishing on the Collon Cura better.
We flew in and out of BA, which proved to be kind of a PITA, since the in-country transfers to Bariloche eat up a day in each direction. If I were doing it again, I’d either plan an overnight in BA, so I could see more than the duty-free lounge for 6 hours (flight schedules there being more like suggestions) or fly in and out of Santiago, Chile.
My dad’s booked three trips of this sort through an outfit called Guided Connections, http://guidedconnections.com/, and Patty Reilly really does seem to do a good job of finding and vetting the providers she books.
PM for more details?
Lucky you and I can’t wait to get back down there myself as well! If you’re looking at any DIY days out and in need of a great guide my recomendation without a doubt would be Francisco with Tres Piedras
http://www.trespiedras.cl/ tell him I sent you he may be able to help.We had an incredible time fishing with them and they cover areas from Bariloche, San Martin, to the Chile areas of Puerto Montt to Southern Chile!
Have a great trip~
Hello Dave,
I was very fortunate to spend two weeks in northern Patagonia in March. Check out my report of March 16th in the Blog Arhive on my webpage http://www.flyfisherjournal.com . You will find lots of pictures in the Patagonia section as well.
Good luck and tight lines …
Jean-Paul
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