Join Justi Campa this August to fish the South Fork,  the Snake and the Henry’s Fork!

We’ll be staying at the famous South Fork Lodge, located in Swan Valley Idaho, only a few feet from the trout filled waters of the South Fork.  The exact dates will be posted May 25, but most likely we’ll be there Aug 24-31. 

Contact us for more details and in the mean time, check out the South Fork Lodge.

Call us Toll Free: 888.486.8972

We are please to announce that on Feb 28, 2012, Jim Icken of New Mexico landed what we think is the 2^nd largest Brown Trout caught on the Malleo River at San Huberto Ranch.  Jim was accompanied by FFP guide Alex Plaza while fishing the Manzano pool.  It was caught with a 9ft, 5 weight TFO Professional Series Rod, a floating line, a 9 ft, 3X leader and a black crystal chenille #6 Wooly Bugger.  This beautiful fish measured 28 inches and made one high jump upon being hooked.  

(It’s not a record fish, but still notable enough to make the newspaper. Kinda cool,  check it out.)

This fish was only 2 inches bigger than the Brown Trout Bruce McLeod caught with Alex on the Malleo at San Huberto in December. 

Interestingly enough, another angler, P.C., more recently landed a 28in fish on the Malleo as well!  Who really cares which fish was really bigger, as it is very exciting to see the Malleo produce bigger fish more frequently.  The known record fish from San Huberto was 30.5 inches caught in 2001 by Malleo vertran “Lester”, guided by ranch owner, Ronnie Olsen.

 Congratulations Jim, Bruce, P.C. and FFP guide Alex!

NOTE: To all those who  have photographed or caught fish on the Malleo larger than 28 inches, congrats to you too.  But understand that we are referring to waters inside the San Huberto Ranch.  If you know of a bigger fish caught on or off the ranch we’d love to know about it.

Starting our Golden Dorado fishing and dove shooting operation in Esquina, Corrientes was one of the best (and easiest) decisions we’ve ever made.  As much as we love Patagonia and it’s trout, Esquina is magical, and this past December reminded us of just how awesome it can be.

Steady air temps, water levels and barometric pressure have made for excellent fishing this spring for Dorado and other species.  Our catch rates have been around 30-50 fish per angler per day and our average weight was 10lbs, an increase of roughly 3 pounds from last year.  We’ve been using mostly our standard 150-250 grain sink tip lines and bushy flies tied on beefy hooks. One group used bait casting rods all week with great success, throwing sub-surface and deep diving plugs.

While the vast majority of our fish have been Dorado, we also a landed a few Chafalotes, (Rhaphiodon Vulpinus.)  This intimidating creature has two fangs on it’s front lower jaw that protrude out from the top of it’s head.  Other common names are Biara, Machete or Vampire Barracuda.  These aggressors can grow to 30 inches and are as acrobatic as Dorado.  On a couple occasions even caught some Surubi Catfish on plugs.

Good fishing is always attributed to having the right conditions and since our rivers got replenished with rain in 2009, we’ve had 2.5 years of the right water levels that are a key player in having good fishing.  These favorable conditions and strict catch and release laws have contributed to a noticeable improvement in our fishing each year.

The doves have been more active as well but this is a normal occurrence in December and January when a good number of fields 45 minutes south of our lodge are freshly seeded.  How frustrating it must be for farmers who have to buy more seed then they need to compensate for huge dove populations that home in on newly sowed fields.  For our shooters, however, its pure dove hunting bliss and the opportunity to shoot 1000 plus shells a day.  In our area, crops are sowed and harvested throughout the year, so there are always dove swarming like locusts somewhere.

The Limay River always shines during the spring months of November and December, when we find really nice-sized Browns and Rainbows, easily in the 4-8 pound class.  All our November guests did well on the Limay River, many catching the trout of their dreams.

Lake Hess and Fonck are also hot spots in the early season when the fishing is relatively easy.  Late November brought the Damselfly hatch, which always provides exciting top water action.

Both Hess and Fonck are lakes where it’s quite possible to achieve the Grand Slam of Trout in the same day, Rainbows, Browns and Brook Trout.  A handful of our anglers landed Browns 5 and 6 pounds. One angler landed a 5 pound Brookie.

This seasons’ first Wilderness Fishing Expedition on the Collon Cura River launched in early December. Six anglers had an extraordinary 4 days of fishing with probably 150 fish each using dries, nymphs and streamers.  We assumed that this great start meant better than average fishing this season on the Collon, and so far we’ve been right.

