A colder weather front made for more challenging fishing on the Rio Grande this week and for a few days of the week the fish seemed less active. The main river is still running clear despite a small rise, this meant smaller flies have been working well as usual. Many of the lodges have been fishing slightly deeper than normal for part of the week to counteract the colder conditions and less active fish. Despite this there have been some excellent catches throughout with many of the main lodges catching good numbers of fish over fifteen pounds and into the twenties.
Contact Olly Thompson or call our office on +44(0)1980 847389.
Estancia Maria Behety Week 6
Unlike many of our weeks this season, an unusually cold weather front moved into the area, bringing chilly southern winds and snowfall to southern Tierra del Fuego. This sudden drop in temperature affected fishing conditions for a couple of days and put the fish down. Despite the changes, we still had some good sessions, and overall, the fishing remained steady overall.
Looking ahead to next week, more typical weather patterns and some rain are expected, which could help stabilize the river level. Overall though the the condition of the river is good with a decent mix of fresh and coloured fish spread throughout our beats.
Flies and tactics
Due to the clear water, smaller flies have been most effective. 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 warmer days with less wind and skagit lines with heavier tips when it was more windy or when we had to get deeper due to the colder conditions. Throughout the week we fished a range of tips from type 3 up to T20 depending on the pool and how active the fish were at the time.
Water Conditions
Water colour and visibility: Low water and clear with excellent visibility.
Water temperature: 6º C to 10ºC
Weather Conditions
Air temperatures: 0º to 17ºC
Wind speed ranges from 16 to 74 km/h
Rain during the week: 3.2 mm
Catch stats
Total catch 108
Fish over 15lb 36
Largest fish 22lb
Average weight: 10.2lb
Kau Tapen February 1 – 8
We’ve just wrapped up the fifth week of fishing on the Rio Grande and Menendez rivers, welcoming a mixed group of anglers from all over Europe and the U.S.
At the start of the week, the Rio Grande had a slight tea-coloured tint that was left from the previous rise. The Menendez River was a little more coloured than the main river but was still perfectly fishable.
As the week progressed, both rivers dropped gradually and clarity improved. Fishing techniques on the Rio Grande remained consistent, with small to medium-sized flies, long leaders, and Type 3 sinking lines used in the deeper pools. On the Menendez, we began the week with larger flies, gradually transitioning to smaller patterns as the water cleared.
The weather remained steady, with strong westward winds that allowed us to fish every day and temperatures stayed stable, with colder nights helping to regulate the water temperature. The river conditions continued to support active fish migration upstream. Fresh fish were consistently caught throughout the week, and we focused on targeting these runners by covering all sections of the beats rather than staying too long at the main holding spots.
Every angler connected with fish, ranging from 6 lbs to 21 lbs. While most were fresh, we also landed a few darker specimens. Overall, it was another productive week on the water, and we’re excited for what’s ahead!
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 31 – 7 February
Against all odds, the weather remained fairly stable. The strong winds and heavy rains that were forecasted never arrived, allowing the river to maintain a good level while gradually dropping throughout the week. Occasional pulses of water from the mountains caused slight increases, but these changes had no impact on the fishing.
With steady conditions, our approach to targeting Río Grande’s sea trout remained unchanged. Switch rods or short two-handed rods (up to 13 feet), light lines, and small flies were the go-to choice during daylight hours. As night fell, we switched to larger flies to provoke aggressive strikes.
This week was all about quality over quantity with every angler landed fish over 16 lbs. Maurice set the tone with a stunning 23-lb male, only for his friend Bruno to top it just 10 minutes later with an incredible 24-lb sea-run beauty.
Looking ahead, we anticipate more favourable weather with light winds, cooler temperatures, and a steadily dropping, clearing river and conditions are shaping up well for another exciting week on the water.
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.