Río Grande, Tierra del Fuego – Chile

Known for its incredible sea run brown trout, this legendary river is the largest on the island of Tierra del Fuego. There is no better place in the world to catch a trophy sea-run brown trout. Fish in the 10 to 15 pound range are common and every year bruisers of over 20 pounds are caught. Beautiful resident brown trout of up to 6 or 7 pounds in numerous lakes and other rivers round out the offering in this sector of the Chilean side of the island. Waters we fish include the Lago Blanco, a lake “infested” with trout in the 20 inch range, or the remote and virtually untouched waters of Lago Fagnano and the Azopardo River, where in addition to resident and sea run brown trout you will have the chance to fish for large brook trout. The solitud and majestic beauty of this wild country is enough incentive in itself for a visit.

The island is sparsely inhabited and the landscapes remain much as they were when Magellan first saw the island in 1520. Outside of the cities of Ushuaia and Río Grande, the island is very sparsely populated with few large cattle and sheep ranches and small towns. Here your only company on the river will be your guide and wild fauna of the island including guanacos, condors, eagles and Magellan geese.

From October to December visiting fishermen can enjoy excellent dry fly fishing for resident brown trout. The first sea run browns begin arriving in the Río Grande in November, but the thick of the run occurs from early February until the middle of April. It is an excellent river for fly fishing but can also be demanding. Long casts are necessary to properly cover many of the pools and a spey rod can be a great help, especially on windy days which occur frecuently. Most fishing is wit streamer or nymphs, however, there are moments that these fish can be enticed top water with a skating fly. From the lodge, you will have access to some of the best pools on the river.

Weather in Tierra del Fuego from December to April can be compared to what you might experience in Alaska during the summer. Depending on the moment of the fishing season, temperatures may vary between 5 and 15 degrees celcius and moments of high winds are frecuent. We recommend that you bring good rain gear with at least one extra set. In Tierra del Fuego there are no dangerous insects or animals.