Horseback and Camping
For the more adventurous, there is an opportunity to approach the fisheries on horseback. These can be a day’s excursion or one can camp along the rivers and lakes. This is at no additional charge and a fantastic way to break up the trip, and get lost to trout in this unspoilt region. One can be based at Villa Traful, and explore the region with short tours on horseback, edging deeper into the Andes to explore streams and alpine lakes. You will be accompanied by a guide, but will have to rough it a bit … this is camping after all, and this is for the intrepid angler. You will be able to stalk fish from float tubes which you will bring on horseback.
Some of the rivers you can expect to be guided along are:
Rio Collòn-Cura: Remote and far from towns or populations, is home to rainbows, browns and brookies. The water offerings clear deep pools, suitable for dry flies and nymphs. This water is very suitable for drift-boats, cata-crafts or pontoon boats (Mc Kenzies Style). This is one of the recommended camping areas. One can also expect to see an array of wildlife (red deer, fox, guanaco, eagles, ñandú – South American ostrich).
Rio Caleufu: This river is smaller than Collòn, in to which it flows, but "packed" with trout. This steep river is ideal for a 2-day camping trip. Rainbows and browns inhabit the fast runs and deep pools. A good angler can expect to release 30-50 trout in a day, "A dream" for light tackle anglers (2-4 weight rods)
Rio Filo-Hua-Hum: This mid-size crystal clear river runs through green hills and snow capped mountains, offering both fast waters and slow deep moving pools, and is home to many rainbows and browns. It is a fantastic river for a day-long hiking trip, and suited to 5-6 weight rods, floating and sinking-tip lines. Big attractor dries and streamers will encourage violent strikes from browns up to 8-9 pounds.
Rio Traful: One of the regions most famous and beautiful rivers, considered one of the best of the planet for landlocked Atlantic salmon. Huge browns, brookies and rainbows move between the river and the enormous lake. Salmon are best targeted at the beginning and the end of the season. Most suited for 5 or 6 wt rods, streamers and big dries. This is the closest fishery to the lodge.
Rio Limay: Flows from the biggest lake of the area: Lago Nahuel-Huapi. This crystal clear, and powerful water holds monster browns and rainbows up to 17 pounds, and not easy to fool. These float-trips are done on pontoon boats for 1 to 3 days, depending on the preferences of the fishermen. Lunch will be taken on one of the many islands, which also offer the overnight camps. 5- 6 weight rods are ideal, streamers in the main currents and nymphs and dries on the small areas between islands.
Lower Rio Pichileufu and Pichileufu Medio: Starts in the south of Bariloche between the mountains. This river meanders for more that 100 miles through steep mountains and hills. Its popularity is its isolation, and the productive of the fishery. This is our guide’s best recommendation for a daylong hiking trip. 3-4 weight rods are ideal. Presenting nymphs and dries with a floating line can raise rainbows and browns up to 8 pounds.
Some of the lakes you can expect to be guided along are:
Lago Nuevo: Hills and forests surround this remote, gorgeous lake. It can either be reached after a 3-hour hike from Lago Filo Hua-Hum or from the Lago Falkner via motorboat. This venue is a float tubers paradise, allowing for easy access to rushes and beaches.
Laguna Las Taguas: This is an ideal venue for horseback trips, and fishing from float tubes. This private water offers exceptional fishing, and best suited for 4-5 weight rods. Midges, soft-hackles and big dragonflies are most productive during summer months, however some “monsters” can be subdued with sinking lines.
Lago filo Hua-Hum: This spectacular location is in the valley of Rio Filo-Hua-Hum, ideal for boats and float tubes, offering anglers a chance to target rainbows and browns up to 10 pounds. Lakeside vegetations is home to an abundant food source.
Lagunas Las Mellizas (Twin ponds): is just in front of Lago Traful. Access by horsebacks is encouraged, and once there you can expect awesome fishing float tubes. This is one the most highly recommended still water trips, hosted by our guide.
As presented, all the fishing opportunities consist of rivers, and lakes, where by you could fish from the banks, estuaries, float tubes, pontoons and boats (all provided) Additional activities include horseback excursions to remote alpine lakes, river excursions, both of which can involving camping. All of the activities are available to the anglers, and are all included at no additional cost. An itinerary will be drawn up, based on your request and the advice from our guide, depending on the season, fishing conditions. |
