Kau Tapen Lodge

Kau Tapen
Lodge

Tierra del Fuego, Argentina
Sea-Run Brown Trout

Kau Tapen was the first fishing lodge on the Río Grande, opened in 1984. Kau Tapen means “House of Fishing” in the Ona Language and here, at the heart of the Río Grande, live the best pools of the river. You’ll fish most days with the wind at your back and over your shoulder for prime casting angles, while short walks and shallow wading are the norm. Single or two handed rods are both effective. Skate a bomber over a resting lie, or float a nymth next to a cut back for Sea- Run Trout you’ve only see in your dreams.

Why Choose Kau Tapen Lodge?

Located in the heart of the Rio Grande – the best trophy Sea Run Brown Trout river in the world.
The first lodge on the Rio Grande, over 32 years ago, and the standard of excellence by which all other lodges, worldwide, are measured.
Five world records have been set at Kau Tapen. 27-35 pound trout are caught each season. 20 pounders are caught every week.
The most pools per angler per day- only two anglers and their guide per beat and four to eight pools per beat- different beats every morning and evening–that’s a lot of water to cover each day!
The best lodge services and hospitality—over 80% of our anglers are repeat guests.
The easiest river you’ll ever wade, with a gravel boeom and an even flow.
Easy to read pool and riffle sequences on each beat.
Kau Tapen can easily be fished with a 7 or 8 weight rod or with a two hander.
Fish are generally easy to reach, holding on current lines or against cut banks within casting range.
It’s not just the Rio Grande that Kau Tapen overlooks, but also the Menendez River, which hosts its own run of Sea Trout with over 22 river miles.. This river offers some of the best floating line fishing for sea runs, many of them over 20 lbs. Here, technical fishing is the norm.
Extensive beats make it possible to find a pool where wind is a help -not a hindrance.
Each week starts with an evening warm up session -most anglers will catch a trout or two the first night they arrive
A mix of the world’s best guides, both local and international, to make sure we combine local knowledge with world class technique. Guides rotate each day-you learn more and enjoy more.
A la carte menu, true five star accommodations and excellent equipment means you will be fishing in both style and comfort.
It is not all sinking line dredging many trout are caught on floating line and even floating flies each season.

Location

Coordinates: 53° 53´ 57.82” S 68° 22´ 7.42” W

The lodge is located on the banks of the Rio Grande, in Tierra del Fuego, Argentina. The success of the fishery on the Rio Grande is a modern-day fisherman’s Cinderella story. In just a decade, through access control and catchand-release regulations, average catch rates have risen from less than a fish a day in the early ‘80s to multiple fish per day, per person, today. In the modern era, starting with the opening of Kau Tapen Lodge in the early ‘80s, the Rio Grande has become the most productive sea-run brown trout fishery in the world. However, trout numbers fluctuate with ocean variables, tides, water levels, and a host of other natural factors. The Rio Grande flows from west to east, from the Andes to the Atlantic Ocean, through approximately 60 miles of Argentine territory. The landscape of Tierra del Fuego is reminiscent of Wyoming or the Scottish low country. It includes sparsely populated wilderness, large sheep farming estancias, and wild herds of llama-like Guanacos, as well as plentiful red fox populations and condors.

Getting There

Guests fly into Buenos Aires, Argentina, and typically overnight there, with a day to spend touring this wonderful city. Arrival day at Kau Tapen is set for Saturday, so the following morning guests depart Buenos Aires for the flight south. Commercial airlines fly from Buenos Aires to the airport of Rio Grande (3-hour flight), where a lodge representative will meet you. The transfer from Rio Grande airport to the lodge takes 50-60 minutes. On arrival at the lodge, guests are welcomed with cocktails by the entire Kau Tapen staff.

Facilities & Services

The Lodge

Built in 1984, Kau Tapen Lodge was designed to offer rods maximum comfort during their fishing trips, as well as easy access to the best pools on the world famous Rio Grande. It accommodates up to 10 guests (and occasionally 12) in en-suite single rooms to ensure privacy and comfort. The lodge has Ten en suite single rooms; some offer a king bed, while some have one queen, and others are furnished with two doubles. A large living room opens up to peaceful vistas of the Menendez and Rio Grande valleys and includes a roaring fire and a well stocked bar. The lodge also boasts a tackle shop with an excellent selection of Sage rods, quality fly reels, flies, lines, Patagonia clothing, and other fishing essentials. In addition, guests have full use of the lodge’s fly-tying table and equipment. Additional Kau Tapen highlights include two wading/fly gear rooms, a full spa with jacuzzi, a sauna and Finnish steam bath.

