SEASON: Nov-May
TRAVEL: Arrive San Martin; 30-minute drive to the lodge
RECOMMENDED STAY: 7 nights
FISHING: Rivers, lakes, float and wade
CAPACITY: 12 Guests
RATE: $5800/night/angler
INCLUDED: Lodging in single, meals, open bar, guided fishing with licenses and gear if needed, nonguided activities on the property, all camping gear, transportation to/from the San Martin Airport.
NOT INCLUDED: Flights, activities off the property, transfers to and from Bariloche, gratuities and services in Buenos Aires.
Spring Creek Lodge provides convenient access to five of the best fly fishing rivers in Patagonia, Argentina. Anglers can float the Collón Curá, Chimehuín, Caleufu and Aluminé Rivers and wade fishing on the famous Malleo River. Spring Creek Lodge is ideal for anglers wanting a comfortable lodge that offers quick access to a variety of trout fishing rivers and has an opportunity to spend 1 or 2 nights at one of their Deluxe River Camps.
Spring Creek Lodge lies outside the town of Junín de los Andes, on the banks of the Chimehuín River and only 6 miles from the Huechulafquen Lake and the famous Chimehuín Boca. This area is the birthplace of Argentina’s fly fishing fame.
Spring Creek Lodge is also perfect for active families with mixed interests. While the anglers fish, nonanglers can participate in activities ranging from archeology tours to zip lining.
Dramatically situated on the banks of the Chimehuín River, Spring Creek Lodge offers an informal atmosphere in combination with personalized service and warm hospitality. Spring Creek Lodge accommodations include six cabins, each with two large double rooms and ensuite bathrooms. Every guest enjoys their own private single room. Additional features of each cabin include large, separate living areas with Wi-Fi, satellite TV, a fireplace and a private deck with view of the trout pond, the Chimehuín River and the snowcapped Lanín volcano. Every morning, a staff member arrives at your cabin to start your fireplace and deliver hot, fresh coffee. Within the Club House are the main dining room and bar where anglers gather for cocktails and decadent meals. Spring Creek showcases a large wine selection to accompany professionally prepared cuisine.
The upstairs of the Club House also has a large area where guest enjoy 3 evenings of special events, a wine tasting, a tango show and a local folk music performance.
Active non-fishing guests at Spring Creek enjoy guided activities such as horseback riding, rafting, biking, hiking, golf, zip lining and more. More tranquil guests may be more interested in visiting towns, museums, spa secessions, cooking or photography workshops, bird watching, driving or archeology tours, visiting native communities or nature walks along the Chimehuín River.
Spring Creek Lodge boasts the easiest access to the largest variety of wade and float trips in northern Patagonia. The world-class trout waters of the Malleo, Collón Curá and Aluminé Rivers are all within 15-50 minutes of the lodge and the Chimehuín Rivers flows only steps form each cabin. Their standard itinerary includes overnight float trips of 1 or 2 nights on the river “glamping” at one of their Deluxe River Camps.
With the assistance of highly experienced bilingual fishing guides, anglers enjoy the flexibility of choosing their waters each day according to current conditions and their preferred angling style.
Collón Curá River
The large Collon Cura is a prolific trout river running through a wide valley flanked by smaller mountains that precede the larger Andes. It is known for 40+ fish days with strong 16-18 inch trout that 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’s 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 5-15 pound Brown Trout migrate from the reservoir to the river to spawn.
Malleo River
Spring Creek Lodge Anglers access the lower Malleo River that runs through the Mapuche Indian Reservation and on to the confluence of the Aluminé River. The Malleo is an Argentina fly fishing classic, with prolific hatches, easy wading and superb dry fly fishing. The Malleo showcases pools for dredging streamers, cut banks and willows for skating hoppers and glassy runs for drifting dries and nymphs. Browns and Rainbows average 16 inches but anticipate landing a few in the 18-19 inch category as well. Since floating is not permitted, the guides travel in vehicles up and down the river, stopping to wade the best sections.
Chimehuín River
The Chimehuín River, also known as the Chime, runs from Huechulafquen Lake, through Spring Creek Lodge’s property and empties into the Collón Curá River. Its crystal clear waters are lined with willows, grasses and rocky ledges and cut through some of Patagonia’s most beautiful scenery. Rainbow and Brown Trout ranging from 15-20 inches are caught using a variety of techniques.
The Chime is one of the many famed fly fishing rivers in Argentina and is considered the first river that gave northern Patagonia its renowned trout fishing reputation. Years before Joe Brooks’ arrival, legendary Argentine angler Bebe was pulling huge trout from the Chimehuín. It has produced the largest landlocked Brown Trout in all of Patagonia, and during the fall spawning run, anglers gather at the boca of the Huechulafquen Lake looking to hook into one of its prized Brown Trout, which migrate from the lake to the river.
Spring Creek Lodge
(7 nights; 6 days fishing)
Sat Arrive Buenos Aires (EZE). Transfer to the domestic airport (AEP) and fly to San Martin (CPC.) Lodge staff will pick you up and transfer you 30 minutes to Spring Creek Lodge. Check in, lunch. Afternoon float on the Chimehuin River. Fine wine tasting and welcome dinner.
Sun Fish the Alumine River. Evening tango show after dinner.
Mon Wade fish the Malleo River. Evening folk music performance after dinner.
Tue Float the lower Chimehuin River. Dinner at the lodge.
Wed Lake Tromen sight fishing with dries for Rainbows, Browns and Brook Trout. Second Fine Wine Tasting and Welcome Dinner.
Thu Morning departure for an overnight float trip on the Caleufu or Collon Cura River. Glamping at one of Spring Creek Lodge’s Deluxe River Camps.
Fri Breakfast and coffee in camp. Full day of floating and fishing. Return to Spring Creek Lodge for dinner.
Sat Check out, transfer back to the San Martin Airport for your flight to Buenos Aires and home.
Rate: $5800/angler
Included: Lodging in single occupancy, meals, open bar, wine tastings, guided fishing with licenses and gear if needed, nonguided activities on the property, all camping gear, transportation to/from the San Martin Airport.
Not Included: Flights, activities off the property, transfers to and from Bariloche, gratuities and services in Buenos Aires.
Popular Add-Ons:
4 days trout fishing at Rio Manso Lodge
7 days trout fishing at Jurassic Lake Lodge
7 days Golden Dorado fishing combo, Clear Water to Big Water
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.
Amazing trip, amazing food, spring creek is beautiful, and Nico was a very competent guide. Actually Nico was beyond competent and professional and we could not have asked for better.
We had just about every experience possible, from fishing with streamers, nymphs and dry flies to fishing on large and small rivers and lakes. Our trip was perfect as we had a measure of flexibility. It gave us an ideal overview of experiences available in Argentina. Your guides were excellent and went out of their way to make our trip an amazing success. We had more fun than should be allowed and we will recommend your outfit to our friends.
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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