Whether you are looking to plan a fly fishing trip to Chile for the first time or returning to Patagonia to go fly fishing, there is one thing for sure--fly fishing in Chile serves up a massive variety of rivers, creeks, lakes, and lagunas. Swimming in these waters are healthy populations of wild rainbow and brown trout. When winter has its grasp on many of the best trout rivers in Montana and elsewhere in the Northern Hemisphere, heading south is an option to chase big trout in Chile. Here are eight rivers, and the fly fishing lodges that fish them, to catch big trout in Chile.
Disclaimer: this is only a partial list of the many great rivers in Patagonia. This list is in no particular order.
Rio Baker
As the largest river in Chilean Patagonia, it makes sense that the Rio Baker, and Patagonia Baker Lodge, is an ideal destination to chase big trout. From sight-casting to pods of large rainbows to stalking trophy-sized brown trout, anglers at Patagonia Baker Lodge target big fish daily. The structure of the Rio Baker provides a variety of angling opportunities and tactics. The Rio Baker has classic riffles, an abundance of mid-river islands and sandbars, and enticing banks holding large trout waiting to ambush a well-presented fly. Because of this variety, the Rio Baker has something to offer all skill levels. Fish often rise to the river’s dependable and prolific caddis hatches. Anglers who like to fish streamers will have plenty of opportunities to cast large flies to entice some of the world’s largest wild trout. Patagonia Baker Lodge is also ideally situated on one of the most productive sections of the river, and anglers are a one-minute boat ride from some very productive water.
Lago and Rio Yelcho
Beginning where the Futaleufú ends, Lago Yelcho begins. It is fitting that Lago Yelcho is the terminus of one of the most unique rivers in all of Chile. With a deep, azure blue color and a variety of characteristics, Lago Yelcho is one of the most consistent big trout fisheries in all of Patagonia. Anglers are best suited to fish Lago Yelcho with a stay at Martin Pescador Lodge. Trout on Lago Yelcho often cruise along weed beds and lines of reeds or tall grasses, smashing large terrestrial insects. Anglers who enjoy streamer fishing can also stalk cruisers on shallow flats or prospect near drop-offs and holes. If the fishing for consistently large rainbows and brown trout isn't enough to get you excited, Lago Yelcho is back-dropped by spectacular mountains crowned with hanging glaciers, and Martin Pescador Lodge is an ideal base camp for chasing the big fish of Lago Yelcho.
Rio Simpson
Despite being one of the smaller rivers on this list, the Rio Simpson flows through a spectacular canyon and features some of the most classic Western-style float fishing. Flowing near Cohaique and eventually joining the Aysen River before flowing into the Chilean fjords, this is one of the few rivers where anglers can find big trout and, at certain times of the year, might also tag into a large salmon. The Rio Simpson is best fished when staying at Magic Waters Patagonia Lodge. Trout on the Rio Simpson are known for chasing streamers and dry-droppers. It is also an ideal river for walk-and-wade fishing. Guides here often float it, but anglers can fish from the boat or get out and wade fish productive sections. Adventurous anglers can also hike into more remote sections. Guides on the Rio Simpson and out of Magic Waters Lodge are some of the most talented in all of Chile, and this small freestone stands out in a region already filled with great waters.
Rio Cochrane
If you enjoy sight fishing to large trout in slow-moving, crystal-clear water with mountains all around, the Rio Cochrane is the fly fishing river in Chile for you. However, you have to enjoy the challenge of a limited backcast, spooky fish, walk-and-wade fishing, small flies and long leaders, and embracing the process over the quickest way to pass Go. The Rio Cochrane is fished as part of the unique program at Patagonia Baker Lodge. The Rio Cochrane flows out of Lago Cochrane at the southernmost range of most Chilean fly fishing lodges. Fly fishing the Rio Cochrane is entirely walk-and-wade fishing on a large Chilean estancia. Classic stalk-and-cast opportunities are plentiful on the Cochrane, and it is best suited for experienced anglers because nearly every fish is earned--it is one of the most challenging small creeks in Chile, but because there are plenty of large trout, the reward is often worth the extra effort and patience. After a day on the Rio Cochrane, returning to Patagonia Baker Lodge always makes the day worth it, even if the fish were too picky that day.
