Toon Ken Lodge is not currently taking reservations. For anglers interested in fishing Tierra del Fuego, we recommend Kau Tapen, Villa Maria, and Aurelia Lodge as excellent alternatives for Sea Run Brown Trout.
Angler Adventure’s other base of operations in Tierra del Fuego is Estancia San Julio, a working sheep and cattle ranch adjacent to the Rio Grande. Accommodations are available at Estancia San Julio for up to 6 anglers at the newly constructed Toon Ken Lodge, which is owned and operated by Nervous Waters.
Toon Ken, one of several buildings on this magnificent property, has four comfortable single guest bedrooms and 2 double bedrooms each with private bathrooms. There is a common living room with fire that is always burning, a new sauna and an outdoor hot tub.
The lodge staff consists of a chef and a sous chef, one maid, a hostess/manager, and three guides with three vehicles. As is the case at all Nervous Waters’ properties, the cuisine is second to none, featuring gourmet continental and national dishes such as traditional lamb asado. Meals are enhanced with a selection of fine Argentine wines.
Toon Ken is located directly upstream of Estancia Maria Behety and on the opposite side of the river from Kau Tapen. Toon Ken has several pools of double bank fishing within walking distance of the lodge, or you’ll drive down stream to fish miles of left bank fishing, across from sister lodge, Kau Tapen. Prevailing winds usually favor left bank anglers on this stretch.
Guests are rotated through a variety of pools on the Rio Grande, where the fish average 8-10 pounds with some reaching 20 pounds or more. A guest of Toon Ken landed a 27 pounder in 2006.
Most anglers fish from approximately 9:00 am – 1:30 pm, then have lunch.
When the weather permits, asados are prepared on the bank of the river or guests may return to the lodge for the midday meal.
After lunch and a siesta, fishing resumes from approximately 5:00 pm – 9:30 pm or until dark, which can be as late as 10:30 – 11:00 pm depending on the time of year. Morning and evening tend to be the times when the wind is the calmest and when the phototropic browns also take better in the lower light conditions.
Toon Ken is located 70 kilometers (one and a half-hour drive) from the city of Rio Grande. Most times of the year there are daily flights from Buenos Aires to Rio Grande. Flight time, if a non-stop, takes 2½ hours. There is a less regular flight to and from Bariloche with three stops totaling five hours traveling time. The Bariloche flight is the logical connecting point between Tierra del Fuego and Angler Adventures fishing programs in Patagonia, Argentina.
The Tierra del Fuego fishing season opens the second weekend in November and closes late-April, however Toon Ken is open only during the prime months of the season. January through April, when the clear waters bring in steady numbers of fish per day and some heavyweights – fish in the 20 pound plus range.
Tierra del Fuego is known for winds that can blow with gale force, however, mornings generally have lighter breezes. You should prepare for variable temperatures during the day; the wind can lower the chill factor in a matter of minutes.
Our Services are Free!
Contact us for Seasonal Discounts, Special Offers or Promotional Pricing
Toon Ken
Included in the rate are: Pick-up and return to Rio Grande Airport; 6 days of guided fishing by vehicle/foot; accommodations; all meals with house wine and beer; soft drinks; fishing license and tax.
Not included in the rate are: Airfare, departure taxes; laundry, tips to guides or at hotels; bar expenses; tackle; flies; hotels and transfers in Buenos Aires and possible meals or sightseeing during layover in Buenos Aires; transfers in Ushuaia (approx. $200 per person).
Toon Ken / Villa Maria Combination Week
Nervous Waters offers a unique Combination Package week with 3-full days fishing each at both Toon Ken Lodge and Villa Maria Lodge. We’re excited about this option for several reasons. First, each angler has the opportunity to fish different water every day, nearly 40 kilometers total. But also, as in sea trout or salmon fishing anywhere, there are unpredictable times during the season when the fishing may be hotter on the upper stretches than the lower, or vice versa. The fishing on the Rio Grande is often equally as good upriver or down, but if you happen to hit that occasional slow period, take heart in the knowledge you’ll be moving to an entirely different stretch of the river for the second half week where the fishing is likely to be better! This program has been extremely successful and well received.
Our Services are Free!
Contact us for Seasonal Discounts, Special Offers or Promotional Pricing
Toon Ken / Villa Maria Combination Package
Included in the rate are: Pick-up and return to Rio Grande Airport; mid-week transfer between lodges; 6 days of guided fishing by vehicle/foot; accommodations; all meals with house wine and beer; soft drinks; fishing license and tax.
Not included in the rate are: Airfare, departure taxes; laundry, tips to guides or at hotels; bar expenses; tackle; flies; hotels and transfers in Buenos Aires and possible meals or sightseeing during layover in Buenos Aires; transfers in Ushuaia (approx. $200 per person).
Sample Itinerary (based on starting at Toon Ken)
Friday — Arrive Rio Grande. You will be met by your guides who assist with your luggage and drive you to Toon Ken Lodge (90 minutes). Note: Last season, Aerolineas did not fly into Rio Grande on Fridays requiring an additional transfer from Ushuaia.
Saturday-Sunday — Two full days of fishing for big sea-run brown trout on the Rio Grande River, returning to Toon Ken Lodge each afternoon for lunch and siesta, and in the evening for cocktails, dinner, and overnight accommodations.
Monday — Half-day fishing this morning on your assigned beat. At 1:00 pm, the groups will flip. The Toon Ken group will transfer to the Villa Maria riverside Fishing House for lunch and siesta. This afternoon you’ll be fishing completely “new” water. At dark, you’ll be transferred to Estancia José Menendez and the Villa Maria Lodge. The gear you left in your room at Toon Ken Lodge will be carefully transferred to your assigned rooms at Villa Maria Lodge while you are fishing in the afternoon.
Tuesday-Thursday — Three full days of fishing for big sea-run brown trout on the Rio Grande River, with full days on the river. In the evening return to Villa Maria for cocktails, dinner, and overnight accommodations.
Friday — Early this morning you will be driven (about 30 minutes) to the Rio Grande airport (or Ushuaia) and assisted with check-in for your flight to Buenos Aires.
Tackle
Our recommendations about tackle, flies, clothing and accessories you might want to bring will be sent to you upon request. The lodge will provide back-up tackle if yours doesn’t arrive. However, guests are expected to bring their own tackle and flies. Flies and tackle are available for sale at the lodge.
Booking
Both Villa Maria and Toon Ken operate at near, if not 100% capacity January through March, and enjoy nearly a 90% rate of re-booking. The demand for this incredible sea-run brown trout fishing is extremely high. Some prime spaces however are still available we encourage anglers to call as early as possible to try to secure the best available dates.