Fishing in Patagonia

The lodge is set in a stunning position on the Palena river and offers 8 ensuite bedrooms with a further bedroom should it be required.  All of the rooms are either twin bedded or have queen sized double beds.

All of the packages are inclusive and they take that word very seriously indeed.  From the moment you arrive to the moment you leave it is practically impossible to ask for something that they do not offer.  All of your drinks are included, all rod and reel hire, wading boots, dry bags, coats and shoes for around the lodge are available to you at no extra cost. 

There is a superb dining and living area where all of your meals are served as well as a deck overlooking the river which is the perfect place to unwind after a day in paradise. 

The food and drink are of the highest standard and are overseen by the all seeing eye of Carolina, Marcel’s Chilean wife.  Lamb is of course a highlight but you can expect top quality ingredients in every meal.

Perhaps with this in mind, there is also a gym and a sauna as well as a hot tub which overlooks the river.  A cold beer in a warm hot tub after a great day’s fishing is hard to beat.

The out camps(Palena and Temple) are set up for 4 rods at a time with accommodation in 2 fixed tents which offer seriously comfortable bankside accommodation with ensuite, outside bathrooms.  You go out with just your team, your guides and one or two Chilean helpers for an overnight or a 2 night stay. 

Having left the lodge you will go to the camp to get rid of your bags, go to the river nearby to fish and float down to the camp at around 7:30pm.  Supper in the dining area (a fixed wooden cabin) is a great event with the guides cooking steaks for you whilst you relax in the serenity of your surroundings.  The next day will see you have a leisurely breakfast before either floating out of camp and spending the day floating and fishing back to the BaseCamp or will be spent exploring some of the more remote options that are available which may include the odd white water section.

Nearly every rod that is offered the out camp starts off by saying that they would prefer to stay in the BaseCamp as they are worried about comfort levels etc.  Nearly every rod comes back saying that they wish they had more time in the camps!

Equipment
Be warned – this is trout fishing but not as we know it!  The fishing in Chile is unique and whilst the kit list provokes a certain amount of “I am sure that they must have this wrong” do follow it as there are very few places in the world where you can fish Size 2 dry flies all week and it would be a shame not to take advantage of that.

General items:
• 4 sets of clothes change (3 sets packed) – don’t forget lodge’s free laundry service
• 1 pair of daily shoes. Sturdy boots for light hiking/horse riding are supplied by the Lodge
• Breathable rain coat and trousers (for use on white water where they don’t allow waders, or during hiking/horse riding)
• Fleece sweater
• Bathing suit (for use in sauna and hot tub)
• Polarized sunglasses, hat, high factor sunscreen SPF40+ and lip balm
• Head light / flashlight (for stay in overnight camp)
• Digital camera with battery charger, spare battery and memory card
• Personal items (toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, lotions, etc.) and medicines
• Travel alarm clock or watch with alarm
• Cash US$ or Euros for purchases at the lodge and tips (suggested is 10-15% of your total travel sum) 

Fishing items:
• 4-piece fly rods in solid tubes. One #6 weight with reel and floating line and one #7 or #8 weight with reel and sink-tip line (200/250 grain) and floating line
• 9 ft leaders (3 of each - 0X, 2X and 3X)and fluorocarbon tippet material (1X, 2X, 3X,4X, 5X) 
• Lightweight stockingfoot waders with wading belt, thermal underwear for use in waders, fast-drying wading trousers, neoprene socks (to use in wading boots when wetwading)
• DON’T BRING WADING BOOTS, BaseCamp supplies free-to-use boots to protect the waters from imported acquatic diseases
• Dry bag (for use on float trips) and waterproof camera case/bag
• Fly floatant, clippers, hemostats, strike indicators and weight for nymphing
• Wading staff, sun gloves

Flies:
• Dry flies: Gypsy King (size 2 and 4); Fat Albert, tan and black (size 6, 8, 10); Ninja Cicada (size 8, 10); Chubby Chernobyl (size 6); Parachute Chernobyl Ant, red and black (size 6, 8); Parachute Madame X (PMX), yellow, orange, olive (size 6, 8, 10); Turk’s Tarantula (size 8, 10); Humpy, red, yellow (size 12, 14, 16); Parachute Ant (size 16, 18); Black foam beetle (size 16, 18); Parachute Adams (size 14, 16); CDC Compara Dun (size 14, 16)

 • Streamers: King Smolt (size 2), Sculpzilla (size 4); Silvey’s Sculpin, olive, tan, black(size 4); Chilean Rubber Bugger (size 4); Autumn Splendor (size 4); Beldar’s Rubberleg, black/red, olive/brown (size 4), Black Cone head Zuddler, (size 8,10); Magnum Strip Minnow, black, tan, olive (size 2, 4); Woolly Bugger, black, olive, white(size 4, 6 , 8) 

• Nymphs: Pheasant Tail bead head (size 14, 16); Prince Nymph (size 12, 14, 16); Copper John, green, black, red (size 14, 16, 18)

It is worth bearing in mind that very few English tackle shops can provide these types of flies and do talk to us before purchasing any items.  Please also bear in mind that the guides and the lodge can provide practically anything.

Non fishers are encouraged and there is a full programme in place from horse riding, whale watching on the coast, an in house yoga specialist as well as simply joining the rods on the river for a day float.  There have been many arguments over the dining room table with each protagonist proclaiming their day better than everyone else’s.

Your journey takes you through Puerto Varas where you spend an overnight.  This is a very pretty regional town on the side of Chile’s third largest lake with an active volcano in sight.  This is a good chance to purchase local items and trinkets. 

The bird life is wonderful and a pair of binoculars is a must – one guest recorded 90 different species in a week.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Season
November until April

Time Difference from GMT
4 hours.

Electricit
Electricity runs on a 220V current. To use your chargers and other electrical items you will need an adaptor

Currency
The official currency of Chile is the Peso

Tips
We suggest a gratuity of $500-$7000US per week per person. All tips are evenly distributed among the guides and staff. Should you feel inclined to give a gratuity to someone personally, you are welcome to do so, this should be done outside of the general gratuity

Visa requirements for UK citizens
None

Medical Requirements
There are no required inoculations for travel to Chile, though you are advised to check with your doctor prior to departure regarding any vaccinations that may be recommended. If you are taking prescription medicines please ensure that you bring enough for the duration of your stay.

Insects
Biting insects in Patagoinia are as a general rule not a problem. However we do suggest that you take good repellent to prevent any irritating bites.

You will fly from Santiago to Puerto Montt where you will be driven 30 minutes to the pretty town of Puerto Varas and you will overnight here.  The next morning you will take a private charter flight to Chaiten where you will be met by the Patagonian BaseCamp team.  From here the lodge is a 2 ½ hour drive.

On the map it is just below Isla Monita.