Lago Elizade
Most often accessed via jet boating downstream on the Rio La Paloma and then a short run up the outlet, this lake is one of the larger lakes in the region around Magic Waters Patagonia Lodge. Most of the fishing on Lago Elizade occurs towards the outlet of the lake, but a few big trout are caught along the high cliff walls. Anglers headed to Lago Elizade will often find big brown trout cruising the edges along the tall grasses while the large rainbows cruise the deeper holes. As the lake empties into Rio La Paloma, drifting and fishing is the primary way to fish. There are a few places where anglers can stalk large trout on foot as they hang in the windswept waves, feeding on nymphs or terrestrials. A day spent fishing Lago Elizade is always a good option because the outlet offers some traditional float fishing and is a little protected from the winds, but the lake also offers some sight-fishing opportunities, with some of the region's largest fish available out of Magic Waters Patagonia Lodge.
Rio Palena
As one of the larger rivers in the region south of ChaitenChaiténio Palena is a float-fishing angler's dream river. The Rio Palena Lodge is the main hub for fly fishing this remarkable river. With its source in Argentina, the Rio Palena is one of the longest-flowing rivers in the Patagonian region of Chile. The sections fished out of Rio Palena are remote, unspoiled, and home to some very large river-dwelling trout. Fly fishing the Palena feels like fishing many of the great Western rivers of the United States... except these fish see very few flies. Many trips on the Palena are one- and two-night river-camping trips, so anglers get a lot of time hunting the big on this river. The river is ideal for all levels of anglers and for fishing large dry flies, streamers, or subsurface nymph rigs. With abundant good-sized rainbow trout and opportunities for trophy-sized brown trout, the Rio Palena is an engaging river serviced by some of Chile's most experienced guides out of Rio Palena Lodge.
Rio Blanco
If you desire remoteness, solitude, and fishing to fish that have seen very few, if any, flies in their lifetime, the adventure of getting to the Rio Blanco should be on your list. Aptly named, the Rio Blanco is fished through the River of Dreams Basecamp. Fishing on the Rio Blanco can be absolutely incredible for the hearty angler willing to work to get to the camp. The productive fishery is filled with high trout counts dominated by brown trout, with a handful of rainbows caught occasionally. The biggest browns prefer to lie near downed timber and driftwood. The majority of the Rio Blanco is remote and inaccessible to modern forms of transportation. Shortly after exiting Lago Caro, the river dives into a steep gorge with massive rapids. Likewise, near the mouth of the river, another rugged gorge filled with whitewater prevents upriver travel by jet boat. In between the two large cataracts is a 40-mile remote valley where the large Rio Blanco meanders through one of Chile's most scenic valleys; the River of Dreams Basecamp exists for adventurous anglers.
Futaleufu River
As one of the most well-known whitewater rivers in the world, the fly fishing on the Futaleufu River and its tributaries and lakes in the region, should not be overlooked and must be on any angler's list. The dry fly fishing on the Futaleufu and other rivers can be spectacular on a plethora of hatches and on terrestrials, and the guides out of Futa Lodge are some of the most experienced oarsmen and guides in Patagonia. The "Futa" offers some of the world's best sight-casting to large pods of rainbows, and a larger number of 15-20" trout readily accept foam patterns such as a Chornobyl ant, with larger fish frequently caught and landed. Streamer fishing for the trophy-sized brown trout that inhabit the main river can be outstanding. Anglers seeking diversity can fish different waters on every day of the trip. The fish in the waters that are targeted out of Futa Lodge in particular have gone on to establish an extremely healthy population that is the envy of wild trout fisheries the world over. Seasonal expeditions from Futa Lodge will also encompass some of the further-flung lakes and coastal fishing areas.
