Guided Fly Fishing in Northern Patagonia
Set in Argentina’s northern Patagonia near Junín de los Andes, Chime Lodge sits beside the upper Chimehuín River, giving guests a refined, riverfront base in the heart of one of South America’s most dependable trout systems. Brown, rainbow and brook trout thrive in these cold, clear rivers, fed by Andean snowmelt and framed by open valleys and distant peaks.
Guided by the seasoned team from Patagonia River Guides (PRG), anglers use the lodge as a hub to fish a rotation of rivers and, when conditions suit, selected nearby lakes, with an optional 2-day Unplugged river camp for those who want to have a more immersive experience.
The program centers on float fishing from rafts, with walk-and-wade opportunities incorporated depending on location. Daily plans, as with most professional programs, adjust to water levels, clarity, wind, and angler preference.
A Tailored Program for Every Angler
Designed with flexibility in mind, itineraries are adapted to each angler’s fitness level, experience, and length of stay. Packages range from two to six days, and both beginners and seasoned anglers are fully accommodated. Chime Lodge supplies high-quality loaner gear—Sage rods, reels, and lines—at no extra cost, allowing guests to travel light while still fishing with excellent setups.
Each day begins with a short planning session, where guides check in about goals, preferred water types, and recent time on the water. Throughout the trip, PRG’s bilingual guides (English and Spanish) offer casting instruction to help refine fly presentations, and provide guidance on reading water speed, depth, and fish behavior. They also take care to pair guests with boat partners whose pace and experience complement their own.
With the lodge positioned within easy reach of multiple river systems, daily plans remain adaptable. Some outings start just minutes from the lodge, while others involve short drives to reach the most productive stretches. This flexibility ensures anglers can respond effectively to changing weather, runoff, or hatch conditions.
The result is a well-paced, responsive program designed to make the most of Patagonia’s daily rhythms. A varied itinerary encourages exploration of diverse rivers and lakes, each offering its own character and opportunities.
The Chimehuín and Its Tributaries
The Chimehuín is Patagonia’s most celebrated trout river—known for its clarity, varied structure, and healthy populations of browns and rainbows. Its 25-mile course to the Collón Curá includes smooth bankside glides, deeper holding water, and open runs that fish well from the start of summer through the close of fall. Classic beats around the lodge offer reliable action early and late in the day, while downstream stretches often hold larger cruising browns.
Nearby, the Malleo River runs beneath the snowcapped Lanín Volcano and rewards careful presentations with dry flies and small nymphs. The Aluminé and Collón Curá are larger float rivers with broad flows that offer consistent action for browns and rainbows, especially during warm, stable weather. Together they form one of Patagonia’s most diverse freshwater systems, allowing PRG to match anglers with the water type that best suits the day.
Trout average 14–20 inches, with larger trophy browns and rainbows in the 4–7-pound range taken each season on the Chimehuín and on nearby lakes such as Tromen and Huechulafquen.
The Glacial Lakes of the Lanín Region
The region holds holds more than twenty glacial lakes, each with its own character and trout population. Huechulafquen, Paimún, Tromen, Epulafquen, Verde, and Curruhé are among the most productive, known for strong, well-fed fish. Anglers target them from rafts or boats, casting streamers and large terrestrials toward submerged structure or shoreline weed beds. Calm mornings can offer clear views into the water and classic sight-fishing conditions, with the Lanín Volcano rising in the background.
Typical Floats on Patagonia’s Classic Waters
Most days are spent floating long river sections aboard PRG’s rafts or drift boats, with frequent stops to wade productive side channels and pools. This mobility allows anglers to cover multiple drainages in a week and adjust quickly to shifting temperatures, flows, and insect activity.
Shore lunches—often a riverside Argentine asado cooked over open fire—are a tradition and bring a natural pause to the day. Whether drifting the Collón Curá’s big, open water or walking the more intimate runs of the Malleo, variety is a defining feature of the program and one of the reasons guests return.
The “Unplugged” River Camp
For anglers seeking a deeper wilderness immersion, Chime Lodge offers the Unplugged Camp, a two-night float trip on the Caleufú, Aluminé, or Limay rivers. These camps balance comfort and remoteness—complete with raised beds, hot showers, a chef-prepared menu, and a stocked bar.
Guests fish unpressured water by day and share stories around the fire by night. It’s the main highlight for many returning anglers and one of Patagonia’s most polished float fishing camp experiences.
Season and Conditions
The fishing season runs from December through April, spanning Patagonia’s spring, summer, and early fall. December marks the start of the program, when the Andes are still snow-capped and the valleys bloom with wildflowers. Rivers run high and cold, and trout are aggressive after a long winter—prime time for streamer fishing and heavy nymphs.
By January and February, water levels drop and the weather settles into long, clear days. Grasses turn gold, hoppers fill the banks, and dry-fly fishing comes into its own. Sight casting with large terrestrials and smaller attractors dominates as trout feed confidently near the surface.
From mid-March into April, the pace slows as the tourist traffic drops away. With beautiful autumnal colors as fall sets in, this time of year is a favorite for returning guests. Cooler nights and rising water bring back larger browns and brook trout as they move upstream to feed and spawn. It’s a quieter time to fish, often with crisp mornings and shorter daylight hours, but the same amount of fishing nonetheless.
Whatever the season, PRG’s guides match water type, techniques, and timing to the prevailing conditions, keeping each session tuned to its moment in Patagonia.
For anglers who value variety, expert guiding, and seamless comfort, Chime Lodge delivers one of Patagonia’s most complete trout-fishing programs.
To learn more about the fishing and express an interest, message Nervous Waters.
