Wetter weather last week has caused a small rise in the river which can only be a good thing as we move into the latter part of the Rio Grande season. The front came from the east to south east which made for tricky casting at times. As usual when the wind changes direction, some of the less fished pools come into their own, while some of the favourites require an approach from the high bank to allow for a proper fishing angle. One feature of this past week is that there have been a good number of twenty pound fish being caught which is very encouraging to see. What was very impressive was to hear that Villa Maria caught five twenty pound fish between six rods, as twenty pounds has always been considered the trophy mark that is remarkably good odds of catching one of these very special fish during that week.
Contact Olly Thompson or call our office on +44(0)1980 847389.
Estancia Maria Behety Week 9
As predicted in the weather forecast, rain arrived in our area this week which was not a bad thing considering the water level was low. The slight rise helped the river level, but weather front came from the east and south east which made for challenging casting. The rise also coloured the water slightly but we do not fell that this had a major impact on the fishing. Despite a few particularly cold days, fishing conditions improved compared to the week before. Notably, we continued to catch larger fish on average than in previous seasons which has been a positive feature of this season.
Flies and tactics
Due to the low water, smaller flies have still been most effective for much of the week, but when the water coloured we moved to larger flies, like girdle bugs and small leeches. EMB (weighted and unweighted), green machine, girdle bug, small salmon doubles, chartreuse leeches, sunray shadow, black leeches in the evening when the light drops.
Due to awkward wind direction skagit lines were used mostly throughout the week. 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: 7º C to 10ºC
Weather Conditions
Air temperatures: 0º to 14ºC
Wind speed ranges from 7 to 68 km/h
Rain during the week: 24.2 mm
Catch stats
Total catch 94
Fish over 15lb 30
Largest fish 24lb
Average weight: 11.1lb
Kau Tapen February 22 – 1 March
We’ve just concluded the eighth week of fishing on both the Río Grande and Menéndez rivers, welcoming a group of international anglers from Europe and the U.S.
Water levels remained low across both rivers, requiring a delicate and precise approach for success during daylight hours. The weather was relatively typical for the season, though we did experience a couple of days with intense winds. While the gusts didn’t directly impact the fishing, they did present challenges in casting and maintaining proper line control during the swing. With the season progressing and water levels staying low, the fish have begun settling into their holding spots rather than continuing to run. This shift called for slight adjustments in strategy, but we continued to fish all available water. Small, naturally coloured nymphs paired with long leaders proved to be the most effective technique throughout the week. Although conditions were tougher than usual, we still managed to land some exceptional sea trout, ranging from 5 to 16 pounds. As always, the late hours of the day proved the most productive. The Menéndez River continues to impress, leaving every guest eager to return for another shot at its incredible fish.
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 February 21 – 28
It’s been a very exciting week at Villa María Lodge. From the outset, a cold air mass sweeping up from Antarctica set the tone, bringing frigid temperatures and strong winds. Despite these challenging conditions, the weather remained relatively stable, allowing for exceptional fishing throughout the week.
At times, the temperature dipped close to 0°C which made for some frosty mornings, with water temperatures falling to around 7°C. While this impacted the fishing and put our skills of the guides and guests to the test we achieved some excellent results thanks for everyone’s perseverance.
The final two days brought especially strong winds, making casting demanding but we still enjoyed a fantastic week, landing five fish over the magical 20 pound mark. The standout catch was Adrian’s impressive 23-pound sea trout, a true trophy fish!
As the water cooled, adaptation was key. We moved away from the lighter lines that had been effective in previous weeks, instead switching to fast-sinking techniques to reach the deeper pools where the sea trout were holding. Despite the cold water and overcast skies, small flies proved highly effective, from delicate nymphs to the ever-reliable Green Machine and weighted micro streamers. These subtle patterns delivered excellent results, even in low-light conditions.
Looking ahead, some rain is in the forecast for next week, though it is unlikely to significantly alter river levels. Unless the weather takes an unexpected turn, we anticipate another stellar week of fishing, fine-tuning our strategies to match the cooler conditions.
If you would like more information then please do not hesitate to contact Olly Thompson or call our office on +44(0)1980 847389.