We began the season with many expectations. We knew we had many fishing locations, offering multiple techniques to fish them. The Lodge was ready to receive our guests and provide them with the best comfort they deserve.
On November 1st, at the first light of dawn, our guides began their reconnaissance of multiple sites. Quickly, and as we suspected, we noticed that the water levels were not as high as previous years, since winter had not brought much precipitation.
Lago Yakush and Rio Indio were tremendously clear and we found a shoal of fish in the mouth of the river that quickly caught our attention. We began to sight-fish and had several exciting catches that drove us crazy! We continued down river to the confluence with the Rio Claro, where we were able hook more brown trout and ra View more...We began the season with many expectations. We knew we had many fishing locations, offering multiple techniques to fish them. The Lodge was ready to receive our guests and provide them with the best comfort they deserve.
On November 1st, at the first light of dawn, our guides began their reconnaissance of multiple sites. Quickly, and as we suspected, we noticed that the water levels were not as high as previous years, since winter had not brought much precipitation.
Lago Yakush and Rio Indio were tremendously clear and we found a shoal of fish in the mouth of the river that quickly caught our attention. We began to sight-fish and had several exciting catches that drove us crazy! We continued down river to the confluence with the Rio Claro, where we were able hook more brown trout and rainbow trout.
The following day, we went to assess Rio San Pablo and found water levels a bit higher than expected, with the water quite cloudy. We set up our 6-weight rods, with 2 meters of leader, and black Wooly Buggers with white rubber legs and began to fish. We immediately had a bite from a brown trout of approximately 2 kg that we managed to successfully land in our net. We immediately had another catch and another, which continued about more 14 times! At the end of the day we knew that the Rio San Pablo was going to give us many joys in the season. This river has a very good start of the season (November and December), but as the season progresses, it loses its flow. It becomes clearer and the trout become much more selective, forcing us to be very cautious and intentional, evaluating each step along the way.
It should be noted that this river is unique due to its size, flow and features, and as a result, it can be fished with dries, nymphs and streamers. Depending on the time of the season, each technique responds better or worse, but we use all three variants and they give very good results.
We still had to check out the Río Grande and the Río Menéndez, which usually see modifications to their features, due to the effect of erosion and winter ice.
First, we went to the Río Grande and we found the water level high in its lower sector, but not as loaded in the upper zone (this season it did not present as much flow as the 2021-2022 season). Regardless, we began with a set-up of 8 or 9-weight two-handed rods, sinking lines and large flies since the color of the water was dark due to the dragging of sediments during the spring melt.
Once again, the Río Grande surprised us with several sea trout of medium size (4-7kg) and extraordinary force! These sea trout had recently entered the river and brought with them a great energy – taking our flies with great ferocity!
This early season phenomenon of fresh fish entering a river with decreased flows improves the fishing year after year and will increasingly attract to those passionate fly anglers.
Typically, throughout the season, the Río Grande loses flow and the water is becomes clearer. This forces us to reduce equipment and flies. This leads me to a question: Is there a recipe to fish the Río Grande? For me the answer is NO, but it is true that certain flies, techniques and anglers are more effective than others.
If we break down fishing into three factors: equipment, flies, and line work and the fly’s action in the water, we can recommend what we would use to have the best chance of success in this river.
Equipment: The most appropriate option throughout the season is the Spey rod. While the Spey has arrived to greatly facilitate fishing in this river, it doesn’t mean that you cannot fish with one-hand rods and lines.
Flies: Normally at the beginning of the season we use large flies (streamers) such as the Rio Grande Queen or the Sunrise and as the season progresses and the water clears, the flies we use are nymphs or streamers on size 6, 8 or 10 hooks. Some of those very effective flies are the EMB, Beauty Camy, Prince, Wooly Bugger with rubber legs and the Mini Leech, among others.
Working your equipment: The casting is normally downstream and as soon as the line hits the water a mend is made to accommodate it to the current. Next, we make the fly work in the drift with small movements to give life to the fly, then we strip until we have the line back at the casting point. It is very important to get the fly to work properly in the area where we believe the trout is. To achieve that, precision and casting distance are very important, followed by the drift, the fly and the use of the appropriate lines.
How to know which line to use?
The answer to this question is dependent on an evaluation of the weather, the water and the behavior of the trout. First off, it is very important to arrive at the fishing location and observe the water – looking to detect some behavior of the animal. Secondly it is necessary to make a quick evaluation of the fishing area: what is the water temperature; is it fast or slow water or is it deep or not (there is usually a relationship - if the water is cold, the trout are usually calmer and deeper). Finally, one must assess the weather, as clearly in this area it is quite normal to have strong winds, cloudy days as well as days with a lot of sun. The sea trout is photophobic, so when we have days with a lot of sun, they tend to look for depth and cover. When we have a lot of wind, clearly the possibility of using a floating line loses a bit of meaning.
Returning to our reconnaissance, we finally went to assess the Rio Menéndez near Estancia Laura where we fished 7 kilometers in its upper zone. Here we were looking for sea trout that could have been left over from the previous season, as well as the classic brown and rainbow trout. We found the river to be fairly clear and with a lot of activity. We fished it with 6 and 7 weight rods and 3 and 5 weight sinking lines. Here we caught sea trout and in the Arroyo Laura Grande that flows into the Rio Menéndez we had several brown trout bites.
Later in the season, and when the water levels drop a bit, we are able to optimize dry fly fishing on the runs in this area.
After completing our scouting, we concluded that we would have a season with many surprises and in fact it was! The Río Grande and Rio Menéndez delivered their characteristic monsters and the Río San Pablo, Río Indio and Lago Yakush filled us with their absolute beauty and super combative trout - each of very good size - that we are able to fish with smaller equipment and with techniques that demand absolute concentration and sensitivity.
