Rio Gallegos, Patagonia 2013

Week 9 leave 21st February - return March 4th

Hosted by Illtyd Griffiths and Glyn Freeman

 

Accommodation at Las Buitreras Estancia

A trip to Rio Gallegos is the ultimate destination for the angler wishing to enjoy some of the best sea trout fishing in the world. The Patagonian sea trout are legendary both in size and in the fighting ability. The average sea trout weighs a hefty 8-9lb and every year fish of upward of 20lb are landed. One of the great added attraction of these fish that they are caught in the day using nymphs, salmon hairwing flies, rubber legs, dry flies or in higher water tube flies.

The fishing is both varied and exciting with some large pools, stony runs and cut bank pools. The wading is very easy on gravel with no need for any special footwear. Southern Patogonia is a windy area but the wind is invariably downstream which aids the angler.

The scenery here is stunning with mountainous outcrops and a 360o vista over a vast area. There is a great variety of wildlife from the countless species of birds to inquisitive foxes, skunks, hares and sometimes guanacos. the weather in February March is late summer with day temperatures of 14 - 20oC

I host trips with Glyn Freeman a fellow member of AAPGAI to Las Buitreras Lodge which is the home of over 40km of fishing with 50 named pools enjoyed by only 8 rods. Rods fish in pairs with one guide for each pair, and travel to the beats by four wheel drive vehicles. The food and comfort at the lodge is second to none, and all the staff are English speaking and very friendly. I go to Argentina twice every season and usually take a group of anglers. I am very familiar with the journey and with transfers etc in Buenos Aires. I will ensure that this is a holiday of a lifetime and that your ambitions are met. If you would like to go to Rio Gallegos or would like further information please contact me through the contact page you will not be disappointed. Glyn and I always try to put together really friendly groups of anglers who want to enjoy not only the fishing but all the other aspects of a good trip. We also, remember, look forward to this and really want to enjoy it! We are also willing to help with any prospective travellers with their casting (pro bono of course) prior to the trip to ensure that all really enjoy the experience. The feedback we receive is very flattering but we do really want our group to be the best fun (and fishermen) who go to the lodge every year and we are told by our friends the guides and the staff that we constantly achieve this. Whether you are a single fisherman or come as a pair - you will be looked after and we will do everyting to ensure our group will be welcoming.

Itinerary for fishing on Rio Gallegos Patagonia February 25th  - 3rd  March 2012 Accommodation at Las Buitreras Estancia Departure: Thursday 21st  February from London Heathrow to arrive in Buenos Aires on Friday morning. A meet and greet package can be arranged which most anglers prefer which will take are of all your transfers to and from airports and your hotel. Saturday: Flight from Jorge Newberry (domestic) airport to Rio Gallegos Saturday morning. Arrive at Rio Gallegos early afternoon to be met by minibus for final journey of 45 minutes to Las Buitreras. Saturday evening there is an opportunity to fish for a couple of hours for those who have the energy followed by a meal and an update of the fishing. Sunday: Depart by transfer to the airport for flight to UK arriving early Monday in London. Accommodation: The estancia was modernised five years ago and affords very comfortable accommodation with ensuite facilities in every room with most of the rooms being single occupancy. The staff of the estancia are friendly and helpful and will always go out of their way to ensure that all guests are really well looked after. There is fishing tackle for sale and hire at the estancia. There is wi-fi and a cell phone that will allow one to phone home etc at the users expense. All beer and wines (apart from speciality wines which can be purchased separately) are free.

Sunday - Friday: After breakfast at 7.30 am meet guides 2 anglers per guide. Guides will take the anglers to their beats by 4 wheel drive (much of the driving is off road). There are four beats covering 40km of river for the eight rods. After the morning fishing return to the lodge for dinner (main meal of the day) - dependent on the weather this will be a barbecue or sit down meal inside the estancia. The afternoon is siesta time, one can go horse riding, fishing to the river (without a guide) or just take a rest or even sleep. At 5pm the guides will take the anglers to the next beat on the rota (the rota allows all anglers to fish all the beats both on morning and evening sessions during the week). Return to lodge at about 10.30pm where a buffet is served and the anglers usually relax and reflect on their day.

Saturday: Depart after breakfast by minibus to the airport. Flight to Buenos Aires arriving early afternoon and transferred to hotel. The hotel most frequently used is the Hotel Florida on San Martin Avenue which is a modern hotel near the shopping district. The afternoon can be spent shopping - it is very cheap compared to most cities and there are a number of specialist leather shops along with all sorts of others a great place to find something unusual for your partner. Saturday evening can be spent dining out or clubbing for those people with the energy after a hard weeks' fishing!

 

Sunday : Depart by transfer to the airport for flight to UK arriving early Monday 5th March in London.

Must Have's: The following list is indicative rather than all inclusive:

• Passport
• Travel Insurance (Worldwide)
• US Dollars for  paying tips, transfer costs, any tackle purchased and internal flights in Rio Gallegos - these will be paid at the lodge.
• A debit card to use at the ATM machine of the bank to withdraw pesos as spending money in Buenos Aires.One should ensure that they have told their bank of their travel plans before the trip to ensure that the card is functional. The same rules apply for credit cards which can be used for purchases of presents etc in Buenos Aires.
• Although the weather is late summer one should bring thermals and wet weather clothing as when it rains it can be heavy. There are drying facilities in the estancia.
• Sun cream and lip cream.
• Camera to take pictures of fish etc as the fishing is strictly catch and release. Batteries for digital cameras can be charged using an adaptor in the estancia.
• Fishing bag to carry tackle around in 4 wheel drive.
• Caps or hats and polaroids.

