Fishing season in northern Patagonia started in typical fashion, with weather changing from warm, sunny days to cold and windy. Water levels in the rivers were high due to big snowstorms in the Andes, which translated to heavy run-off and good streamer fishing. Dry fly action during the warm spells (blue wing olives and March browns) was also excellent.

Overall, snow accumulation in the Andes has been a bonus, and will sustain cold and constant water flows through the hot summer months. Both our resident and migratory trout should benefit. Currently all the rivers in the area, as per usual during this time of the year, are producing large brown trout. In addition, we've found tons of rainbows staging for the spawn, feeding like crazy to recover body fat. The upper and lower Chimehuin, Malleo, Collon Cura, and Alumine have been productive.

We should also name (but won’t, LOL) three tributaries of the previously mentioned rivers that offer incredible fishing for 12- to 24-inch trout, using 3- and 4-wt. rods and dry flies. We expect to have good water flows in these tribs through the end of the season. Ask your guides at Chime Lodge for more information on these spectacular waters.

Lastly, the upper Chimehuin and its landlocked Atlantic salmon deserve special attention. These hard fighters love the higher and colder waters we’re experiencing right now. A white streamer will do the trick until the warm weather settles in. Once that occurs you’ll be able to catch them on dries or nymphs—all season long.

Nervous Waters is proud to announce the ongoing partnership between RIO products and Chime Lodge for 2014. RIO has been a key innovator in the sport, producing the industry's leading fly lines for freshwater, salt, and spey applications for more than 20 years. Thanks to the collaboration, clients will have the opportunity to fish the best fly lines in the business engineered for ultimate performance across a wide spectrum of fishing scenarios.

To sum up, we look forward to a fantastic season. We’re also excited about Simon Gawesworth’s hosted trip at Chime Lodge. If you want to learn to cast like a pro—from a pro—you need to sign up soon. After a week with Simon, jovial host, amazing fly caster and fly fisherman,  you'd have to get in your car to get farther away from your fly.
Dates are March 16 to 23. Don’t miss it!

Tight Lines,

Kurt Treichel
Chime Lodge Manager

The first season at our latest Nervous Waters addition recently started and we’re happy to report that operations are going great. Prior to the opening, everything looked promising for the Upper Parana section. Prior to the closed season, dorado and pira pita fishing was remarkable. And a number of pacu had been caught by local fisherman. By late December, when the season reopened, we were blessed with higher water temps and active fish. According to local reports, large schools of dorado had been spotted throughout the region. Pira pita have been active for more than a month, so at this stage, they are already willing to take flies. As you know, this kind of fishing is addictive, so beware. Leading up to the seasonal close, we witnessed groups of this unique species cruising island shorelines and surface-sipping flowers that had fallen from trees. An extremely delicate and subtle scene, so we got down to work and started tying some flower imitations. 

Now that the season is already in full swing, we are happy to say that this first season has started even better than expected. All clients left for home overwhelmed with the place and the varied fishing experience. 

 
As for dorado, we’ve seen several schools chasing sabalos near large mid-river sandbars. This phenomenon equates to some exciting, technical fishing. If conditions persist, we’re expecting great sight-fishing opportunities for some big league fish.

Learn more about Alto Paraná Lodge here.

Pirá Lodge opened the season a bit later than Alto Paraná. However, we've already had some groups hooking their first dorado. The water conditions are as good as we could expect for this time of the year. 

In order to give our anglers a better understanding of the current situation, let's go back to the early season: water levels had been ideal at Pira Lodge.  By late November they had risen significantly making fishing difficult but fortunately, the dorado population in the system was already the biggest—in both numbers and size— that we had witnessed in years. These high water events are also a boom for habitat, benefitting the whole ecosystem. Both the marsh and the Corriente River are about as healthy as they can get. Water is crystal clear in every beat. And as the rain begins to subside the seasonal outlook is great. Water typically starts dropping in January, February, and March, allowing fish to congregate in side and main channels. When this occurs, we’re expecting one of the best seasons on record, as well as a solid foundation for 2015.

Learn more about Pirá Lodge here.