Food & Drinks

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. At Kau Tapen and Villa Maria lodges our kitchens are characterized by both classic preparations and contemporary flavors. Enjoy fresh pastas and fire-roasted meats like our famous Patagonian lamb, roasted gaucho-style over charcoal embers, alongside ocean-fresh flavors such as King crab and savory sea bass or black hake. And don’t forget to save room for dessert. From homemade ice creams to classic sweets and pastries, we have you covered.

The Fishing

Although most of their lives are spent in the ocean, sea-run brown trout seem to retain more of the eccentricities of resident browns than, for instance, steelhead do of resident rainbows. Moody fish, they must be shown flies the way they want to see them at the precise time that they’re ready to take. The Rio Grande isn’t a big river.

Thus, it’s compatible with a wide range of techniques; critical since a large sea-run brown trout may demand that a fly be fed to it on the bottom one hour but rise to a skating fly the next. Water levels can change from week to week and they generally drop as the season progresses.

Vary your presentations in each pool fished until you find the right formula of fly, line, drift or swing, and retrieve. Also heed the advice of your guide, whose primary aim is to recommend methods that will help you hook and bring more fish to the net.

Generally, the Rio Grande’s sea-run brown trout seem to lie near cut banks during the middle of the day, though in low water they will also lie in the faster necks of pools. They typically move into these areas during early morning, evening, and nighttime hours.

Generally, “tails in the morning and heads at night” is a good rule. Also look for fish distributed throughout pools on calm, overcast days. On sunny days, one theory holds that sea-run brown trout will take best if they don’t have the sun in their eyes, although this theory, like others, is often affected by the number of fish in a particular pool and the number of “takers.”

The Daily Program

Guests will leave the lodge around 9 o’clock after breakfast, fishing till around 1 o’clock. Following lunch and a siesta (the duration depends on the season), guests return to the river in the late afternoon and fish until dark. Fishing hours will change slightly depending on the time of year.

About The Sea-Run Brown Trout

The first Brown Trout were stocked in Tierra del Fuego by English angler John Goodall in 1935. Shipped from Puerto Montt, Chile, 60,000 salmo trutta eggs survived the arduous journey to be planted on the Candelaria and McLennan rivers, both tributaries of the Rio Grande. These fish eventually found their way to sea, likely attracted by the rich nourishment found in the brackish estuaries.

Sea-run brown trout now complete annual migratory cycles similar to salmonids, spawning during the fall in freshwater. Juveniles remain in the river up to four years until their first ocean migration, where they will feed and grow for about 6 months before their first return to freshwater, weighing approximately 3 to 6 pounds. Researchers have found searun brown trout that have spawned more than 6 times. A trout that has completed 4 cycles of returning to freshwater can weigh more than 20 pounds. The frequency with which they return to freshwater is also an indicator that the fish face few threats. It’s also an example of the benefits of catch and release.

Season

Specie	Jan		Feb		Mar		Apr		May		Jun		Jul		Aug		Sep		Oct		Nov		Dec
Sea-Run Brown Trout
Dorado
Pacú
Pirá Pitá
Brown Trout
Rainbow Trout
Doves
Perdiz
Ducks
Pigeon
Wild black buck
Axis deer
Red Stag
Fallow Deer
Wild Boar

Bahamas

Specie	Jan		Feb		Mar		Apr		May		Jun		Jul		Aug		Sep		Oct		Nov		Dec
Bonefish

Fishing Equipment

Fishing Equipment The suggestions that follow are drawn from over two decades’ experience fishing the Rio Grande under a wide variety of conditions.

