QUICK FACTS
SEASON: Sept-April
TRAVEL: Arrive El Calefate, 1 hour charter flight to the lake
RECOMMENDED STAY: 7 nights
FISHING: Rivers, lake, wade only
CAPACITY: 10 anglers
RATE: $7500/angler
INCLUDED: Lodging, meals, open bar, ground transfers, license, guided fishing
NOT INCLUDED: Commercial flights, hotels, single rooms and services in Buenos Aires
About
Jurassic Lake in Patagonia Argentina is the world’s most unique and prolific trophy trout fishery. Its scud-rich waters produce Rainbow Trout averaging 10 pounds and fish over 20 pounds are caught daily. Jurassic Lake Lodge is ideally placed within walking distance of the lakes only tributary, the Barrancoso River. Since there is no outlet, this is the lake’s most product spot and lodge guests will have exclusive and access to the Barranoso inlet and the majority of the lower river. Fifty to 100 fish days are the norm at the right time of year but when it comes to Jurassic Lake, even a slow day is mind-blowing.
Major upgrades now make the Jurassic Lake Lodge experience considerably more comfortable for anglers seeking the best trophy trout fishing in Patagonia and the world.
Jurassic Lake 2023-24 Availability
(Rates increase $500 for 2024-25)
Nov 18 – 25, 2023 (2 spots)
Dec 30 – Jan. 6, 2024 (3 spots)
Jan 6 – 13, 2024 (3 spots)
Jan 13 – 20, 2024 (5 spots)
March 16 – 23, 2024 (4 spots)
March 23 – 30, 2024 (8 spots)
March 30 – April 6, 2024 (6 spots)
April 6 – 13, 2024 (9 spots)
Availability changes frequently so it’s worth checking with us.
Photos
Accommodations
The recently upgraded Jurassic Lake Lodge is comprised of two main buildings. The guest cabin comfortably houses 10 anglers in 5 double rooms, equipped with fine beds, heat, electricity, private baths and showers. The second cabin serves as the main lodge with full kitchen and a living and dining area where guests gather for meals and cocktails. Even in this remote corner of Argentina, Jurassic Lake Lodge guests are pampered with professionally cooked meals and fine wines from Mendoza.
With Jurassic Lake Lodge being located within a stone’s throw of the Barrancoso River inlet, anglers can fish long hours and access the lodge any time during the day.
Fishing
At Jurassic Lake Lodge, most of the fishing is done on the lower Barrancoso River and all around the bay where it enters Jurassic Lake. These are the hot spots and only a short walk from the lodge. During certain months, the upper beats of the Barrancoso River allow anglers to hunt for big fish in smaller water. Guests fish two anglers/guide and rotate through lake stations and river beats.
Despite the typically wind chopped waters, opportunities exist for sight casting to trout stacked up in the river pools and pods of big rainbows can be spotted cruising the shelves along the lake shore. These are aggressive and incredibly strong Rainbow Trout, striking anything from a skating mouse pattern to a slowly retrieved streamer. You’ll be hooking into rainbows averaging 10 pounds at a rate that will tire the heartiest anglers. Some of them will be 15-25 pounds and you should see others you’ll swear are close to 30.
Waters
Jurassic Lake
When Christer Sjöberg and his team discovered Lago Strobel in the early 2000’s, he coined the now famous nickname, Jurassic Lake. It is remotely located in the rugged Patagonia Steppe of the Santa Cruz province and resembles a small sea when the wind rips across its 10 mile long, 8 mile wide expanse. Rainbow Trout were introduced in the lake around 1990 and have exploded in size and numbers due to the protein and oxygen rich waters. Interestingly, the high population of trout is not spread out evenly across the lake. The majority of fish are attracted to the Barrancoso River and hold in the bay where it enters the lake, adjacent to Jurassic Lake Lodge. The catch ratio between the other bays and the Barrancoso Bay is roughly 1:15. Anglers wanting the best trophy trout fishing in Patagonia are only going to find it at Jurassic Lake Lodge.
Barrancoso River
The Barrancoso River is a small, seasonal stream with phenomenal fishing from October to early January. Even when the river level gets low in mid summer, fish still stack at the river mouth. Potential rains can replenish the stream in March and April making it fishable again. However, fish have been seen in the river all season and it is thought that trout try to spawn year round in the Barrancoso. Anglers can easily walk up the river corridor, sight fishing to huge trout with little need to cross or wade the river.
