Tierra del Fuego
Rio Grande, Argentina

The newest of the Río Grande lodges, catering to only six anglers on the middle and upper reaches of the Río Grande, where traditional gear and floating lines are the statute. The lodge is ideally situated on a south bluff over the Río Grande. The broad windows allow anglers, with a glass of red Argentine wine, to view sea trout roll as they make their way upriver. Modern conveniences assure comfort and a full staff to see to every detail. When not watching fish, drift a dry fly over sea run trout that often average better than 12 pounds. At night, find the Southern Cross in a sea of stars each night.

The Fishing

Season - December to March

The first brown trout were stocked in Tierra del Fuego by John Goodall in 1935. The trout were shipped from Chile, and 60,000 'salmo trutta' eggs survived the grueling journey. The trout eggs were then to be planted on the Candelaria and McLennan rivers, both tributaries of the Rio Grande. These fish eventually found their way to the sea, possibly attracted by the rich nourishment of the estuary. These sea-run brown trout now complete the yearly migratory cycle of salmonids, spawning during the summer months in freshwater.

Although most of their lives are spent in the ocean, the sea run brown seem to retain more of the eccentricities of resident browns than, for instance, steelhead do of resident rainbows. Temperamental fish, they must be shown flies the way they want to see them at the precise time they're ready to take. The Rio Grande isn't a large 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, drift or swing, and retrieve.

The Lodge
Custom-built in 2003, the lodge was designed to offer rods maximum comfort during their fishing trip, as well as easy access to the fishing pools. The lodge accommodates up to 7 guests in 2 twin rooms and 3 single rooms. A large relaxing and dining area opens up to a verandah with breathtaking views of the Rio Grande River. A large roaring fire and well stocked bar will welcome the angler after every day of fishing. The lodge has a tackle shop with a good selection of rods, quality reels, flies, lines, and clothing equipment, selected to suit the needs of your trip. In addition, guests have the full use of the lodge's fly tying table and fishing equipment. The lodge has a sauna and outdoor Jacuzzi for guests to relax after a day fly fishing.

Location
The lodge is located on the banks of the Rio Grande, in Tierra del Fuego, Argentina. The Rio Grande flows from East to West, from the Andes to the Atlantic Ocean, through 70 km of Argentine territory. The landscape of Tierra del Fuego is reminiscent of Wyoming or the Scottish flow country. It is a sparsely populated wilderness. Large sheep farming estancias share this land with herds of wild llama-like guanacos, red foxes, and condors.