Facilities & Services

The Lodge

Welcome to your remote and relaxing riverfront home in the Valle de las Escalas region of Chilean Patagonia. Our lodge can host up to 8 guests (6 anglers and 2 non-anglers). There are three bright and comfortable cottages—one next to the main lodge and the others bordering the river’s edge. The main lodge consists of a cozy living room with a fireplace and two additional double rooms. Laundry service is available.

Food and drink

At Nervous Waters, our kitchens come to life through the use of fresh and regionally representative meats and produce. By combining these elements, we create delicious flavors and varied textures that harbor hidden stories and package traditions on each plate. A top-notch team of experienced national and international chefs, trained in both classic and avant-garde culinary techniques, execute our food. With an artisan’s touch, chefs prepare every dish by scratch to be served at a minute’s notice. In addition, our inspired lunch and dinner menus are paired with some of Argentina’s—and the world’s—best wines; Bodega Catena Zapata.

In addition to our focus on fresh food with organic origins, we also celebrate our Argentine heritage with a wine partnership that brings truly world class wines to our lodges. We feel that the food we present and the wines we serve should mirror the sporting opportunities we offer—and be the very best available. While our vast country offers many options for traditional activities such as riding, hunting, eating good meats, and drinking good wines, we have chosen to blend fine food and outdoor activity at an even higher level. We feel our offerings from Bodega Catena Zapata blend perfectly into our harmonious niche in the sporting environment. Boasting many accolades from the wine community at large, a Bodega Catena Zapata wine recently received a “number four in the world” icon ranking from Wine Advocate. These are truly great wines that compete on the world stage and in addition to enjoying your sporting holiday and our excellent menus, we also hope you will also take note of our wines. They hold a special place in our culture and we are proud to serve them to you.

Regional products we use at Northern Patagonia and Futa lodges include such delicacies as smoked lamb and goat meat; handpicked berries from our prolific gardens; and delicate, flavorful mushrooms plucked from local forests. Classic preparations like the Spanish-influenced Curanto—an esteemed stew of earthly ingredients and heavenly flavors—give our kitchen a tasty local identity, where every meal is truly something special.

Fishing Methods

To avoid the midday heat, anglers generally leave the lodge early in the morning, around 8 a.m. Guests return to the lodge for lunch and drinks around noon. After lunch and a siesta, boats will typically leave the put-in around 4:30 p.m., returning at dusk. Fishing hours will change slightly depending on the time of year. Demanding fishermen can fish through the day and can arrange this with the head guide. Non-fishing activities such as horseback riding or canoeing are available to allow our guests to enjoy the amazing wildlife and scenery of the area, and these trips can be organized with the head guide.

The Daily Program

Fishing schedules vary seasonally. However, a hearty breakfast is usually served around 7 a.m., while lunch takes place on the shore or back at the lodge depending on your daily itinerary.

The high-gradient, trout-rich Futaleufú River flows right by the front door of the lodge. Browns and rainbows are wild and healthy and can range up to five or more pounds. Fish eat a mix of streamers, dries, and nymphs depending on the season, and the terrestrial fishing is a summertime mainstay. Big fish on ultra-buoyant foam flies is our specialty. In addition to rafting the Futaleufú, we offer exploratory missions to remote streams and trophy lakes in the area.

Season

Fishing Equipment

• Rods: Pack 9-foot 5- and 6-weight rods. Fish dries on the 5- and use the 6-wt for larger streamers or when dealing with stronger winds. Always pack a backup. Sage has a great lifetime warranty and offers several rod options perfectly suited for this fishery like the Method and ONE.
• Reels: The average size of fish on the Futaleufú River is in the 15 to 20 inch range, however there are larger fish present! We recommend reels with capable drag systems and at least 100 yards of backing. Sage make some of the best
• Lines: Weight-forward floating fly lines are the norm on this river. Whatever you fish in Montana or the Rockies will also work great on the Futa. We like WF lines by RIO, Airflo, and SA. Also bring an integrated sinking line or two for streamers. These lines should have anywhere from 10 to 20 feet of 200- to 300-grain sinking tips. For still waters, think full-sinking and clear intermediate lines for streamers in deeper water. And always include a floater for dries.
• Leaders: Trout aren’t particularly leader shy here. However, during the peak of the summer, especially in low-water conditions, these trout can become wary of heavier diameters. Bring 9- to 12-foot leaders in 4X or 5X for fishing dry flies. Go shorter and heavier (2X to 0X fluoro) for streamer rigs.
• Flies: The lodge has a better than average selection of local patterns both for the Futaleufú and its tributaries, as well as some larger streamers available for purchase. However, fly patterns will sell out. With that in mind, pack flies that you might fish for trout on the spring creeks and freestone rivers of the American West, or larger chalk-streams of the U.K. Futaleufú trout are mostly opportunistic feeders and general attractor patterns work great.
• Wet files: Woolly buggers (cone head or bead head variety) Rabbit leech patterns (varying colors; generally darker patterns) Sculpins and Dog Nobblers (varying sizes small to large in varying colors) Nymphs: Bring stonefly nymphs, dragonfly nymphs, and damselfly nymphs, bitch creek and other Pat’s rubber legged style nymphs. All bead head style nymphs down to around size 18 and as large as size 6. Finally bring a good selection of Pupa imitations between sizes 14-18.

• Dry Flies: Dave’s hoppers and parachutes sizes 10-14 Parachute Adams sizes 12-18 Elk air Caddis sizes 14-16 Humpys and Stimulators sizes 10-18 Parachute ants sizes 16-18 Terrestrial patterns like beetles and hoppers, in foam. Sizes 8-16 Spent patterns like Lunn’s particular or Houghton Ruby in sizes 12-18.
• Waders: Wading isn’t difficult on the Futaleufú and you will be spending most of the time in a boat. However, we recommend chest waders for warmth and to manage deeper water when you need to. Wading boots can’t have studs, and felt is also forbidden. Vibram, or any sticky rubber soled boot is the best. Given Chilean Patagonia’s climate, and water that can be in the 40s, be sure to pack long johns, wool or fleece pants, and wool or warm synthetic socks. Be sure to use a wading belt. We strongly recommend new Patagonia Waders that has proven to be extremely successfull among guides and guests.

The high-gradient, trout-rich Futaleufú River flows right by the front door of the lodge. Browns and rainbows are wild and healthy and can range up to five or more pounds. Fish eat a mix of streamers, dries, and nymphs depending on the season, and the terrestrial fishing is a summertime mainstay. Big fish on ultra-buoyant foam flies is our specialty. In addition to rafting the Futaleufú, we offer exploratory missions to remote streams and trophy lakes in the area.

Futa Lodge

Rates

Season 2019: December 2018 – March 2019

7 Nights / 6 Days Fishing $ 5,565
6 Nights / 5 Days Fishing $ 4,950
5 Nights / 4 Days Fishing $ 4,250
4 Nights / 3 Days Fishing $ 3,400
3 Nights / 2 Days Fishing $ 2,550

* Single room and boat: 60% surcharge.

* Non-fisher rate: $ 450 per night subjected to availability.

Rates are per person based on shared room and shared guide.

• Included: Lodging, Meals, all wines, beer, and local spirits at the Lodge, Professional guide services, fishing equipment (Rod, lines and reels).
• Not included: Transfer from Esquel or Bariloche, Gratuities for guides and house staff, airfares and laundry service.
• Payment terms: 50% deposit to guarantee booking. Balance due 60 days prior to departure.

*Prices are in USD