Rods: The Rio Grande features a natural design an instream architecture perfectly suited for Spey rods. Mending and controlling line is also easier with a 2-hander. Use 7- to 9-weights from 12 to 15 feet long. If you’re new to Spey casting, our guides are expert instructors and will help you learn quickly. Lighter switch rods are increasingly popular and allow anglers to cast a comfortable line with less effort, particularly on windy days. Single-handers in 7- to 9-weights—and up to 10 feet long—can also be effective in light-wind conditions on the Grande or for technical, close-range nymphing on the Rio Menendez tributary. Longer rods make casting easier with the normal downstream southwest wind, while an 8- or 9-weight helps you to drive your line into or across the wind when necessary. Given the Rio Grande’s moderate flow and generally even gravel bottom, you’ll find an 8 or 9 capable of doing battle with even the river’s largest sea trout (15 to 25+ pounds), while it ensures the most action with smaller sea trout (4 to 10 pounds). Sage produces many of the best rods we use regularly on the water. In addition to a stalwart lifetime warranty, the company engineers several high-performance options perfectly suited for this fishery.
Reels: choose a quality reel with a powerful, adjustable drag. Reels (and spare spools) should have enough capacity for your fly line and 100+ yards of 20-pound backing. We recomment reels from Sage that produce several options perfectly suited for the Rio Grande.
Lines: To be well prepared for Tierra del Fuego, anglers should include at least three lines to accommodate varying water levels and wind conditions. Weight-forward fly lines are generally used on the Rio Grande. Floating lines are most useful during low-water conditions and in the early morning and evening hours, when sea run brown trout feed near the surface. Integrated sinkingtip lines also work great, while intermediate lines are also effective in some conditions. For Spey rods, we’re mostly using shooting heads, from floating to fast-sinking (S4). Most shooting head can also be used with sink-tips so you can target different depths. RIO AFS are easy to cast and effective, whether fished floating or sinking. RIO offers sinking poly leaders for those lines. If you’re fishing a Skagit-style set-up, also check out RIO’s MOW Tip system in varying weights and sink rates. Fish Skagit heads for easy rod loading, for casting larger flies on heavy tips, and for effectively casting into the wind. Use 400- and 700-grain heads, depending on your rod. Even experienced anglers often find their running line snarls when buffeted by wind. Prevailing southwest winds can be “harnessed” by roll casting or spey-casting, which eliminates the need to back cast—difficult to do with a trailing wind. We found that a simple roll cast carries even large streamers 35 to 50 feet across and downstream, or far enough to cover the holding lies. Weight-forward lines can be rolled effectively by stripping and shooting line during the cast.
Leaders: Experience on the Rio Grande indicates that sea run brown trout are not particularly leader shy. While reasonable stealth should be exercised, your chief concern is to bring monofilament in sizes that will turn over the array of fly sizes and patterns you’ll be using. Spools of monofilament should include 10- to 15-pound test weights. While fishing sinking lines, a few feet of straight (not tapered) monofilament will do fine. Maxima Ultra-green is a good choice as it has plenty of stretch, a factor worth considering when the sea run of a lifetime hits your fly! While fishing, be sure to check your mono regularly for casting knots and abrasions. After each fish caught test your leader knots. For floating lines it’s good to have knotless tapered leaders from 9 to 12 feet, with 0X tippets.
Flies: Plan to bring a good selection of flies, however, some fly patterns, as well as a modest supply of back-up tackle, will be available for purchase at the lodge. Sea run brown trout are mysterious fish. The only constant in their tastes seems to be a penchant for black. The trout that accepts your small Salmon patterns today may demand flies with white rubber legs tomorrow! Historically, most Rio Grande fish were taken on large streamers, perhaps because those were the patterns most commonly used. In low water conditions, more large sea trout are taken on smaller wet flies, nymphs, and drys. We suggest packing a range of flies in various patterns and sizes, and urge frequent changes when one combination isn’t working. These combinations will be determined based on light conditions, water levels, and especially on your guide’s advice. Barbless hooks are strongly encouraged. Double and treble hooks are not permitted. Catch-and-release is mandatory.

