Diversity of the Esquel, Los Alerces National Park and Rio Pico region is one of the many reasons anglers decide to fish here. The Lodge offers an assortment of spring fed creeks, private waters, large and small rivers and lakes in surreal settings. Fishing with dries, streamers and nymphs are the perfect combination to hook wild rainbows, browns, brookies and salmon; simply magical. The lodge is placed on the banks of one of the best lakes for huge Brown’s providing early morning and late evening fishing opportunities before breakfast and after dinner for the more hard-hitting, relentless competitor.
In addition to your incredible stay and fly fishing adventure at Le Fario Lodge we can arrange an add-on to two other superb fishing destinations; Rio Pico and Capita Mini Lodge. Le Fario is partnered with both astonishing lodges. We can customize your stay at all three lodges; a few days or week at each location.
Rio Pico:
Rio Pico is 250 kilometres south from Esquel, around 3 hours land transfer to get there.There aren’t any paved roads and it is a wild and lost place in Patagonia on the Andes border with Chile. In this area you can wade rivers and there are additionally 5 different lakes with fantastic fishing. All of AW guides know the area by heart.
This program offers wading and floating options in sight fishing a close distance from the lodge (Las Pampas area). 90% of the fishing can be done wading.This diversity is an excellent reason to combine both areas on your trip with Argentine Waters.There are spring creeks to explore with the opportunity to catch very large trout in small waters. Like the Esquel area, there are brown, rainbow and brookies to catch averaging 14-18 inches with an occasionally trophy in the 20-22 inch range. The lakes can produce fish in the 20- 24 inch range and some awesome surprises of even bigger. Expect light hiking and excellent dry fly fishing with large attractors, mayfly and caddis hatches during the day for rising fish. For the nymph fisherman, most familiar techniques will produce well in this area.
If you are interested in fishing both places, we suggest 5 fishing days in Le Fario Lodge (Esquel area), and then additional days (we suggest 4 days minimum) at Rio Pico. If you are interested in spending and entire week only at Rio Pico, that can be arranged as well. In both areas you will have different waters to fish each day as there are so many options. The beauty of our small intimate lodge is the flexibility that we can offer to fit your desires. Customized trips are structured around your desire to wade fish, or fish from a boat. The lodge or guides will then decide which waters are best to fish based on weather conditions, water flows, etc.
Rio Pico waters that we fish:
Rio Pico, Rio Nilson, Rio Las Pampas, spring creeks and Lake 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5 (lake 3 is a must) and brookie`s land (Corcovado river & El Engaño lake)
Capita Mini Lodge: Corriente River and Ibera’s Golden Dorados. A unique environment for Golden Dorado in the Nature Reserve of Esteros del Ibera. This is a rich and varied ecosystem with fish species of all kinds in the warm, clear waters of the Corrientes River. The Golden Dorado’s average 6 to 12 pound all the way up to 30 pounders. Pira Pita, Tararira (Wolf Fish) and Cabeza Amarga (Pike), Surubi (Catfish), Lacha, Dientudo Real (Pike Charasin), Palometa (Pirana), Chafalote (Ghost Fish) and Mandova are in abundance. The days starts after an early breakfast until noon for lunch at the Lodge. Fishing is resumed after a short rest before getting back on the water until dinner is served. Skiff’s are used for casting platforms, ideal for this environment. Expect to see Capibaras, caymans, deer, vizcachas, otters, fox, storks and many other birds and wildlife.
Fishing is allowed all year round being most productive from September through April. The 5-day program includes 5 days fishing on the Corriente River, accommodation with meals, fishing licenses.
Suggested Tackle: Fly Fishing #6, #7 & #8 floating, intermediate and sinking lines for casting big flies. Both tropical and cold water lines are used depending on the season. Golden Dorado sinking flies, like deceivers with deer hair heads, tied on #2/0 a #4/0 hooks, and floating flies like Titanics, Slider, Ututus & mouse flies. #3 & #4 with small flies are ideal to fish other fun species. Approximately 20 flies per day. Steel Leader of at least 30 pounds.
After a full day of fishing there is nothing better than taking a rest on the deck of the lodge’s main cabin with full view of the river. Inside the Clubhouse you will find a beverage bar and enjoy home cooked meals prepared by the Lodge. Homemade regional dishes include fresh vegetable taken from the lodge’s organic garden, pickles preserves, sweets and pumpkins in sugar syrup, barbecued port, duck lamb, wild board and house specialty, homemade pasta.
Rooms are simple backcountry style with private bathroom and air conditioner (double occupancy)
Other activities during your stay can include hunting, birdwatching, snorkeling and diving, Kayak Safari, Horseback Riding and Hiking.