In mid January the fishing continued to be excellent on the Collon Cura River, however we did get  heavy rains yesterday that put the river off color and the fish down (which is something we rarely see this time of year). We expect it to clear completely in a couple days and continue producing 50 fish days.  We are anxiously waiting for the February and March migration of small minnows, called Puyenes, from the Alicura Reservoir

The Malleo and the Chimehuín have also produced some great fishing, with trout in the 23-25 inch ranch. The same angler that landed the 5 pound Brookie also caught a 27 inch Brown Trout on the Malleo River.

Great things are happening in Patagonia.

It seems like everyone is talking about Cuba, and for good reason.  It is an excellent fishery worth experiencing sooner rather than later.  A trip to Cuba has become an annual thing for us.  In 2012 we’ll be there for one week in April and one week in late June.  Unfortunately the June trip is full.  However, our April 13-20, 2012 trip does have 3 rods available.

We will be on the La Perola yacht, fishing the Canarreos Archipelago which runs between Isla de Juventude and Cayo Largo.  We’ll be fishing about 80 miles of keys, packed with pristine flats, all impeccable Tarpon and Permit habitat. Late April is the peak of the Tarpon and Permit season so we know we’ll have multiple chances daily to get a Grand or even Super Grand Slam. Great weather should also accompany us in April.  

If you have fished in Mexico, Florida or Belize, don’t deny yourself a trip to Cuba.   It is safe, easy to get to and every bit as awesome as you’ve heard.   So what are you waiting for?   If you want to skip the guess work then join us in April.  This is the destination to experience before the monthly number of foreign visitors wearing bright white tennis shoes grows from 100’s to 1000’s.

Download more information on this trip.   Call  888.486.8972  or email us to learn more.

We are starting to get more Sea Run Brown fishing reports, mostly from lodges on the Rio Grande. Water levels have been clear and lower than normal but 2 weeks ago they had a bit of rain that raised the river 2-3 inches, however, it remained clear.  The rain and higher than normal tides brought a big push of fish from the ocean.  Like every week on the Rio Grande, many fish were above 20 pounds, but one specimen at Estancia Maria Behety was 32 pounds!  That’s one pound shy of the new Rio Grande record of 33 pounds caught last year at Villa Maria Lodge.  One lucky angler landed a 24.5 pound Chinook.  No one knows what effect this new species will have on Sea Run Brown Trout populations.  Most guides and lodges are optimistic that Chinook will have little or no adverse affects on Sea Runs.

Best available weeks for 2012 are:

Las Buitreras,  Rio Gallegos                         Bella Vista, Rio Gallegos
Feb 18-25                                                                     Mar 17-24
Mar 3-10
Mar 10-17                                                                                                                                                        

Maria Behety, Rio Grande                             Kau Tape Lodge, Rio Grande
Feb 18-25                                                                     Mar 3-10
Mar 3-10                                                                       Mar 23-31
Mar 10-17                                                                        
Mar 17-24                                                                                                                                           

Far End Rivers, Rio Irigoyen                         Villa Maria, Rio Grande           
Feb 25-Mar 3                                                                Mar 2-9
Mar 3-10                                                                        Mar 23-30
Mar 10-17

Fly Fishing Patagonia Hats are in Stock & in Style!

Wear the coolest hat on the water.

Our original cotton twill cap is available with a Velcro closure.  This six panel cap is constructed from 100% cotton twill and features a more formfitting, unstructured low-sweep profile.  The topstitching, eyelets, sweatbands and undervisors all match the cap color.

  AVAILABLE COLORS: Pumpkin, Charcoal, Putty/White, Nantucket Red  and RealTree Camo

 SIZES:
Regular:  Pumpkin, Putty/White, Charcoal, Camo
 Small Fit:  Nantucket Red, Putty/White
XLarge:    Pumpkin

PRICE: $15
Buy 4 hats or more for only $10 each.
Domestic shipping included. 
(Shipping overseas is $7.50 for 1-3 hats and $10 for 4 or more.)

 Payable via check to: Fly Fishing Patagonia.   PO Box 201  Ivy, VA  22945

Have you ever wished you could do it ALL?

In one trip?

High volume dove hunting, Golden Dorado fishing, Sea Run Brown Trout fishing and resident Brown Trout fishing are 4 of the 7 trophy sporting opportunities Argentina is known for.   Our new combination allows you to combine these 4 prime sporting adventures into one trip, with minimal and easy traveling.

This trip will offer 4-5 star accommodations, exceptional guides, 11 days of exclusive fishing and shooting, all during a peak week for all 4 quarries.

The dates are Jan 22-Feb 4, 2012.  See the itinerary and call us for questions -or to get a reference with the guys that did this last year!!!

Call or email us, 888.486.8972