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 hotel and transfers in Buenos Aires, as needed

✓ Arrange flights to/from San Martin/ Chapelco, Argentina

✓ Complete personal online guest registration form and sign the outfitter's waiver

✓ Purchase medical and evacuation insurance

✓ Get travel cash

When fishing a river as diverse as the Limay, it pays to bring a variety of rods and be prepared to fish multiple techniques throughout the day. We recommend bringing 5-, 6-, and 7-weight rods to cover the full range of opportunities encountered during the week.

The 5-weight is the ideal tool for fishing the braided side channels and smaller water where delicate dry fly presentations are often required. It provides the finesse needed for accurate presentations while still having enough power to handle the region's ever-present wind. The 6-weight is the true workhorse of the trip, and we recommend a rod equipped with a fighting butt. This setup can comfortably handle everything from large dry-dropper rigs to small and medium-sized streamers while providing enough backbone to control trout in the Limay's strong currents. The 7-weight is the preferred tool for dedicated streamer fishing, offering the power needed to cast larger flies, penetrate the wind, and battle the river's notoriously large brown trout.

For anglers who enjoy swinging flies, an optional 5- or 6-weight trout Spey rod can be an excellent addition.

The 5- and 6-weight single-hand rods should be paired with reliable reels and weight-forward floating lines slightly overlined to improve casting performance in windy conditions. An additional spool for the 6-weight rigged with an integrated sinking line is useful for anglers who prefer to fish streamers on a lighter rod. The 7-weight should be paired with an integrated sink-tip line. It is always better to arrive overprepared than underprepared, and the lodge's drift boats offer ample storage for multiple rod setups throughout the day.

Limay River Ranch Provided Equipment: 

• Rods/Reels/Lines: Included with prior notice
  
• Flies: Included
  
• Waders/Boots: Boots included, Waders not included

Note: Limay River Ranch has a limited supply of loaner equipment for guests to use while they are there based upon availability. Please let Fly Water Travel know if you plan to use the lodge’s equipment as the supply is limited.

The 5-weight is the most versatile trout rod in Patagonia and handles everything from foam terrestrials to medium streamers with ease. It strikes the right balance between presentation and power, making it a dependable choice for both walk-and-wade days and drift fishing. A 5-weight has enough backbone to punch a fly through moderate winds without overpowering smaller dries. It’s especially useful when you’re covering mixed water types in a single day. Pair it with a ½ weight heavier floating line.

Recommended Terminal Tackle:

• Fast action 9-foot, 5-weight 4-piece fly rod
• Reliable reel and spare spool
• 1/2 weight heavier floating line
• 9-foot 3X and 7.5-foot 2X leaders (Qty 3 each)
• Spools of 2X-4X monofilament and fluorocarbon tippet

The 7-weight comes out when you’re hunting truly big fish, battling wind, or stripping full-size articulated streamers in deep runs. This rod weight provides the strength needed to drive large flies, sink tips, and heavier lines without collapsing the loop. Anglers chasing migratory browns and fishing this high-flow tailwater will appreciate the added leverage and fish-fighting power. Pair it with an integrated sink-tip in the 250-grain range.

Recommended Terminal Tackle:
• Fast action 9-foot, 7-weight 4-piece fly rod
• Reliable reel
• Integrated sinking tip line
• Spool of 0X or 12lb monofilament

A dedicated trout Spey setup can be a highly effective and enjoyable way to fish some of the larger runs on the Limay River, particularly for anglers who enjoy swinging flies. We recommend a 5- or 6-weight two-handed rod in the 11½- to 12½-foot range, which provides enough power to cast efficiently across the Limay's broad currents while still offering plenty of sport when fighting the river's resident and migratory brown trout.

Unlike many trout Spey fisheries, the Limay is particularly well suited to long-belly floating lines, which allow anglers to efficiently cover water and make elegant presentations at a variety of distances. While long-belly systems are preferred, anglers should bring the line system they are most comfortable casting, whether that is a traditional long-belly, Scandi, or Skagit-style setup. Fishing techniques range from swinging small wet flies and traditional streamers to skating dry flies across the surface, and all can be effective throughout the season depending on water conditions and trout behavior. For this reason they should bring a variety of tips.

Recommended Terminal Tackle:
• 5 to 6-weight, 11.5-12.5-foot trout Spey Rod
• Reliable reel
• Long belly, Scandi, or Skagit with a variety of tips
• Spool of 0X or 12lb monofilament

Flies are included as part of the program, but guests who would like to bring a small personal selection should focus on a few proven patterns that cover the main food sources found throughout the Limay River.

The Limay River supports a highly diverse trout diet, which is reflected in the wide range of flies guests should bring. Depending on the season, water conditions, and section of river being fished, trout may feed on small mayflies, caddis, midges, terrestrials, stoneflies, baitfish, leeches, and even mice. This is a large, varied river system, so anglers should be prepared to adjust throughout the day rather than rely on one specific hatch or presentation.

On the surface, the Limay can offer technical dry-fly fishing with small mayflies, caddis, and midge patterns such as Parachute Adams, Comparaduns, X-Caddis, Griffith’s Gnats, and Rusty Spinners. These patterns are important for calmer edges, slicks, seams, and selective fish feeding on smaller insects. At the same time, larger attractor dries and terrestrials are also valuable, especially along grassy banks, riffles, and windy shorelines. Patterns like Chernobyl Ants, hoppers, Stimulators, Madame Xs, beetles, crickets, and Golden Stones imitate the larger food sources that often bring aggressive fish to the surface.

Subsurface, nymphs are an important part of the program and should cover both large and small profiles. Rubberleg stones, Prince Nymphs, Pheasant Tails, Hare’s Ears, Copper Johns, soft hackles, and caddis pupae represent the aquatic insects trout feed on throughout the system.

Streamers also play a major role, particularly when targeting larger brown trout. Zonkers, Muddlers, Woolly Buggers, Matukas, Clousers, dace patterns, and leeches imitate minnows, small baitfish, and other larger prey.

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.

We understand packing for an adventure is not easy. On a trip like this it is very important to have everything you need and nothing you do not. As the climate is extremely changeable and a wide range of temperatures and conditions can be expected, we recommend layering clothes. Anglers should be prepared with thermal underwear, fleece/soft shell jacket, and a rain jacket. Synthetic fabrics are preferred to cotton. Dress at the lodges/camps is neat but casual.