Beyond the anticipation of Christmas as a boy, the day that stirs my imagination now as a man is opening day of trout season here in northern Patagonia. I wait five long months through wintery weather in the Andes Mountains, and even though the skiing and snowboarding afforded on the high peaks, and the biking and hiking in the lower valley are all wonderful, they can’t hold a candle to floating a wild river and fishing with friends.
It’s clearly become a sacred tradition to inaugurate the new season with a float and camp trip down the magical Caleufu River with a cadre of the SET Fly Fishing team in attendance. It’s a time to reawaken our passion for the work we’ve all chosen, and the people that we spend most of our summer months with. Guides, camp crews, assistants and friends, all taking turns rotating behind the oars, sharing laughs and excitement, retelling old stories and a few new ones from the previous year. And of course, casting streamers and mouse flies until our arms are worn to the bone.
November 1st at this latitude is early-mid spring, and while the rivers are still high we are fortunate to have consistently gradual snow melt and run off. Most of the snow sits above the tree line and melts evenly, draining into the high natural lakes like Tromen, Lolog, and Lacar, just to mention a few, and these in turn feed the prominent river systems. Spring is the best time to fish with streamers and large dries or attractors during the warm days.
If you have visited Patagonia mostly in the mid-summer or fall months, I invite you to try it in the spring for the most beautiful views and exciting fishing it has to offer. There are still a few open slots for spring, and we would love to share this amazing time of the fishing season with you.
See you all soon!
Other Patagonia articles
Contact us
Have questions about our fly fishing programs or need more information? We’re here to help!