The Fishing
The fishing at Bella Vista comprises of two principal fisheries, the Rio Gallegos and the Gallegos Chico. The Estancia has 50km private access on Rio Gallegos and 20km private access on Gallegos Chico.
The Brown Trout of the Rio Gallegos and Gallegos Chico are extremely well documented fish, originally stocked in the late 1920's and 30's. The fish on the main river have gone on to establish a healthy sea-run strain of large running fish, present in only in a few other rivers in the world. High average sizes persist and improve year after year. The chance of a trophy Sea Trout are present with every cast.
The Gallegos Chico is a small charming spring creek with huge character that flows into the main river on the Estancia's eastern boundary. Abundant weed growth and rich aquatic food combine to make this one of the world's most exceptional dry fly fisheries.
Fishing Methods
Although most of their lives are spent in the ocean, the Sea-Run Brown Trout seem to retain more of the eccentricities of resident browns than, for instance, steelhead do of resident rainbows. They are moody fish and must be shown flies the way they want, and see them at the precise time they want them.
Pay close attention to the advice of your guide, whose primary aim is to recommend the methods that will help you hook and land your fish. Generally, the Rio Gallegos Sea Trout seem to lie near cut banks during the middle of the day, though in low water they will also lie in the faster necks of pools. Naturally, they move up primarily during early morning and late nighttime hours. Generally, "tails in the morning and heads at night" is a good rule of thumb. Also look for fish distributed throughout pools on calm, overcast days. Try to begin each fly drift or swing as close to a cut bank as possible, whether the presentation is upstream and across, straight across, or downstream and across. One theory holds that on sunny days, Sea Trout will take best if they don’t have the sun in their eyes.
Fly-Fishing Equipment
The fly-fishing and equipment suggestions that follow are drawn from years of experience fishing the Rio Gallegos under a wide variety of conditions.
Rods
We've tested many rods on the Rio Gallegos throughout the seasons.
For a single-handed rod, we've found a 9, 9½ or 10 footer for a No. 8 line to be about ideal for covering the water and for optimal sport. A rod of this size makes casting easy with the normal downstream southwest wind, while an 8 weight helps you to drive your line into a contrary wind when necessary. Given the Rio Gallegos' moderate flow and generally even gravel bottom, you'll find an 8 or 9 weight capable of doing battle with even the river's largest sea trout (15 to 25 plus lbs.), while it insures the most action with smaller sea trout and resident browns ( up to 10 lbs). Two handed rods are increasingly popular and allow anglers to cast a comfortable line with far less effort, particularly on windy days. Perhaps the most important factor at Bella Vista is that fishermen will have a lot of water to cover in a day and having a 2 handed rod significantly eases casting fatigue. Mending line is also easier with a 2-hander. We encourage you to bring a rod in the 12-14 ft class rated for 8-10 weight lines. If you are new to 2-handers, our guides are expert instructors and will help you learn quickly. Among rod makers Sage, Thomas & Thomas, Scott, Orvis and Loomis are excellent choices for Rio Gallegos fishing. It makes sense to bring a back-up rod as well. For the Gallegos Chico you will need a single-handed 9ft, 4-6 weight rod.
Loaner Rods
We have several rods at the lodge for your use should you need one however, we request that you advise us if you will require a rod prior to your arrival to ensure availability. A USD 100 deposit per rod will be requested as a guarantee that the loaner rod will be returned in the same condition that it was issued.
Reels
A quality reel is crucial for playing big sea trout. A strong, smooth drag is a must. Reels (and spare spools) should have capacity for the fly line and 200 yards of 20 pound backing. Appropriate reels include Sage ,Abel, Tibor, Hardy, Lamson, Scientific Anglers, Ross, Etc.
For the Gallegos Chico a direct drive trout reel is adequate for your needs.
Lines
To be well prepared for Southern Patagonia, anglers should include at least three lines to accommodate variance in water levels and wind conditions. Weight forward fly lines are generally used on the Rio Gallegos. Floating lines are typically most useful in low water conditions and during early morning evening hours, when sea trout are inclined to be nearer the surface.
For Single hand rods, we strongly recommend a shooting head system which will not only help cover more water but also cope with the wind. Shooting heads for single hand rods are readily available from Rio and Airflo. They can be purchased separately as heads or with integrated running line. The Teeny T-200 and T-300 lines have proven to be excellent, and at least one or both of these lines should be considered as must bring items. Sinking tips, and sinking polyleaders are also used a lot. Intermediate lines are also effective in some conditions. For two handed rods, we recommend the Scandinavian shooting heads and a full set of polyleaders from floating to super fast sink. We use intermediate polyleaders quite often and extras are not a bad idea. Both Airflo and Rio offer these polyleaders in both 5, 10, and 14 foot options. We recommend the 10 foot.For the Skagit shooting heads we recommend a full wallet of line-matched tips as well as several tips of t-14 and t-11 sinking material. You should match your shooting head with an appropriate running line, usually with a 30 pound core, available from popular brands such as Rio, Airflo, and Varivas.
AFS Rio line with its different tips is the most popular line and can save a lot of time on the water as it negates the need to change spools. Even experienced anglers often find their running line snarls when buffeted by wind. Prevailing southwest winds can be "used" by roll casting or spey-casting, which eliminates the need to backcast - difficult with a trailing wind. We found that a simple roll cast carries even large streamers 35 to 50 feet across and downstream, or far enough to cover the holding lies. Weight forward lines can be roll casted effectively by stripping and shooting line during the cast.
