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ARGENTINE FLOAT TRIP - PAT PATTERSON
Don,
Our whole trip was terrific, and thanks for your
efforts in setting it all up.
After our successful experience at the Rio Negro in
the Amazon, we went to Esquel where we met Juancho
and Mike and (blanking on his name). Had a nice
stay at the hotel (definitely not the Four Seasons,
more like a stay at the old Tahoe Tavern. Super 8
bedrooms with a very comfortable main lodge). We
were able to get them to give us two rooms rather
than stay together in one two-single room. Food was
adequate but certainly not as good as we had
elsewhere on the trip. The first day of fishing in
the Parque was just OK; Mark didn’t score anything
of size and I only caught one 19 incher, fishing
about three hours.
The next day we fished the Rivadavia, as beautiful a
river as you will ever see. My fishing was OK to
good as Juancho was disappointed at the slowness.
But that is a float not to be missed.
Things changed very quickly when we got to the
Chubut for our float trip. In short, the Chubut
offered the very best fishing experience that I have
enjoyed all things considered. Seriously now, while
we didn’t count, I believe we each hooked
about 200 fish per day on the three days.
Perhaps 30% were eight inches or less, 60% 11 to
15” and 10% between 16 and 22”. Everything was on
dries with the hot fly being the Fat Albert. The
fish were everywhere they should have been and too
often (with the small ones) getting in the way of a
presentation to what we knew to be larger trout.
Plenty of rising fish to cast to, but going by
fairly rapidly in a pontoon boat (we were moving
fast because we did a four day trip in three) you
just don’t have time to really work all the likely
areas. The camping was exceptional as was the
overall beauty of the river and the area. We were
pampered nicely!
We finished the southern Patagonia portion with a
stay at Estancia Esquel. Frederico, the owner, was
quite gracious, and while the accommodations were
Super 8 in quality, and while we had to share a room
one of the nights, the experience at the Estancia
was terrific, particularly the Asado.
The fishing was really exceptional. All the trout
were big and fat, 15 to 22” with most in the 15 to
16 range. Very aggressive but also relatively
selective. The wind was impossible when it blew,
but Mark mastered it with ease (I did not) and out
fished me at least 2 to 1. I suspect (we don’t
count) that we landed over twenty fish per day. The
conditions were fantastic! Probably a better
fishing river than the Chubut due to the quality of
the fish and the challenge of the conditions.
Mark left on the 20th a happy man! I moved on to
Arroyo Verde where I met my son, Glen. Arroyo Verde
is a true gem, one of the top half a dozen scenery
experiences that I have had in my life which, as you
know, includes all but six or seven states and 88
countries. It is simply country not to be believed.
The accommodations were as first class as you could
expect, and the food was worthy of the French
Laundry. The proprietress, Meme, is a great, great
Lady of the old style, class dripping from every
pore but as gracious as you could imagine. It was a
good thing as the fishing absolutely stunk. In five
days, I landed one fish over 16” and hooked not more
than three or four more. (An unlimited number of
four to five inchers, however.) It seems as if this
has been an exceptionally dry and slow year with no
one doing well all year. Our guide, Gabriel, says
that we expects four to five good fish per day under
normal conditions, and given our experience in the
south, this simply didn’t cut it. Of course, Arroyo
Verde can produce 36” browns in double digit
weights, but we didn’t see any of those although we
did at least SEE some big fish. But the experience
of the rest of the place more than made up for the
lousy fishing. The water was breathtaking, so
enticing to fish.
So, Don, overall a fantastic trip. It wasn’t
without its hitches and things that could be
improved, but all things considered, a great, great
success. Thanks for your help!!
Pat Patterson
TRIP REPORT
Fly Fishing Adventures
888-347-4896
flyfish@napanet.net
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