Glacier King
Travel & Tackle Guide

Welcome to your Fly Water Travel trip guide. We’re excited to help you prepare for your upcoming adventure! Inside, you’ll find everything you need: your to-do list, travel logistics, destination notes, and a curated tackle guide tailored to your trip.

Getting Ready

We’ve created a quick checklist of essential tasks to make sure you’re fully prepared for the journey ahead. If questions come up or you need anything at all, just give us a call, we’re here to help every step of the way.

To-Do List:

✓ Arrange flights to/from Buenos Aires, Argentina

✓ Arrange transfers in Buenos Aires

✓ Arrange flights to/from El Calafate, Argentina

✓ Arrange hotel in El Calafate for arrival and departure

✓ Purchase medical and evacuation insurance

✓ Get travel cash

Glacier King
Travel Guide

From how to get there and what documents you’ll need to tipping guidelines and destination details, this section covers the practical information to ensure smooth travels.

Getting to the Lodge:
To reach Glacier King, guest need to arrange travel to and from El Calafate, Argentina (FTE). All flights connect through Buenos Aires International Airport (EZE). Most international flights arrive in the morning, allowing you to transfer to the Buenos Aires Domestic Airport (AEP) with enough time to connect to a flight to El Calafate (FTE) that afternoon. Please allow four hours between arriving at the international airport and the next flight to go through customs, grab luggage, and ground transfer to the domestic airport for the flight to El Calafate (FTE). Upon arrival in El Calafate you will transfer to your hotel to overnight.

Arrival Day:
You need to arrive in El Calafate to stay at a hotel the night before your fishing program begins with Glacier King. You can arrive anytime on this day. Hotels are independently arranged and not included. The following morning you will be picked up from your hotel and ground transfer to the marina for a three-hour scenic ferry transfer to Estancia Cristina.

Departure Day:
You will depart the estancia in the afternoon after a half day of fishing. Upon arrival in El Calafate, you will need to overnight at a hotel, then fly out the following morning.

Documentation Requirements: 
To enter Argentina, all guests are required to have the following: 

  • Passport: Valid for the duration of your trip. 
  • Medical and Evacuation Coverage: Valid for the duration of your trip.

Recommended Travel Agent: 
The domestic airline carrier in Argentina is notorious for changing and canceling flights, so to make things easier on our guests, we highly recommend using a travel agent when booking domestic flights within Argentina.  

Alicia Regueiro, Holdy Tours 
800-446-1111 or 925-927-6617 
alicia@holdytours.com  

Domestic Flight Note: 
Domestic flights within Argentina fly through either the domestic airport, Aeroparque Jorge Newbery (AEP) or Ezeiza international airport (EZE).

All domestic flights within Argentina prohibit carry-on baggage of fishing equipment (rods, reels, lines, flies) and must be checked. 

Buenos Aires Transfers: 
After arriving at the international airport (EZE) in Buenos Aires, clearing customs and immigrations (45 min – 1 ½ hour process), in most cases guests will need to transfer to the domestic airport (AEP), to make the connecting flights within Argentina. The transfer between airports or to downtown hotels takes approximately 45 minutes, depending on traffic, however we recommend allowing four hours between flights. The following are transfer options:  

  • Tienda Leon – Located just outside of customs through sliding glass doors. Transfers can be pre-arranged online or arranged after arrival for approximately USD $40-$60 per person.  
  • Private Transfer – A private driver and/or driver and guide can be arranged through our recommended travel agent.   

