The Patagonia Flies photo of the week was sent to us from Alejandro Martello who is an incredible fly fishing photographer. He also guided for four years on the Rio Grande in Tierra del Fuego Argentina. This spectacular shot portrays a real life perspective of a sea run brown trout ripping through the water back to its home.
The National Park Nahuel Huapi with its crystal clear lakes, snow covered mountain peaks, and translucent rivers is an absolute marvel of nature. The name Nahuel Huapi stands for “island of the tiger” in the traditional language Mapuche. It was started by a land donation from Francisco Pascasio Moreno and it is a huge park with 705,000 hectares starting in the southeast province of Neuquén and into the northeast province of Rio Negro. It is famous for its incredible views and six gorgous lakes within the park, Mascardi, Gutiérrez, Traful, Moreno, Guillerlmo, and lake Nahuel Huapi. Fly fishing wise all of them are extremely beautiful; with the possibility to catch rainbows, browns, big brook trout and in some cases landlock salmon. It is a great national park to explore, camp, hike, climb, mountain bike, horseback ride, and of course fly fish. The highest mountain peak in the park is the Tronador being 3554 meters high and marks the border between Argentina and Chile, and can be accessed from the famous route 40. This park truly is a backpackers and campers best friend, with its unlimited places to camp along spectacular lake fronts, and many beautiful cabanas and hotels. The two main commercial centers are Bariloche and Villa La Angustura. Saludos, Miguel Sanchez Fly Fishing Guide Bariloche Argentina
Iguazu National Park is 55,00 hectares of subtropical rainforest located in Northern Argentina in the province of Missiones shared with Brazil and near the border of Paraguay. It is home to the famous South American Iguazu falls. The geological origins stem from where the lava stopped and cooled in Southern Brazil and the Iguazu river passes over a huge basalt plataeu which ends just above the confluence with the Paraná river. It is at this point 5000 cubic meters of water per second drop 70 meters into the terrain below creating gorgous braid streams and more waterfalls then dropping back into the river Iguazu. The waterfall system consists of 275 falls along 1.67 miles of the Iguazu river, with the highest fall being around 270 feet high. The most famous fall is called “Garganta del Diablo” or Devil’s Throat marking the border between Argentina and Brazil. In the park there are also over 2000 identified plants species and over 400 species of birds. There is also a myth we heard that the largest Dorado once lived in these waters, maybe they still do. There is great fishing in the Paraná river, and Iguazu, and fly fishing for Dorado in nearby Corrientes Argentina is world famous. There are many other rivers and canals in this area that patagonia flies is still learning about.
One of the most breathtaking views on this planet, Perito Moreno glacier is located in Southern Argentina in the Santa Cruz Province. This glacier is the third largest freshwater reserve on earth after Antartica and Greenland, and has not retreated in 90 years. This 60 meter high river of ice dams the Brazo Rico of Lago Argentino. Every four years or so the glacier no longer can support the rising water and the dam virtually explodes in a intense thundering sound with huge walls of ice falling into the water in front of them. It can be viewed from “Los Glaciares” National Park. The national park was created in 1937 and is about an hour and half from the beautiful little patagonian town of Calafate. The road is very suitable to rent a cars or there are many shuttles going to and from the park. One will see the massive ice formations with sky blue colorations that are a result of the reflection of light in the oxygen molecules that are trapped in the compacted snow. Fly fishing in the nearby Santa Cruz river for native Atlantic steelhead and beautiful trout is an absolute must do, also with a scenic backdrop of huge cliffs and big condors over your head it truly is another fly fishermen’s paradise. Photo taken by Luca Galuzzi.
Tierra del Fuego is an island separated from the mainland by the Straits of Magellan and split between Chile and Argentina. The eastern part of the island is home to the Rio Grande river on the Argentine side famous for world record sea run brown trout and the southernmost city Ushuaia. There are also stretches of the Rio Grande on the Chilean side as it is a massive river. Almost all of the Rio Grande is privately owned and the majority is fly fishing only. Patagonia flies recommends all of the lodges as it is really a trip of a lifetime and all of the river’s pools can hold trophy size fish. The best time to catch a monster generally is the fall run being March to April in the upper pools as the sea runs make their way up the river to spawn and then return to sea. The flies to use vary depending on the rivers clarity but in general olive, black, and brown streamers with rubber legs can be extremely good choices. Top water skaters and small price nymphs if the river is clear can also be very effective given the time of year. While on the island be sure not to miss Tierra del Fuego Natiional Park which has dramatic scenery, with beautiful waterfalls, snow covered mountains and pristine glaciers. Home to guanacos, foxes, beavers, and over 90 different species of birds one will be in awe of its wonders. The park can easily be accessed by the End of the World train from the outskirts of the city of Ushuaia or by car. Here’s a Photo taken by our dear friend Alejandro Martello of a sea run brown macho.
