The Argentina less known!

I am far from an expert but I hope this helps...

My line of work takes me to Argentina for approximately 5 months a year, to the region of Mendoza mainly. Whilst being here and so close to the Andes I have taken every chance and grabbed my fly-fishing kit and explored the rivers and lakes of the region, both on my own and with fishing guides. As I mentioned I am based mainly in Mendoza so this is the region I have fished more. I have also fished in the province of Neuquen. I hope this gives a real insight into these areas of Argentina.

An important note; Rivers are open to the public to fish, no-one has the right to ask you to leave a large river as they are public property.. Access to the rivers though may be restricted and you may have to pay.. Ask the local fishing shops and they will point you to the access points.

Mendoza Region

The fishing season here starts around the 1st of November (please check before hand as it varies year on year). The fishing can be divided between early season lake fishing and late season river fishing (during the early season snowmelt from the Andes means the rivers are very heavily silted). The season usually runs to the end of April or the end of May. Some areas do allow fishing to the end of August.

The lakes in the region that contain a good head of trout are mainly small and well up into the Andes (Names: Laguna del sosneado, Laguna del Valle Hermoso). These can be fished from the bank or for better results from a float-tube. Flies used are mainly Streamers (Wooly b***ers (in black and green), matukas, sinking muddlers) and nymphs such as Montanas and Damsels. These are fished with sinking or sinking tip lines. Always look for the rushes around these lakes as the trout are always close! Don’t discard small beadhead pheasant tail nymphs as these replicate the main food found in these lake, small fresh water shrimp. Larger lakes can also be fished like this where permited (Potrerillos damn near Mendoza city permits float tube fishing although it has been over fished!). The trout are mainly rainbow trout with a smattering of brown trout as well. Sizes vary from 800 grams to 2 kilos. If you like Brook trout then there is a lake in the upper Andes called Laguna del Diamante. It is located at 3000 metres above sea level. Due to its altitude it is generally only accessible in January and February. It is a large natural lagoon full of brook trout weighing approximately 400 grams. The river that flows out of the lagoon also has trout but they are smaller although very interesting to catch on light tackle.
The rivers of the region are in general upper mountain brooks, fast running, small very well oxygenated and full of stoneflies, mayflies and some freshwater crayfish (eg. Rio el salado, Valle hermoso, Poi-malal, Rio chico, Valle Noble). As the rivers are clearing they can be fished with streamers although the trout become wary to these and will then only eat nymphs mainly.. the best techniques are up stream nymphing under a strike indicator or chec nymphing.. extra weight is recommended to get the fly down to the fish. Downstream nymphing can work as well. Browns and rainbows are prolific here and go from 500 grams to 4-5 kilos (very rare although they are there).. average weight is 1-1.5 kilos. Days of 15 to 20 trout of 1 kilo + are common although there are plenty of days of only 2-3 fish!

The equipment for Mendoza I use us mainly a #4/5 weight rod with a floating line for nymphing the rivers and a sinking tip for the lakes and streamer fishing in the rivers. A #7 weight rod and line are recommended for the Rio Grande (not to be mistaken with the Rio Grande of Tierra del Fuego…!) near Malargue to the south of the province where bigger trout are present. These are caught with large streamers.

Neuquen Region.

I have not fished all the rivers of the region so will only comment on those that I have.

River Limay- This river is now a set of 5 large hydroelectric damns with stretches of river between them. The River is famous in Argentina for its monster brown trout that migrate from the reservoirs up the river to breed. This happens mainly in May and shoals of large trout, 4-8 kilos in size) move upstream. The river is very wide, (150 metres in some stretches) and long casts of 35 metres + are needed to reach the fish but in late May there is a very good chance of catching large trout on a daily basis. A #7 weight rod minimum is needed for these trout with shooting heads and amnesia line; Alternatively a light double handed (#8)set-up would also be ideal (they are starting to make an appearance with the locals). The flies used are big and thin; white, black or green are the best colours. The river also has some of the hardest fighting rainbows I have ever caught, not huge but a 2 kilo fish will take you to the backing on #4/5 equipment. A standard nymphing set-up, upstream or downstream, works although fish are not prolific.

Around Junin de los Andes
Chimehuin/Aluminé/Collon Cura rivers- The Chimehuin and the Malleo rivers are relatively small (30 metres wide) but with very good populations of brown and rainbow trout. The Aluminé and Collon cura are much bigger rivers (50m+ wide). All the rivers have over hanging willow trees.. great cover for the trout. The most accessible rivers are the Malleo and the Collon Cura. The Malleo is famous for its dry fly fishing but nymphs and streamers are very affective. Always be prepared here for a large, 2-3 kilo, fish. The wading can be difficult in the upper reaches of the river but not impossible

I would recommend floating the Chimuhuin and the Aluminé with a guide as it makes the river much more accessible. Casting flies up to the over-hanging willows is very exciting as the trout shoot out from under the branches to take the fly. The chimehuin also has a run of migratory trout at the beginning and end of the season.. some that can be as large as 7 kilos. Equipment remains #4/5 weight for dry fly or nymphing- #7/8 for streamer fishing for the larger brown trout. A days floating will often cover 30 kilometres and catch plenty of fish. If fishing in January be prepared to imitate the willow grub, a small bright green caterpillar. They fall from the overhanging willow trees by the thousand and the trout go crazy.. days of 40 – 50 trout are possible.

For this region it may be best to take a couple of days with a guide.. they can help you get to grips with the rivers and how to fish them. From then on go it solo.. the guides will even help and tell you where to go and how to get there!

Guides.

