Fishing isn’t always great on every stream. It varies with water levels, temperature, and food availability.
Our family has been fly fishing in Bariloche for more than 30 years. Thanks to this experience, we can choose the exact river or lake for your trip.
We are strategically located in Bariloche, Northern Patagonia, between Chubut and Neuquen Provinces, which have access to three different national parks, big and small lakes, mountain ranges, and eastern rivers, all within a 2-hour drive.
The north is more productive than the south, especially the rivers flowing eastward.
Trout can grow exceptionally large in these rivers; Browns can weigh over 6 pounds, with some specimens reaching 18 pounds.
Closer to the Andes Mountains, the rivers are as clear as the air, and probably some of the most beautiful places in the world. If the river originates from snowmelt, the water quality is poor, but if it comes from a lake, the fishing is much better.
Most of the time, the lakes have the largest trout. The smallest lakes are shallow, with the banks covered by reeds and fallen logs, which makes the fishing very interesting. Brookes can easily reach 4 pounds, while Rainbows and Browns can get 6 pounds in these lakes.
Trout Bariloche Recommends
The Limay River originates at Nahuel Huapi Lake and forms the largest basin in Patagonia, spanning 270 miles. It begins in a transition area between the forests and the steppe.
Limay means “clear water” in the local language. It´s a big river, with many arms and islands, and it flows from deep pools to fast, shallow waters. The banks are lined with willow trees, making the Limay hard to wade across. Large migratory brown trout come from the big lake, where, after feeding on “Páncoras” (a type of freshwater crab), they grow to enormous proportions. These browns can easily get the 10 pounds, but every season we catch a 16-pound Monster Brown. The best fishing is usually in the area between “La Boca” and Rincón Chico, the first 5 miles of the Limay.
The best time to find this monster brown in the river is the end of the season, March and April, when they start migrating into the rivers looking for spawning beds. You could also catch one during the summer, but there are fewer chances.
The Limay River is crowded with resident browns as well; they hide in pocket waters, close to the shore, or behind rocks and willows. We attract them with big streamers. As we are high, fishing from a boat, and the Limay is extremely clear, you will see them coming towards your fly.
During the summer, thousands of caddisflies cover the river, giving us the chance to fish for rising fish. Some eddies have more than fifty big rainbows, between two and five pounds, feeding at one inch from the surface. We use light elk-hair caddis in sizes 16 or 18, with long leaders and a 5X tippet. It´s not easy to bring those wild rainbows aboard after hooking them.
Don´t be put off by the size of the Limay River. It´s a good idea to find a local guide with experience of the area. If you are looking for large migratory browns, even with a local guide, it can be frustrating, but be patient – the reward could be a lifetime memory.
It begins in the heart of Nahuel Huapi National Park, at Cerro Tronador. It has several sections; the lower is the best choice for fishermen. There are 18km of river, where access from the coast is almost impossible. Without doubt, one of the most beautiful landscapes of Patagonia, with crystal clear water as never seen before.
The geomorphology of the Manso varies constantly, ranging from class II+ rapids and deep runs to very low, fast sections to pools where the water almost stands still.
The float of this section begins on Lake Steffen, where, if we are lucky, we will see a hatch of midges that will put a good number of rainbow trout practically at our fingertips. This does not make them easier to catch because these midges are size 22, and the trout become super selective.
Once in the river, the fishing will be essentially with floating lines, nymphs, or dries. The bead head prince and pheasant tail work great. Attractors, such as Madame X or Stimulator, also yield good results, providing more opportunities to catch a resident brown.
In some sectors of the river, we will find large pools, with rainbows cruising close to the surface. In those pools, we shrink the fly and lengthen the leader. A Mayfly Spinner size 18 could deceive these selective rainbows.
Pichi in the Mapuche language (the indigenous people of Patagonia) means small, and Leufu means river.
The Pichileufu is nearly an hour’s drive from Bariloche, in an area called Steppe. It is a desert where vegetation and landscapes are very different from those near the Andes. Here reigns volcanic rock formations and small canyons formed by spring streams. On the way to the river, we will see the “Los Juncos” Natural Reserve—a small lagoon where many different kinds of birds nest. The railway station Perito Moreno. The geomorphology of the “Pichi” makes it perfect for fly fishing. With the right level of water, there is a fish behind each rock. The best time to visit this beautiful river is November and December.
It´s the smallest river we fish in the area. Due to its small size, it´s convenient to wade through it, most of the time in shorts and sandals. Light equipment is hardly recommended, such as a four or 5-weight rod. It is an ideal place to refine our fishing techniques, use a floating line, and search through our dry flies box. On sunny days, a grasshopper hitting the water right under the cliffs will let you catch the largest browns of this river!
