Who is best suited to this destination?
This is a great destination for anglers who enjoy remote scenic fisheries, a chance at big fish, and enjoy fishing from boats.
Where is the lodge?
Martin Pescador is a two-lodge program, where guests split their week between two lodges within 1.5 hours drive of one another. The first lodge is Rio Yelcho Lodge located on the banks of Rio Yelcho, with an excellent view of glacier covered mountains. The second lodge is Rio Rosselot Lodge, where guests have access to numerous lakes and river systems in a separate southern drainage from Lago Rosselot. The lodges are located southeast of Chaiten, in the Los Lagos region of Chilean Patagonia.
How do I get there?
Guests take an overnight flight to Santiago, Chile and make a same-day connection to Puerto Montt, Chile. From there, you will transfer 40 minutes to the nearby town of Puerto Varas to overnight. The following morning, you will transfer back to Puerto Montt and take a charter flight to Chaiten, where you will be greeted by lodge staff and ground transferred 45 minutes to Rio Yelcho Lodge. Guests will arrive around lunch time and then have an afternoon fishing session on arrival day.
Halfway through the week, you will pack your bags in the morning, fish a full day, and be ground transferred 1.5 hours to Rio Rosselot Lodge. Your bags will be waiting there, then you have dinner and overnight. At the end of your stay, you will return to Chaiten, fly back to Puerto Montt and take a commercial flight to Santiago. Guests are usually able to make a same day connection from Santiago on an overnight flight back to the US.
When should I go?
The season runs from the first week of January to the last week of March. All weeks are good, as this is the peak summer in Patagonia. The weather can be a bit more unstable during the last weeks of the season.
How will I fish?
Anglers will fish classic trout fishing techniques and often employ a variety of methods over the course of the day, including large dry fly attractors, small and large nymph droppers, streamers, and small dry flies to actively feeding fish. Almost all fishing will be done from boats.
Is there wade fishing?
Due to the nature of the region’s rivers and lakes, wade fishing is very limited, and guests should expect to fish almost exclusively from boats.
Where will I fish?
At Lago Yelcho Lodge, guests will fish multiple parts of a single system, including the lower stretches of the Rio Futaleufu, which flows into Lago Yelcho, Lago Yelcho, and its outlet which becomes the Yelcho River. Guests will fish a different beat each of the first three days.
At Rio Rosselot Lodge, guests will have access to multiple fisheries including the Rio Rosselot, Rio Figueroa, Rio Pico, Rio Clara Solar, and numerous other tributaries that flow into Lago Rosselot. There are also a handful of smaller lagoons and bigger waters that are rotated into their program depending on angler’s preferences and conditions.
How long does it take to reach the fishing grounds?
Some days you can step right out in front of the property to start your day, and other days you may drive between 30 and 1.5 hours. They have boats stored at different access points so you will travel by vehicle on mostely paved roads to reach the fishing grounds.
What type(s) of fish will I catch?
Most of the fish caught will be rainbow trout but there will be some great brown trout as well. There are more rainbows than browns in the lakes, with more browns than rainbows in the rivers.
How many fish will I catch?
Anglers can expect a dozen or two opportunities per day. These are quality fish that average 16 – 18” and there are also limited opportunities to hunt for fish in the 20 – 30” class. Fish over 24” are caught each week.
Will I see other anglers?
Yes, it is possible to see a limited number of other anglers, especially in Lago Yelcho, but it is easy to find solitude and generally you will not see other anglers in the river systems.
What are the guides like?
The guide team consists of hard-working professional US-based guides, mostly from the Rockies, who come down in the Patagonian summer. They all speak excellent English and are Swiftwater certified, with a priority on fishing knowledge and guest safety.
What are the physical demands?
Being able to get in and out of the boat is really the only physical demand. In some waters, guests may be asked to walk around a rapid to ensure safe passage.
Are there any special skills required?
Being able to cast in the wind is beneficial and the ability to place the fly on target in tight spaces will often reward anglers with the larger fish.
Does the lodge provide equipment?
Yes, all equipment is provided with high-quality gear suitable for the different fisheries. This includes rods, reels, lines, leader, tippet, and flies, so guests only need to show up with a carry-on travel bag with clothes and cool-weather gear if they would like.
Waders are often not necessary, and it is best to bring comfortable waterproof boat shoes for fishing, with quick dry pants and shirts, and a quality rain jacket and rain pants. If waders are needed, the lodge will have those available for guest use.
What is your favorite setup for the trip?
The go-to set up is a 9-foot 6-weight with a floating line for dry fly fishing, and a 7-weight rod for streamer fishing with sinking lines.
What are the top flies?
The fish are not overly hatch oriented and large foam attractor patterns like beetles will get the job done in most situations. Early in the season there is a dragon fly hatch that can be great for dry fly surface activity.
What are the options if water conditions become challenging?
The season is concentrated during the peak summer months, and they have a variety of different fisheries available to rotate between if conditions become challenging. It is rare to lose a day of fishing due to weather or water conditions.
What is a typical day like?
Coffee is ready at 7:30am, breakfast is served at 8, and guests depart the lodge at 9. Picnic lunches are served midday on the water, and guests return to the lodge between 5 and 6 for drinks and dinner. The guides tend to hang around after dinner to spend additional time with guests.
What is the general vibe, atmosphere and style of the lodge?
The lodges are very comfortable with stunning views of the water and nearby mountains. The rooms are clean and tastefully decorated. The staff is warm and welcoming and treat guests like family friends.
Is there an on-site owner, manager or other point-person at the lodge?
There is always a lodge manager and head guide at the lodge. On arrival day, there is a guide briefing to go over the week’s activities and game plan.
Where do we eat, and what are the meals like?
Both lodges have an executive chef and Chilean culinary teams to assist them. Meals will be of the highest quality. Lunches will be served streamside and paired with wine. There will be one asado night and be sure to have a Pisco sour while there, as it is Chile’s signature drink!
What is the alcohol policy?
All alcohol is included in your package price.
Where do we stay, and what are the accommodations like?
The Yelcho lodge has five double occupancy cabins configured with twin or king beds, en-suite bathrooms, wood-burning stove, and an outdoor deck overlooking the river. The Rosselot lodge features five double occupancy rooms with twin or king beds, each with an en-suite bathroom and a wraparound deck overlooking the river and nearby mountains.
There is a classic wood-fired hot tub at both locations, and a sauna at Yelcho Lodge. Each lodge has a dock overlooking the river. Single occupancy is available for an additional fee.
Is there internet and/or cell service?
There is limited Wi-Fi available at both lodges depending on weather, which can interfere with the signal. Limited cell service is available at Rio Rosselot Lodge, while Rio Yelcho lodge does not have cell service.
Are there other activities?
The sister lodge, Rio Palena Lodge, is best suited for other activities. Some small self-guided hikes are available, but this is not the place for non-angling activities.
Are there any other expenses?
Hotel night and transfers in Puerto Varas, retail items on the site, charter flight, and gratuities.
Fishing license are included as well as ground transfer to/from Chaiten.
Do I need a visa?
No.
Are there any health concerns, dangers or annoyances?
The luggage limit on the Cessna charter to and from Chaiten is limited to 30lb per person. Guests can pay overweight bag fees if needed, but they provide all equipment at the lodges so you can easily pack light for this trip.
We recommend that guests always consult with the U.S. Department of State and the Center for Disease Control websites for general travel information and guidelines.
