Even in a lean-water year, the Río Grande reminded us why it holds such a revered place in the world of sea trout fishing. It was a season that asked more of our anglers—but those who rose to the challenge were rewarded with fish of remarkable size, strength, and beauty.
Across both Villa María and Kau Tapen, quality took center stage. While conditions were technical and patience was essential, the fish that came to hand told a compelling story: thick-bodied, wild sea trout that reaffirm why this river remains one of the world’s most extraordinary fisheries.
What follows is not a strict ranking, but rather a curated selection of 15 remarkable sea trout—each one a standout from the 2025 season. Chosen for their size, beauty, and photographic quality, these fish represent some of the most memorable captures from both Kau Tapen and Villa María lodges. Together, they tell the story of a river that continues to challenge and reward—and of a team of anglers and guides who consistently rise to the occasion, reflecting the spirit, precision, and passion that define our teams on the Río Grande.
#1 – 28 lbs – Cartel Pool (Lower Stretch)
Angler: Lars H. 🏆
Lodge: Villa María
Nationality: Norway 🇳🇴
Fly: Dead-drifted nymph
Line/Presentation: Long leader, floating line
Guide: Agustin Bastons
A flawless presentation in low, glassy water produced the fish of the season—a 28-pound hen that ran hard, held deep, and never gave an inch. Clean, bright, and thick through the shoulders, she was the kind of fish that defines a trip—and a season.
#2 – 25 lbs – Channel Pool
Angler: Marco 🥈
Lodge: Kau Tapen
Nationality: Italy 🇮🇹
Fly: Black & Blue Intruder
Line/Presentation: Skagit head with a 10-foot T-14 tip
Guide: Nahuel Stauch
In the fading light of a crisp Río Grande evening, Marco connected with this spectacular 25-pound male—an absolute stunner. Fresh from the sea, the fish hit with power and never let up, making every second of the fight unforgettable. Under the guidance of Nahuel Stauch, and with the perfect drift, this moment became one of the standout highlights of the season at Kau Tapen.
#3 – 24,5 lbs – Cormoran Pool
Angler: Mark E.🥉
Lodge: Villa María
Nationality: United States 🇺🇸
Fly: Small nymph
Line/Presentation: Shallow drift
Guide: Ale Martello
Mark hit a streak most anglers only dream about—seven fish in a single morning session. This 24,5-pound chrome hen, fresh from the tide, was the standout. Bright as a mirror and full of fight, she ate on a shallow swing and tore downstream with power.
#4 – 24 lbs – Cilindro Pool
Angler: Sam E.
Lodge: Kau Tapen
Nationality: United Kingdom 🇬🇧
Fly: Sunray Shadow
Line/Presentation: Short Scandy, sink 3 (10 foot)
Guide: Santiago Villalba
Under the fading light of a calm evening in Cilindro, this 24-pound brute made its move. The take came fast and aggressive, chasing down a Sunray Shadow swung broadside. A textbook Río Grande moment—timed just right and perfectly executed.
#5 – 23,5 lbs – Upper Beats
Angler: Bruno
Lodge: Villa María
Nationality: Switzerland 🇨🇭
Fly: Small nymph
Line/Presentation: Long leader, floating line
Guide: Ale Martello
A longtime friend of the lodge, Bruno has fished this river for nearly two decades—and it shows. On a calm February afternoon, his patience paid off with one of the heaviest hens of the season. Thick-bodied and strong, she stayed deep and dogged through the entire fight.
#6 – 23 lbs – Cartel Pool
Angler: Olof G.
Lodge: Villa María
Nationality: Sweden 🇸🇪
Fly: Intruder
Line/Presentation: Swing presentation, last cast of the day
Guide: Ale Martello
One cast left. One perfect swing. Olof’s final effort of the session was rewarded with a crushing take and a broad-shouldered buck that fought with everything it had. The kind of fish—and the kind of moment—that keeps anglers walking back to the river, day after day.
#7 – 23 lbs – Upper Beats
Angler: Hans R
Lodge: Villa María
Nationality: Switzerland 🇨🇭
Fly: Small nymph
Line/Presentation: 10-foot leader, floating line
Guide: Ale Martello
Taken just as the sun dropped behind the willows, this golden male slipped out of the seam and crushed a tight-line nymph drift. A picture-perfect take in soft light—and a fish that tested every inch of Hans’s leader before sliding to hand.
