This week we had the pleasure of hosting guests from Canada, the USA, France, Sweden, and New Zealand. Kicking things off was Canadian Tim Hepworth who was joined by Adam, a familiar face from our Greenland camp a few years back.
Then there was the ever-charismatic Serge Rameu from France, accompanied by first-time visitors and fellow Frenchmen Pascal, Thierry, and Patrice. Also joining us was Lech, a longtime friend of the lodge and regular guest. Originally from Poland, Lech now proudly calls New Zealand home.
Representing Sweden were Solid Adventures founder Christer Sjöberg and his wife Annakarin, joined by their close friends Claes and Kent. Rounding out the group was Joe, a journalist from the U.S. on his first visit to Patagonia.
The river greeted us in excellent condition to start the week, with the level reading +10 cm and the water running clear with a hint of “tea color” – ideal for a variety of fly patterns. Conditions were expected to remain steady, with a slow drop predicted… that is, until Thursday.
Midweek, upstream reports of rain and snow alerted us to a change. Sure enough, by Thursday afternoon, the river began to rise quickly but remained relatively clear. It continued to rise overnight and into Friday morning, adding some color but minimal debris. By Friday, it had settled at around +30 cm – dark, but still very fishable with adjusted tactics.
Water temperatures hovered between 2°C and 6°C, and while daytime weather remained unusually stable for this time of year, it was still on the chilly side. Daytime highs ranged from -1°C to +12°C, with nighttime temperatures between -4°C and +4°C. Winds were steady out of the west to southwest, starting moderate and easing throughout the week until almost disappearing on Thursday. Cloud cover dominated the first half of the week (Sunday–Tuesday), while clear, sunny skies took over from Wednesday through Friday.
Our approach this week was tried and true: floating heads with intermediate tips or polyleaders remained the standard setup. In deeper pools, we occasionally switched to a sink tip with 3 ips density to better cover the water column.
Fly patterns varied throughout the day. During daylight hours, we leaned on size 8 nymphs – classic producers like the “Copper John,” “Flashback,” and the ever-reliable “Marianne,” along with favorites such as the “Girdle” and “I-Bug” (sizes 6–8). For the golden hour, larger patterns like the “Sunray Shadow,” “Intruders,” and “Leeches” proved productive.
With colder water temps, presentation was key – slow strips, figure-eight retrieves, or even dead-drifting often made the difference. On Friday, as flows increased, we switched to heavier tips (4 to 7 ips) and larger, brighter flies like the “Poison,” “Yellow Yummy,” and medium-sized “Intruders.”
This time of year, late morning and early afternoon tend to be most productive, as dropping temperatures during the golden hour can slow activity. We adapted by skipping siesta and maximizing fishing time during these peak hours.
The week started strong with over twenty fish landed. Tim had an excellent opening day on Zones U1 & 3, catching six fish up to 8 lbs in pools “La Curva,” “Limits,” and “Boca Chica Flats” on the “Poison.” Adam followed suit, landing three fish from the same pools using the “Marianne” nymph. Kent found success on Zone U1, landing three fish in “Orilla Rippio.”
Lech landed four solid fish in the 5–6 lb range from Zones 1 & 3, fishing pools “75” and “Heavyweight.” Joe, enjoying his first taste of Patagonia sea trout, fished Zones 4 & 1 and hooked three chrome beauties from pools “38,” “Turning Bank,” and “Ochenta” using the mysterious “Taxi Cab” – a yellow and black fly new to us. One of those fish weighed over 17 lbs.
On day two, Kent kept up the pace with four fish from Zones 1 & 4, fishing “Ochenta,” “Cantera,” and “Puesto” using a “Swedish” nymph – yellow body, blue legs, inspired by both the national flag and Boca Juniors football club colors. Claes landed two nice fish up to 6 lbs in “Bridge” and “Chrillos,” one on a “Sunray Shadow.”
