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The Patagonia River Guides Staff
All of our guides have at least ten years guiding experience and are considered to be the best in the region. They are the foundation of Patagonia River Guides and we are very proud of the service they provide. All Patagonia River Guides are excellent teachers, bi-lingual, energetic, and expert oarsmen. Apart from their extensive fishing skills, our guides also pride themselves on knowledge of local flora, fauna, culture, and history. A good guide can be the difference between a decent trip and the trip of a lifetime. Our professional guides treat every customer like they are the most important of the season because they are! It will be comforting to know that you have an experienced guide who will do everything to ensure you have a memorable experience and the vacation of a lifetime. Apart from guides, we have various support personnel who enable our company to operate smoothly. These people are sometimes behind the scenes but are always thinking about your trip and how they can make it better. |
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Rance Rathie
rrrathie@hotmail.com
Rance’s fishing, guiding skill and angling experience is second to none. He is one of the few third generation guides from Montana and has been catching fish on a fly rod since he was old enough to stand. Rance has guided in numerous countries including Mongolia, the Bahamas, Argentina and Chile. When on the water, Rance is a predator who enjoys catching and seeing big fish caught. Rance ranks highly as one of the finest casters in the world, he is on the R.L. Winston Rod pro staff, and enjoys helping guests hone their skills and presentation. He also takes pride in knowing the flora, fauna and history of Patagonia and enjoys sharing his knowledge. The day Rance finished his last final in college he flew to Patagonia to begin his career as an international fishing guide. He fell in love; not only with the beauty of Patagonia, but also with his lovely Argentine wife Ellie. Shortly there after, with the help of Ellie and best buddy Travis, Rance founded Patagonia River Guides. For the past eight years, Rance and Ellie have split their time living in the U.S. and Argentina. They are the proud parents of Julia Lauren and Ryan Alexander Rathie.
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Travis Smith
tcoltersmith@hotmail.com
Travis Smith has many years of experience trout fishing in Montana, Idaho, Argentina, and Chile. Travis learned to cast and row before most learned to read and grew up on The Ruby River in Montana. He is also a member of the Winston Rod Pro Staff and is both an excellent caster and fisherman. His work ethic is second to none, and he is one of the most personable and patient guides you will meet. A day spent with Travis will be a day filled with many laughs, smiles, and screaming reels. His way with people makes him an excellent teacher, and his eleven years of experience guiding on the Henry's Fork have made him an expert on hatches and fish. If he can’t put you on fish on a tough day, no one will. Apart from fishing, Travis is a gracious host and will make you feel like part of our family when you visit.
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John Roberts
john@patagoniariverguides.com
John is one of the most experienced guides in the Esquel area. For over twenty years he has been working as a guide, outfitter and manager of local fishing lodges. John’s laid-back demeanor, knowledge, fishing expertise and teaching ability have won him unsurpassed praise from our guests. John knows most of the trout in Patagonia by name and is an expert on local history and flora and fauna. Although born and raised in Argentina, John speaks perfect English without an accent. A day with John is filled with many laughs and lots of trout.
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Andres Muller
andres@patagoniariverguides.com
Andres Muller (a.k.a. the Richard Gere of Argentina) was born and raised in Esquel and intimately knows every piece of water in the region. He has been an outfitter and guide in the area for over 15 years and also guided on the Gunnison in Colorado for three seasons. Andres is fluent in English, Spanish and German, is an excellent fisherman, fabulous instructor and a great guy. Because of his easy going attitude and his angling skills you cannot spend a day Andres without learning something and having a great time. Andres is also one of the most knowledgeable and higly respected guides in the Chubut Providence.
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Esteban Oszust
Esteban@patagoniariverguides.com
Esteban is known by many as the Charles Darwin of Patagonia because of his vast knowledge of the flora, fauna, hatches, insects and pretty much everything that has to do with the outdoors. He was born in Esquel and raised in Los Alerces National Park where his father was the first fly fishing guide. Because of his upbringing, Esteban knows more “secret spots” then most and is one of the most knowledgeable people in the region. He has been guiding and outfitting for over 10 years, speaks perfect English, is a fantastic angler, a great teacher, an expert oarsman and fish catching machine. In the off-season, Esteban travels throughout Europe as a test driver for Jeep. When spending a day on the river with Esteban, you know you are in good hands.
