Fly Fishing in San Martin de Los Andes

Do you have a particular river you want to go to? Do you want to learn a new fishing technique? Do you fantasize about taking a fierce trout out of the Patagonian waters?

All this is possible. You will design, with the best guides in the area, a day of fishing to suit you. That night, you'll go to sleep with enthusiasm: the next day you'll go fishing!

The wading day consists of walking around the river looking for the right structures or moments for fishing. In many occasions, fishing is done by sight, so we live situations with a lot of adrenaline. Nothing better than seeing a trout when it is heading for our fly!

Floating is a different experience. Instead of entering the river on foot, you will get on an inflatable raft, embarked to go fishing. This method is very useful to reach strategic places or to escape from the sectors with higher fishing pressure.

Rivers are usually bigger and the distance covered is longer. However, in certain sectors of the river, we can make short stops for wading.

Patagonia is a privileged place on planet earth. The landscape is beautiful, and the rivers are very diverse. You can find everything from very small streams to huge giants like the Limay River. Fishing in these places is priceless.

It all started over 100 years ago. The pioneers in South America found an ideal environment to develop fly-fishing. From Germany to Canada, boats with juvenile fish began to arrive with the aim of populating the rivers with the desired species. This practice would be totally inadvisable at present, but at the time there was no awareness of the impact it generated on the ecosystem.

There were many failed attempts. Imagine what a difficult task! Without refrigeration and travelling long distances on horseback, these little ones managed to survive so that today you can fish... Trout! With no natural predators, these animals reached incredible sizes and Patagonia became a paradise for fly-fishing.

The brown trout has adapted perfectly to the Patagonian waters. Many reach trophy size, because they feed almost exclusively on other fish, including other brown trout. In Patagonia, brown trout can weigh up to 10 kg. Spawning usually takes place in late April and early May. During the spawning period the typical marks and color of the trout become more alive.

A physical characteristic of the trout is its ventral fins. They are strong and powerful, and allow them to make very fast turns and movements.
Rainbow trout are predatory, and will eat almost anything they can catch, including insects, small fish and crustaceans. They will also eat fish eggs, including the eggs of other rainbow trout, as well as carcasses.

This is one of the most beautiful fish a fisherman can catch in Patagonia. Fondana's trout can reach weights of up to 5 kilos. Spawning, which requires highly oxygenated waters, takes place during the last part of April and in May. During this time the typical marks and color of the trout become more alive. They coexist with the rainbow and brown trout, although they are usually less numerous, due to the fact that the Fondana is less aggressive.

You will be able to choose among the best rivers for fly fishing in Patagonia. We'll tell you a little about them:

The Chimehuin River is known for the famous phrase of fisherman Joe Brooks: "This was the best fishing day of my life". It is a great freestone river similar in many ways to the Madison in Montana. It's perfect for float fishing, sight fishing, and prospecting with streamers, nymphs and dry flies.

The Collón Curá is a river of slow and calm waters. It has one of the most prolific trout fishing in all of Patagonia. Without a doubt, it is a must for trout fishermen. The water is similar to the Snake River in Wyoming, but with willows and high sandstone cliffs.
Collon Cura's trout are exceptional fighters, averaging 14 to 20 inches with possibilities of some real monsters.

Aluminé is a very changing river that receives water from many other rivers such as the Pulmari, the Quillen, the Kilka and the Malleo. This makes it a complex and exciting river. With so many variations along its course, it allows you to practice different techniques in its different sections.

It is a classic whitewater river, which can be fished by floating, waterfalls and wading. The river is full of rainbows and browns that can be fished with dries, nymphs and streamers.

The Malleo is a classic mid-sized freestone river, offering consistent and easy wading for fighting trout. This river is well known among dry fly enthusiasts throughout the region for its spectacular caddis and mayfly hatches.

The Lower Limay River is a tailwater that flows from the Pichi Picún Leufú dam for 96 kilometers before emptying into the huge El Chocón reservoir. It offers fishermen a rich and varied river system populated by rainbow and brown trout.

The Quilquihue River is a tributary of the Chimehuin River, and originates in Lake Lolog. It is located only 12 km away from the city of San Martín de Los Andes. It's suitable only for wading and is ideal for those who wish to have fun or learn to fly fish.

Quilquihue is populated by many rainbows and browns weighing between 17 and 36 ounces. We do not rule out some surprises, especially at the beginning and the end of the season. The season is from the beginning of November to the end of May.

This tour is fully customizable. No matter your level of experience: all the guides are instructors in all the techniques. If you are a beginner, you will learn new things. If you are an experienced fisherman, you will have the opportunity to improve even more.

These are the fishing techniques that you will be able to experience in this tour, both in wading and in floating:

After meeting with the guide the day before, you will have a tour designed especially for your group. The day will start with the pick up from your accommodation at the agreed time. We will leave early in the morning to take advantage of the best hours.

At midday, they will prepare your lunch with love and all the details so that you can enjoy it in the middle of the forest. No hassles: you will eat under the trees with tablecloths, chairs and tableware. When you try the delicious three-step menu, you will only be able to smile. You'll feel at home even if you are quite some miles away.

You'll continue fishing until about 6:00 p.m., depending on the river you have chosen. Before the sun goes down, you will return.