For the Gallegos Chico you will need a weight forward floating line to match your rod weight though 4-6 are generally the preferred weights.
Leaders
Experience on the Rio Gallegos, indicates that sea trout aren't particularly leader shy. While reasonable stealth should be exercised, your chief concern is to bring monofilament in sizes that will turn over the array of fly sizes and patterns you'll be using. Spools of mono should include 20, 15, 12 and 10 lbs breaking strengths. If you are fishing in High water conditions, made-up leaders aren't necessary, since a few feet of mono will do fine if you are fishing with sunk lines and big flies. Floating line fishing under normal or low-water conditions will require 9-12ft leader lengths and your guide will assist you in preparing these. Maxima Ultra-green tippet, Guideline, is a good choice it stretches during a fight with a fish and has excellent knot strength.
While fishing, be sure to check your mono regularly for casting knots and abrasions, and after each fish caught test your leader knots.
For the Gallegos Chico you will need leaders tapered to 7 or 8 lbs breaking strain.
Flies
The lodge has a better than average selection of local patterns both for the Gallegos and Gallegos Chico, as well as other selected items of tackle. If however the river has been fishing one particular technique well for more than a few weeks, fly patterns will sell out. Bring with you the same flies that you might fish for Steelhead and Atlantic Salmon in all size variations and you won't go far wrong. Sea run brown trout are mysterious fish. The only constant in their tastes seems to be a penchant for black, and the trout that accepted your small salmon patterns today may demand flies with white rubber legs tomorrow. Historically, most Rio Gallegos fish were taken on large streamers, perhaps because those were most used. In low water conditions, however, more large sea trout are taken on smaller wets, nymphs and dry flies. We suggest packing a range of flies in various patterns and sizes, and urge frequent changes when one combination of line and fly isn't working, depending on light conditions, water levels, and especially on your guide's advice.
Barbless hooks are strongly encouraged.
All you need to remember for the Gallegos Chico is to bring your terrestrial fly box with plenty of beetle and hopper patterns, you can also bring some smaller up-winged duns and spent fly patterns in sizes 12-18 for the still mornings and evenings. Here is a basic working fly list for the main river: we recommend Temple dog and Collie Dog, Sunray Shadow, Snaelda (Black and Blue), tube flies (31/2-41/2" long, both aluminum and plastic bodies, with hard plastic tubing and #4 widegape hooks). We use, Yuk Bug ,Girdle Bug, Wonder Bug, Prince Nymph (with and without rubber legs) Hare's Ear, etc. # 4-10 ,EMB, Bitch Creek (Black and Orange, Black and Yellow) on #2-4 ,Articulated Leech (Purple, Black, Black and Yellow, Charteuse), Egg Sucking Leech, Foxee Prawn (Black and Blue, Purple and orange),Woolly Bugger (Black, Purple, Charteuse, also with rubber legs), Zonker, Intruder (Black, Black and Blue, Black and red),Marabou Muddler, Peacock, Montana Nymph, Red Francis, Green Machine, Red Butt Bomber, Beautiful Camila, Aurelia Prince, SGN Pepe Fly.
Traditional Atlantic Salmon Flies Bombers or other waking dry flies (natural deer, black, green on #4-8 hooks), for use drifted, riffled or with a Portland hitch. Include 11/2-2 inch tube flies if you have them, as tubes can be very effective on the Rio Gallegos. Also, take any large, dark trout or salmon fly in which you have confidence. Fishing a fly that has worked for you in the past, and in which you have confidence, is half the battle.
Note: Larger streamers should be weighted and all should be tied on heavy hooks with good gapes. Double and Treble hooks are not allowed on the Rio Gallegos.
Waders
Wading isn't difficult on the Rio Gallegos. However, we recommend chest waders for warmth, to get to that occasionally fished cut bank, and to manage deeper water when crossing the river. Fine choices would include Simms Gore-Tex Guide, and Patagonia SST+ Breathable Waders or any good 3.5 mm neoprene wader. Given Patagonia's climate, and water that can be in the 40's (F.), be certain to pack long johns, wool or fleece trousers and wool socks. The fine shingle of the river means that a wide variety of wading boots are perfectly suited for use. The stream bed gravels also calls for gravel guards. Be sure to use a wading belt.
Clothing
The summer climate of this southern region of South America is extremely changeable, and a wide range of temperatures and weather conditions should be expected.
We recommend layering clothing, enabling you to add or subtract garments during the day.
Pack Polar fleece jackets, thermal underwear, Polar necks, wool socks and a wool cap to be prepared for the extreme.
Flannel or chamois cloth shirts and Polars are ideal for the stream, although you'll no doubt change to something lighter while in the lodge. Also take a reliable windstopper/rain jacket. Gore Tex is excellent. Its waterproof yet breathes and so is comfortable on sunny, windy afternoons. Simms Gore-Tex and Patagonia SST wading jackets are popular.
Most first-time visitors are surprised at how dry this region is, more reminiscent of Wyoming than of Scotland. Attire in the lodge is casual. Neat but casual is also the dress style in Buenos Aires. Laundry service is available at all lodges.
Note: Don’t forget sunglasses, very strong UV radiation in Patagonia.