Itinerary
Anglers can choose a full week itinerary or half week itinerary. Full weeks are available all season while half weeks are only offered from mid January to April.
FULL WEEK AT JURASSIC LAKE LODGE (7 nights/6 days)
Friday: Arrive Buenos Aires (EZE). Transfer to the domestic airport (AEP) and fly to El Calefate (FTE.) A Jurassic Lake representative will pick you up and transfer you to your elected hotel.
Saturday: 7:30am pick up and 6 hours ground transfer to Jurassic Lake Lodge. Half day of fishing.
Sun-Fri: Six full days fishing Jurassic Lake and the Barrancoso River.
Saturday: Check out. Morning ground transfer back to the El Calefate Airport to connect with your flight to Buenos Aires and home.
Rate: $7500/angler
Included: Lodging, meals, beer/wine at the lodge, semi-guided fishing, fishing license, round-trip ground transfer between El Calefate and Jurassic Lake Lodge and round trip airport–hotel transfers in El Calefate.
Not Included: Commercial airfare, gear, spirits, services in Buenos Aires, hotels and meals in El Calefate and gratuities.
HALF WEEK AT JURASSIC LAKE LODGE (4 nights/3 days available mid Jan – April only)
Monday: Arrive Buenos Aires (EZE). Transfer to the domestic airport (AEP), fly to El Calafate (FTE.) A lodge representative will pick you up and transfer you to your elected hotel.
Tuesday: A lodge representative will pick you up around 9am and transfer you 6 hour to the Jurassic Lake Lodge. Fish the rest of the day.
Wed-Fri: Three full days fishing Jurassic Lake.
Saturday: Check out. Morning ground transfer back to the El Calefate Airport to connect with your flight to Buenos Aires and home.
Rate: $4,900/angler
Included: Lodging, meals, beer/wine, semi-guided fishing, license, ground transfer from the El Calafate hotel to Jurassic Lake Lodge, one way charter flight from Jurassic Lake Lodge to the El Calefate Airport.
Not Included: Commercial airfare, gear, spirits, services in Buenos Aires and El Calafate, gratuities.
Popular Add-Ons:
½ or full week Dorado fishing on the Dorado River Cruiser
Full week Sea Trout fishing at Estancia San Jose
Full week Sea Trout fishing at Las Buitreras Lodge
Travel Info & Map
With our intimate knowledge of Argentina and our specialized travel agent, we take all the guesswork out of travel so that you can concentrate on packing.
- After an easy overnight flight, anglers land at the Buenos Aires Ezeiza International Airport (EZE) and transfer 45 mins to the Buenos Aires Jorge Newbery Domestic Airport (AEP.) Anglers will then fly to El Calafate depending on their itinerary. Four hours minimum is required between your international and domestic flights in Buenos Aires.
- Full Week Programs, Saturday – Saturday On Friday, anglers will fly Buenos Aires to El Calafate where they are met by a lodge representative who will transfer them to their preferred hotel. The representative will return on Saturday morning at 7:30am-7:45am and transfer them 6 hours to lodge. The following Saturday anglers will be transferred back to the El Calafate Airport for their flight back to Buenos Aires and home.
- First Half Week Programs, Saturday to Tuesday On Friday, anglers will fly Buenos Aires to El Calafate where they are met by a lodge representative who will transfer them to their preferred hotel. The representative will return on Saturday morning at 7:30am-7:45am and transfer them 6 hours to lodge. On Tuesday morning, anglers will be transferred back to the El Calafate Airport for their flight back to Buenos Aires and home. This half week could be extended to Wednesday depending on availability.
- Second Half Week Programs, Tuesday to Saturday On Tuesday, anglers will fly Buenos Aires to El Calafate where they are met by a lodge representative who will transfer them to their preferred hotel. The representative will return on Wednesday morning at 7:30am-7:45am and transfer them 6 hours to lodge. On Saturday morning, anglers will be transferred back to the El Calafate Airport for their flight back to Buenos Aires and home.
Testimonials
It’s Your Trip
With our variety of destinations and lodges, we’ll have the skinny on whatever you’re looking for. We often combine multiple destinations and adventures for our guests.
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