Greetings from Las Buitreras! As we moved into Week 3, we continued our run with John Bilotta from the USA, who was hosting his second back-to-back group of the season.
John’s guests were a mix of regulars and first-time visitors, so we felt it was the perfect opportunity to pair our newcomers with anglers who already knew the river well. Sekhar (a regular) was teamed up with Joe, followed by Jim (regular) and Jonathan, and finally our host John with his good friend Scott. Furthermore, there were Jamie and Tim, lifelong friends who always fish together. Not only are they annual visitors to Las Buitreras, but they always explore the non-fishing side of the estancia, fueled by a deep passion for photography and ornithology. Rounding out the group were two first-time visitors to southern Patagonia: Willy (USA) and David (Australia), both highly experienced anglers and excellent fly casters.
The weather this week proved to be extremely challenging. The unusually hot temperatures experienced during the previous week continued, with daytime temperatures climbing even higher—conditions that could only be described as a heatwave. Throughout the week, midday temperatures never dropped below 20°C, and toward the latter stages, we recorded a staggering 31°C.
Nighttime temperatures varied dramatically. Early in the week (Sunday and Monday) we enjoyed cool evenings of 5–10°C, but the rest of the week turned warm and unsettled, fluctuating between 12–20°C. With little to no cloud cover, we had no relief from the intense sunshine. These conditions made it particularly difficult to tempt fish. Winds were variable and unpredictable; only on a few occasions did we benefit from our preferred west/southwest direction. The rest of the time, our guides worked tirelessly, switching riverbanks and adapting constantly to the ever-changing wind direction and speed.
River conditions remained relatively low and exceptionally clear throughout the week. We began with river levels at -20 cm, which steadily dropped to -30 cm by the week’s end. The abnormally hot weather, combined with strong sunshine, had a noticeable impact on water temperatures. Overnight cooling offered only brief relief, as temperatures quickly rose again once the sun climbed the sky each morning.
Tactics this week closely mirrored those of previous weeks. Floating heads and lines were rigged on both single- and double-handed rods, paired with intermediate or full floating tips and polyleaders. Leader length was critical—typically 15–20 ft—and finished with tippets far finer than we normally prefer, in some cases as thin as 0.26 mm. As a rule, we are much more comfortable fishing 0.30 mm and above, ideally 0.32 mm.
Fly choice leaned heavily toward smaller patterns, especially during the daytime. Beadhead nymphs such as the LB Marianne, various Copper Johns, Flashbacks, Hare’s Ears, and Vitamins in sizes 10–14 formed the backbone of our approach. In certain pools, we opted for small traditional salmon doubles like the Silver Stoat’s Tail, Green Butt, Red Butt, and micro Sunray Shadows in sizes 12–16.
During the golden hour, tactics shifted. Larger Sunray Shadows up to 10 cm and medium-sized leeches (sizes 6–8) came into play, along with surface lures such as small mouse patterns and foam-backed flies for those keen to mix things up.
Sekhar and Joe got their week off to a solid start, covering pools in Zones 3 and 5. Sekhar had great success, landing three chrome-bright fish. The first—a respectable 10 lb sea trout—fell to a classic Copper John. He followed this with another 10 lb fish and a smaller 6 lb specimen from the Zone 2 pools, Little Corner and Cogedero. Joe also got himself on the scoreboard, landing a 7 lb fish on his own pattern, the “Super Fly,” from one of our guests’ favorite pools: the legendary Kitchen.
John’s many years of experience fishing the Río Gallegos truly paid off. He started strongly, expertly working pools in Zones 4 and 1 to land two fine sea trout. The first, a 10 lb fish, took a small Vitamin nymph, while the second—a solid 12 lb fish—came during the evening session on the ever-reliable Sunray Shadow tube fly.
Despite the challenging conditions, John continued to hook fish consistently. Using a variety of small but deadly nymphs, he landed several impressive fish, many pushing well into double figures. The standout was a great ocean-fresh fish of 15.5 lbs, taken on a tiny green rubber-legged nymph from Zone 2’s Island Stream pool.
David and Willy were not only experiencing their first trip to southern Patagonia, but also their first time targeting sea-run brown trout. Both were accomplished fly casters and knowledgeable anglers, but as many quickly discover, nothing quite prepares you for the conditions of fishing the windswept Patagonian pampa.
Our intrepid duo worked hard all week, absorbing information from the guides and constantly asking questions. After a slow start, their persistence paid off. Willy struck first, landing his very first sea trout—a stunning, chrome-bright 13 lb fish from the Kitchen. He backed this up with several more fish up to 8 lbs. David had to wait a little longer for his moment, enduring a few near misses before finally seeing his first-ever “chromer” slide over the rim of the net: a sweet 8 lb sea trout and a moment he won’t soon forget.
Longtime friends and guests Jamie and Tim are well known for combining their fishing with a passion for birdwatching and photography. Even the short drives between pools were opportunities to spot and photograph the many species that inhabit this remarkable corner of the world. They discovered yet another new bird species during their visit; it is always interesting to learn more about nature from these two.
Despite being highly experienced sea trout anglers, luck seemed to evade them early in the week. But that dry spell didn’t last long—Lady Luck had other plans. During a slow morning in Zone 2, their guide Germán pulled into the pool Cogedero. While discussing tactics and fly choice, Germán spotted a good-sized fish moving between weed lines just a few meters from the bank. Famous for his boundless enthusiasm, Germán quickly selected a fly that would stand out: the locally revered Girdle Bug in size 8.
With no wind and no cover, stealth was essential. As they edged into position, the fish moved again. Without hesitation, Jamie made the cast—it was perfectly placed. The reaction was instantaneous and violent. Jamie timed the hook set flawlessly, and chaos followed. The fish cartwheeled around the pool before turning downstream in a blistering run that stripped over 80 meters of backing. Germán eventually sealed the deal, sliding the fish into the net. Measuring in at 92 cm by 55 cm confirmed out first 20 lbs plus fish of the season, a true Gallegos giant weighing 21 lbs. Well done, Jamie!
Despite extremely challenging conditions, every guest managed to catch fish this week. For our newer guests, the challenge became an enjoyable learning curve, embraced with steely determination. Even in the heat, the river was alive. Fish could be seen in almost every pool, tail-slapping the surface and chasing one another. Schools of fresh fish filled our holding pools… and in some cases, we were fairly sure they were wearing buffs and sunglasses!
Before wrapping up another memorable week, we’d like to thank all our guests for their wonderful company. A special thank you to John Bilotta: a true gentleman and treasured friend who continues, year after year, to bring together fantastic groups of anglers.
Stats of the week
Biggest sea-run brown trout: 21 lbs by Jamie (USA)
Average size: 8.34 lbs
Best flies: LB Marianne, Copper John, and Sunray Shadow
