SEASON: Nov-April
TRAVEL: Arrive San Martin; 45-minute drive to the lodge
RECOMMENDED STAY: 5-7 nights
FISHING: Rivers, float and wade
CAPACITY: 10 anglers, 6 nonanglers
RATE: $850/night/angler; $475/night/non-angler
INCLUDED: Lodging, meals, open bar, nonguided activities on the property, guided fishing and transportation in Patagonia
NOT INCLUDED: Flights, license, gear and services in Buenos Aires
Fish the Collón Curá River at Estancia Quemquemtreu for some of the best trout fishing Patagonia has to offer. Anglers will float three sections of the Collón Curá River and wade the Quemquemtreu and Caleufu Rivers, all while enjoying a true Patagonia ranch with an ideal balance of tradition and modern sophistication.
Estancia Quemquemtreu is located south of Junín de los Andes on 173,000 acres of Patagonia Steppe. This authentic Patagonia ranch employs about 20 gauchos and an in-house staff of 10. Your hosts at Quemquemtreu, ensure that your experience is as unspoiled as the Patagonia frontier. Anglers, hunters and polo players from around the world appreciate the refined informality at this century old ranch and return year after year.
Estancia Quemquemtreu is a compound that seamlessly accommodates ranching and guest operations. Attached to the main lodge are recently renovated double and single rooms dedicated to anglers, each with a private bath. An adjacent building is devoted to Red Stag hunting guests in the fall. Before and after dinner all visitors enjoy cocktails in the fully stocked, self-serve bar and showroom. Family style meals are served with organic meats, vegetable and other foods produced farm-to-table on the ranch.
Nonangling guests at Quemquemtreu Lodge can take in a polo match or hike to remote portions of this vast ranch to see wildlife such as red deer, rhea birds, condors and wild boar.
Estancia Quemquemtreu is always a favorite place to stay in Patagonia. The authenticity of the setting and warm, personal service leave guests with a meaningful connection to the welcoming, old-world-inspired Estancia Quemquemtreu.
Quemquemtreu offers the distinct advantage of fishing three of the best trout fishing rivers in Patagonia. The ranch is flanked on the east and south by the famous Collon Cura and Caleufu Rivers. The Quemquemtreu River is a small and private trout stream that meanders through the ranch offering all walk and wade, dry fly fishing. Our anglers will fish with professional, bilingual Argentina fishing guides who fish these rivers throughout the season. Their knowledge is unsurpassed and their enthusiasm is infectious. One of the highlights is fishing the Collon Cura during the midsummer minnow migration!
Collón Curá River
The large Collón Curá is a prolific trout river running through a wide valley flanked by smaller mountains that precede the larger Andes. It is the featured attraction at Estancia Quemquemtreu and known for 40+ fish days with strong 16- to 18-inch trout which are most abundant in the riffles. Larger Browns are more frequently found in deeper pools, under submerged willow branches and along the rocky cliffs. The Collón also has slow slide channels and several backwaters where it is common to see multiple heads sipping insects. The diversity of water allows anglers to employ a variety of tactics.
Midsummer offers exciting fishing due to the great minnow migration up river from the Piedra de Águila reservoir. Millions of silver-sided minnows fill riffles, creating a feeding frenzy where both trout and prey are seen breaking the water. These are big and powerful fish and demand nothing lighter than a 2x tippet. In the fall, Red Stag bugle 24 hours a day and 5- to 15-pound Brown Trout migrate from the reservoir to the river to spawn.
Quemquemtreu River
The Rio Quemquemtreu is a small stream flowing from the ranch’s western foothills and meandering gradually through the ranch before entering the Collón Curá River. This picturesque trout river fishes well November through mid-January and offers excellent dry fly fishing in pure solitude. The Quemquemtreu River is easily accessed from the lodge and some guests prefer to spend a majority of their time there, as the wading is easy, the setting is stunning and the dry fly fishing is outstanding.
Caleufu River
Many of our guides cut their angling teeth on the Caleufu River. It is a crown jewel of the region given its remote location, stunning scenery and awesome trout fishing. 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. The north bank of the lower Caleufu flanks Estancia Quemquemtreu and offers private access for anglers who enjoy walk-and-wade fishing.
The Caleufu hosts a healthy population of Rainbow and Brown Trout averaging 15-18 inches. We have landed Browns in the 9- and 12-pound range and almost landed a Brown that we estimated at 15 pounds. 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 productive on the Caleufu.
Weekly packages at Estancia Quemquemtreu are recommended for certain times of the season. A customized itinerary combining Quemquemtreu with one of our 4-day Wilderness Fishing Expeditions or 4-5 nights in another lodge may offer a more dynamic fishing experience.
Estancia Quemquemtreu
(5 nights; 4 days fishing)
Day 1: Arrive Buenos Aires (EZE). Transfer to the domestic airport (AEP) and fly to San Martin (CPC.) FFP staff will pick you up and transfer you 45 minutes to Estancia Quemquemtreu. Fish the afternoon.
Day 2-5: Four days fishing.
Day 6: Check out, transfer back to the San Martin Airport for your flight to Buenos Aires and home.
Rate: $3,475/angler
Included: Lodging, meals, open bar, guided fishing, nonguided activities on the property, transportation to/from the San Martin (or Bariloche) Airport
Not Included: Flights, license, gear, activities off the property, gratuities and services in Buenos Aires
Popular Add-Ons:
4 days Wilderness Fishing Expedition on the Caleufu or Limay Medio Rivers
4 days trout fishing at Estancia Tres Lagos
4 days Golden Dorado fishing and/or dove shooting at Delta Vista Lodge
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.
The guides were phenomenal! Every one of them was professional, experienced, confident and on top of their game. The bonus? They were a hell of a lot of fun, too. Great senses of humor! Interested and interesting at the same time. It was like they were part of our group and it just doesn’t get any better. Hang on to those guys – [Justi and Oscar] have done a terrific job assembling a group like that.
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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