General fly list:

Collie Dog tube flies (31/2 -41/2” long, both aluminum and copper bodies, with hard plastic tubing and #4 wide-gape hooks)
Sunray shadow in different sizes.
Bunny leech, Zonker, Woolly Bugger (black/olive), articulated string leech types, with electric blue flash, on #2-4 hooks
Peacock (now a staple on Rio Grande, tied on #2-4 hooks)
Girdle or Yuk Bug rubber legs (#4-12)
Bitch Creek nymphs (orange and black for preference, #4-12
Bead head nymphs (Prince, Hare’s Ear, etc. #10-14)
Traditional Atlantic Salmon flies
Bombers or other waking dry flies (natural deer hair, black&green on #4-8 hooks), for use drifted or with a Portland hitch
Include 1- to 2-inch tube flies if you have them, as tubes can be effective on the Rio Grande. Also, take any large dark trout or salmon fly in which you have confidence. Fishing a fly that has worked for you in the past, and in which you have confidence in is half the battle. Note that larger streamers should be weighted and should be tied on heavy hooks with good gapes.

About The Sea-Run Brown Trout

Weekly Rates

Season 2021: January 2 – April 10, 2021

January 2 – 9 $ 9,250 *
January 9 – March 6 $ 10,350 *
March 6 – 13 $ 9,250 *
March 13 – 20 $ 7,950
March 20 – 27 $ 6,950
March 27 – April 3 $ 5,950
April 3 – 10 $ 4,950

Rates are based on 7 nights ad 6 days fishing, and include single room (based subjected to availability) and shared guide.

Non Fisher Rate: $650 per person per night

* Saturday to Saturday weeks within January 4 and March 14 include:

1 night at Delta Eco Lodge (shared rooms), with one day of guided dorado fishing (subject to availability; first-come first-take basis) with lunch, dinner and breakfast included – open bar.

Does not includes transfer Ezeiza (EZE) Intl. Airport to Marina – Marina to Aeroparque (AEP) Domestic Airport (based on 2 pax min. at $ 150 p/person)

Rates per person based on shared guide.

Included: Transfer from Rio Grande Airport to Kau Tapen, Lodging, Meals, all wines, beer, and local spirits at the Lodge, Professional guide services & loaner fishing equipment (Rods, reels & Lines).
Not included: Gratuities for guides and house staff, international and domestic airfares, fishing license ($495 approx. per person), laundry service and day-room ($200 p/ person) based on single occupancy at Rio Grande Hotel on arrival date to Río Grande.
Payment terms: A deposit of 50% confirms a reservation. Deposits are Non-Refundable unless client replacement is found. Final payment is due 60 days prior to departure. At this point participants are responsible for total land costs and no refunds will be made for unused land transportation, accommodations, or included meals.

*Prices are in USD

Facilities & Services
The Fishing
Species
Season
Fishing Equipment
Rates

Videos

Kau Tapen Lodge - "House of fishing"
Kau Tapen Lodge - Giant Sea Run Brown Trout

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You’re gotta see it to believe it!

For several years now, we at Nervous Waters Fly Fishing have been expounding the virtues of fishing one of the world’s greatest ecological water ..[...]

How to shoot the perfect hero shot

How to Hero Shot by Stephan Dombaj You travel halfway around the globe to explore the best fishing waters in Argentina, so don’t settle for a l..[...]

A Golden Opportunity

A Golden Opportunity story Kathryn Fensterstock photos Fly Fishing Nation Angler Kate Fensterstock recently joined us at Pira Lodge, in the Ibera M..[...]

Welcome to Suindá Lodge, on the remote Upper Paraná River

Starting in January 2019, Nervous Waters will officially open its newly built Suindá Lodge. Suindá is a dorado-fisher’s dream, strategically ..[...]

Gold Rush

Gold Rush story Kathryn Fensterstock photos Fly Fishing Nation Be sure to check out the new issue of DUN Magazine for its colorful feature ..[...]

Top Flies for Rio Grande Trout… And How To Fish ’Em

By S. Dombaj and T. Burrell Argentina’s Rio Grande and its Rio Menendez tributary are home to healthy returns of migrating trout that can reach n..[...]

Comfort Meets Premium Tent-Camp Adventure – Argentina

Multi-night floats on Patagonia’s A-List trout streams are a must-do for serious trout fishers. And Patagonia River Guide’s ..[...]

Pirá Lodge: End of March Report 2018

The second half of March began with late-summer storms that brought rain and cooler temperatures to the Marsh. The water clarity in some channels t..[...]

