Heli Fishing Program
at Chochoy Mallin Lodge
by Dan Etcheverry
These past three seasons have been inspirational, about reconnecting with myself. It’s been about rediscovering why I love being a fishing guide. The essence of exploring and discovering streams, valleys and mountains is the answer. Finding myself in places where every step has the feeling that no other angler has fished here before is truly unique.
To me, spending long hours walking in the mountains, canyons and valleys, in complete solitude, is what the surroundings of Chochoy Mallin are all about.
Many of the unique corners that I discovered during my explorations required demanding hikes or long and slow off-road drives. This fact would make many of these locations inconvenient or out of reach for many of our guests. We faced a dilemma about how to share these incredible spots without the required physical and time challenges. After several months of continued exploration we determined that reaching these places by air was going to be the key to achieving our goal.
During the past season we flew numerous scouting flights onboard a modern Bell 407 helicopter. This allowed us to reach destinations that once required 3 to 4 hours of time driving and hiking, in 5 to 15 minutes.
We are proud to now have a solid plan in place to offer to our friends. The helicopter allows us to reach “those discovered spots” quickly and comfortably. Now all anglers, regardless of physical ability or limitations, can experience these remarkable locations. Chochoy Mallin is a walk and wade paradise, with numerous small creeks and streams, that will impress even the most seasoned anglers.
Flying over the stunning mountain ranges offer a completely different level of experience and is my new favorite way to coordinate and operate a fishing trip. A truly fantastic combination of exploration and adventure!
There is so much more to discover and explore, who knows what surprises we’ll find around the next corner! That need to see what lies ahead or around the next bend has been a major motivator to me since I was a kid. I’m sure that I’m not alone.
Call us today and be one of the first anglers to discover this amazing experience. I will be the person in the Set Fly Fishing team that is responsible for managing this new program.
Looking forward to our next adventure together!
Dan Etcheverry