Print Photos  |  View Full-Size Image

 

Fly fishing is a fabulous sport. Its early starts were during the 14th century in England. Nowadays it has become an international sport that charms nature lovers into wonderful experiences. Two of the world’s last unspoiled paradises for those flyfishing lovers are Chile and Argentina, for the fishing is superb, the options for lodge are beyond great; the waters offer many challenging characteristics from shallow riffles, fast runs, deep pools, undercut banks, isolated channels, vegetation mats, and deadfall structures to go after big rainbow and brown trouts and gorgeous salmons. Plus these amazing waters that run through the Andes Mountains both in Chile and Argentina have produced a wide range of trophy catches year after. For Argentina and Chile are located in the southern hemisphere, the seasons and temperatures in these regions are just oposite to the ones in the States and in Europe… This couldn’t be better for those who really love this sport and don’t want to miss any thing about it due to climate and reproductive conditions, travelling to the wonderful lands of Argentina and Chile is just the perfect option. The season runs from November 15 through April 15. During these summer months, the weather is very moderate, the days are long, and the fish are plentiful. The fish are mostly rainbows, brown trout and Atlantic salmon and the average size brown and rainbow trout fish are 18-22 inches. Together with these outstanding fishes there are native fishes in these rivers such as the perca -percichthys trucha- much alike the American though this has a smaller mouth bass or perch. The pejerrey patagonico -patagonina hatcheri – and also the puyen of the galaxidae family. These native species are not as aggressive as trout; nonetheless they play a very important role within the trout and salmon’s food chain. Shadowed by the snow-capped mountains in the background, fly fishing in these spectacular cold, crystal virgin waters is an experience of a lifetime. Although the trout and salmon are not local species they have adapted beyond perfection to this ecology. There are many stories around how did these spices arrived to our southern lands. Some people say that the story began during the mid 1880s when a certain ranch boss missed his native land and the fishing. And he felt quite incomplete in such an amazing paradise of beautiful waters and imponent landmarks but were there was no fish. So he decided to ask a fellow fish lover to bring some eggs from his homeland and that is how the sea run browns began to swim through this southern rivers. On the other hand, local governments explain that it wasn’t til 1904 when the first planting of trout took place with good results. The first planting were composed of brook, lake trout and landlocked salmon all coming from New York, USA. They were planted in lake Nahuel Huapi, Traful, Espejo and Gutierrez. More importation of fish eggs continued coming from the US, England and Germany with the same species and additionally adding rainbows, browns, Atlantic salmon and some species of Pacific salmon. Regardless of which of these stories is real and which is not, these incredible fishes have adapted perfectly to the Argentinean and Chilean ecosystems and are just a joy for those who enjoy great fishing. If you’re a fly fishing enthusiast, novice or expert and have always dreamt of being able to enjoy it all year round, now you can by combining seasons at home and in Chile and Argentina. A large trophy rainbow on your line will give you a fly fishing experience of a lifetime. Bob Frassinetti, art and antique dealer and free lance journalist photographer, working on the web, writing both for pleasure and work on art, antiques and collectibles, in and on Buenos Aires, Argentina and neighbouring countries, Chile and Uruguay. "I've written for several Travel Adventure, Art & Antiques Magazines on and off the web and have researched Vintage Tractors to Antique Cars made or found in Argentina, Travel Adventure, to Toys made in Argentina, and now for the upcoming Dakar Rally 2010 to start here in " Buenos Aires, so for Everything on Art & Antiques as well as Travel Information for Buenos Aires and Argentina by Bob Frassinetti”