The Chimehuín is a medium-sized river that flows out of Huechulafquen Lake for about 40 miles before joining the Aluminé, from which the Collón Curá rises. Fishing was excellent here in the past, and its extraordinary formation, combined with the Chimehuín’s fame, made it the most famous river for fly fishing in Argentina. Today, it’s one of the best-studied rivers, with the most extensive available information.
The Chimehuín yields Rainbow and Brown trout weighing from 1 to 6 pounds. Although trout average from 1 to 6 pounds, it’s not unusual to land 13-pounders or even larger fish.
We often chose the low section of the Chimehuin for expeditions because it has hard access, resulting in low fishing pressure. The lowest part has the best fishing by far. Fishing conditions are stable throughout the season.
All fishing techniques are successful in this section. So, in case of doing an overnight fishing trip, you will have the chance of trying a bit of everything, and catch a quantity of rainbows and some bigger browns.
This river (divided into upper, middle, and lower stretches) flows out of Lago Aluminé for over 130 km before joining the Río Catan Lil, giving rise to the Collón Curá.
The upper Aluminé (10 miles) stretches from the lake to the confluence with the Pulmari River. Rainbow trout are the most abundant species, often reaching lengths of up to 16 inches.
The middle Aluminé (22 miles) stretches from Pulmarí to the confluence of the Quillén. You can fish from a boat here, as the rapids are slower, although there are a couple of technical jumps that are pretty difficult to maneuver. Fish are larger, ranging from 14 to 20 inches in length. Rainbow trout is the most plentiful species, followed by Brown trout.
The lower Aluminé (48 miles) flows parallel to the road and has runs and deep pools. And although there are signs of humans along the first three miles, it gets lonelier farther downstream, where there is no fishing pressure whatsoever. Fishing conditions and the size of the fish along this stretch are excellent.
One of the best ways to enjoy this river is to float it for a couple of days, camping out at night.
Caleufu River arises from the confluence of the Meliquina and the Filo Hua Hum, and flows 37 miles into the Piedra del Águila reservoir. It offers a variety of quality fishing, thanks to the range of landscapes it flows through from its source in the mountains, through the steppe transition, and into the valleys. The Caleufu is a medium-sized river, easy to wade, but as there are no public roads to access the river, we fish it from the catarrafts, usually on a day expedition.
It’s a mountain river, mostly fast-flowing water.
Hess Lake is located in the center of the Nahuel Huapi National Park. Perhaps one of the most beautiful in this park.
It is accessible only by rowing boats. Its shores are low and lined with reeds. In many parts, it is shallow, with lots of greenery at the bottom. It has small channels that connect different parts of the lake. The channels are beautiful for fishing, especially when the trout are eating on the surface.
There is a lot of food for the trout, which makes them more selective than in the other lakes in the park, especially during the warmer months, when they are less active. We fish on Lake Hess in November and December.
This lake is located in the heart of Nahuel Huapi National Park. It has tough access, sometimes impossible, even with the best vehicles.
When you arrive, Carlos Cowes, a very friendly range officer, gives you a warm welcome. You won’t believe someone is living there!
You can fish this lake with a motorboat or a kayak. The banks are lined with trees and fallen logs, which makes wading impossible.
During the spring, the fishing is excellent. If you are looking for big browns, we recommend fishing with sinking lines and big streamers, casting between the fallen logs. That’s their territory, and they protect it very aggressively.
Personally, I love to follow the bank with the boat, looking for rising fish. Most of the time, they are brook trout, and they can easily reach 4 pounds in these lakes. We use big rubber dragonflies to catch them. You have to cast the dry fly a few meters away from the fish and shake the tip of the rod; you will see them coming. Sometimes it’s hard to set the hook with these big rubber flies, but it’s still the most fun fishing!!
During the hottest months of summer, fishing is more challenging. Unless you stay until 7 pm, when a caddis hatch starts, you must be ready, because it won’t last more than 30 minutes.
Internationally renowned as one of the best Rivers in the World for trout. The Malleo flows some 40 miles from Lago Tromen to the Aluminé River. It’s so long that it’s a good idea to divide its course into three distinct sections: upper Malleo, middle Malleo, and lower Malleo.
Upper Malleo (about 18 miles). Where the Malleo flows through a well-tended fishing area, and fishing quantity and quality are therefore outstanding and significantly better than farther downstream.
Middle Malleo (approximately 6 miles) features an intermediate range of characteristics, including morphology, scenery, fishing pressure, and the fish themselves, between those of the upper and lower courses.
Lower Malleo (about 12 miles) only rarely flows through ravines, and the boulders on the bed are smaller, so it’s much easier to wade.
