January
The season kicked off with good water levels, and although the river dropped to -20 cm at times, it quickly recovered with fresh pushes of water from the mountains. Fishing started slower than usual, with smaller schools of fresh fish until the larger schools arrived by mid-January. Nonetheless, each group caught their fair share of fish, including a stunning 22 lbs sea-run brown trout landed by Bjorn-Hugo in the famous “75” pool during the first week.
Once the big chrome fish began arriving in our lower beats, we knew the summer run had begun. Holding pools like Puesto, Barranca Blanca, and Cantera provided some spectacular action, with sea trout leaping like tuna in the ocean.
The good old Girdle Bug fly, in various styles, proved effective throughout the first month, especially when paired with the traditional Copper John during low-water scenarios. The weather started cold, requiring plenty of layers, but soon transitioned to typical Patagonian summer, with temperatures ranging from 18-26°C (64-78°F), allowing for fishing in just a basic shirt during the day.
February
In February, fishing returned to normal with consistent water levels just below zero and steady pushes of water throughout the month. This created some exceptionally good weeks, with over 100 fish landed.
One of the more memorable stories of the season comes from Marc, a guest from Switzerland, who traveled with friends Gregoire and Pierre. Marc arrived in Argentina with no prior spey casting experience, borrowing a rod from the lodge and expecting nothing more than to enjoy the adventure.
What happened next was extraordinary. On his second day, Marc landed a stunning 20-pound sea-run brown trout at Cantera Pool— a fish most of us would give an arm and a leg for. The reactions and congratulations from his fellow anglers made Marc quickly realize just how special this was, and his smile only grew throughout the week.
Then, during the final session on the last day of the week, at Zoller’s Pool, as if to prove his 20-pounder was no fluke, Marc hooked an incredible 22-pound fish while swinging a silver shadow across the channel. The fish put on a show worthy of its size, leaping into the air no less than six times during the intense fight. Marc finally brought the fish close enough to be netted, adding his second 20-pounder of the week to the catch book.”
During the few low-water days in February, nymph patterns like Vitamin D, Marianne, and Copper John (sizes 8 and 10) were successful. A black flashback variation with an orange bead-head was particularly effective, bringing in plenty of fish. When the water levels rose, it was time to switch to yellow yummies, green lanterns, and the char bugger streamer, which worked wonders in the tea-colored waters.