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Sea
Trout fly fishing
Bella Vista Lodge - Rio Gallegos
Santa Cruz province / ARGENTINA |
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Rate:
Start
from U$S
4900.-
January
- April
2010
Package
/ Per person
6
fishing days / 7 nights
Minimum
2 anglers
Terms
& Conditions
>
Included:
Transfer Rio Gallegos / lodge / Rio Gallegos, 7 night
accommodation in double-occupancy rooms, all meals and
beverages, 6 fishing days, 1 bilingual guide per 2 anglers,
fishing in private waters.
> Not included:
Airfare
from and to Buenos Aires, fishing equipment and flies,
phone calls, laundry, personal insurance, other expenses
and gratuities.
>
Extras:
- License: U$D 50.-
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GENERAL
INFORMATION:
The Fisherman's River... Opened in 1995, Bella Vista
Lodge is the most exclusive lodge on the Rio Gallegos,
offering exciting fishing for giant sea-run trout as
well as some of the finest dry fly brown trout fishing,
on an intimate spring creek.
A much bigger system than its sister river the Rio
Grande, the Gallegos and its pools are far more varied
in their character. Slow oily looking holding pools
are interspersed with fast riffles and boulder strewn
runs, and the gravel bottom makes wading very easy.
The Estancia owns nearly 50 kms of double bank private
access fishing which is limited to a maximum of
ten rods per week. Guided by one of a team of experienced
guides, each pair of rods have only the diverse wildlife
of the river valley for company. Even the most experienced
angler will learn new techniques and skills that will
improve his averages elsewhere. A challenging but infinitely
rewarding river, the Gallegos' list of devotees grows
year after year.
THE FISHING
The fishing at Bella Vista comprises of two principal
fisheries. The Rio Gallegos of which the Estancia has
50 km and the Gallegos Chico which is a spring creek
tributary of the main river of which we fish 20km. The
Brown trout of the Rio Gallegos and Gallegos Chico are
extremely well documented fish, originally stocked in
the late 1920's and 30's the fish on the main river
have gone on to establish a healthy Sea-run Strain of
large running fish, present in only a few other rivers
in the world. High average sizes persist and improve
year on year and the chance of a trophy sea-trout are
present with every cast. The Gallegos Chico is a small
charming spring creek with huge character that flows
into the main river on the Estancia's Eastern boundary.
Abundant weed growth and rich aquatic food combine to
make this one of the World's most exceptional dry fly
fisheries.
LOCATION
Bella Vista Lodge is located half way up the Rio Gallegos
Valley. Which is the southern -most, large river, on
the Argentine mainland in Southern Patagonia. The lodge
sits within two estancias (farms) which are farmed collectively
for sheep. The total acreage of land is around 650,000
or an English county the size of Oxfordshire.
Santa Cruz Province in Southern Patagonia is a bleak
land similar to the open plains of Wyoming or the Flow
country of Northern Scotland. Barren rolling hills stretch
from the coast all the way to the "Cordillera" the mountain
chain that is the termination of the Andes and a natural
border between Argentina and Chile. Whilst it is a hostile
environment the province and Estancia play host to a
surprising array of animals and birds. During your stay
you can expect to see Darwin's Rhea (Argentina's Ostrich),
Grey and Red fox, Skunk, Armadillo, Flamingo, Peregrine
Falcon, and a wide variety of waterfowl that includes
the rare Coscoroba Swan and Flightless Steamer Duck.
If you're really lucky you might see Condor or a Mountain
Lion.
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ACCOMMODATION:
The lodge comprises 5 en suite bedrooms to accommodate
a maximum of 10 guests, a comfortable living room, a large
wading room and spacious complimentary bar, fully stocked
with local and imported spirits, to toast the one that
got away! The lodge also counts with wading rooms, fly-tying
table and facilities, satellite telephone and internet
access, a fly shop fully equipped with flies, rods, reels,
lines, and suitable clothing and Argentine crafts. |
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HOW
TO GET THERE:
Far
End lodge is reached from Ushuaia city. There are daily
flights from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia airport where a
member
of the staff will be waiting to drive you to the lodge.
Domestic flights can be arranged.
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Fly Fishing tackle and
Equipment:
Waders
Wading isn't difficult on the Rio Gallegos. However,
we recommend chest waders for warmth, to get to that
occasionally fished cut bank, and to manage deeper water
when crossing the river. Fine choices would include
Simms Gore-Tex Guide, and Patagonia SST+ Breathable
Waders or any good 3.5 mm neoprene wader. Given Patagonia's
climate, and water that can be in the 40's (F.), be
certain to pack long johns, wool or fleece trousers
and wool socks. The river's gravel bottom isn't mossy
but you might find that the security of felts, aids
in concentrating on casting and playing fish by keeping
your mind off your feet. So a good pair of wading boots
are a must. The bottom also calls for gravel guards.
Be sure to use a wading belt.
Rods
We've tested many rods on the Rio Gallegos. For a single-handed
rod, we've found a 9, 91/2 or 10 footer for a No. 8
line to be about ideal for covering the water and for
optimal sport. A rod of this size makes casting easy
with the normal downstream southwest wind, while an
8 or 9-weight helps you to drive your line into a contrary
wind when necessary. Given the Rio Gallegos' moderate
flow and generally even gravel bottom, you'll find an
8 or 9 capable of doing battle with even the river's
largest sea trout (15 to 25 plus lbs.), while it insures
the most action with smaller sea trout and resident
browns (2 9 lbs). Two handed rods are increasingly popular
and allow anglers to cast a comfortable line with far
less effort, particularly on windy days. Perhaps the
most important factor at Bella Vista is that fishermen
will have a lot of water to cover in a day and having
a 2 handed rod significantly eases casting fatigue.
