Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Further south, Parque Nacional Los Alerces (near Esquel) has outstanding lakes and
rivers. From El Chaltén you can do day trips to Lago del Desierto or Laguna Larga. Río
Gallegos is a superb fly-fishing destination. Other important Patagonian rivers include
Río Negro and Río Santa Cruz.
The city of Río Grande, on Tierra del Fuego, is world famous for fly-fishing. Its Río
Grande river holds some of the largest sea-run brown trout in the world.
Deep-sea fishing is possible in Camarones and Puerto Deseado; near Gobernador
Gregores there's a lake with salmon and rainbow trout.
In subtropical northeast Argentina, the wide Río Paraná attracts fly-fishers, spin fishers
and trollers from around the world, who pull in huge river species, such as surubí (a
massive catfish) and dorado (a troutlike freshwater game fish). The dorado, not to be
confused with the saltwater mahi-mahi, is a powerful swimmer and is one of the most ex-
citing fish to catch on a fly.
Guides & Services
In smaller towns such as Junín de los Andes, you can usually go to the local tourist office
and request a list of local fishing guides or operators. Another good option for independ-
ent anglers heading to the Lake District is the
Asociación de Guías Profesionales de
Pesca Parque Nacional Nahuel Huapi y Patagonia Norte
(
www.guiaspatagonicos.com.ar
) , which maintains a list and contact details of licensed
guides for northern Patagonia and the Lake District. For information about fly-fishing,
contact
Asociación Argentina de Pesca con Mosca
( in Buenos Aires
011-4773-0821;
www.aapm.org.ar
) .
Many anglers use a tour agency based outside Argentina for guided excursions.
Rules & Regulations
In the Lake District and Patagonia the season runs from November to between mid- and
late April. In the northeast the season runs from February to October. Certain lakes and
streams on private land may stay open longer.
Trout fishing is almost always mandatory catch and release. Throughout Patagonia (in-
cluding the Lake District), native species should
always
be thrown back. These are usu-
ally smaller than trout and include perca (perch), puyen (common galaxias, a narrow fish
native to the southern hemisphere)
,
Patagonian pejerrey and the rare peladilla.
Fishing licenses are required and available at tackle shops,
clubs de caza y pesca
(hunting and fishing clubs), and sometimes at tourist offices and YPF gas stations.
