Sea trout fishing in Patagonia

The Rio Gallegos 

The Rio Gallegos lies across the Magellan Straits from Tierra del Fuego in the province of Santa Cruz, and although the fish here do not run quite as large as in the Rio Grande further south, double figure specimens still feature on a regular basis and in our opinion, Bella Vista is the best lodge from which to catch them. Guests staying at Bella Vista also pay significantly less than they do to fish the Rio Grande in Tierra del Fuego and the lodge, together with its house party atmosphere is very popular with anglers from the UK.

Guests normally stay the Friday night in Buenos Aires, and fly down to Rio Gallegos early the following (Saturday morning) so that they are fishing later the same day. The flight takes approximately 3 hours and the transfer from the airport to the lodge takes 90 minutes. At the end of the week's fishing guests depart in the morning, arriving back in Buenos Aires around lunchtime. All guests will be sent detailed tackle and clothing recommendations for Bella Vista prior to departure.

Bella Vista: This refurbished estancia type lodge overlooks the River Gallegos and is located within a property running to 700,000 acres, roughly the same size as Wales with access to 50 kms of the river. This wild landscape of far reaching vistas is home to a variety of wildlife including both red and Patagonian foxes as well as blacked necked swans, flamingos, guanacos, Magellan geese and rheas. Bella Vista also offers exciting fishing for large free rising wild brown trout in the Gallegos Chico, a twisty narrow stream with endless small pools and longer glides that runs for 20 kms through the open steppe. Trout up to 7lbs have been caught here, and  2 - 3lbs is the average size, requiring a degree of skill to successfully land large fish in narrow channels sometimes clogged with weed. A 7 - 8 foot rode with a 4 - 5 weight line is the ideal tackle for these large brownies.

The average sized sea trout in the Rio Gallegos is around 10lbs, although fish into the high twenties have also been landed. We recommend either 9 - 10 foot single handed rods or 13 - 15 foot double handed rods with 8 or 9 weight floating lines, although conditions can also call for sink tips or intermediate lines. Lunch at the lodge is usually followed by a siesta, with guests returning to fish the river from 5 - 10pm.  The lodge has capacity for 10 rods in 5  ensuite bedrooms (4 twins and one double room) as well as a bar, dining room, sitting room and fly tying room.

The Rio Grande 

The Rio Grande rises in the Chilean Andes and flows for 90 miles through the vast open steppe of Tierra del Fuego before meeting the South Atlantic Ocean at the port of Rio Grande. This river is unquestionably the premier sea trout river in the world with anglers having a realistic opportunity of landing a fish in excess of 20lb. Wild and Exotic have access to fishing lodges on three different stretches of the river, but as availability is always tight from January until the season closes in the middle of April early booking is advisable in order to avoid disappointment.

Guests normally stay the Friday night in Buenos Aires, and fly down to Rio Grande early the following (Saturday morning) so that they are fishing later the same day. The flight takes approximately 3 ½ hours. At the end of the week's fishing guests depart in the morning, arriving back in Buenos Aires around lunchtime. It is also possible to fly from Buenos Aires of Bariloche to Ushuaia. The optimum tackle differs according to which stretch of the river you will be fishing, however all guests will be sent detailed tackle and clothing recommendations prior to departure.

Villa Maria: This lodge is located on the lower reaches of the Rio Grande within the historic pioneering family estancia of Jose Menendez, one of the first to be settled in Patagonia. Anglers staying here have the first casts at returning sea trout on 15kms of the lower river, calling for 13 - 15 foot double handed rods with 8 - 11 weight lines, being floating, sink tip or even heavy sink tip according to the conditions. Lunch is usually taken as a picnic beside the river, with guests not returning until the evening having fished a 9 or 10 hour day, making this the most physically demanding of the three lodges we use on the Rio Grande. This comfortable and cosy lodge has capacity for 6 rods in 4 bedrooms (3 ensuite and one single room) with a living and dining area complemented by a bar.

Kau-Tapen: This lodge is located on the middle reaches of the Rio Grande, and was the first fishing lodge in Tierra del Fuego, enjoying an enviable but well deserved reputation as the best sea trout lodge in the world. Access to prime weeks is very hard to come by as multiple catches per day are normal given favourable conditions and Kau-Taupen has access to more productive holding pools than any other lodge on the river, with the clean gravel bottom allowing easy wading. The recommended rod for the river is a 9 - 10 foot for an 8 weight line, although a 13 - 15 foot double handed rod for a 9 - 11 weight line can also be useful in the windy conditions that often prevail in Tierra del Fuego. Weight forward lines are recommended, with the option of sinking tips and sinking poly-leaders. Lunch at the lodge is usually followed by a siesta, with guests returning to fish the river from 5 - 10pm.  The lodge has capacity for 12 rods in 9 ensuite bedrooms (8 twins and one double room) as well as a bar, living room with open log fire, sauna and massage room.

Toon Ken: This is the newest of the three lodges located in the middle to upper reaches of the Rio Grande close to the border with Chile and a 2 hour road transfer from the airport. Floating lines fished over clean gravel bottoms with single or double handed rods are the norm, and the fishing here best suits experienced and competent anglers. Lunch is usually taken as a picnic beside the river, with guests not returning until the evening having fished a 9 or 10 hour day. The lodge is delightfully sited on a bluff overlooking the river and has capacity for 6 rods in 4 single and 2 ensuite bedrooms with magnificent views through expansive windows as well as a sauna and outdoor Jacuzzi.