Rio Grande

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Rio Grande

Destinations

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Destinations

Rio Grande

Country: Argentina

District: Estancia Retranca, Town of Rio Grande in Tierra del Fuego Province

Type: River

Location size
River: 100 km

Distance from
Ushuaia: 220 km

Full service flyfishing travel agency
www.nervouswaters.no

The Rio Grande is located in the North of Tierra del Fuego Province. The water source is in Chile and it flows into de Atlantic Ocean.

The Rio Grande in Tierra del Fuego, Argentina is for many fisherman the finest sea-run brown trout river in the world.

Fishing for the largest Sea Trout in the world.

How To Get There

Anglers fly into Buenos Aires international airport and take a 3 hour flight to Rio Grande.

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Location Details

The Rio Grande is the largest river on the Tierra del Fuego island, the "Land of Fire" (Spanish), divided between Chile and Argentina. The river flows from East to West, from the Andes to the Atlantic Ocean, through 70 km of Argentine territory. It is well known for its large sea trout and the reclusion of its countryside.

The landscape of Tierra del Fuego is reminiscent of Wyoming or the Scottish Flow country. It is a sparsely populated wilderness. The valley is surrounded by wooded hills overlooking the dale. The wildlife is rich and intriguing. Large sheep farming estancias share this land with huge herds of wild llama-like guanacos, red foxes, and condors.

The river with offers easy wading due to its fine gravel bottom and is just made for fly-fishing. The water in the upper reaches is much clearer and stays clear even in high water while the lower reaches can be a bit muddy at times. The climate in this area can be somewhat inhospitable with its short and cool summers but long and wet winters. Still, the weather can be variable. As the best fishing can be experienced early in the morning and late in the evening warm clothing is important.

Species

Rio Grande holds brown trouts and Seatrout averaging 12 lbs in size and running up to 30 + lbs. The first brown trout were stocked in Tierra del Fuego by John Goodall in 1935. Shipped from Puerto Montt in Chile, 60,000 'salmo trutta' eggs survived the arduous journey 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. Salmo trutta trutta remain in the river for a period of time which ranges between 1 and 4 years until their first migration to the sea, where they will feed and grow for about 6 months before their first return to freshwater, weighing approximately 6lbs.

Researchers have found trout which had spawned more than 6 times. A trout which has completed 4 cycles of returning to freshwater can weigh over 20 lbs. The frequency with which they return to freshwater is also an indicator that the fish face very few threats.

Equipment

The fly-fishing and equipment suggestions that follow are drawn from over two decades' experience fishing the Rio Grande under a wide variety of conditions.

Rods

Many rods have been tested on the Rio Grande. For a single-handed rod, a 9, 91/2 or 10 footer for a No. 8 line has been found to be about ideal for covering the water and for optimal sport. A rod of this size makes casting easy with the normal downstreamsouthwest wind, while an 8 or 9- weight helps you to drive your line into a contrary wind when necessary.

Given the Rio Grande's moderate flow and generally even gravel bottom, you'll find an 8 or 9 capable of doing battle with even the river's largest sea trout (15 to 25 plus lbs.), while it insures the most action with smaller sea trout (4 9 lbs.).

Light two handed rods are increasingly popular and allow anglers to cast a comfortable line with less effort, particularly on windy days.

Mending and controlling line is also easier with a 2-hander. We encourage you to bring one of 13 to 15 feet for a 9-11weight line.

It makes sense to bring a back-up rod as well.

Reels

A quality reel is crucial for playing big sea trout. A strong, smooth drag is a must. Reels (and spare spools) should have capacity for the fly line and 100 yards of 20 pound backing.

Lines

To be well prepared for Tierra del Fuego, anglers should include at least three lines to accommodate variance in water levels and wind conditions. Weight forward fly lines are generally used on the Rio Grande. Floating lines are typically most useful in low water conditions and during early morning and evening hours, when sea trout are inclined to be nearer the surface.

Also a sinking shooting taper is very important. The Teeny T-200 and T-300 lines have proven to be excellent, and at least one or both of these lines should be considered as must-bring items. Sinking tips, and sinking poly-leaders are also used a lot. Intermediate lines are also effective in some conditions.