Kau Tapen Lodge: March 10-24, 2018

As we are closing in towards the end of the season, the fishing can get a bit less predictable. I personally love fishing the late weeks of the sea..[...]

Villa Maria Lodge: March 2 – 16, 2018

During the first week of March we welcomed six new anglers to the Rio Grande. Familiar with the river’s famous sea-run brown trout, these seaso..[...]

Pirá Lodge: Mid- March Report 2018

March is prime-time in the Marsh, and this year it began with warm weather and optimal water conditions. We couldn’t wait to get out and to re-ex..[...]

Kau Tapen Lodge: Feb 24 – March 10, 2018

The past two weeks have been a blast! And it’s nice to be able to say that in spite of the tough fishing conditions that we’ve had due to still..[...]

Villa Maria Lodge: Feb 16 – March 1, 2018

We’ve welcomed some old friends and made some new ones at Villa Maria during the past couple weeks, with a global mix of guests from Denmark, Ice..[...]

Kau Tapen Lodge: Feb 10 -24, 2018

Kau Tapen is all about the good times. The fishing is just the cherry on top, at least this is what we want it to be. The world’s largest sea tro..[...]

Pirá Lodge – February Report 2018

We kicked off the second half of February with some storm activity. Not enough to blow the system out, but water levels came up slightly, making fo..[...]

Pirá Lodge Mid- February Report 2018

We started our second month of the season at Pira Lodge with perfect weather and crystal clear water. River levels remain stable, but river tempera..[...]

Kau Tapen Week 5: Feb 3-10, 2018

It’s Saturday and that means switchover day. It’s an exciting day for all of us here at Kau Tapen. Relief about last week’s success and excit..[...]

Villa Maria Lodge Week 5: Feb. 2-9, 2018

This past week we hosted a great group of Swiss, American, and British anglers. It was a mix that included first-timers, second-timers, and long-ti..[...]

Kau Tapen Week 4: Jan 27- Feb 3, 2018

Another week is in the books and the fishing has been a rollercoaster ride indeed. While conditions were almost perfect and stable during the previ..[...]

Villa Maria Lodge Week 4: Jan 26 – Feb 2, 2018

Similar to what we’ve seen the past two weeks, the river remains low, clear and in fantastic shape! We’ve also been experiencing a return to so..[...]

Pirá Lodge – January Report 2018

Fishing conditions have been optimal, and with water levels continuing to drop, we’re finding fish concentrated in the main channels. We had a fe..[...]

Kau Tapen Week 3: Jan. 20-27, 2018

For the first time this season, the water did not change much before the arrival of our new group. The river had been dropping at a constant pace a..[...]

Villa Maria Lodge Week 3: Jan. 19 – 26, 2018

The river has come into prime condition, a very comfortable level for fishing, and the clarity is about as good as it gets. The water level has con..[...]

Kau Tapen Week 2: Jan 13-20, 2018

“Unusual conditions“ is what would describe the past week’s fishing. The rains that had poured down during the last days of the previous fish..[...]

Villa Maria Lodge Week 2: January 12 – 19, 2018

Since last week, the river is down and its clarity is getting better by the day. This means that the wading is easier, but more importantly we’..[...]

Pira Lodge: Mid -January Report, 2018

The year started with some excellent fishing, and we continue to see good numbers of dorado throughout the system. Juvenile fish are concentrated i..[...]

Villa Maria Lodge Week 1: January 5 – 12, 2018

If last year’s low and clear opening-week water levels were surprising, this year’s high water has been even more shocking. It’s been several..[...]

Kau Tapen Lodge Week 1: Jan 6-13, 2018

Upon the arrival of the guide’s team in late December, the river looked fantastic, meandering through the vast grasslands of Tierra del Fuego in ..[...]

Pirá Lodge- December 2017

After couple weeks on the water, I’m happy to report that the high expectations we had for the season are becoming a reality. The marsh and the r..[...]

Introducing a Bigger Dorado Experience

We’re proud to announce our new partnership with Paraná River Outfitters (PRO) PRO melds one of Argentina’s most established outfitters with..[...]

Pirá Lodge: Oct – Nov, 2017

A Stellar Start at Pira Lodge We began the season with relatively high water levels in both the Corrientes River and the Ibera Marsh headwaters. ..[...]

