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Fly Fishing ArgentinaFeb 16 - March 2 2009
In our normal Argentina trips for 2009, we'll have a maximum of six people including your host, to insure that we'll experience the finest fishing possible with two anglers per guide and two anglers per boat on the rivers we'll float. Cost per person: $5800.00, which includes everything except your airfare from home to Buenos Aires and gratuities. *Note: The add-on cost for the special Limay River addition, three days fishing, two nights camping on the limay, with two extra nights in Bariloche will be $2100.00 406-222-7130
Don't forget to Read George's letter on Tackle, flies and gear for Argentina! Our total package includes:
Additional Limay Camping Float:
Not included:
Deposits and Refund Policy: Deposits required: We require a 50% deposit upon booking, or $2900.00 for the first 8 day portion of the trip, and $3950.00 if you are doing the whole enchilada including the Limay Medio.
Please make your check for the deposit to the Yellowstone Angler Inc. and send this to us at P.O. Box 629, Livingston, Montana 59047. I'm sorry but we cannot accept credit cards for deposits on these Argentina hosted trips. Our refund policy: We will refund your deposit in full if we can fill your spots on this trip with another angler or anglers. These trips are very popular and it has been easy for us to fill cancellations unless it occurs within sixty days or so of the trip. You can be assured that we'll do everything possible to fill your spot if you must cancel. We strongly suggest trip insurance which is available from your travel agent.
This run on the Rivadavia holds land locked Atlantic salmon The ItineraryDay 1: Fly from your home to Atlanta or Miami (or other port of entry) and on to Buenos Aires.
Day 2: Bariloche to Cholila and El Trebol Lodge
On our arrival in Bariloche, we'll be met by Patricio and Marcos, our guides and hosts in Argentina. Then we're off on a spectacular three hour drive through the Andes down to Cholila. We'll stop in scenic Bolson, a wonderful little mountain tourist town where we'll gas up and visit the ice cream shop, where we'll pig out on the best ice cream you've ever tasted! On the way into Cholila, we'll make another short stop to see Butch Cassiday's ranch. Minutes later we'll arrive at Marcos' El Trebol Lodge where we'll have a wonderful dinner and spend our first night.
all the rest...... The section we'll float is exclusive to our guides only, which means this stretch of the Chubut we fish is getting fished by only throe boats one day every couple of weeks! Talk about a lack of fishing pressure - this is it. The Chubut, a river with the flow of the Madison, is perhaps your best chance in Argentina for that 100+ fish day you've been dreaming about, and you'll have three days of hot action to get 'er done. The greatest concentration of rainbows is found on the first section, so everyone will be worn out after the first day. It's often a fish on every other cast! By the third day you will have caught so many fish that you'll be ready to kick back, smoke that big cigar, and see what flies in your box won't catch fish. You could catch a monster brown, but for the most part you'll be catching healthy rainbows in the 16 to 18 inch range with the occasional 22 incher. One of the guides will take a gear boat ahead of us, set up our tents and warm up the water for our hot water showers. Thick, grass fed beef steaks grilled over hardwood coals and a glass of fine Malbec red wine to wash it down will help you forget all about that snow and cold back home. Man, this is living. Day 7: The Gualjaina on Estancia La Elvira
very few anglers will have fished this wonderful spring creek prior to our arrival. The fish will be fat and stupid. The Arroyo Pescado is famous for the terrific numbers of 18-20 inch rainbows that inhabit the creek but as we found last year, there are also some really huge rainbows and browns in some of the spring fed ponds. I caught a brown that went over 25 inches and Jeff Carder landed a brick solid 26 inch rainbow that nearly took him to the cleaners. Small nymphs were deadly sight fishing to these big fish in the crystal clear spring water. Everyone had excellent dry fly fishing, even in the wind. Rubber leg hoppers and Turk's Tarantulas in sizes 8-12 were deadly. Twitching them along with the breeze got plenty of aggressive takes. This was easy fishing with 3X tippet. The lower section of the creek fishes more like a slough, with patches of reeds, and a size 8 multi-colored wooly bugger or black leech patterns are extremely effective. As an added bonus, there are big "Perch" in this water. They will blast a streamer,and these were some of the BEST EATING FISH I've ever experienced. A lot like walleye. In fact they look more like a walleye than a perch. We'll attempt to score at least one or two for the table again this year. There are insect hatches of mayflies, caddis, and damsel flies to provide some good dry fly fishing on non-windy days. The spring creek is crystal clear so if you have sun the sight fishing is excellent with both nymphs and streamers. If you didn't get your 100 plus day on the Chubut, you'll have another crack at it here! In an effort to preserve the environment for the waterfowl refuge, anglers are allowed to fish on one side of the creek, and are not allowed to wade in water. (well, I've been known to test this rule a little when I needed to). We'll have the stream to ourselves on that day. Still, the fishing is so easy that you'll soon satisfy your desire to catch a lot of nice big fish. Read on...