#8 – 23 lbs – Upper Beats
Angler: Maurice
Lodge: Villa María
Nationality: Switzerland 🇨🇭
Fly: Small nymph
Line/Presentation: 10-foot leader, floating line
Guide: Ale Martello
Clear skies, steady flow, and a dialed-in drift—everything lined up for Maurice that evening. The result: a broad, heavy male that ate tight to the bank and dug in hard. A classic Villa María fish, earned through patience and precision.
#9 – 22,5 lbs – Cormoran Pool
Angler: Birger
Lodge: Villa María
Nationality: Germany 🇩🇪
Fly: Small nymph
Line/Presentation: Long leader, floating line
Guide: Ale Martello
Birgers’s trip was marked by steady, technical fishing—and this heavy fish was the highlight. Hooked late in the week on the Cormoran Pool, it ran deep and held steady in the current. Even without the full details, this 22,5-pounder male earns its place among the season’s best
#10 – 22 lbs – Fernando’s Pool
Angler: Santiago B
Lodge: Kau Tapen
Nationality: Argentina 🇦🇷
Fly: Black and Silver
Line/Presentation: Long leader, floating line
Guide: Nicolas Carballo
Landed during the early weeks of January, this 22-pound hen was one of the first standout fish of the season. Fresh from the sea, she took a classic black and silver fly delicately presented on a long leader with a floating line. The take was subtle, but the fight was anything but—clean, powerful, and a perfect reminder of why we love the early season at Kau Tapen.
#11 – 21 lbs – Julia’s Pool
Angler: Larry
Lodge: Villa María
Nationality: United States 🇺🇸
Fly: Micro Electric Leech
Line/Presentation: 10-foot leader, floating line
Guide: Maurizio Restaino
Larry, a great storyteller who fills our fishing sessions with laughter and hilarious anecdotes, also finds time to fish—and to land beautiful brown trout like this handsome 21 lbs male at Villa María Lodge.
#12 – 20,5 lbs – Moneta Pool
Angler: Joshua H.
Lodge: Villa María
Nationality: Australia 🇦🇺
Fly: Nymph
Line/Presentation: Floating line, single-hand rod
Guide: Ale Martello
This one came on light gear in heavy water. A compact, powerful fish that hit hard and fought dirty, testing both the rod and the angler from start to finish. On a single-hander, in classic Moneta current, it was a proper challenge—and a proper reward.
#13 – 20,5 lbs – Fernando’s Pool
Angler: Tom
Lodge: Kau Tapen
Nationality: United Kingdom 🇬🇧
Fly: Leech (atlantic salmon)
Line/Presentation: T-14 tip for a deep, slow swing
Guide: Nicolas Carballo
Bathed in golden light and framed by a perfect Río Grande sky, this thick 20.5-pound hen was as photogenic as she was powerful. Tom’s Atlantic-style leech swung deep on a T-14 tip did the trick, and the fish responded with a bold take and a strong, steady fight. A true highlight from Kau Tapen’s mid-season magic.
#14 – 20 lbs – Herradura Pool
Angler: Matt H.
Lodge: Villa María
Nationality: United Kingdom 🇬🇧
Fly: Green Machine
Line/Presentation: Floating line, cold morning cast
Guide: Ale Martello
The temperature hovered just above freezing, but the fish were moving. On a slow swing through Herradura, Matt connected with this thick-bodied hen using a classic Green Machine. It was a textbook take—and proof that even on the coldest mornings, the Río Grande still delivers.
#15 – 19 lbs – Secret Spot Pool
Angler: Alex F
Lodge: Kau Tapen
Nationality: United States 🇺🇸
Fly: Small Nymph
Line/Presentation: Sink 3
Guide: Patrick Green
In one of the most memorable moments of his trip, Alex landed this 19-pounder male under soft light and steady skies. The take came on a small nymph, fished deep with a Sink 3 tip—a clean eat followed by a steady, deliberate fight. A fitting way to close out the week and a fish that earned its place among the standouts of the 2025 season.
These fish are a testament not just to the river, but to the anglers, guides, and enduring spirit of both Villa María and Kau Tapen. Every pull, every cast, and every hard-earned fish reflects the dedication it takes to unlock the Río Grande’s full potential. Congratulations to all who joined us in 2025—we look forward to welcoming you back in 2026 for what promises to be an exceptional season.
