QUICK FACTS
SEASON: Nov-Mar
TRAVEL: Arrive Rio Gallegos, 1.5 hour drive to the lodge
PROGRAM: 7 nights
FISHING: Small rivers, spring creeks, sight fishing
RATE: $4950/angler
INCLUDED: Lodging, meals, guided fishing, wine/beer at lodge, transfers to/from Rio Gallegos or El Calafate
NOT INCLUDED: Flights, license, gear, gratuities, services in Buenos Aires
About
Estancia Río Pelke is an intimate, family run destinations with incredible dry fly fishing for big Patagonia Brown and Brook Trout on a remote ranch in southern Patagonia. Guests stay at an authentic 1930’s estancia with a bonus overnight at wilderness eco-camp. Only four rods per week will fish four private and well-rested spring creeks holding Brown and Brook Trout that average 18-22 inches and some in the 4-6lbs range. This quaint, homestay style venue and eco-camp experience is operated by three accomplished Argentine guides who serve up a homespun cultural experience with world class spring creek fishing and farm to table fare.
Photos
Accommodations
Staying at Estancia Río Pelke is nothing like the well-polished and manicured Patagonia trout lodges. This is an authentic and almost rustic small homestay-style venue where guests are received as family members and experience local customs and traditional Argentine ways of life. Additionally, guests stay at the Estancia Pali Aike Eco-Camp, which consists of geodesic dome tents complete with private bathrooms, heating systems, a shower and power for charging electronic devices. From the high bluffs, the Tores del Paine Mountain range is seen while the lower valleys team with wildlife. The Eco-Camp stay is on the last night of the trip for a grand finale of their Patagonian experience. Meals at the estancias showcase Argentine recipes passed down through the generations. Aside from the hand-selected Salentein wines, each meal exemplifies a farm to table way of life that’s been around for a century.
Fishing
Between the Estancia Río Pelke and the wilderness camp, guests fish a variety of private and seldom-fished small rivers and spring creeks holding wild and super strong Brook and Brown trout which are often spotted sipping insects. The Brown Trout here readily fall to large terrestrial dry flies such as beetles or mice patterns twitched on the surface. The larger Brook Trout are caught on a slowly stripped dark streamer patterns. All rivers can be fished with 4-5 weight rods and even a 3 weight on less windy days. Anglers will need just a floating line with 9-10 ft., 3X leader and one medium sink poly leader to larger fish in deep pools. These intimate spring creeks require some casting precision with both short and long casts and most beats require little to no wading.
Waters
Anglers will wade fish different beats of the Río Pelke plus the intimate Rio Coyle Norte. These and other spring creeks can easily be sight fished from the grassy banks with little need to enter the water. The Brown Trout mainly feed on the surface making beetles, mice, hoppers and other terrestrials your go-to patterns. Some of these creeks have sections that get wide and form a sort of lagoon. Here the depths increase and so do the changes of landing 3–5 lb Brook Trout which fall to slowly fished streamers on light sinking poly leaders.
Itinerary
Estancia Río Pelke
(7 nights/6 days)
Saturday: Arrive Buenos Aires (EZE). Transfer to the domestic airport (AEP) and fly to Rio Gallegos (RGL) or El Calafate (FTE.) The staff will pick you up and transfer you 1.5 hrs to Rio Pelke. ground transfer to Capitan Lodge (7 hour drive). Fish the rest of the day.
Sun-Tue: Three days fishing Estancia Rio Pelke.
Wednesday: Drive 2 hours to Estancia Pali Aike Eco Camp, fish the remainder of the day.
Thursday: Full day fishing before returning to Estancia Rio Pelke.
Friday: Full day fishing at Estancia Rio Pelke.
Saturday: Check out. Transfer to Rio Gallegos Airport to fly home.
Rate: $4950/angler
Included: Lodging, meals, beer & wine, guided fishing and transfer to/from Rio Gallegos or El Calafate.
Not Included: Flights, gear, license, spirits, and services in Buenos Aires
Popular Add-Ons:
4-7 days Chinook fishing at Estancia Christina
4-7 days Trout fishing at Jurassic Lake Lodge
Full week Sea Run Brown fishing at Las Buitreras Lodge
5 days Golden Dorado fishing and/or dove shooting at Los Laureles Lodge
Travel Info & Map
With our intimate knowledge of Argentina and our specialized travel agent, we take all the guesswork out of travel so you can concentrate on packing.
- After an easy overnight flight, anglers land at the Buenos Aires Ezeiza International Airport (EZE), transfer 45 minutes to the Buenos Aires Jorge Newbery Domestic Airport (AEP) and fly 2.5 hours south to Rio Gallegos (RGL.) Four hours minimum is required between your international and domestic flights in Buenos Aires.
- Anglers are picked up at the Rio Gallegos Airport and driven 1.5 hours to Estancia Rio Pelke
- Anglers are dropped off at the Rio Gallegos Airport for their flight back to Buenos Aires and home.
Testimonials
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