Heading into the penultimate week of the season, we were thrilled to welcome guests from Canada and the UK. Hosting the group was our very good friend Carlos Gonzalez, who, along with his crew, made the long journey from Yellowknife in Canada’s Northwest Territories – and not for the first time! In recent seasons, this week has become a regular slot for Carlos and his friends.
Joining him was his longtime fishing buddy Paul L., also a familiar face here at Las Buitreras. The rest of the group were all first-timers: Sean, Matt, Ivo, Bill, and Darin, all making their debut not only at Las Buitreras but also in the world of Rio Gallegos’ legendary sea trout. From the UK, we also welcomed seasoned salmon anglers Nick and Rory, both on their first adventure in Patagonia.
From the moment the group sat down around the dinner table, it was clear we were in for a fun and memorable week. The jokes, stories, and wonderfully dry humor kicked in quickly and set the tone for what would be a fantastic time on and off the water.
River & Weather Conditions
The river was in great condition to start the week, reading +10 cm with excellent clarity – clear with just a touch of that classic “tea color” we love. As the week progressed, the level gradually dropped, finishing at -5 cm with even clearer water.
The weather? Let’s just say it kept us on our toes and was as beautiful as it can get during autumn. After a chilly previous week that had us thinking winter had arrived, this week brought a complete reversal – it felt like summer had returned! We enjoyed sunshine almost every day, with daily temperatures ranging from 4°C to 20°C and nighttime lows between 0°C and 7°C. Winds were light and mostly from the west, with the occasional gentle northeasterly breeze. For several days, we had dead calm conditions, something we see regularly during April.
Skies remained bright and sunny, with only occasional, thin cloud cover.
Tactics & Fly Selection
With the river in such good shape, we stuck to our tried-and-true setup: floating lines or heads paired with intermediate tips or Polyleaders, along with medium to long leaders (9–15 ft) and tippet in the 0.32–0.37 mm range (20–25 lb).
Early in the week, the darker tea-stained water was perfect for streamers rather than nymphs. “Wooly Buggers” and “Sunray Shadows” were on the menu, and three patterns – “Poison,” “Yellow Yummy,” and “Sunray Shadow” – did most of the early work.
As clarity improved, we returned to our staple nymph patterns: “Marianne,” “Copper John,” and “Flashback” nymphs in sizes 6–8. These classics delivered yet again.
Day 1 Highlights
We kicked off the week strong with over twenty fish landed on Day 1. At this time of the year, we usually have huge schools of fresh fish in most pools and it is not uncommon to hook-up several times in the same spot!
Paul had a brilliant start, catching seven fish up to 8 lbs from Zones 3 & 5 in the “Bridge,” “Cajones,” and “Barranca Blanca” pools using the ever-reliable “Poison.”
First-timer Rory made an impressive debut, landing six fish from Zones 2 & 4 using “Yellow Yummy” and “Poison” in “Raquel,” “Tiura,” “La Curva,” and “Toll Booth.” His fishing partner Nick also scored two fish in “Little Corner.”
Bill dialed in quickly, landing four fish from Zones 3 & 1 using “Poison” in “Molino,” “75,” and “Lightweight.” Carlos also started strong, with four fish from Zones 1 & 4, including a lovely 13-pound female from “Kitchen” and “Puesto.
Day 2 Highlights
Rory and Nick kept the momentum going with seven fish in the 5–6 lb range from Zones 3 & 5 (“Cajones,” “Bridge,” “La Corrientes,” and “Barranca Negra”).
Matt and Carlos teamed up in Zone 5, netting seven fish between them using “Poison” and “Yellow Yummy” in “La Corrientes,” “Zoller,” and “Pollo’s.”
Bill added three more to his tally, including a beautiful 13 lb male on a black “Leech” from “Orilla Rippio.” Ivo wasn’t far behind – he hooked into a stunning 15 lb fish in the same pool using our old favorite fly “Yellow Yummy.” The fish put on quite a show, but Ivo was ready for the challenge!
Day 3 Highlights
Bill and Ivo stayed hot, adding six fish to their totals from Zones 3 & 5 using “Yellow Yummy” in “Boca Chica Flats,” “Cajones,” and “Pollo’s.”
Nick and Rory hit Zone 1 and landed seven more fish from “Ochenta” and “Kitchen” using mostly “Sunray Shadows,” though that “P” fly made a few appearances again.
Matt and Carlos worked Zones 1 & 3, landing six fish up to 8 lbs from “79,” “Ochenta,” “Flats,” and “Heavyweight.” There was no question in these first days which flies to put on as our favorite big flies all worked perfectly.
Darin and Paul found success in Zones 2 & 5, picking off four fish from “Little Corner,” “Barranca Blanca,” and “Two Cast” with slow-stripped “Sunray Shadows.”
Bill and Ivo hit their stride in Zone U1, landing nine fish between them in “Orilla Rippio,” “Big Man,” and “Basural” with “Wooly Buggers” and “Sunray Shadows.” Bill’s 14 lb fish was a new personal best – congrats, Bill!
Rory had a stellar day with ten fish across Zones 2 & 5, including hat tricks in both “Two Cast” and “Barranca Blanca,” and doubles in “Cogedero,” “Toll Booth,” and “La Corrientes.” Nick stayed close behind with five fish from the same pools – great work, guys!
Matt also continued scoring, landing three from Zone 2, including an 11 lb beauty from “Old Bridge” on – yes, you guessed it.
Day 5 Highlights
With the river even clearer, our guides began mixing in smaller patterns like nymphs and “Girdle Bugs.”
Bill landed three more fish from “Two Cast,” “La Corrientes,” and “Little Corner,” including a solid 10 lb catch on a nymph and “Sunray” combo. Paul also found success, landing three nice fish up to 10 lbs from “Toll Booth” and “Puesto” using nymphs.
Rory and Nick were unstoppable – five more fish from Zones 1 & 3 in “La Curva,” “Kitchen,” and “Outer Limits.”
Final Day Highlights
Rory and Nick closed out their incredible week with eight fish from Zones 2 & 4, including “Puesto,” “Tiura,” “La Recta,” and “Little Corner.”
Carlos ended strong, landing five beautiful fish from Zone U1. The highlight was a 13 lb stunner from “Wagon Wheel.”
But it was Matt who truly finished with a bang. Fishing “Wagon Wheel” with a simple “Girdle Bug,” he landed a sleek, fresh 16 lb fish (92 x 49 cm) – his new PB. Huge congrats, Matt!
Closing Thoughts
As the week wraps up, we’d like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Carlos and his group. Your humor and camaraderie made this week unforgettable. And to Rory and Nick – thank you for choosing us for your first Patagonian adventure. It was a pleasure hosting you all.
Stay tuned for next week’s final report of the season!
Stats of the week
Total Sea Trout: 138
Biggest sea-run brown trout landed: 16 lb by Matt M.
Average size: 6.1 lb