Guides are very professional in Argentina. The full service of boating plus food and transport on the day will cost around US$300-US$400 a day, for a days guided wading this will drop to around US$80 per day. Generally all equipment can be provided, some guides do charge rent for equipment so best to ask beforehand. Camping trips can be organized when fishing for more than one day. The guides can provide everything. It is best to turn up with fishing equipment and see what they recommend.

The guides I have used and recommend:
Mendoza (can also guide in other regions)
Carlos Gerasimchuk- ..::Lagunas Fly Cast::.. San Rafael|Mendoza|Argentina

Junin de los Andes
Cristian Nordahl-Olsen- The Old Viking - Fly Fishing - Cristian Nordahl-Olsen - Patagonia Argentina

River Limay
Claudio Huebra- elvascoh.blogspot.com

Mendoza potos:
1. Valle Hermoso (both rivers and lake)


2. A typical Rainbow trout out of a mendocian river

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A typical Rainbow trout out of a Mendocian Lake

3. Laguna del Diamante



Neuquen

A good Brown Trout on the Aluminé


A good Brownt Trout on the Chimehuin


The Chimuhuin river


Gin clear waters..


What can be caught in the area.. This was caught by one of Cristian Nordahl-Olsen´s clients in early November (Cristian is holding the fish).

Great information, thanks for all that.
S.

__________________
"A glint of sun has warmed the air,The flies will soon hatch out, To lure and tempt from their deep lair, The bonnie speckled trout." SKB tackle supporter. I love Furled Leaders.

Daniport...Fairly complete information .. I understand that your work had to fish in the area of Mendoza, but the truth is not a good idea to come to Argentina and fish in the rivers of the middle and northern Andes. In all the Andes from Tierra del Fuego to the north of Peru found trout, as well as in places of central Argentina (Cordoba and Buenos Aires, etc) even in some rivers of Brazil .. Nothing can compare to Patagonia, is the field that everyone dreams and imagine for a trout fishing.
Mendoza area, fishing is more important to the region of Malargue and San Rafael .. El Valle Hermoso where is the lagoon and rivers all the Tordillo and Cobre are full of trout, They give birth to the Rio Grande (Malargue) . this river running Redeemer of the Andes, inaccessible places, you can only go where the river crosses the road about 130 km to the south. This area is home to the Las Lenas ski resort, I know very well that went skiing all my life since 1987 and I had a restaurant there until 2004. There are other lakes and streams as well, but nothing compares to Patagonia. Recent rivers can be fished from February, before the waters are very muddy and lots of water from melting ice. Not a good idea to come to Argentina to fish that area, only if you have to work out there you are forgiven! happened to me too .. the Rio Grande in Malargue has big trout. (February-March).

Everything else is pretty well explained, the Limay River is divided into several parts, each has different ways of fishing, Limay Medio area .as said dany
is good at this time by big brown, which each year are coming later! Rainbows are powerful and aggressive throughout the season .. .. There are better and more professional guides who Huebra .. Claudio anyway know a lot .. The best is Daniel Ortega


There are many rivers and not as crowded as the famous names here.. but all have their good moments in the season, we must know which fish. The best thing to come is January onwards and that the waters are low and you can wade almost everywhere, there are rivers more small at that time and have no water and were good at the beginning of the season ..
So if you want to come have to be clear that they want to fish ..
In Argentina all the rivers are free to navigate and walk along its banks, except in Tierra del Fuego (Rio Grande), this was changed during the years of President Menem, who friends with several owners agreed to the creation of the famous Lodge where you and Americans, leaving several million per season .... are crazy!!
The only problem of the rivers, is that even if public on occasion must cross private property to reach, and there is the problem! but for example you can fish Chimehuin by 70% alone and without a guide, you have to have some friends in Argentina to accompany you to tell you where and how to fish, but most places are so ..

Hug

Thanks MrTrout! Hopefully it will come in usefull for someone who finds themselves in this area!

Kuka- I would agree in as much that I would not base a fishing trip only on the Mendoza region but as I am here every year then I have been learning where and how to fish the region. I have found that the further south you go the better the fishing gets.. but also it gets more expensive! I hoped to be able to let people know that if they are in Mendoza.. on a wine trip for example, that there is also the option to catch a trout!

To me the rivers around Junin de Los andes offer both large fish (not as numerous as on the Tierra del Fuego or in the Rio Gallegos) and quantity if the large fish are not around. The rivers can be very accesible, although you are correct in that the Chimehuin access is very limited.

One of these days I will make it to your Tierra del Fuego and I will get in touch with you!

De todas formas gracias por sus comentarios! Un fuerte abrazo.

Daniport your explanation is perfect .. where you work in Argentina?
When you're over here you have to let me know .. I do not live in Tierra del Fuego, I'm in Buenos Aires
Hug

I'm planning on returning in Jan-March next year for around Bariloche and up to Junin. Any info yet on the effect in these areas from the volcano ash on the rivers?

Nassau Gamecock - The ashes have completely covered the upper Limay river... it looks more like snow that ash. At the moment it is too soon to know what the damage will be but they are expecting the brown trout to abandon their breeding grounds. The Nahuel Huapi has also been affected with the shores beeing thick with ash.

Hopefully by next jan though there should be some recovery.

That's what I'm afraid of - massive kill off and relocation from the lakes of the spawn. I had such a great time in the fishery- and with the people, I'd hate not to do that again for 5 years as things recover.

Nassau Gamecock - I have been told that the Nahuel Huapi lake and the Limay are the most affected. The Chimehuin/ Collon Cura and the Malleo have not been as badly affected. Certainly the guides are still optimistic for next season.

It may be that you need to head to those rivers or even further south to around Esquel for the time being.

Let me know if you need any contacts to be in touch directly to the area.