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Alvaro Guillermo Gomez Villafane
Alvaro@patagoniariverguides.com
Alvaro is a retired Argentine military veterinarian who is extremely passionate about fly fishing. He has lived in the Esquel area for over 20 years and is extremely knowledgeable of the area. He as a masters degree in English and actually spends half of the year living in San Francisco with his wife who is a U.S. citizen. Being a military man, everything Alvaro does is straight-forward and exact, including his fly fishing skills. Alvaro is a great teacher, and a great fishing companion. He is an expert polo player and horseman and enjoys doing this when not on the river.
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Adolfo Alonzo
adolfo@patagoniariverguides.com
Adolfo has been working with the Patagonia River Guides crew since he was 15 years old. He was born and raised in Esquel and is very well known in the area. Adolfo is an extremely hard worker and is arguably the strongest guy on the PRG staff. He has vast knowledge of the area waters and will put you on fish. Adolfo is a very fun guy to hang out with and will make you laugh throughout your day. In the winter, Adolfo is a goose-hunting guide in Northern Argentina.
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Juany Pereyra
juany@patagoniariverguides.com
Juany is Adolfo’s cousin and has been working with PRG for numerous years as well. He is also a local and knows all of the landowners in the area. Juany is a very hard working guy and his no nonsense attitude makes him a great fishing guide. His understanding of Patagonia’s flora and fauna is excellent and his knowledge of local waters is endless. Juany knows where the big ones live and how to catch them. Juany has a professional chauffeurs license and is trained as a police officer but enjoys being out and about on rivers and lakes catching fish much more. His love for fishing comes slightly second to his love for his fiancee.
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Eddie Wester
eddie@patagoniariverguides.com
Eddie Wester is one of the most personable Argentine guys you will ever meet. He is quick with a joke and always has a smile on his face. Because of this, he works closely with local area landowners to ensure that Patagonia River Guides has access to all waters. Eddie is an extremely hard working guy and knows all the rivers in the area like the back of his hand. He has vast knowledge of Argentina’s flora and fauna and is passionate about the country’s history. Eddie is also a first rate teacher and actually teaches at the local school in Esquel in the off-season. Eddie also has a professional chauffeurs license.
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Mauricio Techera
mauricio@patagoniariverguides.com
Mauricio was also born and raised in the Esquel area. He has been fly fishing for his entire life and has always wanted to be a fly fishing guide. Mauricio specializes in walk-wading rivers and creeks. Not only does Mauricio know where the fish live, but also likes to see them caught. He speaks great English, is an excellent teacher and a great companion. A day with Mauricio is a day you won’t soon forget. Mauricio possesses a professional chauffeurs license and is an accountant in the winter.
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Pablo Fuentes
pablo@patagoniariverguides.com
Pablo has been guiding in the region for numerous years. He is one of the most helpful, hardest working people in South America and will do anything to make sure you have a great trip. Pablo is a great fisherman, expert oarsmen, licensed motor boat driver and a licensed chauffeur. Pablo is an expert in flora and fauna, an expert caster and a great teacher. His outgoing, happy demeanor make spending a day with Pablo extremely enjoyable.
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Juan Carlos Garin Delgado -- Assistant Guide
juancarlos@patagoniariverguides
Juan Carlos is our right had man who can do anything from catch a selective 25” brown to break a horse to rebuild your engine with a piece of gum and duck tape. He has been working in the fishing and hunting industry in Chile and Argentina for over 15 years. His easy going attitude make him a favorite with guests especially on his famous non fishing Andes horseback trips. You know you are in good hands when hanging out with Juan Carlos.
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Valerie Roberts -- Non fishing activities guide
valerie@patagoniariverguides.com
Val is not only going to give you some flowers but she will also give you a massage. She is our head of non fishing activities.
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