Best Brown Trout Fishing
in The World

Tierra del Fuego has been described as the end of the earth. Which is an apt characterization. The island archipelago marks the southernmost extreme of the Americas; where human development has come at a glacial pace, mostly thanks to its utter remoteness. Its rivers, which are formed in the Andes, where they’re propelled by mountain gradient, eventually meet the flat rolling steppes, fanning out into the brackish estuaries of the South Atlantic. And in the Río Grande, the largest watershed on Tierra del Fuego’s Isla Grande, you’ll today find the greatest population of sea-run browns anywhere—an annual return of tens of thousands of wild trout.

Similar to steelhead in the northern hemisphere, the anadromous browns of Tierra del Fuego enjoy a cult-like following. And for good reason. Savvy anglers build their fishing schedules around run timings in order to hit the migration during its peak. By January, chrome fish push into the river and through mid-March fly fishers are targeting—and catching—sea-run brown trout that average in the teens, but break the 20+ pound mark regularly. In fact, the Río Grande boasts more world record sea-run brown trout than any other river. And pioneering lodges such as Kau Tapen and Villa Maria have been quietly witnessing those special events for decades.

Kau Tapen is a sea-run brown trout institution that’s steeped in regional history. Located on the middle section of the Río Grande, and adjacent to the river’s best tributary, the Río Menendez, the lodge has been serving spectacular sea-run brown trout fishing since the early 1980s. In addition to exclusive access to unpressured beats, the atmosphere inside the lodge is unmatched. The great hall features a grand fireplace where anglers can kick back, sip Malbec, and add their stories to the aura. Fine dining is a breakfast, lunch, and dinner standard. And immaculately appointed rooms provide a cozy sanctuary for hardworking anglers at day’s end.

Anglers at Villa Maria, on the other hand, have the benefit of fishing the lower portions of the Río Grande, where its braided waters are home to some of the freshest, fiercest sea-run brown trout in the system. This section is ideal for spey casters due to its longer and wider pools that cater beautifully to the swing. Like Kau Tapen, the quality of the service—from the seasoned guides to the veteran wait staff—makes for a memorable experience both on and off the water.

Tierra del Fuego may well be the end of the earth. It’s also a pilgrimage of holy land significance when it comes to brown trout fishing. The pull of this place is equaled by the draw of its legendary fish. And on the Río Grande you will find out why.

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