Weather: The weather in late summer i.e. late February early March is as it is here in late August early September with the chance of a heat wave or much cooler weather. The winds are sometimes strong but are downstream 95% of the time.

Fish: Expect to catch sea trout with an average weight of 8 or 9lb with many in the teens of pounds, a good average of the week will be one decent fish per session. Although there are the numbers of fish there, this is not shooting fish in a barrel, and one has to work hard for them with good presentation skills; there will be many takes missed and fish lost. There are some 20lb + fish in the system and quite a few are caught each season.

Brown trout average 1.5lb but some of 4.5 – 5lb are caught most weeks. The fish in the system are very aggressive!

Tackle: A single handed rod of 9'6" or 10' for a 7 weight line is standard tackle - the river is in most places less than 30 yards wide.

A double handed rod of 13' is very useful in windy weather.

Lines are mainly intermediates with shooting heads for the two handed rod to allow for retrieving which is usually necessary to attract the fish. Floating lines can also be necessary to fish dry fly for these fish - a most exciting way of fishing when the conditions are right! In addition a medium/fast sinking shooting head for the two handed rod should ensure that all eventualities are covered.

A selection of poly leaders can be useful for accurate depth control but are not essential.

Leader material is usually fluorocarbon with a range from 10 - 18lb depending on the conditions.

The fish are caught on all sorts of flies from salmon hairwings such as Stoats Tails, with many anglers preferring rubber leg flies such as the Yuk Bugs and others using nymphs such as stoneflies or Prince Nymphs . Tube flies can also be useful in high water. Dry flies are usually rubber legged foam flies. Fish are regularly caught on all of these - presenting the fly to the fish is probably more important than the pattern. The guides are very keen on the anglers catching and will invariably help out if one is lost for ideas. There are also flies which work on the Rio Gallegos for sale in the estancia. No treble hooks are allowed only singles and doubles.

Waders are preferably breathable to avoid discomfort while fishing on warm days. The wading is very easy on gravel hence boot soles of any type are suitable.

Life jackets can be worn although there is little deep or dangerous wading.

Cost: 

Lodge/Fishing $4,950 = £3,125

Flights London to Buenos Aires approximately £800

Flights Buenos Aires to Rio Gallegos approximately £350

  Gratuities at lodge £350

Transfers - £100

Two nights hotel in Buenos Aires @£180

Total cost all inclusive is about £5000 at current exchange rates for 2013 (excluding hotels in Buenos Aires the cost dependent on how many nights one stays there) - of course if the pound strengthens against the euro the price will be reduced accordingly. These costs are all based on the exchange rates at the time of booking. 50% of booking fee will be required at time of booking with the balance due 90 days before departure.

Additional trips can be arranged as add - ons if one wants to visit other parts of Patagonia or Argentina we work with a travel company in Rio Gallegos who are more than willing to arrange according to one's needs.

Fishing for wild Rainbow Trout at Jurassic Lake is also a very exciting add on – the rainbow trout here average 8 – 9lb and grow to over 25lb!

Maximum of ten rods for the week.

Early booking is highly recommended as places are taken up quickly.

 

For week 9

Contact: Illtyd Griffiths for further details on 01654 781 365 or
Mob - 07974 942853

Email: illtyd@sewincaster.co.uk

Web site - www.sewincaster.co.uk

I am hosting this trip with Glyn Freeman an AAPGAI colleague and friend. We have both fished the Rio Gallegos before on a number of occasions and have a thorough knowledge of both the fishing and the overall trip. If you wish to discuss this trip, you can contact me either on the contact page or by telephone on 01654 781365 Mobile 07974 942 853 or

Glyn at glyn@cumbriaflyfishing.co.uk or by

telephone on 01697 351752 or mobile 07808 563 788.

Glyn and I are committed to ensuring that all members of this group are really well looked after!

Check out more informaton on - Solid Adventures

 

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you both for what I can 
only describe as "The trip of a lifetime" to Las Buitreras in Argentina.

There is an old adage that states everything in fishing is a compromise.

Well the trip I have just undertaking was anything but a compromise, from the 
social meeting up in Buenos Aires to the travelling to the lodge. 


This was smooth and in some parts fun.

The lodge I can only describe as fabulous along with the food they served there.

The accommodation was first class bearing in mind we were in the middle of nowhere. 


Then there was the service by the lodge staff.

This was totally unexpected and one would have to say their charm andpleasant manners, and a genuine 
aim to see everyone enjoy the hospitality wasa revelation.

Then there was the fishing. What can one say after being lucky enough to catch 
not one fish of a lifetime but two.

I never thought for a moment that I would actually catch a 19 and 21 lb sea trout. Prior to going 

I dreamt about it but as a realist did not expect to be blessed with such luck.

They were two captures that I will remember for a very, very long time.

There was so much to love about the fishing not just the fish themselves but the 
scenery and wildlife amongst which you fished for these magnificent creatures.

Then lastly there were the Guides.These men were absolutely fantastic and ably led by Claudio. 
Their enthusiasm and genuine love of fishing was infectious, 
and would doeverything within their power to help make this a truly unique experience.

It should not be forgotten that Glyn and yourself packaged all thisand I 
and am sure the other guests would join with me to thank you both for 
in my case making dreams come true.

I will one day return with you both to this beautiful part of the world 
and once more cast a line for these truly wild fish. 

Thank you both for everything and please feel free to use this as a
testimonial to the wonderful service you provide. 

I believe that more people should experience this adventure to a 
truly wild and windswept part of Argentina.  

Mike Humphries