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 2019-2020: December 28, 2019 – April 11, 2020

December 28 – Jan 4 $ 7,950
January 4 – 11 $ 9,250*
January 11 – March 7 $ 10,350 *
March 7 – 14 $ 9,250 *
March 14 – 21 $ 7,950
March 21 – 28 $ 6,950
March 28 – April 4 $ 5,950
April 4 – 11 $ 4,950

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, Airfares, Fishing License ($495 per person) and Laundry service.
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

From Our Blog

Villa María Lodge : Week 2 – January 10 – 16th, 2020

We just finished our second week at Villa Maria Lodge. Once again, the week was dominated by challenging weather, strong storms, and changing river..[...]

Read More
Kau Tapen Lodge – Report Week 2: January 11-17, 2020

One great week was in the books and we were all very happy with the start of the season, despite of its rather late nature this year. While we had ..[...]

Read More
Villa Maria Lodge: Week 1 – January 3-9, 2020

We are back for a new season at Villa Maria Lodge! We just finished up our opening week and it was really exciting for several reasons. The river c..[...]

Read More
Pirá Lodge – Start of the season, 2020

The start of our 2020 season has kicked off with great water conditions, both in terms of water level and temperature. All of the channels are in g..[...]

Read More
Kau Tapen Lodge – Report Week 1: Opening Week January 4-10, 2020

The opening week of this season. Needless to say, we were all pretty excited to get the ball rolling, welcome our first week’s guests, and kickst..[...]

Read More
Kau Tapen River Diary – Start of the 2020 season – Guide’s week: Dec 27, 2019 -Jan 3, 2020

The very first week of the season, the first opportunity for all of our Guides to see the water for the first time before our opening group with gu..[...]

Read More
Suindá Lodge – Start of the season 2020

Our 2020 season has kicked off with some truly remarkable catches! Despite lower water levels, the fishing action has been hot at Suinda Lodge with..[...]

Read More
At the edge of the world by Chad Shmukler

Images: Chad Shmukler and Earl Harper. Words: Chad Shmukler. Tierra del Fuego, the windswept archipelago at the tip of South America, might righ..[...]

Read More
Suinda Lodge: This luxury lodge in Argentina is a fisherman’s dream by Eliza Velk

Located in Argentina’s Corrientes Province overlooking the Paraná River, this newly constructed Suinda Lodge is a fisherman’s sanctuary. To of..[...]

Read More
Fly fishing in the Land of fire – by Evan Mcglinn

In the snow-capped Andes of nearby Chile, the Rio Grande flows through desolate lowland made up of sheep-farming estancias. There is little sign of..[...]

Read More
Help The Abaco Lodge Staff & Community. Bid to win a NW experience

The outpouring of concern and support from the angling community rally has been heartwarming. We want to thank everyone that has helped those on Ab..[...]

Read More
A letter from our CEO & Founder

Dear Friends, Family, Clients and All: Being founder and CEO of Nervous Waters and her sister companies has been one of the greatest joys of..[...]

Read More
Abaco Island update – Hurricane Dorian aftermath

Abaco Island in the Bahamas has been devastated by Hurricane Dorian, the strongest storm in recorded history to hit the Islands of the Bahamas. Ab..[...]

Read More
Abaco Lodge update – Support our community

While Hurricane Dorian passed in a matter of days, the devastation left in its wake will be with us for months or perhaps years. Our Abaco Lodge wa..[...]

Read More
Villa Maria Lodge – End of Season 2019

Another season has come and gone on the Rio Grande and as usual, the river taught us many lessons. The main theme of this season was the d..[...]

Read More
Kau Tapen River Diary – Week 12: March 23-30, 2019

The second last week of the season is over and we had a full house! Some old friends came to visit us again: Roberto and Fran, as well as Martin an..[...]

Read More
Kau Tapen River Diary – Week 13: March 30 – April 6, 2019

The season comes to an end and the timing could not have been more perfect. During the last week, we had the very cool and interesting experience t..[...]

Read More
Kau Tapen River Diary – Week 11: March 16 – 23, 2019

While we were sad about our Italian friends from last week leaving, we were just as excited for our new group to arrive. Especially with the weathe..[...]

Read More
Villa Maria Lodge – Week 9: March 8-15, 2019

We just finished our last week of the season at Villa Maria Lodge! It feels great when you meet old friends again and spend a full week fishing wit..[...]

