An Angler's Guide To
Fishing The World's Trophy Hot Spots
Fishing Patagonia, Argentina and Chili
Patagonia, Argentina and Chili
"The meaning of Futaleufu, in the Araucanian language of Chile's Mapuche Indians, is “great great waters”, and before the turn of the last century the Futaleufu river was only known to the Mapuche. It was only eighty years ago that the first settlers of European ancestry arrived in the valley, and with the Europeans came the arrival of game fish. Trout species were first introduced to South America in the late 1800s and early 1900's and salmon were introduced approximately thirty years ago. The gin-clear waters of Patagonia Chile and Argentina made a perfect habitat for these transplanted species and they quickly overtook the native Perch ( Percichthys trucha) to became predominant game fish in the ecosystem. It has been reported that the first Brown, Brook and Rainbow trout eggs arrived from New York in 1904 and were stocked in Argentina's Lago Nahuel Huapi, and from there spread all across the Patagonia region. In Chile , sport fishing may have had an even earlier start; if the reports are accurate the first trout fish hatchery was opened in the early 1890's to specifically promote fly fishing. Over the years there have been numerous other importations of fish from both the United States and Europe . Combined with Patagonia 's spectacular waters and almost non-existent fishing pressure these non-native fish have thrived to produce one of the world's greatest fisheries. In the upper Futaleufu region the most prolific fish is the rainbow trout, followed by brown trout and the brook trout. In the lower Futaleufu – the Puerto Ramirez region, where the Futaleufu flows into Lago Yelcho – fly fishers have opportunities to connect with large sea-run brown trout in addition to rainbows. And, if the season is right, Lago Yelcho becomes host to many species of escapee and transplanted salmon, from Chilean aquaculture programs, that have now become wild residents. Atlantic , Chinook and Coho salmon have all be caught in Futaleufu and Lago Yelcho watersheds. On average our river caught rainbows typically range in size from 14 – 18 inches, and occasionally larger. River caught browns can weigh-in up to ten pounds, and there are many reports of larger fish taken. In Patagonia lakes and calmer estuaries the fish come bigger, 20 inches is not untypical for rainbows and 24 inches for brown trout. The seasonal runs of Chinook, Coho, and Atlantic salmon offer the possibility of landing fish that weigh over 20 pounds." Extract in quotes taken from ExChile.com
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