Welcome to our Week 6 report from Las Buitreras.
This week we had the pleasure of welcoming guests from seven different countries: Switzerland, Sweden, Scotland, England, the USA, Luxembourg and Iceland.
Our Swedish group, led by our good friend Pontus G., felt very much at home. For many of them, Las Buitreras is an annual pilgrimage. Stefan (“El Profesor”), Kenneth and Mats are all seasoned LB regulars, joined this time by first-time visitor Michael. They were accompanied by two familiar faces and dear friends of the lodge – Nick from the USA and Keith from Scotland, already on his second visit this season.
Also joining us for their first taste of the Gallegos were Thomas and Marcel from Switzerland, Ben and Charlie from England, and John R. from the USA.
The weather this week was a true Patagonian mix. Daytime temperatures generally hovered between 17–20°C, with Monday and Friday peaking at a very warm 26°C. Night-time temperatures mostly stayed above 10°C, although the early hours of Sunday and Wednesday dipped to a crisp 4–6°C.
Wind, however, proved challenging. We started with a northwesterly flow that gradually shifted southwest before finishing from the west. While these directions are usually favourable, the real challenge came when the wind dropped away altogether.
Light levels were high throughout the week. Bright sunshine dominated most sessions, with only occasional cloud cover and a touch of rain. Combined with gin-clear water and light winds, stealth became essential. Careful positioning and subtle presentations were the keys to success.
River levels remained low for most of the week. Then, on Friday, we received the first lift of the season, with the river rising approximately 20 cm. This fresh push of water refreshed the pools and stirred the fish into action. We saw plenty of new fish moving into the pools, giving us lots of highlights to talk about by the end of the week. The water remained crystal clear throughout.
Tactics remained consistent with previous weeks. Both single- and double-handed rods in 7# and 8# were paired primarily with floating lines. Intermediate tips and polyleaders were used selectively to probe deeper pools, but a full floating setup did most of the work.
Fly choice followed a familiar pattern. During daylight hours, very small bead-head nymphs in sizes 10–14 were our go-to – “LB Marianne,” “Flashback” variants and different takes on the classic “Copper John” all producing consistently. Tiny traditional salmon doubles such as “Green Butt,” “Red Butt” and “Stoat’s Tail” (sizes 12–16) proved especially useful when the wind dropped.
As the light softened into the Golden Hour, fly sizes increased. Out went the tiny nymphs, replaced by 10 cm Sunray Shadow-style tubes and Scandinavian-inspired patterns. Some guests favoured leech-style flies, including the ever-reliable “LB Silver Shadow” and Mini Intruder patterns.
Opening day delivered an unforgettable moment for Michael from Sweden, on his first visit to LB. A skilled single-hand angler, he initially planned to focus on our resident brown trout – often overlooked gems of the Gallegos.
Fishing Zone 1’s iconic “Kitchen” pool with Kenneth and host Pontus, Michael was delicately presenting a small Copper John to rising browns when his line tightened violently. This was no resident fish. What followed was a long, controlled battle that pushed his light single-hander to its limits. Calm and composed, Michael guided a stunning 17 lb sea trout to the net. An incredible achievement – and a proper LB welcome. The Fernet came out in celebration.
Pontus also found success in the newly scouted “Peca Pool,” named in honour of our ever-smiling guide Germán. Swinging a small salmon fly through perfect flow, he connected with a superb 16.5 lb fish.
Lightning struck twice for Michael. A few days later in “Old Bridge,” he hooked another powerful seatrout on his single hander during magic hour. After another intense battle, a beautiful 15 lb fish slid into the net. Quality over quantity as some wise man once said.
Kenneth added two double-figure fish to his tally, while Mats enjoyed a remarkable session landing three back-to-back – weighing in at 11, 9, and 8 if we are not mistaken – and Stefan, ever methodical, secured several quality fish with his best also around 11 lb. A strong week for the Swedish team.
Swiss duo Marcel and Thomas arrived after a week in Tierra del Fuego and embraced a relaxed – but effective – approach to their stay.
In Zone 1’s “Kitchen” pool, Marcel found the sweet spot. Fishing a small Copper John, he landed two superb fish: a 15 lb female followed by a 14 lb male. He continued his consistent run with another 12 lb fish from “Barranca Blanca, a nice one from Peca pool, after losing a larger specimen in the same spot minutes earlier, and more.”
Thomas, a skilled single hand angler who normally focuses on brown trout fishing, focused heavily on refining his casting with a spey rod, and the effort paid off with a beautifully earned 12 lb fish from Zone 5, among other fish.
Joining us from Iceland was Maros, a respected guide and familiar face to many. His experience targeting sea-run fish in technical conditions was evident from the outset.
After a brief warm-up with smaller fish, he unlocked the code to low, clear water. On Zones 2 and 5 he enjoyed an exceptional day, highlighted by an 18 lb ocean-fresh fish from “Barranca Negra” on a tiny Copper John variant. A fish of that calibre tested every ounce of skill before finally conceding.
Later, on Zone 2, he added four more quality fish from “Old Bridge” and “Lawson,” the best touching 10 lb. His week continued in similar fashion, including a 15 lb beauty from “Seventy Five” and an 11 lb return from “Old Bridge.” Precision, patience and smart decisions defined his stay. One of his many stunning fish of the week was a chrome, 90 cm fish from 75.
Nick and Keith – annual visitors and perpetual sources of laughter – once again delivered both entertainment and results.
Keith handled the conditions expertly, tempting several double-digit fish with (unsurprisingly) a Copper John. His best, a fresh 15 lb fish from “Kitchen,” was matched closely by a 14 lb beauty from “Seventy Five.” His fish from “Kitchen” was truly memorable. During magic hour, fishing a Sunray Shadow, this super-bright chrome fish took the fly like a rocket and ripped the line straight from Keith’s hands—an electrifying take and a perfect way to finish the day.
Nick added a bright 13 lb fish from “Barranca Negra” on his trusted “Wonder Bug,” along with a steady run of quality captures throughout the week. It’s always so good to have you both here each year!
Ben and Charlie, on their first expedition to LB, split their focus between sea trout and resident browns. They spent hours mousing the pools, searching for aggressive surface takes from hungry browns – and found action in abundance.
They also connected with several sea trout throughout the week, adding silver to their tally and rounding out a fantastic first experience on the river. We’re already looking forward to welcoming them back for more!
As we close another memorable week, we extend our sincere thanks to all our fantastic guests. To Pontus and the Swedish crew for the laughter-filled evenings, to Nick and Keith for adding yet another chapter to their legendary adventures, and to Maros, John, Marcel, Thomas, Ben and Charlie – thank you for making Week 6 so special.
Until next week… Tight lines from Patagonia.
Stats of the Week
Biggest sea-run brown trout: 18lbs by Maros
Average size: 8.29lbs
Best fly: “Copper John”