Buenos Aires Hotels (Recoleta District): 
Intersur Recoleta 
Av. Callao 1764 

Four Seasons Hotel Buenos Aires 
Posadas 1086/88  

Loi Suites Recoleta Hotel 
Vincente Lopez 1955 

Arc Recoleta Boutique Hotel & Spa 
Peña 2155 

Buenos Aires Restaurants: 
La Cabrera  
José A. Cabrera 5127  

Las Violetas 
Av. Rivadavia 3899 

Cabaña Las Lilas 
Av. Alicia Moreau de Justo 516  

Don Julio Parrilla 
Guatemala 4699  

Parrilla La Brigada 
Estados Unidos 465 

Currency:  
The official Argentine currency is the peso (ARG) however US dollars (USD) are accepted throughout the country and for gratuities. We recommend exchanging no more than $100 (USD) into pesos (ARG) for small tipping, such as baggage handlers, taxis or tips at restaurants, throughout your travels in Argentina.  

Exchange Options:
We recommend the following for exchanges.  

  • Airport Convenience Stores – Purchase something small using a $100 (USD) bill and change will be provided in pesos, which should be enough pesos during your travels.   
  • Hotels  
  • ATMs

Travel Cash:
We recommend each guest travel with

  • $2,500 (USD) per week of travel
  • Bills should be new and in larger denominations, such as $50s and $100s

Credit Cards:
The lodge does not accept credit cards.

Gratuities:
The following are guidelines, and all gratuities are up to the discretion of the individual guest. Gratuities can be given directly to your lodge manager at the end of the week for distribution to the guides and staff.

  • Guide and Staff: $800 (USD) per person for the week

Fishing Licenses:
Not included. Paid in cash (USD) on-site at the lodge. We will let you know the cost of the fishing license at the start of the season (estimated $150).

Communications: 
While traveling in Argentina we recommend using WhatsApp as this is the way most lodges and outfitters communicate. Texting through the app will allow you to keep in touch with the outfitter, friends, and family when connected to Wi-Fi.   

Cell Coverage and Wi-Fi:

  • Cell Coverage: There is no cell phone service at the lodge
  • Wi-Fi: The lodge has satellite internet

Power:
The lodge has 24-hour power.

Laundry:
Laundry service is not available, please pack accordingly.

Water:
There is plenty of bottled water on hand, we do not recommend drinking the tap water.

Beverages/Alcohol:

  • Soft Drinks: Included
  • Beer and Wine: Included
  • Alcohol: Not included. Guests are welcome to bring their favorite spirit.


Emergency Medical Assistance:
The closest medical facility is in El Calafate about 2.5 hours from the lodge.

Due to the remote location, we strongly recommend that anglers purchase travel insurance and medical evacuation coverage.

Recommended Medical Evacuation Carrier and Insurance Provider:
Global Rescue

Glacier King
Tackle Guide

From how to get there and what documents you’ll need to tipping guidelines and destination details, this section covers the practical information to ensure smooth travels.

Glacier King Tackle Overview

When we travel to Glacier King, we always bring a Spey set-up. The river is not very wide, so our primary set up is a short Spey or switch rod with a matching Skagit head and sinking tips. The guides like rods that are 11ft to 12’6 feet in length in an 8- or 9-weight. At the lake, guests may find overhead casting a two-handed rod must easier to cast than a single hander into the wind. During mid-January through February, guests primarily fish conventional spinning tackle, and March is fly fishing only.

Glacier King Provided Equipment
We recommend all guests bring their own equipment. Limited Spey tackle is available for rent, and they have a small shop with lines, sink tips, and tippet in case you forget some items. Some flies are also available for purchase if you run out or do not have the right patterns.

  • Rods/Reels/Lines: The lodge has limited Spey rods available for rent with matching Skagit lines.
  • Flies: Hand tied local flies are available for purchase. We recommend bringing a modest collection of flies to have on you and options while fishing.
  • Waders/Boots: Waders and boots are not available to rent, guests must bring their own. Felt is permitted in Argentina, but lodge prefers rubber soled boots without studs.

Glacier King Spey Set Up

Our primary set up is an 12-foot to 13-foot 8-weight two handed rod with a matching floating Skagit head. We always have a 10-foot section of T-14 sinking tip, as well as an intermediate, and T-20 sinking tips in 6-feet and 10-feet lengths. This is set up to 50-pound shooting line on a reel with a solid drag system and at least 150 yards of 30-pound backing. The guides recommend bringing Flourocarbon or monofilament tippet in 30 – 40-lb.