Read More
Kau Tapen River Diary – Week 9: March 2 – 9, 2019

Another week is done and I can’t believe how fast the time is flying. We are closing in towards the end of the season, but our excitement for the..[...]

Read More
Villa Maria Lodge – Week 8: March 1-8, 2019

Another week has passed and we were excited to see a bunch of new faces made there way to Villa Maria this week along with Kelly, a repeat fisherma..[...]

Read More
The 10 Best Fly-fishing Lodges Around the World

Top Ten Lodges in the world – and we are on it twice! We are so happy and proud to see two of our lodges on this famed list. Kau Tapen Lodge ..[...]

Read More
Villa Maria Lodge – Week 7: February 22 – March 2, 2019

This week we welcomed back two of our former guest David and Johnathan. The rest of the group were all first timers on the Rio Grande. Like the las..[...]

Read More
Kau Tapen River Diary – Week 8: February 23 – March 2, 2019

A bunch of familiar faces was on its way here and we were super stoked to see all of them again. We were so happy to see Bill, Janet and their son ..[...]

Read More
Villa Maria Lodge – Week 6: February 15 – 22, 2019

Another brilliant week has gone by at Villa Maria Lodge. The group this week was formed by old-time repeaters, like Mark and John -founder and pres..[...]

Read More
Kau Tapen River Diary – Week 7: February 16-23, 2019

Another week has passed and we were excited to welcome some very old friends once again this year. Jon, Jeremy (US), Hubert and his son Jean-Hubert..[...]

Read More
Kau Tapen River Diary – Week 6: February 9 – 16, 2019

Here we go again, another week had gone by and we’ve almost reached halftime for this season. And – you might have guessed it already – we we..[...]

Read More
Villa Maria Lodge – Week 5: February 8 – 15, 2019

By Alejandro Martello This past week we welcomed a group consisting of four old friends, (Gilbert, Nigel, Bob, and Ken) and 2 new friends (..[...]

Read More
Villa Maria Lodge – Week 4: February 1 – 8, 2019

Another week has gone by here at Villa Maria Lodge and we were visited by a full group of familiar faces, as all our fishermen have been fishing ou..[...]

Read More
Kau Tapen River Diary – Week 5: February 2 – 9, 2019

New week, a new group of guests, and new chances. However, the river remained very low and kept on dropping at a constant pace. The odds did not se..[...]

Read More
Villa Maria Lodge – Week 3: January 25 – February 1, 2019

We just finished our 3rd week at Villa Maria Lodge. Like the previous week, we can easily split the fishing week in two parts: The first three d..[...]

Read More
Kau Tapen River Diary – Week 4: January 26 – February 2, 2019

Going into the new week, the river was at the lowest many of us had ever seen it. But a lovely group was on its way here, eager to tackle whatever ..[...]

Read More
Kau Tapen River Diary – Week 3: January 19 – 26, 2019

The river remained at its very low water level, as the new group of clients arrived. Our prayers for more rain had not been answered and the sticks..[...]

Read More
Villa Maria River Diary – Week 2: January 18 – 25, 2019

We just finished our second week at Villa Maria Lodge We can easily split the week in two: The first three days the river remained low and dropping..[...]

Read More
Kau Tapen River Diary – Week 2: January 12 – 18, 2019

The tough conditions from the last days of the previous week persisted. The start into this week was not an easy one: while the water kept droppin..[...]

Read More
Villa Maria River Diary – Week 1: January 11 – 17, 2019

Welcome to Villa María Lodge 2019 season!! This year we started with normal conditions for January here, that means dry and windy. The water le..[...]

Read More
Week 1: January 5 – 12, 2019

The first week of the 2019 season is in the books – and not only are we happy to have made some new friends along this week, but the overall resu..[...]

Read More
Guide’s week: Dec 29, 2018 -Jan 5, 2019

Guide’s week: the very, very first week of the season, even before the first group of clients arrive. For us, this is a very important week. Not..[...]

Read More
Teamworking a Pool

By Stephan Dombaj The headline “Teamworking” may come as a surprise to some readers. Fishing tends to blur the lines between recreationa..[...]