The Photo of the week was taken by Noel Pollak while fly fishing for Dorado. This photo captures the intensity of the Dorado and its strength and capacity to leave the water with such massive force to take out various waterfowl,snakes, small mammals, and any creature that gets in its path; hopefully your fly. Dorado are the kings of their domain calling home to the massive river systems in South America , specifically the Plata and the Amazonian waterways, and are still really being discovered in small canal systems in the countries of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Uruguay, and Bolivia and probably many more. They are a very unique fish in the ways they hunt for their prey , in that they stalk it out like lions and are known for vicious strikes. Depending on the waterway and time of year you are fishing for Dorado they can be caught with bug muddler flies and floating lines using a steel leader. The biggest Dorado known to be caught is 68 lbs although it is much more common around 5-20 lbs with the bigger fish usually caught in the month of October down deep with sinking lines from a boat.
Manero restaurant just opened this past week and is the Patagoniaflies June restaurant recommendation. It is a short cab ride from downtown and absolutely worth it in all respects. Having one of the best double entry wood burning stoves (hornos de barro) we have ever seen, which creates masterpiece dishes such as their Bondiola and Cordero to mention only a few, not to forget one of the best pizzas I have tried in all of Argentina we know it is going to stay. Created by the incredible Executive Chef Federico Desseno who is no stranger to the business also owner of the very successful Marismo restaurant in Punta del Este, Uruguay one will leave the restaurant only dreaming of coming back. Exceptional service and an extensive wine list. Street: Monroe 899 Phone# 4787-4848 Hours 8:30pm-on www.manerorestaurant.com
The Photo of the week is of a beautiful resident brown trout from the Limay River. There are two forms of Brown trout that live in this river, migratory and resident. The migratory browns enter into the river around April from lake Nahuel Huapi to spawn. They generally stay close to the mouth and then make a run to find spawning grounds down stream and return back to the lake around August and September. These fish have a very platinum color when they enter into the river and slowly change color for survival by taking the color of the bottom of the river. They will later grow teeth to fight for position in the pools for food, and eventually change even more dramatically with with large dots of orange and red for attracting mates during the spawning season. Then they return to the lake where they will once again change back to a dime bright silver represnting the backdrop of the white sand beaches. Whereas the resident browns which are much rarer on the Limay keep the colors of the Limay all year round changing only with deeper pigmintation during the spawning season. They live in den like structures usually big boulders providing shelter and protection from predators, such as birds of prey, otters, and anglers.
In order to fish in Argentina a personal fishing license is required by law in continental Patagonia, however in some providences in Argentina the rivers and Atlantic Ocean are still widely unregulated much like the salt water is in the United States. In Patagonia one can purchase a license at the airport in Bariloche, or at many local fly shops. They vary in price depending on whether you are resident or non-resident. There is no fishing after dark which is one important rule to remember also specific additional licenses are required for well knowm access spots such as the mouth of the Correntoso river and the mouth of the Chimehuín river and all access to Rio Grande to name a few. It is also important to pay close attention to the fly fishing only zones which are marked with big blue signs throughout the zone. It is also a good idea to clean and disinfect your waders and wading boots before coming overseas to not introduce exotic species which could harm the ecological balance and biodiversity to the stream systems. For all regulations and local restrictions be sure to consult your local fly shop, or go to this website www.aapm.org.ar and Patagonia will reward you.
Puerto Madryn, Patagonia Argentina whale watching season has begun with arrival of the Southern Right Whales. Each year from early June until late November these extraordinary animals visit our waters of the Gulf in New Valdes Peninsula, in order to procreate and raise offspring in the calm waters of the Gulf. They are incredibly peaceful and sociable, and sightings can be made from Puerto Piramides, a town in the peninsula. Here are two companies we highly reccomend www.hydrosport.com.ar and www.whalesargentina.com.ar they are people with great experience and we assure you will be amazed.
Amigos, desde Puerto Madryn Patagonia Argentina, les cuento que ya comenzó la temporada de ballenas (la especie “Franca Austral”). Todos los años desde principios de junio y hasta fines de noviembre, estos animales extraordinarios nos visitan en las aguas del Golfo Nuevo en Península de Valdés, con la finalidad de procrear y de tener las crías en la tranquilidad del golfo, son increíblemente pacíficas y sociables, y se pueden hacer avistajes desde Puerto Pirámides, (un pueblo dentro de la península) las empresas mas recomendables son www.hydrosport.com.ar www.whalesargentina.com.ar gente con mucha experiencia y les aseguro que volverán maravillados. Saludos Wilfredo.
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