Dorado On The Fly In Argentina: A Round Trip

Nervous Water’s Pirá Lodge, located in the Ibera Marshlands, near the headwaters of the Corriente River, was the first operation built for a..[...]

Stellar fishing in the Southern Hemisphere starts here: Argentina and Chile

At Nervous Waters we know that you love variety; catching a range of bucket-list species, experiencing new places and their unique cultures. That..[...]

Dorado Fishing Resources

Ever thought of going Golden Dorado fishing? The season is just getting started at Pira Lodge. Here are some great resources to learn more about d..[...]

DORADO TIPS: MAKING YOUR CASTS COUNT

Those new to freshwater dorado fishing are sometimes intimidated by the bigger flies we use for these fish, and are oftentimes unsure about how to ..[...]

Great News for Trout Anglers

The two finest outfitters in South America have joined forces, and Nervous waters is excited to announce an exclusive collaboration with Patagonia ..[...]

Iberá Marshlands, Argentina: Freshwater Dorado Fly Fishing.

Morphology: The Iberá Marshland, located in Corrientes Province in northeastern Argentina, is the world’s second largest wetlands system ..[...]

Gear we love – What’s in your box? All you need for your bonefish trip to the Bahamas

Gearing up for fishing trips is half the fun – ok, not quite half as much fun as pulling on a bonefish but it’s still fun. Most people want t..[...]

Rio Grande, Argentina: Best river in the world to fish for Giant Sea-Run Brown Trout.

1. Morphology: The Rio Grand comes to life on the Chilean side of Tierra del Fuego and flows for 150 miles in a generally eastward direction, twis..[...]

10 Truths About Dorado Fishing

You’ve seen them in the fly-fishing film tours, all over the web, and splashed across brochures advertising far-flung adventures to exotic lo..[...]

Gear we love – The most important piece of gear I own

Bonefishing is all about being able to see. My sunglasses are my number one piece of equipment when I’m sight fishing. Anywhere I travel I ..[...]

All New G&G Bahamas Bonefish Schools

Big changes are coming for the 2018 Bahamas Bonefish School Jan 13-20 and 20-27, 2018 The Bonefish School on South Andros is one of our most popul..[...]

Gear we love – Keep dry – Patagonia Stormfont Pack 30L

Here at Nervous Waters we spend our lives on the water. Wading the endless flats of South Andros to the banks of the Rio Grande in Tierra del Fue..[...]

End of Season Report Alto Paraná Lodge – 2017

Throughout the season, river flows fluctuated: ranging from low to normal levels. More rain than usual made for some challenging fishing, at times ..[...]

Pirá Lodge – End of Season Report 2017

A Year in Review Pira Lodge’s season began with great weather, ideal water conditions, and a remarkable push of dorado. Expectations were underst..[...]

Villa Maria Lodge – End of Season Report 2017

When we stepped into the river for the first time in 2017, it was eerily similar to how we left it back in April 2016. There were no signs of the u..[...]

Kau Tapen Lodge – End of Season Report 2017

Kau Tapen Lodge: Year End Review Sitting down to write the final report of the season, what first comes to mind are the beaming faces of ecstatic c..[...]

Kau Tapen Lodge – Week 12 : March 25 – April 1, 2017

The last week of summer proved to be an epic time at KauTapen lodge. We received new friends from France, and the CEO of Nervous Waters stopped by ..[...]

Kau Tapen Lodge – Week 11 : March 18 – 25, 2017

The week began with some challenging fishing due to high water and chocolate-colored flows. But as the days progressed, conditions improved as the ..[...]

Villa Maria Lodge – Week 11: March 16 – 24 , 2017

Similar to what we experienced the last couple of weeks, river levels have been seesawing daily due to some rain mixed with snowmelt from the headw..[...]

Kau Tapen Lodge – Week 10 : March 11 – 18, 2017

The week passed was a tough one, we were incredibly unlucky with the weather conditions. We got off to a flying start on day one, river was in good..[...]

Villa Maria Lodge – Week 9 & 10: March 4 – 16, 2017

The last couple of week in Rio Grande, especially the lower section, have been as challenging as ever. February has been quite particular, as it ra..[...]

