TROUT FISHING: Argentina - Wilderness Expeditions

Caleufu River
A float trip on the Caleufu River might be the best trip we offer, and the only way to fish all 60 miles of this river is on our 3 night, 4 day wilderness fishing expeditions.  

The headwaters of the Caleufu River lie in the Lanín National Park and run for roughly 60 miles until it reaches the Collon Cura River and the Alicura Reservoir.  In the higher elevations, the river cuts through low canyons and pine forests while in the lower portions the river meanders through the Patagonia steppe and along grassy, willow lined banks.  Most of the Caleufu is surrounded by private ranches which host little livestock but many indigenous animals such as wild boar, guanco, condors, puma, fox and also the exotic European Red Deer.

The ratio of rainbows to browns is about 3:1 which average 16-18 inches.  Dry flies and nymphs all work incredibly well in this freestone river which hosts caddis, mayflies and small stoneflies.  A large population of pancora crabs makes the streamer fishing very productive on the Caleufu.  Anglers should have two rods ready on the boat, one 5 wt with a dry line and one 6 wt with a 150 grain, sink tip, shooting line.

Aluminé River
Our longest wilderness fishing expedition is on the Aluminé River where we float for 6 days.

In the northern part of the province of Neuquén, the Aluminé River flows out of the Aluminé and Moquehue Lakes for 160 miles making it one of the longest rivers in the region.  On it’s journey south, the Aluminé is supplemented by the Pulmari, Ruca Chori, Quillen, Malleo and Catan Lil Rivers.   Together these waters form the Collon Cura River.

The Aluminé cuts through Patagonia steppe with rocky and willow lined shores.   In the beginning of the season, anglers are better suited with a 6 or 7 weight rod casting streamers on heavy tippet and maybe the occasional dry fly.  Rainbow trout are more numerous then the brown trout and the average size increase as you move down stream. Look for some of these bigger bows sipping in glassy water or in small pockets or eddies along the shore.  As water levels decrease in January, lighter tackle is more favorable.

Collon Cura River
The Collon Cura is actually an extension of the Aluminé River and runs along route 40 south of Junín and San Martin de los Andes.  Some say the Collon Cura River starts at the confluence of the Catan Lil and Aluminé Rivers, while others say it starts at the confluence of the Chimehuín and Aluminé.  Regardless, the Collon Cura a spectacular trout river running through a wide valley flanked by smaller mountains that precede the larger Andes.   The river is famous for its numerous 16-20 inch rainbows which are most abundant in the riffles. Larger brown trout are more frequently found under submerged willow branches and along the rocky banks where they have more cover.  The Collon also has several back waters and slow slide channels where it’s common to see multiple heads sipping small caddis, midges or stone fly emergers.  This can offer delicate match the hatch fishing.

The fall is our favorite time on the Collon Cura. The red stag are bugling 24 hours a day and large migrating brown trout are entering the river from the Pierda de Aguila Reservoir. To get these trophies, anglers must fish deep with streamers.  Brown trout 15 pounds have been caught, but considering the size of the reservoir and the quantity of food available, it’s fair to assume there are even bigger trout that migrate up the Collon.