Limay River with Tim Flagler

In this issue, we’re excited to bring you a conversation with Tim Flagler, a renowned figure in the fly fishing world, about his recent experience fishing the Limay Medio River. Known for its trophy migratory brown trout, Limay Medio is one of Patagonia’s gems, and in 2024, Tim experienced it for the first time. In this interview, he shares his insights on what makes this river special, how it compares to other destinations, and why he’s already planning his return in 2025.

Q: After several years fishing in northern Patagonia, in 2024 for the first time you experienced Limay Medio river, how did you live that experience? and how can you compare it to other places you have fished?

A: The Limay Medio trip with Set is truly unique. It’s not just the possibility of catching a fish of a lifetime, it’s the amazing scenery, the camping every night on the river, the incredible food, Argentine traditions and the sheer wildness of Patagonia that all contribute to the experience. The guides and camp crew only add to the adventure by going out of their way to make the trip comfortable, safe and a ton of fun.

Q: Why are you going back in 2025?

A: Simply put, that river, those fish and that experience are something that I just have to repeat. I daydream about it daily.

Q: Limay is a river famous for their trophy migratory freshwater browns and can be fished, swinging streamers like is traditionally used on anadromous sea run trout and salmon. Although, besides the pursuit of the big browns, Limay offers a world class fishery with a resident population of rainbow and brown trout using conventional dry fly and hopper droppers techniques, with very prolific hatches, Did you get to experience some of that?

A: In short, no. Although we knew that such opportunities were available, we got incredibly fixated on the big browns after a good bit of success early on in the trip. Once you’ve tangled with one of these monsters, it can be difficult to pursue anything else. In 2025, I do hope to do more hopper-dropper fishing for the abundant rainbows and smaller browns in the river, but no promises.

Q: Please, tell me something about the gear you used and the flies you have used there. Are you working on new flies based on this experience?

A: I used an 8 wt rod with a variety of sinking lines, along with a slew of streamer patterns – everything from long, slender articulated local patterns to, believe it or not, rubber legged nymphs and kind of everything in between. We probably had the most success with darker-colored flies.

Q: I know you are a two-handed rod lover. Did you get the chance to swing some flies?

A: I brought a 12’9” 7/8 wt, 6-piece spey rod and paired it with a fast-sinking Scandi head and I’ll bring the same thing again next year as it felt like it was right on the money. Unfortunately, conditions didn’t allow me to use it all that much as, most of the time, it was more practical to fish from the moving drift boat.

Q: Tim, you are hosting a trip on Limay Medio in 2025. So, what’s your advice for anglers that are considering this river? What’s the anglers profile you think will enjoy such a special river?

A: I think that somewhat seasoned anglers will enjoy the trip most. Casting 8 weights with sinking lines can be a bit of a chore but if you’re up for the challenge it’s absolutely worth it. But there are certainly opportunities for less-experienced anglers as well. If nothing else, you’ll be fishing, eating and sleeping in the wilds of Patagonia, a trip like no other.

Tim Flagler is a highly respected figure in the fly fishing community, renowned for his expertise in fly tying. As the founder of Tightline Productions, he has produced a vast collection of high-quality fly tying videos, celebrated for their clarity and easy-to-follow, step-by-step format. His instructional content has helped countless anglers refine their techniques, and his videos are regularly featured by major fly fishing organizations and media outlets. Beyond video production, Tim is a frequent presenter at industry events, where his approachable teaching style continues to make fly tying accessible to anglers of all levels.

Since his first trip to Patagonia in April 2018, Tim has returned annually to host groups, demonstrating his deep connection to the region. His continued involvement in Patagonia highlights his passion for its world-class fishing opportunities and his strong ties to the local community. These trips have become a hallmark of his commitment to providing anglers with unforgettable experiences in one of the most iconic fly fishing destinations on the planet.

If you want to find out more about Tim´s hosted trips, you can reach him at tightlineproductions@comcast.net o at his website www.tightlinevideo.com