Kau Tapen Lodge – Week 9: March 4 – 11, 2017

Wow!! One of the finest weeks of the last few years just went down on paper with 253 hooked fish in six days. The Rio Grande and the Menedez were b..[...]

Pira Lodge – February 2017

February began with good water conditions. The result was 60 golden dorado caught between 3 boats during the first week. Most of the fish were in t..[...]

Kau Tapen Lodge – Week 8: Feb. 25 – March 4, 2017

It’s been an explosive week at Kau Tapen Lodge. The river has been flowing at an ideal level, water clarity was good, and the wind was practicall..[...]

Villa Maria Lodge – Week 8: Feb. 24 – March 3, 2017

Another group of returning guests visited us at Villa Maria Lodge this last past week. Having logged more than 10 trips to the Rio Grande, they wer..[...]

Kau Tapen Lodge – Week 7: Feb. 18 – 25, 2017

This past week ushered in some variable weather, with light wind to start followed by a nuclear easterly that packed plenty of rain. River levels b..[...]

Fishing Report Alto Parana – February 2017

This season the Parana River ran slightly lower than usual for many weeks, so the water has been clear and warm. Those same conditions have helped ..[...]

Villa Maria Lodge – Week 7: Feb. 18 – 23, 2017

This past week we had a mixed group of first timers and Villa Maria Lodge regulars from Iceland and England. In between jokes about the Cold War an..[...]

Villa Maria Lodge – Week 6: Feb. 10 – 17, 2017

Like the last days of the previous week, this fishing week started with some rain in the lower stretch but there were serious cells of rain and sno..[...]

Kau Tapen Lodge – Week 6: Feb. 11 – 18, 2017

It’s safe to say this has been our most prolific week of the season, so far. And we can back up that claim with an outstanding number of incr..[...]

Villa Maria Lodge – Week 5: Feb. 3 – 9, 2017

The House of Forstinger’s Friends visited us last week. Willy first traveled to Villa Maria Lodge in 1986, so he’s seen a lot and has pl..[...]

Kau Tapen Lodge – Week 5: Feb. 4 – 11, 2017

Our fifth week at Kau Tapen lodge has come to an end. This time clients from Austria, the U.S. and England experienced some highly variable conditi..[...]

Fishing Report Chime Lodge January 2017

Malleo Waters are low for this time of year and the fish are holding in deeper pools. Late afternoon dry-fly fishing has been productice usi..[...]

Kau Tapen Lodge – Week 4: Jan. 28 – Feb. 4, 2017

Week four was made memorable by another awesome bunch of anglers at the lodge. Guests varied from experienced to first timers. Six members of the t..[...]

Pirá Lodge: January Report 2017

This year marks one of the best seasons I’ve experienced in the Ibera wetlands. And we couldn’t have asked for a better start. Water conditions..[...]

Kau Tapen Lodge – Week 3: Jan. 21 – 28, 2017

Another week down at Kau Tapen Lodge as we continue onward with (mostly) good conditions and excellent results. Water temperatures have been perfec..[...]

Villa Maria Lodge – Week 3: Jan. 21 – 26, 2017

“The perfect week at the perfect lodge with the perfect guides.” That’s how one of our returning guests, Axel, described Week 3 at Villa Mari..[...]

Villa Maria Lodge – Week 4: Jan 21 – 26, 2017

The House of Forstinger’s Friends visited us last week. Willy first traveled to Villa Maria Lodge in 1986, so he’s seen a lot and has plenty of..[...]

Villa Maria Lodge – Week 2: Jan. 14 – 19, 2017

We just finished the second week of the season at Villa Maria Lodge and it was fantastic. In addition to great fishing we welcomed some familiar fa..[...]

Kau Tapen Lodge – Week 2: Jan. 14 – 21, 2017

Our second week at Kau Tapen has come to an end and I’m pretty safe in saying the week was a success. We had a mixed group of guests f..[...]

Kau Tapen Lodge – Week 1: Jan. 7 – 14, 2017

Kau Tapen Fishing Report Week 1: Jan. 7-14, 2017 Kau Tapen Lodge on the Rio Grande kicks off its 34th season this year. Over the years the river ha..[...]