Joe continued his streak in Zones 2 & 5, landing three more fish from “Cogedero,” “Lil Corner,” and “Barranca Blanca” using “Copper Johns” and “I-Bugs.” He even tried the Swedish nymph to great effect.
Tim added another three fish to his tally in Zones 1 & 4, including a powerful 12.5-lb slab from pool “75.” We had the pleasure of watching that battle – an absolute powerhouse of a fish that fought well above its weight class.
Lech had a banner day, landing seven fish up to 7 lbs in “Lil Corner,” “Old Bridge,” “Barranca Negra,” and “Barranca Blanca.”
Our French guests found their rhythm, catching six fish in Zone U1 using the “Poison.” The standout was Thierry, who swung a tiny nymph through “La Corrientes” in Zone 5 to land a 16.5-lb chrome torpedo – his new personal best. Bravo!
Day three brought frigid weather, barely rising above freezing, yet the fishing remained consistent across all zones.
Tim landed a stunning 10-lb fish from “Goat” on the “Marianne.” Lech, ever consistent, brought six more sea trout and two hefty browns (6 and 4 lbs) to the net.
Joe landed four using a blue-legged “Marianne” variant, including a solid catch from “Chrillos” and three more from “Heavyweight,” “Loophole,” and “Green Bank.”
Claes and Kent had continued success on Zone 2, landing four fish using nymphs and “Sunray” tactics. Annakarin, in her second outing, hooked two lovely trout from “Tiura” and “La Curva.”
Thierry, Serge, and Pascal collectively caught seven fish using nymph and snakefly tactics, with Thierry again leading the way with a 10-lbs on a simple “Girdle Bug.”
Day four was another excellent day, with over twenty fish caught. Tim was on fire, landing an impressive eleven fish. He started strong on Zone 3 and closed with a phenomenal evening in Zone U1, landing seven more – almost all on the “Marianne.”
The French contingent had a productive outing on Zones 2 & 5. Patrice landed three chromers from “Barranca Negra” and “Golfo,” while Serge and Pascal hooked a couple from “Pollo Pool.” Thierry added two more from “Tiura” in Zone 4.
Claes and Kent continued their quiet consistency, while Lech scored four fresh fish in Zones 1 & 4, including a stunning 13 lbs fish.
Day five brought the expected rise in water—up 30–40 cm in the morning – slowing things slightly but not stopping the action.
Joe persisted and landed three in “Golfo,” “Cogedero,” and “Barranca Blanca.” Tim picked off a couple from “Molino” and “Puesto.” Claes and Kent used “Poison” and “Yellow Yummy” flies to land four fish in “Kitchen” and “Raquel.”
Patrice had a memorable catch – 16 lbs from “Outer Limits” – while Pascal and Serge added three more fish between them.
On the final day, with the river steady at +30–40 cm and the water a dark tea color, we opted for heavier tips and bright flies. Joe landed three more using “Bunny Leeches” and the enigmatic “Taxi Cab” in Zones 3 & U1. Thierry added four more up to 9 lbs from “Basural,” “Bridge,” and “Outer Limits,” while Lech wrapped up a stellar week with four more from the same zones.
It was a strong finish, with every guest putting fish in the book on the final day.
As Week 13 comes to a close, we extend a heartfelt thank you to all our guests.
Special thanks to our fantastic hosts Tim and Serge, and to Christer, Annakarin, Claes, Kent, Joe, and Lech for bringing such great energy and camaraderie. The vibe this week was exceptional – a beautiful mix of new friendships shared stories, and unforgettable moments.
And of course, a massive thanks to our incredible team—guides, kitchen, and lodge staff—you make all of this possible. ¡Muchas gracias a todos!
See you next time for the Week 14 Report. Until then – tight lines!
Stats of the week
Biggest sea-run brown trout landed: 17.5 lb caught by Joe W.
Total Sea Trou: 123
Average size: 6.2 lb
