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, charter flight, license, guided fishing
NOT INCLUDED: Commercial flights, hotels, single rooms and services in Buenos Aires
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 fast, easy and private access to the river and its inlet. 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.
Round trip charter flights and 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
Availability changes frequently so it’s worth checking with us.
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.
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.
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.
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: A lodge representative will pick you up at 7:30am and transfer to the El Calefate Airport for a morning charter flight from to Jurassic Lake Lodge. Full day of fishing.
Sun-Fri: Six full days fishing Jurassic Lake and the Barrancoso River.
Saturday: Check out. Take a 10:30am charter flight back to the El Calefate Airport to connect with your flight to Buenos Aires and home.
Rate: $7250/angler
Included: Lodging, meals, beer/wine at the lodge, semi-guided fishing, fishing license, round-trip charter flight 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. Take a 10:30am charter flight back to the El Calafate Airport for 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
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.
The entire trip was outstanding. The fishing was fantastic, the accommodations were superb, staff were fantastic. I really enjoyed seeing Patagonia and seeing the new lands we explored. I had an amazing time and cannot wait to come back again.
I would say the beauty that surrounded us while fishing was what I will remember for ever. A number of times I would stop fishing and look around take in the view, realize the beauty of the surrounding area and think to myself ‘Wow, I can’t believe I”m here.’
Jurassic was mind blowing with easy and lots of fish would recommend people do it once in there lives. I would definitely return to the Rio Gallegos and Las Buitreras lodge the Food, Lodgings, staff were amazing the fishing was a welcome challenge and by the end of the week we all walked away with personal bests.
Jurassic Lake met and exceeded all expectations! Not just the fishing, all cultural, wine, steak, etc of Argentina as well. A defining moment in the life of an angler.
Jurassic was great. So many fish it was incredible. The staff, the guides and everything is perfect. I fished every day for 16 hours. My best silver rainbow was 35,5 inches and very very fat. Fishing this creek after hiking the mountains in the canon was very beautiful and where can you catch trout of 10 pounds and more. In a mountain creek! This stream was full of big fish. Another thing was to land such a fish with a 5 weight. This fishing gave the possibility to test equipment to its absolute limits!
͞We went to Jurassic Lake in early January for 4 days… What a rush! 200+ fish most over 10 lbs and some over 20 lbs with one going over 24 lbs on a dry. Weather was perfect. The fish go wild when the wind is up and it is up all the time. Only one place to stay….the camp right at the Barancuso River. All other places on the lake pale in comparison. Many of my bigger fish were hooked in the river.
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.
Our previous travelers want to speak with you about their trip(s) with Fly Fishing Patagonia. Questions about a specific trip, or general questions on the experience?