Sea-Run Brown Trout

With annual returns of 50,000+ fish and an average size exceeding 8 pounds, no other river in the world can rival the Rio Grande in Argentina's southern territory of Tierra del Fuego as the best place on the planet to catch sea-run brown trout. Combine the river with the best returns and the largest average size of sea-run brown trout with easy access to 12+ miles of rested pools from a comfortable homestyle lodge designed for four (4) anglers per week, and that’s the San Jose Lodge fishing experience.

With limited rods each week on 12+ miles of water at San Jose Lodge, our guide team has the flexibility to rotate and rest sensitive water that holds weary fish, or focus angling effort on areas holding higher concentrations of fish. The road network throughout the estancia is meticulously maintained and managed to make for quick and easy access to our sections of the river. Drive times between the lodge and the river range from 15 to 30 minutes in comfortable 4-door trucks on well-maintained gravel roads allowing for seamless transitions to fishing areas.

Wading the Rio Grande is easy, deep wading is rarely needed, the current is relatively slow and the bottom is mainly small pea-sized gravel with the occasional rib of slick bedrock scattered throughout some runs. Felt or studded soles are not needed and only the most unstable waders might need a wading staff/pole.

Our fishing program works on a split day beat rotation where every two (2) anglers and their guide fish a morning and an evening session with an extended mid-day break with lunch and time to rest at the lodge between each session. Anglers meet their guides in the wader room after breakfast each morning and typically work the fishing day so that you are fishing first and last light of the day.

The section of the river that cuts through the San Jose property is narrow and shallow and often requires a precise and stealthy approach to find fishing success. Fish are found throughout every stretch of the river with fewer fish landed in the shallower, faster, and more technical pools and more numbers of fish hooked in the deeper runs that hold higher densities of fish. Regardless of where the fish may be on the river, our long-time experienced guides know where and when to find them. With the proper approach, a skilled and well-prepared angler can expect an average of 1-3 fish per session throughout the course of a six-day fishing week.

The majority of the river can be fished with a 7 to 9-weight single-hand fly rod with a floating line and a variety of interchangeable sink tips. However, on windy days or when a run depends on making a longer cast having a 6-7 weight switch or short spey rod (10’6’-11’6’) with an integrated scandi style line is worth having in your quiver. A complete angler will come prepared with multiple rods and line combinations rigged and ready to fish a variety of techniques including skating dry flies, drifting nymph rigs, and swinging or stripping large profile streamers.

February - April

THE LODGE
San Jose Lodge, is a classically styled Patagonian farmhouse that sits on a 24,000-acre working ranch on the island of Tierra del Fuego in southern Argentina. The lodge has an intimate family-style atmosphere with the added touch of warm and welcoming service, delicious chef-prepared cuisine paired with fine Argentine wines, five (5) comfortable and spacious rooms with private ensuite bathrooms, and two (2) inviting lounge rooms with fireplaces for guests to enjoy. The San Jose experience is like being a guest at a friend’s vacation home or fishing property rather than being a guest at a standard fishing lodge.

The standard weekly program is designed to accommodate four (4) anglers in single occupancy rooms to preserve the exclusivity of their unique experience and to assure every angler fishes well rested water each day. Each room is thoughtfully furnished and well appointed with every comfort in mind, can be arranged with a single king-size bed or with two full-size beds, and comes complete with private baths. Although the experience is geared toward fly fishing, non-anglers looking to join their partners are always welcome to visit. The Estancia is a wonderful place to relax and enjoy the solitude and peace of ranch life in southern Argentine Patagonia.

The staff at San Jose Lodge offer an immersive lodge experience that allows our guests to relax and unwind as if they were in their own home — the Argentine way.
‍
Everything at San Jose Lodge is done with pride and consciousness. From sourcing freshly cut meats and preparing them in authentic fire-roasted fashion, to the attentive and friendly hospitality provided by our longtime Argentine staff, the San Jose experience is as good as it can possibly get when it comes to exclusive fly fishing lodges.

In addition to comfortable rooms and lodge accommodations, we have several other amenities to enhance your angling experience. Adjacent to the guide greeting area behind the main house we have a large heated gear room with benches for you to store waders, boots, and fishing gear. Centrally located on the river we have a small cabin for anglers to retreat from the weather and relax. When the weather allows, we often roast a lamb over an open fire for lunch at the cabin rather than returning to the lodge for the mid-day break. In classic Argentine ranch tradition, each week, our staff hosts an authentic Asado (Argentine BBQ) in our artfully designed “quincho” located in our remodeled sheep shearing shed. The main lodge has slow but reliable wifi internet, no cell phone service, and cable TV.

Guests must arrange travel to Buenos Aires, Argentina and take a connecting flight to Tierra del Fuego. Depending on domestic flight schedules guests will fly from Buenos Aires to either Rio Grande or Ushuaia then take a pre-arranged ground transfer to the lodge.

7 Nights / Day Days fly fishing package bases on single occupancy room and shared fishing guide runs Friday to Friday.

$7,500

* Non fishing guest - $4,870 per person based on shared room.

Included:
• Seven (7) nights of accommodations in single occupancy room
• Six (6) days of guided fishing, two anglers per guide
• All meals at the lodge
• Beer/wine/alcohol


Not Included:
• Travel insurance
• Travel expenses (flights, hotels, transfers, etc) to/from the lodge
• Transfers to/from Ushuaia airport/hotel (lodge can arrange this for extra fee)
• Transfers to/from Rio Grande airport/hotel ($90 per leg)
• Fishing equipment (rods, reels, lines, flies, etc.)
• Gratuities to guides and staff
• Fishing license (approximately $330.00 paid in advance with final payment)