Read More
PIRA LODGE: ARGENTINA

A Week in the Corrientes Marshland Hunting Golden Dorado at Pira Lodge Pursuing the elusive salminus brasiliensis, the golden dorado, at Pira Lodge..[...]

Read More
Gearing up for world’s end

Tierra del Fuego means land of fire. But “land of wind”, as many traveling anglers know, would be an equally appropriate title for this breatht..[...]

Read More
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 ..[...]

Read More
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..[...]

Read More
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..[...]

Read More
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 ..[...]

Read More
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 ..[...]

Read More
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..[...]

Read More
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 ..[...]

Read More
Pira Lodge River Diary: March 15- 31, 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..[...]

Read More
Kau Tapen River Diary: 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..[...]

Read More
Villa Maria River Diary: 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..[...]

Read More
Pira Lodge River Diary: March 1- 15, 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..[...]

Read More
Kau Tapen River Diary: February 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..[...]

Read More
Villa Maria River Diary: February 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..[...]

Read More
Kau Tapen River Diary: February 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..[...]

Read More
Pira Lodge Fishing Diary: February 15 -28, 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..[...]

Read More
Pira Lodge Fishing Diary: February 1 -15, 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..[...]

Read More
Fishing Report – 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..[...]

Read More
Fishing Report – Villa Maria Lodge | Week 5: February 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..[...]

Read More
Fishing Report – 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..[...]

Read More
Fishing Report – Villa Maria Lodge | Week 4: January 26 – February 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..[...]

Read More
Fishing Report: Pira Lodge: January 15 – 31, 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..[...]

Read More
Fishing Report – 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..[...]

Read More
Fishing Report – Villa Maria Lodge | Week 3: January 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..[...]

Read More
Fishing Report – 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..[...]

Read More
Fishing Report – 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’..[...]

Read More
Fishing Report: Pira Lodge: January 1 – 15, 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..[...]

Read More
Fishing Report – 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..[...]

Read More
Fishing Report 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 ..[...]

Read More
Pirá Lodge – Fishing Report: Dec. 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..[...]

Read More
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..[...]

Read More
Pirá Lodge – Fishing Report: 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. ..[...]

Read More
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..[...]

Read More
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..[...]

Read More
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..[...]

Read More
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 ..[...]

Read More
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 ..[...]

Read More
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 ..[...]

Read More
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..[...]

Read More
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..[...]

Read More
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..[...]

Read More
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 ..[...]

Read More
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..[...]

Read More
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..[...]

Read More
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 ..[...]

Read More
End of Season Report Pirá Lodge – 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..[...]

Read More
End of Season Report Villa Maria Lodge – 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..[...]

Read More
End of Season Report Kau Tapen Lodge – 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..[...]

Read More
Fishing Report 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 ..[...]

Read More
Fishing Report 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 ..[...]

Read More
Fishing Report 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..[...]

Read More
Fishing Report 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..[...]

Read More
Fishing Report 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..[...]

Read More
Fishing Report 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..[...]

Read More
Fishing Report 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..[...]

Read More
Fishing Report 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..[...]

Read More
Fishing Report 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..[...]

Read More
Fishing Report 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..[...]

Read More
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 ..[...]

Read More
Fishing Report 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..[...]

Read More
Fishing Report 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..[...]

Read More
Fishing Report 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..[...]

Read More
Fishing Report 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..[...]

Read More
Fishing Report 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..[...]

Read More
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..[...]

Read More
Fishing Report 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..[...]

Read More
Fishing Report Pirá Lodge: Jan. 7 – 31, 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..[...]

Read More
Fishing Report 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..[...]

Read More
Fishing Report 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..[...]

Read More
Fishing Report 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..[...]

Read More
Fishing Report 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..[...]

Read More
Fishing Report 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..[...]

Read More
Fishing Report 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�..[...]

Read More
A Fly in the Curtains

By Doug Larsen Copyright 2013 In 1984, Ronald Reagan was President of the United States. Madonna was a controversial twenty-something pop star as s..[...]

Read More
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..[...]

Read More
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..[...]

Read More
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..[...]

Read More
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..[...]

Read More
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..[...]

Read More
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..[...]

Read More
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..[...]

Read More
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 ..[...]

Read More
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..[...]

Read More
Villa María Lodge - Fishing Report (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..[...]

Read More
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..[...]

Read More
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..[...]

Read More