Hope that you are all doing great there in Connecticut. A small report on what is going on at the Estancia, to wet your appetite.
Last week the fishing at the ranch was outstanding to say the least. Our guests caught very nice trout on the Pedregoso Creek, the Coyhaique River and of Course on the Zorro Spring Creek.
The Pedregoso was particularly productive there we have been averaging 50 trout per guest a day (between 12 and 19 inches).
At the Zorro Creek they caught an overage of 15 trout per day, they were from 16 to 24 inches. (all in dry flies, since they did not want to use nymphs).
We are starting to see some pretty good hatches in the afternoon (may flies and caddis); we expect that the fishing in the next weeks will keep getting better and better.
Now we have a group from New York and Pennsylvania, they are here for the second time and were having a blast in the Pedregoso today.
For more information, call (800-628-1447 / 860-434-9624) or email Chip Bates (chip@angleradventures.com) at Angler Adventures.
For those among us who love swinging flies in rivers for big salmonids, it can be a long winter! But you can swing to your heart’s content all winter long on the world’s greatest sea trout river! The Rio Grande in southern Argentina produces sea run brownies that average 12 pounds and frequently top the 20-pound mark!
The original – the classic: Kau Tapen, the first lodge built on the Rio Grande, fishes 12 rods on 10 miles of the Rio Grande and an additional 15 miles on Rio Menendez.
The normal rate at Kau Tapen is $7,250 p.p. from your arrival in Rio Grande City. International airfare to Buenos Aries, city transfer, hotels and in-country airfare to Rio Grande can cost another $2,200 – $2,500. However, Kau Tapen is offering a great “Hassle Free” inclusive package during selected weeks amounting to a savings of nearly $2,000 per person: 2011 Dates: Jan 8 – 15, Mar 19 -26 or Mar 26 – Apr 2.
Inclusive Package Includes: Round trip Airfare Miami to Buenos Aires; Transfer from International airport to Hotel; 1 night at the Loi Suites Recoleta (sgl room); Transfer from Hotel to Domestic Airport; Flight Buenos Aires – Rio Grande – Buenos Aires; 7 nights + 6.5 days fishing at Kau Tapen Lodge; Transfer from domestic to International airport
Rate: USD $8,105 per person (or just $6,796 not including international airfare).
Kau Tapen’s sister lodge, Villa Maria is situated just downstream from Kau Tapen, near the tide head, and is the choice location to intercept the freshest, brightest sea trout. Normally weeks are $6,750 per person from Rio Grande City, but Villa Maria is also offering a domestic air-inclusive package for the week of March 25 – April 1, 2011, $6,550 per person; a savings about $1,000. This would include all of the above except international airfare to Buenos Aires.
Aurelia is the next estancia upstream from Kau Tapen’s water and offers 6 miles of double bank fishing on the Rio Grande, and 15 miles on the Rio Menedez, Aurelia’s upstream location makes it most desirable during the second half of the season when their pools are literally stuffed with fish! Good space is still available for late February and March weeks. Rates from arrival in Rio Grande range from $3,580 – $4,680 per person until March 6th. The rate is $5,890 per person from March 6th – April 17th.
Fly Fishing in Chile is known for big brown trout taking big surface flies. This is especially true in the Coyhaique area of Southern Patagonia. Typically anglers thinking about Chile imagine the splashy rises of trout taking 2” – 3” imitations of Cantaria Beetle, the largest beetle in Chile. This season offers something new, potentially a once in a lifetime opportunity. The Quila Bamboo in the Paloma River Valley is seeding – an event that happens about every 15 years (estimated to take 60 years for the bloom to return to the same area). This “bloom” creates an explosion in the mouse population due to the abundance of food (Quila Seeds). This acute rise in rodent populations is a well-known phenomenon in South America, which has been scientifically documented since 1552.
Cinco Rios Chile is already exploiting the situation and catching large browns on mouse imitations, however owner Sebastian Galilea expects the fishing to peak in late February / early March when the rodent population is at its peak and the supply of Quila seeds has declined. Anyone who has fished the Arolik for Rainbows or Labrador for Brookies can testify to the voracious strikes on mice when skated over fish from an opposing bank or overhanging branch. The Paloma River, the Magote, the Rio Simpson, the Boca de Leon, and the Elizadle all have visible increases in the rodent populations and are proving productive when fished with a mouse imitation.
