Full Experience
Patagonia Trashumante is SIDE “B” of fly fishing in North Patagonia. Located in the deep Northern Patagonia countryside, this is a completely different set of rivers, which brings along differences in fishing pressure, landscapes and climate (better and sunnier!).
Flyfishing
No other single destination offers the variety of fishing rivers (more than 14 different rivers are close to our operation’s lodges) and so many opportunities and alternatives to use your favorite skills and methods. Sight fishing, dry flies, nymphs (euro and traditional) and streamer action could all be perfectly used in a single day on a pair of our rivers.
Low Fishing Pressure: the number of rivers and the length of each makes this region a never-ending resource of pure old-fashioned adventure.
Pure and pristine rivers pass through North Patagonia’s classic and formidable landscapes, surrounded by wild nature (most of the days transpire with no other spectators than birds, goats or wild horses).
The main idea is to find more fishing and rivers here than you can get in any other fishing destination. You can fish with different techniques and rods on one or two different rivers every day. There are fishing spots in every direction from the lodges or camps, amazing you each day with incredible landscapes and trout-filled rivers.
Gastronomy
Patagonia Trashumante Fly Fishing currently operates in partnership with the Mallin Malal Fly Fishing Lodge and Varvarco Hosteria Lodge, giving our guests the most complete and refined accommodations and dining. Visit their websites for more info and photos, and then contact us for a reservation. Also, a night or two in a pure, riverside camp with a classic Argentinian barbecue (asado) is available and fully included in our trip offerings.
Our typical asado involves beef or goat but may also include pork and lamb, blood sausage, or pork sausage. Of course, every good asado includes fantastic wines. All the wine on the trip is open bar for meals, and they are excellent (…I hate bad wine). For us Argentinian operators, it is absolutely a must to provide good wine.
Adventure
Chances are pretty good to connect on 20 to 30 fish a day, including two, three or more strong and fat trout (rainbows and browns) from around 18 to 24 or more inches long. There are no skinny trouts in Patagonia Trashumante. All of them are unitiated, hungry and willing to eat our flies. You can catch the fish of a lifetime in an unknown and far away river, completely out of the radar of massive industrial operations. We do not operate on any of the classic fishing destinations within North Patagonia: Limay River, Chimehuin River, Malleo River. With us, you will become familiar with other names like Trocoman, Nahueve, Lileo, Buraleo, Reñileuvu, Ñireco, Pichi Neuquén, Varvarco and some others.
Location
First, the location: Situated in North Neuquen, Patagonia Trashumante Fly Fishing is in the backcountry of North Patagonia’s classic destinations. The largest city in North Neuquen is Chos Malal with only 16,000 inhabitants. Separated by 210 miles from the closest airport, the area had largely been inaccessible to international tourists over the last few decades. 10 years ago, there were no asphalt routes.
Now, new asphalt routes connect travelers more easily to the destinations for our operation and get us there faster for more time fishing. This huge and solitary area is now slowly changing and being recognized for its worth.
I was one of the firsts fishing guide in the zone and am still one of only a few. We now have 3 good hotels and 2 fishing lodges which are suited nicely for foreign visitors. While our operation is distanced from the large fishing scene, we take care of arranging all transfers, logistics, and accommodations within the all-inclusive nature of our fishing trips. Once you arrive at the airport, the rest is taken care of.
Weather
Most days are sunnier and warmer with less rain than other parts of Patagonia. You can expect warm days at the rivers with temperatures that reach as high as 25 or 30 degrees Celsius (77 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit), especially in December, January and February — great for wet wading! March and November are more temperate, and April and May can get a little cold.
