Esquel Area River Descriptions

The Esquel region resembles fishing in the American West in many ways.  Rivers in this area originate in the Andes Mountains or the Patagonia Steppe.  All the rivers except for the Arroyo Pescado, Tecka and the Chubut flow east to the Pacific Ocean.  Strange but true, the continental divide is actually on the Eastern side of the Andes Mountains.  The rivers in this area are as varied as the countryside and there are many creeks, lakes, and rivers, all of which contain excellent numbers of trout.  Some of the rivers are large and carry a substantial volume of water year-round; others are small and intimate and require a stealthy approach.  About half of the area rivers can be floated while the other half waded.  

The Rio Grande
The Rio Grande, not to be confused with its name sake in Tierra del Fuego, is a lot like Montana’s Missouri River.  It is not only one of Argentina’s most prolific trout streams but also one of it’s most beautiful.  The Rio Grande is a large river containing lots of flat water, riffles and deep pools all of which give you a chance to catch good numbers of fish on dry flies.  It has been a tail-water fishery for about thirty years and is maturing more and more every season.  It is one of the best terrestrial fishing rivers in the country.  The Rio Grande is our home water in the Esquel Area and our lodge sits on the bank of the upper river.  We float numerous sections all with varied water and fishing conditions.  The average fish is 16 to 18 inches and it is not uncommon to boat 30 fish per day here. 

Arroyo Pescado
The Arroyo Pescado is easily one of the best spring creeks in the world!  It is situated about thirty minutes east of Esquel in the Patagonian desert and flows about three miles before joining up with the Rio Gualjaina (which in turn joins the Chubut.). It can be fished from January 1st through May 1st and is strictly enforced by the private estancia. There are daily hatches and rising fish depending on conditions.  Arroyo Pescado offers something for everyone here including pink Chilean Flamingos, Magellan and Ashy Head Geese, a variety of ducks, black neck swans, ibis, parrots, greater rheas and condors.  The water is extremely clear and shallow in most parts so the fish can be selective like on any spring creek.  The best way to fish the river is by sight fishing.  You will surely enjoy the 16-22+ inch fish here until they wear your arm out!

The Corcovado
The Corcovado is a fabulous fishery that stretches more than sixty miles in Argentina before crossing the border into Chile, where it is renamed the Palena. It originates at Lago Vinter, one of the largest lakes in the region, which keeps the river cold and full of water for most of the season.  It offers some classic trout water and contains some very large brown trout as well as average sized rainbows.  The lower stretches around the town of Corcovado fish well with streamers, large dries, and nymphs.  A day on the Corcovado provides a combination of white water and classic riffle pool water. You will also enjoy some wading in the many riffles in the river.  Some of our largest brown trout of the season are landed on this river, and they are very strong and stocky due to living in this fast flowing river.

The Nant Y Fall
The Nant Y Fall is a lake fed stream with the character of spring creek. It is best to fish this river in the early season and in late season when the water temperature is cool. Some large Rainbows can be taken here and the average can be more than eighteen inches. The only way to fish the stream is by wading on private access. You will have spectacular views of the Andes and will be in the middle of a large waterfowl habitat giving you opportunity to see many of the birds in Patagonia. When this stream is fishing, you must try it.

The Rio Corintos and The Rio Percey
These two streams flow about 30 miles each before meeting and flowing into the Rio Grande.  They offer walk wading opportunities for those wanting to get their feet wet.  Not all the fish are large on these streams but the occasional fish over 18 inches can be caught on a large dry fly.  The character of water is often times like that of a freestone, pocket water stream, and also spring creek like.  These rivers are a nice choice for those that want to wade fish with a light rod and enjoy fishing in spectacular scenery.

The Rio Chubut
The Rio Chubut is a small willow lined stream and is one of the only ones which flows east to the Atlantic Ocean. The only way to fish it is to float and camp for three days and cover about fifty miles of this river.  Although the scenery of the Chubut and the Patagonia steppe is not as beautiful as other rivers, you will enjoy comfortable camping and nightly asados (barbeques) with friends and guides. It is a great river to catch good numbers of rainbows from 12 – 14 inches on dries and pancora (fresh water crab) streamers. The best time to fish the Chubut is in the spring and early summer when there is still plenty of water for the expedition.

The Rio Gualjina (Rio Tecka)
This small stream is born on the Patagonia Steppe and offers miles of uninterrupted wade fishing.  The fish are not all large but the ability to fish a light rod and dry flies makes up for the size of the fish.  Both rainbows and browns can be caught.  This is a good choice for those that want to walk and cover water.

The Los Alerces National park Area

Los Alerces National Park was formed to protect one the last stands of giant sequoia trees, Los Alerces, in South America.  These trees aren’t as large as their cousins in the United States but older. Los Alerces encompasses more than 500,000 acres and contains over two dozen rivers and lakes. Most of the national park never gets touched because there are no roads in the park except on the eastern edge. The ecosystem would be described as valdivian rainforest making it different than most of Argentine Patagonia. Fortunately, the park ranger planted trout here in 1964 and they are flourishing. You can catch rainbow trout, brown trout, brook trout, and land locked salmon in the emerald waters, and you will enjoy the park as much for the scenery as the fishing.  A large part of estancia which contains our lodge forms the Southern border of the park and is a nice location from which to base your expedition.

