Travel documents
Your domestic airline tickets in Argentina, if booked by us, will be sent to your hotel in Buenos Aires or will be readily available for you at the airline’s check in counter at the airport in BA.
British or American passport holders do not require a visa for Argentina nor Chile. Other nationalities should check. All clients should ensure that they have at least 6 months validity before the expiry date on their passport.
Arrival in Buenos Aires
We thoroughly recommend that you use the “meet & greet” services offered by our Buenos Aires agents. Depending on your connecting flights you will either be taken to your hotel or directly to the domestic airport. If staying in a hotel, meals, drinks and services must be settled directly.
Health and medication
Although at present no inoculations are required for travel to Argentina or Chile, please consult your doctor prior to your trip. It is essential that you bring personal medicines that you might need with you.
The climate
In January and February the weather can be variable. With the best fishing being early morning and late in the evening you need to have warm clothing. The temperature can be as low as 5ºc - 10ºc but at midday it heats up to 20ºc. It is often extremely windy and can also rain. Conditions change regularly and often.
In March and April the air temperature can reach freezing temperatures in the morning as low as –5°c and 15°c at midday.
A Day on the Rio Grande
Much will depend on the prevailing climatic conditions of your week and, also, of the time of the season. Due to the high latitude where our Cameron lodge is located, the days are very long during the beginning of the season in November and December getting shorter towards the end of it by mid April. As an example, the sun rises and sets in December about 5am-10 pm and 8am-7pm in march. However, normally breakfast is from 0730 after which you drive out to the river. Depending on the beat you have been allocated for the morning, the drive can take from 10 to 45 minutes.
Lunch is taken around 1330 at the lodge. Most people take a siesta until 1700 when they change beat and head back to the river. In late March and April there usually are no siestas.
Dinner will be served upon your return to the lodge after having some pisco sours. It is a long day but with the best fishing being early and late in the day you should be on the river at these times to get the maximum benefit.
Fishing tackle and Kit
Sea trout fishing on the upper Rio Grande, in Chile, is similar to salmon fishing or trout fishing. But there are some subtle differences in both tackle and technique. Please read the enclosed carefully and follow the guidelines – a 15ft salmon rod and a floating line may be fine in Scotland or Russia, but are
not ideal for sea trout on the Rio Grande. Similarly the techniques will be “alien” too many. When on the river please listen to the guides and their advice in order to get the most out of your trip.
Rods
It is best to bring at least two rods in case of breakages and also for variety. Traditionally single handed 9/10ft # 8 have been used but increasingly double handed 12 - 14 ft rods have proved successful in the windy conditions. Reels should be sturdy and have a good braking system with 100m of backing.
Lines
It is best to have an entire range of lines for the changeable conditions: floating, intermediate, wet cell iii (sinking) and also a faster sinking line such as 200 or 300 grains shooting lines. With the strong winds a shooting head (10 - 11m) or weight forward taper lines might be useful. The interchangeable tips lines are very useful on both, single and two handed rods.
Waders
Chest waders are essential with felt or studded soles for added grip. Neoprene's are useful as added protection against the wind (and the temperature of the water) but are not a necessity if one has adequate layers of clothing underneath. The Gore-Tex waders have proved to be very good because of its lesser weight for travelling and also because they are very comfortable on the river. With these waders consider extra warm underwear and socks. The wading is not hard and a stick is optional but helpful on some beats.
Flies
The following are recommended patterns:
- Mamarracho, black or brown
- Angler’s zug bug
- Monona
- Monona bugger
- Fina
- Campeona
- Mini rubber legs
- Muddler minnow - black or brown
- Woolly buggers -black or olive green
- Yuk bugs and girdle bugs
- Angler’s green machine
- Angler’s teddy gay
- Cucaracha
- Angler's Red
Ass
- Angler’s prince nymph
- Yuk bugs and girdle bugs
Dry flies
Have proved increasingly successful and amongst the most popular are madam x, tarantula, royal and white Wulff, buck bugs and Atlantic salmon bombers in sizes 4, 6 or 8.
Small nymphs are also very effective, particularly in low water conditions. All the flies are readily available at angler’s adventures fly shop in Rio Grande at a very affordable cost.
Generally the season begins with larger patterns and ends with smaller ones. However, as always climatic conditions will be more of a guide to the size of the fly that you use, so a good selection is recommended.
Small nymphs
Are also very effective, particularly in low water conditions. All the flies are readily available at angler’s adventures fly shop in Rio Grande at a very affordable cost.
Generally the season begins with larger patterns and ends with smaller ones. However, as always climatic conditions will be more of a guide to the size of the fly that you use, so a good selection is recommended.
The Views on the way there |