Day 10: The Rio Pico River and Spring Creek I don't want to say we saved
the best for last, but feel confident that your final fishing day will
be a blast. The Rio Pico (and the spring creek that feeds it) are
great streams to wrap up a week of incredible fishing. When we were there
last December, the Rio Pico itself was slightly off color, but the spring
creek and the outlet from Lago No. 3 were crystal clear browns and rainbows. You'll enjoy fishing for some of the most beautiful browns in the world, not to mention the view which unmistakenly belongs to Patagonia. You'll appreciate the fact that the spring creek is out of the wind and you'll love the added challenge of keeping your hooked monster out of the willows. Don't even think about using less than 2X tippet, (that is unless you don't mind crying in front your guide). Read on...
Days 11-12-13: Limay (additional add on special)
Click for more Limay Photos... For repeat clients, and those who book early, we have a real treat - welcome to the river Limay. We'll drive back to Bariloche for a night (there will be time in the afternoon to shop, play golf, going sight seeing). The next morning we'll drive north for our second camping float - this time no willows, just huge browns. The browns live in the lake most of the time, but come summer, they head up river to cool off and eat pancoras. The CFS varies, but I remember seeing side channels that looked as big as the upper Madison. Only 4 people can float the Limay so you'll want to call first and get these spots reserved. Last year we floated in rafts, but I hear this year we'll be in drift boats. I never caught one of the big fish, but I witnessed two browns caught that were over 9 lbs. Mike Nelson (above) said they have boga gripped them up to about 15lbs... Even the resident "dinks" on the river are 20 inches. You definitely need an 8 weight and a sinking line for this river. Mix that with a little luck, and you're in fishing heaven...
Well if you don't need a vacation from vacation at this point, you are one tough hombre. It's rare to see guides who fish such long hours with such intensity. Guiding for 10 hours a day, day after day, consistently with 110% effort? No wonder they drink maté! Lucky for you, sleeping on the ride back up to Esquel, and on the plane home will be no problema. Read George's letter on Tackle, flies and gear for Argentina. Check out Jamie's photos from Argentina 2007 Visit our Fly Fishing Travel page to learn about other great destinations and hosted trips. | Please call us with questions... 406-222-7130
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We will
arrive in Buenos Aires at the International Airport but we'll fly to Bariloche
from the Domestic Airport. You will be met outside the baggage claim
at the International airport (look for a driver with your name on a sign
he'll hold up). The driver may wait to pick up other members of
our group or he will take you directly to the domestic terminal, where
you will check in for your flight to the town of Bariloche. We'll have
vouchers and tickets at the ticket counter in your name. Then we'll
all meet there at our departure gate or close-by in a cafe or bar before
our flight to Bariloche. Our flight to Bariloche will most likely
be around 1-2 PM. We'll be flying a jet like a 737 or something
similar, and the flight will take about two hours. 
The Arroyo Pescado opens every year
on January 1st, so
There are some enormous trophy
fish swimming around this lovely 800+ acre lake. The guides will
use boats with motors to take us to the reeds on the far side of the lake
where most of the big fish hang out. few, if any kick boat enthusiasts
ever make it out to this area, especially if there is any wind.
You may experience first hand what the words "Patagonia Wind"
really means, but it will be more than worth it. Expect plenty
of 23 to 25 inch rainbows to slam your nymphs and streamers, with a very
good chance for a rainbow in the 28-30 inch class. You might get
the chance to land that 10lb brown on your list as well. Keep your
fingers crossed for the big one and whatever you do, don't forget your
camera! 
You'll be sad to say hasta luego to the Andes and exciting waters of Patagonia,
but you'll most likely be back some day. Maybe even the following year! After our
afternoon flight from Esquel to Buenos Aires, we'll have time for another
glass or two of Malbec wine and dinner at the International Airport before
we catch our evening flight back to the States. We'll arrive
early AM the next morning and connect with our flights home.
You'll have the rest of the day to get home. After your friends
see your pictures, they will be ready to sign up for next year too!
Contact us ASAP to guarantee a spot for yourself and friends on this unbelievable
trip.