Kautapen Lodge – Week 3: January 20th to 27th, 2024

As the new group of clients arrived, the river maintained its exceptionally low water level. Our hopes for more rain went unanswered, and the sticks we placed at the waterline every other day confirmed our fears of a continued drop. Despite the challenging conditions, our new guests embraced the reality that little could be done and maintained a positive spirit. The group, a mix of familiar and new faces, exuded positivity. Regular guests and friends Anne and Tom (US), along with first-time visitors Adrian and Nigel (UK), Jim and Mark (US and South Africa) and last but not least Tom and Margaret (US), all contributed to an atmosphere of excitement and camaraderie.

On the first day, there were moments of decent fishing, but the rivers steadily decreased throughout the week. This period marked one of the lowest water levels observed in both the Grande and Menendez. Despite the challenging environment, all anglers embraced the situation. The guide team skillfully implemented low-water tactics, focusing on targeting concentrations of fish in their prime lies with extreme stealth.

However, with the gauge for the river well below its minimum level, fishing remained challenging for the latter part of the week. Temperatures were notably warm with air temperature exceeding 20°C in the middle of the week and sunny skies. The fishing tended to become more active later in the day. The wind was pretty calm throughout the week, which prompted us to adapt and use a variety of small flies, long leaders, and light tips to entice takes and catch fish.

The highlight of the week was a stunning hen weighing 18.5 pounds, caught by Margaret with the help of Colo. Throughout the week, several more fish ranging from 13 to 16 pounds were landed, many of them fresh and vibrant and one very colored up 13 pound male that Adrien caught with the kype starting to form, a sight that captivates anyone.

For current updates, be sure to follow our social media accounts (@kautapenlodge and @nervouswaters). For any questions regarding our preferred tackle setups, information about the river, or our preferred fishing techniques, please visit our website for a thorough list of information. We wish you all the best and hope to see you soon on the water!

~ Birkir, Kau Tapen Fishing Guide.