Patagonia
7 Dry Flies for Success in Patagonia
Jake Crawford July 24, 2024
Many anglers plan their dream trip to Patagonia around the opportunity to dry fly fish for unpressured wild trout. The rivers, lakes, and spring creeks of Argentina and Chile provide one of the finest fisheries in the world where you can consistently catch fish on dries, and while there are seasonal variations and weather conditions that will dictate when and which fly I tie on, these are my top 7 dry flies that I always make sure to have a good selection of in my fly box.
Parachute Madam X
Parachute Madam X
This is my go-to searching attractor fly that I put on when it is not clear what the fish are keyed into. The Madam X is capable as a stand-alone fly for twitching tight to the bank, highly visible in faster riffles and choppy water, and buoyant enough to run a small nymph dropper off it.
RIO's Morrish Hopper
RIO's Morrish Hopper
Summertime fishing in Patagonia means hoppers on many rivers across the region, so I always make sure to carry a solid selection of Morrish Hoppers in tan and purple in different sizes. I also carry the black version which can double as a beetle pattern for fishing spring creeks.
RIO's Skater Tot
RIO's Skater Tot
I like the Skater Tot for a sized down, low riding attractor when I want something with a slimmer profile to selective trout. It can represent a variety of insects and has a nice natural wing and hackles for a lighter presentation.
Parachute
Parachute
This classic mayfly pattern is a must have for fishing foam lines and eddies for sipping trout in rivers and cruising fish in lakes. I always carry Parachute Adams in sizes 12 - 18. For reasons that are not entirely clear, there's just something magical about the purple variation.
RIO's Ground Beetle
RIO's Ground Beetle
The beetle is my favorite spring creek terrestrial for walk and wade fishing in southern Patagonia. If I was forced to fish one fly for a week on spring creeks, the Ground Beetle is a no-brainer.
RIO's Morrish Dragon
RIO's Morrish Dragon
The austral spring is a beautiful time to visit Patagonia and December often means dragonflies are around the region’s vast lakes. This high riding, highly visible pattern can bring explosive takes when trout are keyed into this seasonal hatch.
RIO's Morrish Mouse
RIO's Morrish Mouse
Who does not love mousing?! Pro-tip: the legendary Morrish Mouse works in Patagonia as well and can bring out some of the biggest fish with aggressive trout looking for an easy meal. This proven pattern floats like a ship, skates, wakes, and is effective on spring creeks, rivers, and even Jurassic Lake. When the opportunity presents itself, I am throwing on a Morrish Mouse.
Author: Jake Crawford, Patagonia Destinations Manager
Author: Jake Crawford, Patagonia Destinations Manager
Contact our Patagonia Destinations Manager, Jake Crawford, to learn more about his favorite flies for Patagonia and further details about his specific recommendations.
Patagonia Prime Openings & Availability
Patagonia Prime Openings & Availability
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