The Rivadavia River
The Rivadavia is considered to be one of the most beautiful rivers in the world.  It flows from Lago Rivadavia five miles until it reaches Lago Verde.  The fishing is challenging but very rewarding as the fish average over 18 inches.  Every angler is excited about their trip to the Rivadavia because of the beauty and the numbers of fish you can see and fish to. The water is gin clear and the banks are lined with beech trees and fallen logs, which make the casting challenging.  Wading and sight fishing with small nymphs is a good way to hook up as well as fishing large dries over the logs or chucking streamers under the tree lined banks to entice the large browns. There is also a fishable spring creek that flows into the Rivadavia and offers some exciting sight fishing. This river is the favorite choice for most experienced anglers because of the challenge, beauty, and the fishing. The Rivadavia contains rainbows, browns, brook trout, and landlocked salmon.

The Arrayanes River
The Arrayanes River connects Lago Verde to Lago Futalaufquen. The slow and deep river stretches about four miles and offers some exciting fishing mostly in the early season (Nov-Jan). It is named for the strange trees with orange bark and snarled branches (resembling manzanitas). The most exciting way to fish is to sight cast dry flies to cruising rainbows suspended just under the surface or pull streamers on sink tip lines to find the large browns. You won’t believe the distance a fish will move for a dry fly and how slow they eat your fly! It is a good choice when the conditions are right.

The Frey River
The Frey is the largest river in the park and one of the most remote. You will have to cross two lakes to get there, which means the river has much less pressure and eager fish. The river is slightly difficult to access from shore so floating is the only choice.  You’ll like fishing the Frey and the journey to get there is part of the special program. 

The Carrileufu
The Carrileufu originates just outside the National Park and flows through the northern border. It is best known for early-season landlocked atlantic salmon; however, it also holds hard fighting browns and rainbows. This beautiful river with some of the clearest water on earth flows from Lago Cholila through the dry Cholila Valley, once home to Butch Cassidy. The river eventually flows into Lago Rivadavia and is the source of the Rivadavia River. Early in the season (Nov-Jan) is best and floating is the best way to access the river.

Lago Verde and Lago Kruger
These small lakes are hard to beat when they are fishing good.  Nice fish will readily rise to eat large dry flies cast to the bank.  Coupled with the beauty of ten thousand foot peaks, this is a good option for those wanting to fish dry flies to willing fish and see the beautiful lake system of Los Alerces.

Lago Menendez
This lake is one of the most remote in the National Park and offers some of the most incredible scenery on earth and eager trout that readily take a dry fly.  You will be fishing under Torcillas Glacier and is the only place you will be able to see the Alerces Tree.  The expedition to get here is half the fun with the trout (some over 25 inches) being the other reason.

Rio Pico Area

The Rio Pico Area is located about three hours south of our main lodge and offers anglers the chance to explore. Our research, experience and knowledge over the past years has been aimed at opening this frontier for you to enjoy. This is an area which gives you the chance to catch large fish and to enjoy Patagonia without any influence from tourism. Nightly barbecues, fine wine, and stories told around the fire place and add to this amazing experience. Rio Pico is mostly know for its high desert lakes stacked full of large rainbows and browns. This type of still water fishing is exciting because of the size of the fish and the potential to sight-fish. Lakes are not the only reason to visit this area because there are several rivers and spring creeks in the area which will provide plenty of action and exciting moments. Be prepared to live like a gaucho and enjoy this wild country.

The Rio Pico
The Rio Pico is a willow-lined stream that is entirely spring fed in its upper reaches and fed by the Rio Nielson and Rio Las Pampas in it’s lower reaches.  Access is challenging but rewarding and normally requires some hiking and walking. You have the possibility to catch some large fish in this small river.  There are both rainbows and browns in the Pico and some of large size.  Walking the bank is the only way to fish this river until it picks up tributaries toward the Chilean border and has enough water to float.

The Rio Nielson
The Nielson is a delightful river filled with mid-sized rainbows and some larger browns.  It is a great place to fish dry flies to eager fish while walking through the vast ranches in the area.  This is a perfect size freestone stream that offers miles of riffles and pools to walk and spot fish.
The Rio Las Pampas
Named after the frontier town of Las Pampas, this river is very similar to the Nielson and offers great wade fishing in a remote setting.  Walking the bank and spotting fish seems to net the bigger trout while blind casting will keep you and your dry fly occupied.

Lago Uno, Dos, Tres, Quatro, and Cinco (Lakes 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5)
Their names are not a joke or secret code to hide their location.  These high desert lakes full of large rainbows and browns and are one of the main reasons to be here. They offer the angler some legitimate shots at fish up to ten pounds.  Fish can be taken on dry flies, streamers and nymphs depending on time of year and conditions.  We weren’t lake fishermen until we fished here and are sure that you will be telling stories of gigantic fish after a few days on the water. It is worth the time and effort and very exciting to fish for these huge specimens some of which you will see before you cast to them.