Pro-Guide Tips from Patagonia

Diego Salas grew up fly fishing in Patagonia. When your dad is one of the early legendary pioneers who opened up Chilean fly fishing to the larger world and runs Los Torreones Lodge, it's easy to understand the family love affair with Patagonia.

1.   What two tips would you share with an angler who is considering fly fishing in Patagonia?

Don't worry about the wind! It will always be around and in fact can be used in our favor. Secondly, you want to be well prepared with gear and clothing for different types of weather on any given day.

2.   What does fly fishing mean to you?

Fly Fishing for me is the best thing that could ever have happened to me. It makes me feel grateful. It's a way of seeing life differently.

3.   How does it make you feel when your client lands a big brown?

When a client lands a big brown? Well happy! Feliz!!!  Nothing better than a big fish you work together to get. Happy client, happy Guide!

4.   When you first step up to a big river in Patagonia what to you look for?

When I first see the river, I read the water so we can understand the conditions that day. The way the river flows, behaves.  A lifetime of experience comes into play. Once you get that, you can plan the way you going to fish and what fly are you going to use (according to skills and physical condition) All this so you can make the best of it and enjoy.

5.    How do you fish differently now from ten years ago?

Ten years ago I just wanted to run and cover as much water as I possibly could. Now I take my time. The river isn´t going anywhere…. and yet moves constantly. I can spend all day working to catch a special fish in a special hole. And if I don´t get him, well even better! I have a mission for the next time!

6.What one word comes to mind when you think “Fly Fishing in Patagonia”

“Fishing in one word?...Hmmmmm….MAGIC!

At least fishing in Patagonia…..oops sorry that´s four words!”

Dreaming of Patagonia

It's the names that resonate.

Torres del Paine. Los Torreones.  Rio Simpson. Manihuales. Parque Pumalin. Puyuhuapi. Coyhaique.

Language flows like the Rio Simpson in spring.  Strong current ripples place language, like swollen streams. Banks burst and gorge out deep pools.

Questions surface and circumscribe the minds surface like trout at evening hatch.

How we describe our passion influences it.

Patched muddy waders reveal a story

Narrative, punctuated poetry like a false strike drifts the float line at runs edge.

Any true adventure, flyfishing trip or otherwise, begins with the whisper of a wish:

“I'd love to fish the…….” Fill in the blank.

When a trip with family member or best friend, son or daughter, has the common bond of good companionship, laughter, the unexpected, it is a successful one.

When a trip throws you into transcendent beauty, a sense of wildness, and freedom then you are lucky enough to have been to a place called : Patagonia.

“Fly fishing invites you to release yourself and catch your dream.”

What are people saying about Los Torreones Lodge in Chile-Patagonia?

“This experience could not be more perfect! Thank you for sharing your beautiful country with us.”   Sarah USA

“This was an incredible experience that I will never forget. Thank you so much for this beautiful trip.”  Lee, Amsterdam

Best tour we´ve ever taken….beautiful scenery, friendly animal and lots of fun. Thank you for opening your lodge to us! Donna & John, USA

Excelente todo! La hospitalidad, el lugar incredible. Todo está preparado para pasar un buen rato. Muchas gracias por todo.” Ernesto, Santiago

Une journée inoubliable…..Merci. Merci. Merci!!!!! Sonja, France

Merci, pour cette belle balade a cheval. Je revendrai voluntiers sojourner dans votre lodge. Mireille, Suisse

“Thank you for a great day and for being a great host.” Meghan, Barcelona

“Thanks for an absolutely beautiful experience. Great guides, incredible scenery and nice horses! Thanks again for my best Chilean Experience.  Donna , USA

“Feliz de conocer este hermoso lugar, fuimos muy bien acogidos por esta familia tan cordial. …..” Gloria, Santiago de Chile

Demasiado bonito el lugar! Increible la hospitalidad! Nos encantó la cabalgata! Los recommendaremos y ojalá pudamos volver!!   Familia Valente , Santiago

Thank you for an amazing time. We all love the experience. Would come back in a heart beat.” Tish, Montreal, Canada

“We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves, Great Property, Fantastic Guides, Wonderful horses. Hope to see you again soon.  Drew & Tanya Vancouver, Canada

Best Trip ever!! I want to come back and stay a week!  Georgia, US

The fishing season in review. Patagonia Chile.

Thank you one and all!

It was a fine season last year year in Patagonia and especially along the Simpson River where the lodge is located.

Fields of spring lupin

The season began Oct 15th, springtime in Chile, to high water, early running chinook, and reasonably good weather. The season ended the first Sunday of May a bit more than six months later.

Guests, many now close friends, arrived from around the world at Los Torreones Lodge: United States, Spain, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland, Canada, Brazil, and Argentina.

Many repeat clients and many new. The serious fly fishing river rats, as well as fly fishing folks crossing off that last elusive item on their Bucket List. Couples exploring the “Carretera Austral”,  and solo travelers. And of course many Chilean families who came in for long weekends via direct daily flights from Santiago to Coyhaique/Balmaceda Airport.

A summer brown

Some adventure minded travelers asked us to take the packhorses up to the remote high valleys above the Nirehuao River right next to the Argentine border. We slept in a small, well-appointed cabin and over an open fire, on brisk nights, looked up at the Southern Cross to help guide our thoughts and plan the following day fishing or horse trek.

Occasionally, early and late season, high up in the mountains, you can get dusted with summer snows, which leave a jeweled frost, glistening in the early morning sunlight on the hardy pampa grass. These special moments punctuated a special year for us.

But most clients last year came to float the legendary Simpson River, The Manihuales River, or walk the Nirehuao, and explore wading the smaller, Rio Emperador Guillermo for resident dinosaur trout.

At the end of the day walking down from the Lodge to fish the evening hatch at the final moments of light and shadow was a magic moment for many clients. An orchestrated concert of rising fish: “plop”, “thuchk” and the not infrequent “KARPlulunk”, of large browns breaking the surface and slamming mayflies or caddis; provided counterpoint tempo to the swishing current and evening breeze.

For many this is a highlight, epiphanic moment. It’s difficult to explain the symphony of motion as clouds of dry flies drop out of willows as the sun touches the last rocks in the high torreones. The Simpson hatch is simply a miracle of nature.

Usually we floated for the entire day down different sections of the Simpson and Manihuales Rivers, putting in at nearby access points. Morning floats start around 9.30/10:00am depending on weather conditions. As the season progressed river flows diminished allowing better access to secret fallen logs, and hidden banks. Last season, due to less rainfall river levels dropped significantly.

Around 1:00-2.00 pm we normally stop for a riverside picnic break with Chilean wines and first class food prepared by the Lodge chef.

River picnic with a side of fishing. 

Clients in good physical condition waded and worked the water by foot, always accompanied by a Chilean bilingual expert guide allowing for an intimate experience of being in Patagonia. Whenever possible we took time to sight fish big cautious browns usually abiding deep in the underwater structure of a fallen “cogiue” tree.

Looking back on last season, is similar to casting; it obliges one to almost simultaneously look forward to the coming year.

Patagonia remains an adventure like none other, an experience for anglers and non-anglers alike.  We send best wishes and abrazos to all who might be considering a visit, we´ve saved you some space!