I made a post a while back asking about any information from anyone that’s been to Patagonia to fish and nobody had any info…everyone was quick to say that they wanted to hear about the trip though so here it is.

My buddy and I bought a trip at an auction with Pointer Outfitters. We got it for a reasonable price and only add ons were license and private property entry ($1000) and gratuity ($1300)….ill touch more on that later.

Got to the lodge and it was a really nice mountain home that had WiFi, tv, heater, hot tub…the works. We immediately were greeted and had beers and wine poured for us, some appetizers and was told to relax…steak that night and several bottles of wine.

First day was windy so we used our 5 and 6wt. Nymphs and a streamer….needed a sinking tip line. Started off fishing a small river and quickly began to pick up some nice rainbows. We moved on and found some deeper holes and my guide tied on a Pats Rubber Legs and told me to rip it across like I would fish a streamer…never done this or heard of it but holy hell did it work! Caught half my fish of the trip doing this. Went and had another steak for lunch and then fished a big lake and caught some really nice Rainbows….polished off the night with more wine and steak.

The next several days would replay in such manners except the weather got better and a little warmer and we began to get some dry fly action. Hopper droppers would be our choice most of the time with a few fish coming up and eating the hopper.

As far as nymphs used…my go to was a 14–prince nymph or pheasant tail, I also ran through all of my physco prince. Pretty much they weren’t too picky and liked anything with a little size that looked buggy. I also learned that in the slower water, I would slow strip the hopper dropper and get the nymph moving and they’d smoke it…movement was key.

The last day was the best…started the day off throwing 14-16 stimulators and catching some smaller fish and I landed one nice Brook…missed several other which was fun. After lunch we went to another lake and being the saltwater guy I am, I wanted to walk the edge and try to sight cast trout…found a few and casted a hopper at them and they ate! My buddy and I had back to back doubles, one with a Bow and Brook and then a double bow. On the way back, we tied on a bright orange hopper and casted to several Trout that just hammered it. Incredible way to end the trip.

Overall it was an incredible experience and I’m glad I got to do it. Everything about the lodge exceeded my expectations…our guide tied most of my flies on, would run over and untangle us from knots, bushes, grass etc. cleaned our waders, brought us drinks, wine, beer….never went thirsty or hungry. Just top notch all the way around. The $1300 ($500 for guide and $800 for cook and staff) I didn’t hesitate to give it to them at the end of the week, they earned it! The only negative thing was they like to throw 5X and sometimes 6X and we broke off a lot….like a lot! I probably lost $200 worth of flies, maybe more.

Other than that, it was just an incredible experience.

I left the lodge and had 12 more days so went to Calafate and El Chalten for a few days. Got a guided day with Calafate Fishing and we headed out…crazy wind day, like 40 mph wind and river was dirty from rain and snow runoff…caught some perch which made it fun.

Chalten was worse weather, 40 mph wind, overcast, rainy and getting a license was a pain in the ass but I got it. Caught all small fish but they were mad at the hopper so it made it fun.

After that I went to the southern tip of South America to Ushuaia and got a day. Weather wasn’t as windy but cold and rainy. Walked to a nice lake and managed to stick some nice Brooks and one real nice Brown. Then went into the mountains where he cooked me a giant steak, fished some more and then went back to the house. Ushuaia was a beautiful city surrounded by mountains and did a penguin tour which was really cool.

Ultimately it was a long trip and a ways down there but what a time! If you ever get an opportunity to make your way down there, I would highly recommend it. Feel free to reach out to me anytime if you have any questions about my trip or want any information….I know how it is going into something and not having much info, I’ll share whatever I can.

Cheers