Jurassic Lake—locals call it Lago Strobel—is Patagonia’s windswept trophy factory, and Estancia Laguna Verde is the only program that combines private shoreline on the lake with full access to the Barrancoso River and the surrounding chain lakes. From the lodge’s perch above the property’s namesake lagoon, anglers chase the heaviest rainbows on the continent while enjoying polished hospitality, single-room options, and guides who know every bay and beat by name.
This is still the wild Patagonian steppe: five hours from El Calafate, big skies, bigger wind, and rainbows that average seven to nine pounds with legitimate double-digit fish landed every week. Laguna Verde’s seasoned crew keeps you on the fish with a fleet of Hilux trucks, quad access to remote bays, and a flexible daily plan that adjusts to wind direction and water levels.
Species: Trophy rainbows to 20+ pounds, plus resident browns and brookies in the chain lakes.
Season: October through April — peak lake windows December–March, prime Barrancoso runs early and late.
Weather: Expect steady Patagonian wind, cool nights, and dramatic shifts—layers, wading jackets, and sun protection are mandatory.
Location: Five hours west of El Calafate, Santa Cruz province — private shoreline on Lago Strobel plus exclusive Barrancoso River beats.
Tell us how you like to fish—swinging buggers in Monster Bay, sight-casting mouse patterns to new arrivals in the Barrancoso, or hunting brookies in the chain lakes. We’ll build the exact week around your priorities.
Ready to plan your Jurassic Lake week or add it onto a Tierra del Fuego sea-trout itinerary?
Strobel’s rainbows simply feed harder than any stillwater trout on the planet. Fueled by dense scud populations, they cruise Monster, Camelot, and Sea bays in clear water where you can sight-cast streamers, nymphs, or giant foam mice and watch fish in the mid-teens inhale the fly. The lodge’s private access covers more than twenty kilometres of shoreline, so your guide always has a protected bay in the wind and fresh water to explore.1
Even by Patagonia standards, the variety is staggering. Morning on the Barrancoso river can mean swinging small streamers through boulder-filled runs for chrome bright fish fresh from the lake; afternoons might move to Moro Creek or one of a dozen smaller lagoons where resident browns and brookies crush terrestrials. Guides carry full-day lunches, flex the schedule around weather, and keep you moving with Hilux trucks and ATVs staged across the estancia.
How the Program Flows
Guests typically arrive in El Calafate on Friday night, then transfer about five hours across the steppe on Saturday morning. Each fishing day starts with a briefing in the mudroom before splitting among Strobel bays, the Barrancoso, or the chain lakes. Expect one guide per two anglers, 4WD moves between spots, and quad shuttles or short walks when wind dictates a different bay. Lunches are cooked on-site and afternoons remain fluid—if the river is rising with fresh fish, guides pivot the plan so you’re there when it lights up.2
Bring quiver-building tackle: 7- or 8-weight rods with aggressive floating lines for the lake, intermediate or sink tips for heavy chop, and 5- or 6-weight outfits for the Barrancoso. Heavy fluorocarbon (0X–2X) is the norm on Strobel, while clear river water often calls for 8–10 lb leaders. The lodge stocks loaner rods and reels if something breaks, and there is a small pro shop with spare flies and essentials.
Lodge Life & Amenities
Laguna Verde’s estancia house blends Patagonian character with thoughtful comforts: ten single-occupancy rooms plus two doubles (all en suite), 24-hour electricity, Wi-Fi, a full bar, wine tastings in the cave, and twice-weekly laundry. Evenings revolve around chef-driven meals—Patagonian lamb asado, handmade pastas, and Mendoza varietals—followed by fly tying or stargazing under southern skies.2
Seasonal Fishing Calendar
Fishery
Prime Window
Notes
Lago Strobel rainbows
December through March
Average 7-9 lbs; frequent shots at fish over 15 lbs in Monster and Camelot bays when winds line up.
Barrancoso River run
October-November & late March-April
High flows draw chrome lake fish upstream; sight-fish pockets with streamers or large dries.
Moro Creek & chain lakes
November-February
Great for afternoons with lighter wind; brookies and resident rainbows crush mice and terrestrials.
Shoulder season stillwater
October & April
Fewer anglers, cooler temps, and light pressure on sheltered bays when lake fish move shallow.