Cinco Rios – $3,675 US per person based on double occupancy & two anglers per guide
January 1 – 15 – 4 anglers
January 15 – 22 – 2 anglers
January 22 – 29 – 6 anglers
January 29 – February 19 – 2 anglers
February 26 – March 5 – 6 anglers
Paloma River Lodge – $3,250.00 US per person based on double occupancy & two anglers per guide
January 1 – February 12 – 8 anglers
February 12 – March 12 – 4 anglers
Cantaria Beetle of Southern Chile
Estancia del Zorro – $3,675 US per person based on double occupancy & two anglers per guide
While Cinco Rios’ sister lodge may not get to experience the boom in mice, the estancia is home to the famously productive Zorro spring creek. These are the last spots available for the 2010 – 2011 season:
As we mentioned in our last post, friend / photographer / fly tackle sales rep Jon Covich took a trip to Arroyo Claro Lodge in Argentina in January. However, Jon wasn’t there solely for the great fishing on the Chubut, Carrilefu, and Rivadavia Rivers. He was also in Patagonia to take photos – and boy did he capture some exceptional images while staying at Arroyo Claro. Jon’s photo’s were so good that he was invited to do a photo essay on his trip in Catch Magazine, an online magazine focused on showing the beauty of fly fishing through the finest in fly fishing photography and cinematography. Catch is a truly unique online publication and we love it here at Angler Adventures. Click here to access Catch Magazine’s 17th issue, click on contents (lower left) and then ‘Photo Essay – Patagonia Backroads’ under the ‘Unique Essays’ heading to experience the entire essay. Until then, here’s a small sample:
The Chubut River
“…Rio Chubut, our longest float trip, will be our first excursion and it will take four days to cover sixty miles. The river holds the strongest rainbow trout in the country and we catch them all on dries. The summer weather is very dry, the high desert kind, and at times with a wind that sweeps the barren hills and is, thankfully, partially blocked by the willows that border the river…”
The Compleat Angler and Angler Adventures present “An Evening with Eve Reilly”. Eve has been the manager of the legendary Poronui Ranch for 18 years. Poronui, remotely located in the central part of the North Island of New Zealand, was recently voted by Forbes Magazine as one of the top 10 fly fishing destinations in the world, with a team of professional guides and convenient access to many of New Zealand’s best quality fishing waters.
Join Eve Reilly and Judy Hall for presentation and hear Eve’s masterful stories of the wily brown and rainbow trout fishing in the North Island (the ones that got away and the ones that didn’t). Judy and Eve are both keen fly fishers and outdoor enthusiasts. Please join us Monday, June 27th, 2011 at the Compleat Angler’s new location, 537 Post Road, Darien, CT, 7:00 PM.
We will have some nice raffle prizes, as well as offering anyone at the presentation who books a minimum 4-night/3-day fishing package November 1st – December 15th, 2011 at Poronui will get a FREE helicopter fly out during their stay!
For friends of Poronui and Angler Adventures, this is a great opportunity to catch up, talk fishing, and maybe win a raffle prize. Call or email The Compleat Angler or Angler Adventures to reserve a spot, seating is limited.
We have seats left at our luncheon at Serafina’s Restaurant in New York City on Tuesday, June 28, 2011 at 12:30 PM. If you’re in the NY area on Tuesday, please join Eve Reilly, manager at Poronui Luxury Sporting Lodge in New Zealand and Judy Hall, travel manager at Angler Adventures. For friends of Poronui and Angler Adventures, this is a great opportunity to catch up, talk fishing, and maybe win a raffle prize (several bottles of New Zealand wine will be raffled off).
Anyone attending the luncheon and books a minimum 4-night/3-day fishing package in package November 1st – December 15th, 2011 at Poronui will get a FREE helicopter fly out during their stay!
Angler Adventures and Poronui Lodge are picking up the tab – Lunch is on us! Seating is limited and on a first come, first served basis. Please contact Judy Hall at 800-628-1447; 860-434-9624; judy@angleradventures.com to confirm your participation.
Serafina Fabulous Grill
29 East 61st Street
btw Madison & Park
New York, NY 10222
212-702-9898
It’s common knowledge among traveling anglers that January and February are the most popular time to visit New Zealand. Mostly to escape the winter in the Northern Hemisphere. Judy Hall is our expert on New Zealand and she loves traveling to New Zealand in “the spring”.
Personally, I love New Zealand in the late spring, which in the Southern Hemisphere is mid- November and early-December. Here are the top five reasons I love to visit New Zealand in the spring.
The fishing for both Brown and Rainbow Trout can be outstanding. The trout are hungry and unpressured and more than willing to take a well presented fly.
The weather is mild, average temperatures are in the 70’s, making stalking trout along New Zealand’s clear rivers very comfortable.
Sight nymphing with Stoneflies and the beginning of New Zealand mayfly hatches.
It’s not out of your price range! Spring fishing rates and great airfares in Air New Zealand’s new luxurious cabins (http://insidestory.airnztravelagent.com//) make a fishing trip to New Zealand an affordable option.
The culture: Trips to New Zealand are about more than just trout fishing. Late spring offers the highest density of non-fishing activities and events around the cities that really showcase New Zealand.
Getting excited? You should call (800-628-1447) or email (Judy@angleradventures.com) Judy Hall to discuss the possibility of your trip to New Zealand.
One of Judy's many Spring time New Zealand Brown Trout
Judy Hall is the travel manager at Angler Adventures as well as our New Zealand expert. I asked her some questions about booking flights and got some interested answers.
Evan: Judy, what’s the most common request you get from clients booking long haul flights, such as to New Zealand?
Judy: What’s the best fare I can get on a first class ticket? Since the flights require overnight travel, nearly every client wants to fly Business Class or First Class to get the fully reclining “sleeper seats” and first or Business Class tickets can cost up to $14,000 per person.
Evan: What do you recommend?
Judy: I used to recommend the American Express Platinum 2 for 1 travel program exclusively because it was the best deal available. Now, there are a number of options, such as Excursion Fares or mileage programs. I research each of the options to seek out the best fares. It’s complicated and time consuming, but if I can save my clients thousands of dollars, it’s time well spent.
Evan: Is there anything else people should know making these arrangements?
Judy: Actually, I’d mention that this is a service we offer at no cost to our clients. After a phone call, I do all the legwork preparing the options, and then present the client with the best currently available fare. If they ok the flight option, I issue their tickets. It’s a time and money saving service that’s free!
