The season on the Rio Grande is well and truly underway with fish running the river and slowly starting to spread throughout the system. What has been especially encouraging so far this season is that the average size of fish has been higher than usual. Olly has just returned from Estancia Maria Behety with a group and noted that most of the fish caught during their week was ten pounds and up with few of the smaller fish caught.
Over the past few weeks the water level on the river is a similar height to this time last year which has made for excellent conditions for fishing higher in the surface. Recent rain has caused the river to rise a little which is help to maintain for the height over the next few weeks.
Estancia Maria Behety Week 3
We’ve had a fantastic start to the season! Compared to last year, the number of fish caught has remained steady, but their average weight has increased significantly. The river conditions are excellent, and fortunately, last week’s heavy rains did not impact the fishing or river negatively. Throughout the week the fish activity was high in all of our beats, keeping our guests engaged and excited. There is a good spread of fresh run fish and fish that came in a few weeks ago that have begun to show a little colour.
Flies and tactics
Due to the clear water, smaller flies where the order of the day. EMB (weighted and unweighted), green machine, girdle bug, small salmon double, sunray shadow, leeches in the evening when the light drops.
Scandi lines with a range of poly tips on the days with less wind and skagit lines with heavier tips when it was more windy or when we had to get deeper. Throughout the week we fished a range of tips from intermediate up to T20 depending on the pool and how active the fish were at the time.
Water Conditions
Water colour and visibility: Lower water, two days of slightly coloured water otherwise running clear
Water temperature: 5º C to 11ºC
Weather Conditions
Air temperatures: 4º to 19ºC
Wind speed ranges from 11 to 91 km/h
Rain during the week: 11 mm
Catch stats
Total catch 97
Fish over 15lb 29
Largest fish 22.5lb
Contact Olly Thompson or call our office on +44(0)1980 847389.
Kau Tapen January 11 – 18
This week, we welcomed an amazing group of anglers from Scandinavia and North America, who enjoyed excellent fishing on the Rio Grande and Menendez rivers.
The water remained low and clear, creating challenging yet rewarding fishing conditions. Success came from using floating and intermediate lines, long leaders, and small flies. The weather kept us on edge with shifting wind directions and fluctuating temperatures, leading to slower sessions at times. However, once conditions stabilized, the fishing improved significantly.
The favorable conditions for fish movement upriver kept us active, carefully targeting pockets where resting fish were likely to be found. Meanwhile, our main holding spots continued to produce consistently, offering excitement on nearly every visit.
Every angler connected with fish this week, and the Menendez River delivered some truly unforgettable moments. Fish sizes ranged from 6 lbs to 18.5 lbs, with most being fresh-run, though a few coloured fish added variety to the catches.
2025 Availability
March 29 – 7 April – 1 rod (discounted rate)
Prices do not include international or domestic flights, hotels in Buenos Aires or fishing licences which cost US$595
Villa Maria January 10 – 16
The third week of fishing at Villa María Lodge brought weather shifts that kept us on our toes. Strong northern winds reached speeds of up to 100 km/h, while temperatures plunged to as low as 4ºC during the late hours of some fishing days. Rain upstream caused the river to rise by 15–20 cm, resulting in a brief period of murky water.
The river’s temperature also dropped significantly, from 17ºC last week to a brisk 9ºC, which impacted fish activity. Despite these challenges, we experienced some outstanding fishing days, though others proved more demanding. The highlight of the week: every guest landed fish weighing over 16 lbs.
Gear and Strategies
The shifting conditions required constant adjustments to our approach. We switched between light, small flies and vibrant intruders paired with fast-sinking lines to tackle the colder, murkier waters effectively. Adaptability proved key, and our guides’ expertise played a crucial role in ensuring some great catches.
2025 Availability
February 21 – 28 – 1 rod (discounted rate)
March 7 – 14 – 3 rods (discounted rate)
Prices do not include international or domestic flights, hotels in Buenos Aires or fishing licences which cost US$595
If you would like more information then please do not hesitate to contact Olly Thompson or call our office on +44(0)1980 847389.