Villa Maria Lodge – Week 1: Jan. 6 – 12, 2017

Villa Maria Lodge – Fishing Report Fishing Report (Jan. 6 – 12, 2017) By Alejandro Martello Welcome to Villa María Lodge 2017! You�..[...]

A Fly in the Curtains

Fly Fusion Magazine

Fly Fusion Magazine recently spotlighted the spectacular flats fishing at Abaco Lodge. For those planning fall trips to the Marls, this bonefish-ri..[...]

Fly Girls Week 2017 @ Abaco Lodge

We’re At It Again… Fly Girls Week 2017 is just around the corner! After an extremely successful and fun inaugural trip to Nervous Waters’ Bai..[...]

Bonefish Beware: Fish with Flip Pallot @AbacoLodge in June

In 2009, Flip Pallot attended the opening of Abaco Lodge and spent time with its managing partner, Oliver White. It was the beginning of a wonderfu..[...]

Pira Pitá Fly Patterns

At Alto Parana lodge, anglers target resident Pira Pitá with lighter tackle than what is typically used for dorado. We recommend 6 weight rods for..[...]

Every Cast Gets Us Closer

Every Cast Gets Us Closer Casting 4 A Cure at Bair’s Lodge, Bahamas Winter at Bair’s Lodge is the time to escape the cold and connect w..[...]

Dorado Fly Patterns

In most cases, golden dorado prefer dark patterns that produce great silhouettes in tannin-colored waters. But there are situations when carrying a..[...]

FISH & SUPPORT BTT!

We are hoping to tag 1,000 fish that week -some on rod and reel some with nets. Clients are welcome and encouraged to be as involved in this proces..[...]

LEARN FROM THE EXPERTS at ABACO LODGE

What could be better? The great thing about a hosted trip is exceptional fishing at a top-notch lodge—but also combining that action with ..[...]

Pira Lodge – End of Season 2016

The Dream Season Seasons, just like the name implies, are all about change. Some are challenging, where rewards are hard won. Others are easier, wh..[...]

Villa María Lodge: March 20 – 27, 2016

We have just finished one of the most challenging weeks on the Rio Grande this season. The problem wasn’t fish—we have the fish! But the weat..[...]

Pacú Fly Patterns

Pacú fishing at Alto Parana lodge is all about exciting sight-fishing opportunities. We use 7 or 8-weight rods, rigged with floating tropical line..[...]

Studies about the Rio Grande

By Bio. Miguel Casalinuovo. Tech. Carlos Luizón began studying salmonids in the Rio Grande system in 2006. He described the basic biology of trout..[...]

Villa Maria Lodge – January 10 – 16, 2015

This year we’re off to an interesting start at Villa Maria. The river’s course changed noticeably during spring floods and the fish have been b..[...]

Why Choose Kau Tapen Lodge?

Location

Getting There

Facilities & Services

The Lodge

Food & Drinks

The Fishing

The Daily Program

About The Sea-Run Brown Trout

Season

Bahamas

Fishing Equipment

General fly list:

About The Sea-Run Brown Trout

Kau Tapen Lodge

Weekly Rates

Facilities & Services

The Fishing

Species

Season

Fishing Equipment

Rates

Videos

Kau Tapen Lodge - "House of fishing"

Kau Tapen Lodge - Giant Sea Run Brown Trout

Pictures

B.

B.

Gerald

Gerald

Jim

Jim

Bruce W.

Bruce W.

Stuart H

Stuart H

Jon H

Jon H

Merlin u.

Merlin u.

Steve

Steve

Mike D

Mike D

Hank

Hank

Graham P., California

Graham P., California

Eddie F., USA

Eddie F., USA

William Y. III, California

William Y. III, California

Cheryll A P., USA

Cheryll A P., USA

William S, USA

William S, USA

William B., USA

William B., USA

Ronald C., UK

Ronald C., UK

Linda M., UK

Linda M., UK

William L., USA

William L., USA

James O., USA

James O., USA

Bob O., UK

Bob O., UK

Michael S., USA

Michael S., USA

Bjorn H., Norway.

Bjorn H., Norway.

Bill L.,USA

Bill L.,USA

John S., UK

John S., UK

Ann C., NY,

Ann C., NY,

Janet P., California.,USA.

Janet P., California.,USA.