Patagonia Advice?

[cletus9000]

My girlfriend and I are most likely going to take a 10-14 day vacation in Patagonia late December/early January. I'd love to get some fly fishing in while we're down there, but this isn't primarily a fishing trip for us. Has anyone fished down there? Is it possible to do it on my own? I'd like to fish with a guide one day. Any positive experiences with a particular guide/outfitter that can do just a single day? What we're not going to do is take a week-long trip at a fishing resort, and I know there are lots of options out there for those kinds of trips. We're not opposed to spending a day/night at one such place, however.

Thanks for the help.

[dalton]

I put together some of Brandon's pictures and reports a few years ago, they are located here: http://laterallineco.com/blog/catego...-fishing-trip/

Brandon and crew spent a week each at a few lodges, exactly what you don't want to do but maybe the fish porn will get you pumped up. Brandon spoke of flying into multiple crappy airports/fields and spending hours on gravel roads to get to fishing spots, basically the middle of nowhere. Do you know if you'll be in the actual mountains of Patagonia or around the larger Argentine cities, which are probably 1000+ miles to trout fishing?

You may want to pick up the book mentioned on the blog posts linked above, I don't have it but I think it covers DIY fishing down there. One of the authors is a real trout bum, guiding from the Pacific Northwest to Alaska to Kamchatka.

[cletus9000]

Thanks, Dalton. Our goal is to get as far away from cities as is practicable for a trip of 10-14 days. Ordered the book and will check it out to at least narrow down some of our choices. The size of the area is pretty daunting and will just take a lot of research to make the best of the trip.

[dalton]

Sounds awesome, I'm jealous. Definitely keep us posted on the book and practicality of fishing on your own in Patagonia. Besides the day or two of fishing, what will you guys be doing? Hiking, climbing, hanging out?

[cletus9000]

We'll probably be doing a lot of hiking and maybe camping. Goal is to see as much of the countryside as possible. Hopefully we can get to some areas with good trout fishing. I'm pretty sure I can coax a few fish to hand if we get to the right spot. Sure would be great to get some of those big wild fish that put what I catch locally to shame.

[Brandon]

Just caught this post. As Dalton said I have spent some time down there, a month a year for three years and will go back the end of this year beginning of next. I've fished from north to south patagonia and other areas of Argentina and Chile. I can hook you up with some places in either Northern Patagonia or southern or even somewhere else maybe to chase Golden Dorado. All lodges you can fish, hike, float etc... Let me know what you are looking to do and I can offer some advice. I can also hook you up with a good friend who wrote the book on fly fishing patagonia who can also give you some input. I am supposed to be on an expedition in Bolivia right now chasing golden dorado, but that thing called work got in the way

You're going to have a blast!

[cletus9000]

Thanks, Brandon. I'm going to do some research over the next few days and follow up with you. Appreciate the advice.