2025–2026 Rates & Booking Notes
Laguna Verde releases space in limited blocks each season, and the prime summer weeks book 12–18 months out. Shoulder weeks (early October and April) are ideal for anglers targeting the Barrancoso run or looking for more forgiving wind windows.
Package
Travel Window
Rate (USD)
7 nights / 6.5 fishing days
December – March
$7,950 per angler
7 nights / 6.5 fishing days
Oct 1–21 & Apr 5–30
$6,300 per angler
5 nights / 4.5 fishing days
December – March
$6,580 per angler
5 nights / 4.5 fishing days
Oct 1–19 & Apr 4–30
$5,250 per angler
4 nights / 3.5 fishing days
December – March
$5,750 per angler
4 nights / 3.5 fishing days
Oct 1–19 & Apr 4–30
$4,580 per angler
Rates are per person in USD$ and subject to change. Contact us for seasonal promos.
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Accommodations at Estancia Laguna Verde with single or double rooms (subject to availability).
All meals with paired Argentine wines plus daily shoreline asados.
Open bar, soft drinks, and espresso service.
Fully guided fishing (two anglers per guide) with use of trucks, ATVs, and loaner rods/reels on request.
Round-trip ground transfers between El Calafate (FTE) and the estancia.
Wi-Fi, satellite TV lounge, drying room, and laundry twice per week.
Not Included
International flights to Buenos Aires and domestic flights to El Calafate.
Hotels and meals in Buenos Aires or El Calafate before/after your week.
Argentina fishing license (approx. $140 per week, paid at the lodge).
Guide and staff gratuities, premium cigars, specialty wines, or shop purchases.
Flies, terminal tackle, waders, and boots (available for purchase or rental on site).
Travel insurance, Global Rescue or medevac coverage, and any itinerary changes due to weather or airline delays.
Plan Your Week
Let us hold preferred space, coordinate El Calafate logistics, or pair Laguna Verde with a Tierra del Fuego sea-run brown trout week. Our services are free, and we’ll tailor every detail—from tackle prep to add-on tours in Los Glaciares National Park.
Jurassic Lake, locally known as Lago Strobel, has garnered a reputation as the most prolific Rainbow Trout fishery in the world. Located in the rugged Steppe or “messita” region of southern Argentina’s Santa Cruz province, Jurassic Lake is the place for trophy Rainbow Trout on a fly. Lago Strobel is a 40 square mile lake and the average Rainbow landed from Jurassic Lake is close to 10 pounds, with fish breaking the 20 pound mark caught almost weekly.
Jurassic Lake is popular among anglers looking for their personal best Rainbow, but it’s not a destination for everyone. It’s located in one of the world’s most desolate, windswept landscapes, 5 hours from the closest airport, El Calafate City. Anglers who make the long journey stay at Estancia Laguna Verde Lodge.
Estancia Laguna Verde offers more than 6 miles of Jurassic Lake coastline accessible from the lodge and a few more remote areas only accessible by boat (when the weather allows). Guests at Estancia Laguna Verde have access to “Monsters Bay”, which was named after the consistent numbers and size of the trout landed in the bay and considered to be the best fishing area on Jurassic Lake. Anglers will also fish the productive Camelot Bay, Moro Bay, Horse Shoe Bay, Finger Bay, Sea Bay, Tazmania Bay, Dry Fly Bay, Puesto Bay, and The Aquarium. Fishing in the Bays offers some protection from the ever present wind. On calmer days, the sight fishing with small nymphs or large dry flies can be spectacular in all of the bays.
Estancia Laguna Verde is a 37,000 acre ranch on the southern shore of Jurassic Lake. The estancia encompasses 12 chain lakes connected by Moro Creek, and 5-miles of the Barrancoso River, which is the sole tributary to Jurassic Lake. The smaller chain lakes each have their own stock of big Rainbows. The Estancia and Lodge’s namesake, Laguna Verde, is full of 4 – 8 pound Rainbows, with fish over 10 pounds caught regularly, and is a short walk from the lodge. Many anglers catch their personal best Rainbow while “warming up” on Laguna Verde, before making a single cast into Jurassic Lake. Estancia Laguna Verde has made substantial improvements to the exiting roads inside the estancia and added new roads, allowing anglers easier access to the best fishing areas. The new infrastructure has improved the efficiency of travel, resulting in more time on the water for clients. Also added was a “lake cabin” on the shore of Jurassic Lake, where anglers can enjoy lunch, a siesta, or just take a coffee / matte break out of the wind. Estancia Laguna Verde now has access to 4 beats on Moro Creek, which are accessible by 4-Wheel Drive ATV’s or by truck.
