TABLE OF CONTENTS
THE CONDITIONS
Water levels
November this year has seen relatively low water levels for this time of the season. After a drier than average winter in Patagonia, we’ve seen a lighter snow pack that usual which meant the spring snow melt hasn’t been as strong as in most years. We’ve also had less rain than we would normally expect in springtime in and around our base in San Martín de los Andes. All of this has combined to mean that water levels have been slightly lower than usual.
Weather
It’s been a beautiful start to spring time in Patagonia this year. While earlier in the month saw some chilly, windy days and some heavy rainstorms, in recent weeks we’ve had some lovely sunny, warm days towards the end of the month. As the days begin to get longer, we’ve been able to fish longer days well into the beautiful golden light of the evenings.
Bug life
We’ve been seeing some incredibly dense and healthy bug life out on the water so far. Large hatches of mayflies, stoneflies and caddis have been thronging the skies, with clouds floating over our heads all day long. The dragonflies have started to appear on the lakes, and we’re seeing both brown trout and rainbow treat rising constantly to feed on abundant hatches.
THE FISHING
The Rivers
The fishing this month has been some of the best we can remember in all our generations of fishing here for November. On the rivers, we’ve seen amazing non-stop dry fly action as a result of fantastic hatches. Normally at this time of year, the higher water levels mean greater water volume, with a faster flow. That can make dry fly fishing pretty difficult, as the fish tend to feed further below the surface. This year however, the slower water has meant that fish are thriving on surface feeding.
Most of our guests this month have been based at Tipiliuke Lodge, or in the town of San Martín. That’s meant we’ve been fishing mostly the Chimehuín and Collón Curá rivers, which have both been fishing like a dream.
Not to be outshone, the Collón Curá has also been on fire this month. The mornings have been kicking off with some exceptional mayfly spinner falls encouraging fish to rise like crazy, leading to technical but greatly enjoyable dry fly action. We’ve also been on the dry flies all day long here, with great fish being landed on both little flies and attractors during the stonefly hatches.
With all these bountiful hatches, the fish this season also seem to be even healthier and stronger than usual. We’re seeing really high numbers of big, beautiful trout – both rainbows and browns – which have provided endless fun so far this month, and bodes very well for the season ahead.
The Lakes
Guides Kurt and Jurgen have been ramping up their days out on the lakes, where the dragonfly hatch has been appearing towards the end of the month. This is the time when the lakes really come alive, with unbelievable dry fly action as large rainbows, browns and brook trout emerge from the depts to take their fill.
Guests have been thrilled with some huge browns, as well as the usual lakeside lunchtime feasts.
The Gear
As ever, our Loop rods and reels have been performing incredibly. We’ve used the Z1 4 weights and 5 weights particularly heavily this month, with the Evotec G5 reel and the OptiFinesse line. We’ve seen some excellent results on the dries with this rig.
For streamers and nymphs, we’ve been rigging up the 7X 6 weight rod with the Opti reel to great effect.
FLY OF THE MONTH
So what was our most succesful fly in November? This month Head Guide Peter casts his vote to kick off our inaugural monthly ‘Fly of the Month’:
Parachute Adams
Peter says: easy to spot, and its grey colouring means it can imitate many of the different bugs which hatch on our water. If you pick the right size, you can match almost any hatch.
FISH OF THE MONTH
If we’re choosing a Fly of the Month, it seems only right we also begin a ‘Fish of the Month’ Hall of Fame. In November, we have to give the crown to this stunning brown caught on the Collón Curá on a small chubby Chernobyl by Cucho.
OFF THE WATER
While we’ve seen plenty of action on the water, there’s been plenty of excitement on dry land to report.
Horse Riding Adventures
While we primarily focus on fly fishing, our Co-Founder (and Chief of Organising Everything) Holly has been putting her years as a gaucha (cowgirl) and riding guide to good use. We had a fantastic time designing our first bespoke itinerary around all the horseback riding on offer at Tipiliuke Lodge, where Holly was busy guiding our guests alongside her longtime gaucho mentor Jorge.
Interested in combining fly fishing and a few days of dedicated horse riding on one of the most beautiful working estancias we work from? Get in touch and let us put together a trip with plenty of both, based at Tipiliuke Lodge.
Wildlife
It’s not just the buglife that’s been thriving this month. Guests out on the river and on horseback alike have seen plenty of our unique local wildlife. Guanacos have been roaming the hills with their young, while the wild boar have also been popping by to say hello. We’ve spotted several elusive piches (mini armadillos) while out riding, and fishing guests have been joined by many a regal Kingfisher. Not to mention Holly’s first ever live sighting of a majestic puma, sauntering across the road near home on Estancia Tipiliuke at dusk.
SUMMARY
In short, it’s been a truly wonderful start to the season for all the team at Fish Patagonia, both on and off the water. Thank you to everyone who has been a part of it! We are so looking forward to welcoming plenty more guests – both old and new friends – as the season goes on. We also have an exciting new project coming up in December – more to come soon!