Glacier King Conventional Tackle Set Up

During the middle of January through February weeks in the season, guests can fish conventional tackle for king salmon. The guides recommend spinning rods that are 9-foot in length of 25-lb class a reel with at least 150-200 yards of braided line in 40 to 60-pound test. They also like to have fluorocarbon tippet in 40 to 50-lb test.

They like to fish with Spinners size 5 and 6, and an assortment of spoons in 27 – 50 grams, with the preferred colors in blue, green or chartreuse, gold, and orange.

Please note that treble hooks are not permitted. Only single hooks are allowed, with the preferred sizes in 1/0 to 5/0.

Support Your Local Fly Shop

If you need assistance with assembling your gear for your upcoming travels, we encourage you to support your local fly shop. This curated list of tackle is handpicked for your destination by our experts and can serve as your shopping list to get your ready for your next adventure. Find your local Far Bank dealer.

Top 5 King Salmon Flies for Glacier King

The most commonly used flies are large profile flies with trailing hooks suitable for king salmon and winter steelhead, such as intruders and string leeches in black, blue, pink, and chartreuse which contrast well against the glacier-colored water. It’s also helpful to have various weights and sizes from 1-inch to 4-inch, heavily weighted, lightly weighted, and unweighted to cover the range of conditions.

Top 5 Recommended Glacier King Flies

  1. Intruders
  2. String Leeches
  3. Marabou Tubes
  4. Bosses
  5. Clousers

Suggested Packing List

Glacier King is located just outside the mountains of Glaciers National Park, and despite the fishing season running through the summer months of January - March, wind, rain, and sun can be found every day of the season. Be sure to pack a quality rain jacket, which also doubles as a windbreaker. Most importantly, you will want to dress in layers, so you can change with the conditions. Expect daytime highs to range from the mid-50s to low-70s °F, while nights cool into the upper 30s to mid-40s °F.

Documents:
Passport, plane tickets, itinerary, credit card, cash, business cards

Waders:
Breathable stocking foot waders are recommended. For anglers prone to cold (especially feet), boot foot waders are excellent.

Boots:
Felt soles are permitted in Patagonia, but please ensure all gear is clean and completely dry before travel to prevent the spread of invasive species. Rubber soles without cleats are also a great option, and are the boot of choice for the guides.

Forceps:
We like the Dr. Slick scissor pliers for crimping barbs, releasing fish and trimming flies.

Clippers:
One line clipper

Wading Staff:
One wading staff and belt

Socks:
Four pairs of wool or synthetic socks to wear under your waders. Two pairs of camp socks.

Base layers:
One to two pairs of synthetic or merino wool long underwear (tops and bottoms) to wear beneath your waders. One mid-weight and one heavyweight. These can be worn alone or together depending on conditions.

Shirts:
Two or three long sleeve fishing shirts. One or two lodge shirts. Dress at the lodge is neat, but casual.

Warm Layers:
One or two warm insulating layers. Down, synthetic or fleece mid layers are good options. Avoid cotton.

Rain Jacket:
One high quality rain jacket.

Hats:
Two fishing/baseball hats. One warm cap.

Lodge Shoes:
One pair of shoes for around the lodge.

Sun Gaiter:
One facial sun protector.

Sunglasses:
One pair of polarized sunglasses. It is great to have a lens cleaner and a soft cleaning cloth as well. Always pack clear lenses for the evening light. Cheap hardware store glasses are an easy option to protect your eyes.

Sunscreen:
One bottle SPF 30+

Lip Balm:
One tube of SPF 30+ lip balm.

Backpack:
One waterproof backpack or boat bag for day gear.

Headlamp:
One small LED headlamp with batteries.