Unlike the short sea-run trout fishing season on the nearby Gallegos or in Tierra del Fuego, Jurassic Lake has excellent fishing for almost 6 full months, from November – April. The higher water levels in November & December offer sight fishing on the Moro Creek and there are lots of large Rainbows still in the Barrancoso River, as well as in Jurassic Lake. Lower water in January – mid-March focuses fishing for big rainbows in the lakes, with mostly smaller trout in the Barrancoso River. As water levels start to rise in late-March – April, there are more big rainbows running back into the Barrancoso River, preparing to spawn.
The lodge on Estancia Laguna Verde is a traditional “Estancia House” with 7 guest rooms, accommodating a maximum of 12 anglers, each with a private bathroom. Estancia Laguna Verde Lodge is not luxurious, but given its remoteness, it is quite comfortable. Guests enjoy amenities like 24-hour electricity, 24-hour hot water, satellite TV on a 42″ LCD TV, wireless internet, and twice weekly laundry service. There’s also a changing room/drying facility, located by the entrance to the lodge for anglers to change before and after the fishing day, as well as to store / dry fishing gear, such as waders, wading boots, rods, reels, vests, etc.
Fishing Jurassic Lake requires rods capable of handling strong winds and fish that could go over 20 pounds. Fast action 9 / 10 foot rods in the 7 – 9 weight range are excellent choices, with a high quality, large abor reel. Almost all of the fishing is done with floating lines, but having a variety of lines like floating, sink tip, sinking lines with a medium sink rate and a shooting head type fly lines is recommend so you can adapt to conditions. Jurassic Lake trout aren’t leader shy, so heavy tippets are recommended to keep the enormous fish from braking off. For the Barrancoso River, 8 / 9 foot rods in 5 – 6 weight are adequate. When fishing the beautiful Barrancoso River, 9 ft. leaders in lighter tippet sizes (8-10 lbs) are recommended, as the water is clear and the fish can be spooky and challenging at times.
Top dry flies are: Mice, Chernobyl Ant, Tarantula, Madam X, Gypsy King, Stimulator (yellow and green), and Stimulator Rubber legs in sizes 6 – 10. Estancia Laguna Verde suggests a variety of weighted and unweighted Woolly Buggers, scuds, zonkers, and matukas in sizes 4 – 10. Don’t forget a selection of nymph’s and typical western flies for some of the more technical fishing. There is also a small fly shop at the lodge with a limited supply of waders, jackets, leaders, flies, tying materials, lines, rods, reels, and other fishing equipment. Also, in the event that something gets broken or lost, the lodge has some loaner tackle (Echo Rods and Islander Reels) that anglers can borrow. Don’t forget the “Flexi Stripper” stripping baskets, helpful when making long casts in the lake as well as protecting lines from the rocky coastline.
Estancia Laguna Verde strives to offer the best cuisine Argentina has to offer. The chef combines what Argentina is famous for: Great “asados” (barbeques) and Patagonian lamb, with tasty international dishes, all served with great wines from Mendoza, San Juan, Salta and Neuquén.
Our Services are Free! Contact us for Seasonal Discounts, Special Offers or Promotional Pricing
Estancia Laguna Verde 2022 Rates
(subject to change)
The cost for a 7-night / 6-day fishing package is $6,200 per person based on double occupancy accommodations and a shared guide daily.
Included: pick-up and return to Calafate Airport; daily guided fishing with 2 anglers per guide; accommodations; all meals; beverages (including water, wines, beer, sodas, cocktails, liquors); 24-hour electricity; satellite television; WiFi; laundry service twice per week.
Not included: airfare; departure and reciprocity taxes; transfers between airports or hotel to airports; hotels in Buenos Aires or El Calafate City where applicable; tips to guides or at hotels; tackle; flies, Argentina fishing license ($70 US per week, subject to change); possible meals or sightseeing during layovers in Buenos Aires (sport coat optional); Satellite Telephone use; other items of a personal nature.