Even experienced anglers often find their running line snarls when buffeted by wind. Prevailing southwest winds can be "harnessed" by roll casting or spey-casting, which eliminates the need to backcast - difficult with a trailing wind. We found that a simple roll cast carries even large streamers 35 to 50 feet across and downstream, or far enough to cover the holding lies. Weight forward lines can be roll casted effectively by stripping and shooting line during the cast.

Leaders

Experience on the Rio Grande indicates that sea trout aren't particularly leader shy. While reasonable stealth should be exercised, your chief concern is to bring monofilament in sizes that will turn over the array of fly sizes and patterns you'll be using. Spools of mono should include 15, 12 and 10 lbs breaking strengths.

Whilst fishing sinking lines, made-up leaders aren't necessary since a few feet of mono will do fine. Maxima Ultra-green is a good choice as it has plenty of stretch a factor worth considering when the sea-trout of a lifetime hits your fly! While fishing, be sure to check your mono regularly for casting knots and abrasions, and after each fish caught test your leader knots. For floating lines it's good to have knotless tapered leaders from 9 to 12 feets with 0X tippets.

How To Fish

Flies

Plan to take a good selection. Sea run brown trout are mysterious fish. The only constant in their tastes seems to be a penchant for black, and the trout that accepted your small salmon patterns today may demand flies with white rubber legs tomorrow. Historically, most Rio Grande fish were taken on large streamers, perhaps because those were the patterns most used. In low water conditions, however, more large sea trout are taken on smaller wets, nymphs and dry flies. We suggest packing a range of flies in various patterns and sizes, and urge frequent changes when one combination of line and fly isn't working, depending on light conditions, water levels, and especially on your guide's advice. Barbless hooks are strongly encouraged.

Double and treble hooks are not permitted.

Basic working fly list:

Collie Dog tube flies (31/2 -41/2" long, both aluminum and copper bodies, with hard plastic tubing and #4 wide-gape hooks)

Bunny leech, Zonker, Woolly Bugger (black/olive), articulated string leech types, with electric blue flash, on #2-4 hooks

Peacock (now a staple on Rio Grande, tied on #2-4 hooks)
Girdle or Yuk Bug rubber legs (#4-12)

Bitch Creek nymphs (orange and black for preference, #4-12)
Bead head nymphs (Prince, Hare's Ear, etc. #10-14)

Traditional Atlantic Salmon Flies

Bombers or other waking dry flies (natural deer hair, black& green on #4-8 hooks), for usedrifted or with a Portland hitch include 11/2 2 inch tube flies if you have them, as tubes can be very effective on the Rio Grande.

Also, take any large, dark trout or salmon fly in which you have confidence. Fishing a fly that has worked for you in the past, and in which you have confidence, is half the battle.

Note:

Larger streamers should be weighted and all should be tied on heavy hooks with good gapes. Treble & Double hooks are not allowed on the Rio Grande.

Practical Info

The Fishing season starts on December and ends on April. Outside the fishing season no fishing of any kind is allowed.

Fishing license is required to fish in the Rio Grande.

Catch and release is applied throughout.

Full service flyfishing travel agency
www.nervouswaters.no
Regional and Weather information + Car rental
www.interpatagonia.com/riogrande/

Accommodation

Nervous waters provides and is specialised in first class accommodation and guiding services. Their lodges include the famous Kau Tapen, Villa Maria and Bella Vista Lodge. Transport services includes airport pick-up. The lodge offers a full serviced acommodation and tackle can be rented. Facilities & Services

· Capacity: 12 rods
· Rooms: 9 en suite bedrooms
· Dining room, sitting room, bar, wading room, fly-tying table
· SPA: sauna, finish shower, relax and massage area
· Telephone and internet access
· Gourmet dining, with Argentina's famed beef and fine wines, traditional Asados (BBQs) and delicious desserts
· Maid and laundry service
· Fly shop fully equipped with flies, rods, reels, lines, and suitable clothing and Argentine crafts. · First class professional international and Argentine guides. All our guides are able to give casting tuition with single and double handed rods (Spey casting)
· Comfortable 4-wheel drive trucks fitted with rod racks and VHF radios.
· Unparalleled bird watching and rich wildlife (flamingos, foxes, llama-like guanacos).

The town of Rio Grande is 220 km from Ushuaia, the capital city of Tierra del Fuego. Kau Tapen lodge is 1 hour drive from Rio Grande town.

The lodge is located in the Estancia Retranca, by the Rio Grande. Anglers fly into Buenos Aires international airport and take a 3 hour flight to Rio Grande.