Mending line is also easier with a 2-hander. We encourage
you to bring one of 14 or 15 feet for a 9-11weight line.
If you are new to 2-handers, our guides are expert instructors
and will help you learn quickly. Among rod makers Sage,
Thomas & Thomas, Scott and Loomis are excellent choices
for Rio Gallegos fishing. It makes sense to bring a
back-up rod as well. For the Gallegos Chico you will
need a single-handed 9ft, 4-6 weight rod.
Lines
To be well prepared for Southern Patagonia, anglers
should include at least three lines to accommodate variance
in water levels and wind conditions. Weight forward
fly lines are generally used on the Rio Gallegos. Floating
lines are typically most useful in low water conditions
and during early morning evening hours, when sea trout
are inclined to be nearer the surface. Also a sinking
shooting taper is very important. The Teeny T-200 and
T-300 lines have proven to be excellent, and at least
one or both of these lines should be considered as mustbring
items. Sinking tips, and sinking polyleaders are also
used a lot. Intermediate lines are also effective in
some conditions. For two handed rods the Rio Windcutter
with its different tips is the most popular line and
can save a lot of time on the water as it negates the
need to change spools. Even experienced anglers often
find their running line snarls when buffeted by wind.
Prevailing southwest winds can be "used" by roll casting
or spey-casting, which eliminates the need to backcast
- difficult with a trailing wind. We found that a simple
roll cast carries even large streamers 35 to 50 feet
across and downstream, or far enough to cover the holding
lies. Weight forward lines can be roll casted effectively
by stripping and shooting line during the cast. For
the Gallegos Chico you will need a weight forward floating
line to match your rod weight though 4-6 are generally
the preferred weights.
Leaders
Experience on the Rio Gallegos, indicates that sea trout
aren't particularly leader shy. While reasonable stealth
should be exercised, your chief concern is to bring
monofilament in sizes that will turn over the array
of fly sizes and patterns you'll be using. Spools of
mono should include 20, 15, 12 and 10 lbs breaking strengths.
If you are fishing in High water conditions, made-up
leaders aren't necessary, since a few feet of mono will
do fine if you are fishing with sunk lines and big flies.
Floating line fishing under normal or low-water conditions
will require 9-12ft leader lengths and your guide will
assist you in preparing these. Maxima Ultra-green tippet
is a good choice it stretches during a fight with a
fish and has excellent knot strength. While fishing,
be sure to check your mono regularly for casting knots
and abrasions, and after each fish caught
Flies
The lodge has a better than average selection of local
patterns both for the Gallegos and Gallegos Chico, as
well as other selected items of tackle. If however the
river has been fishing one particular technique well
for more than a few weeks, fly patterns will sell out.
Bring with you the same flies that you might fish for
Steelhead and Atlantic Salmon in all size variations
and you won't go far wrong. Sea run brown trout are
mysterious fish. The only constant in their tastes seems
to be a penchant for black, and the trout that accepted
your small salmon patterns today may demand flies with
white rubber legs tomorrow. Historically, most Rio Gallegos
fish were taken on large streamers, perhaps because
those were most used. In low water conditions, however,
more large sea trout are taken on smaller wets, nymphs
and dry flies. We suggest packing a range of flies in
various patterns and sizes, and urge frequent changes
when one combination of line and fly isn't working,
depending on light conditions, water levels, and especially
on your guide's advice. Barbless hooks are strongly
encouraged. All you need to remember for the Gallegos
Chico is to bring your terrestrial fly box with plenty
of beetle and hopper patterns, you can also bring some
smaller up-winged duns and spent fly patterns in sizes
12-18 for the still mornings and evenings.
Here is a basic working fly list for the main river:
Templedog and Collie Dog tube flies (31/2-41/2" long,
both aluminum and plastic bodies, with hard plastic
tubing and #4 widegape hooks)
Bunny leech, Zonker, Woolly Bugger (black/olive), articulated
string leech types, with electric blue flash, on #2-4
hooks
Girdle or Yuk Bug rubber legs (#4-12)
Bitch Creek nymphs (orange and black for preference,
#4-12)
Bead head nymphs (Prince, Hare's Ear, etc. #10-14)
Traditional Atlantic Salmon Flies Bombers or other waking
dry flies (natural deer, black, green on #4-8 hooks),
for use drifted, riffled or with a Portland hitch. Include
11/2-2 inch tube flies if you have them, as tubes can
be very effective on the Rio Gallegos. Also, take any
large, dark trout or salmon fly in which you have confidence.
Fishing a fly that has worked for you in the past, and
in which you have confidence, is half the battle.
Note: Larger streamers should be weighted and all should
be tied on heavy hooks with good gapes. Treble hooks
are not allowed on the Rio Gallegos.
Fishing Methods
Although most of their lives are spent in the ocean,
sea-run brown trout seem to retain more of the eccentricities
of resident browns than, for instance, steelhead do
of resident rainbows. Moody fish, they must be shown
flies the way they want to see them at the precise time
that they're ready to take. The Rio Gallegos isn't a
very big river. Thus, it's compatible with a wide range
of techniques, critical since a large sea trout may
demand that a fly be fed to it on the bottom one hour
but rise to the Portland Hitch the next. Water levels
can change from week to week and the water generally
drops as the season progresses. Vary your presentation
markedly in each pool fished until you find the right
formula of fly-line (see Lines) drift or swing, and
retrieve. Pay close attention to the advice of your
guide, whose primary aim is to recommend the methods
that will help you hook and bring your fish to the net.
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