Patagonia is a land of opportunity for the trout that live there and the fisherman that pursue them. When people ask me what to bring, I always tell them to bring everything they can. In a given day you may be fishing with small Midge imitations, large Beetles, Hoppers and Ants, Mice, spent Spinners and gigantic heavy streamers with a sink tip. I recommend traveling with at least 2 rods in weights 5 and 6. The 6 weight should be fast action and long (9’6”) to cast big flies and at times sink-tip lines. A 7 weight will do but can get heavy after a few days of casting. The 5 would mainly be your dry fly rod.

While we always do our best to find the hottest dry fly action, there will be times when a sink-tip presented streamer will be the most effective. Therefore, aside from floating lines, at least one reel should have an extra spool or two with a 150 and/or a 250 grain sink-tip. We’ll use tippets from 1x to 6x and leaders of 9-12 feet are fine. Please remember before you come to check over all of your gear. You will use your fly line backing in Patagonia so verify that it is of good quality and your fly line to backing knot is well tied. Make sure that your reels are greased and in good working order. Check your waders and boot soles for integrity and please sterilize the felts so as not to transport any unwanted critters with you. A good rain jacket is essential, as are polaroid glasses. Keep in mind that Patagonia is a remote place and it can be difficult, time consuming and at times impossible to buy replacement gear there. Before your trip, I will send you a detailed list of what you’ll need.

In both Southern Chile and Argentina successful fly patterns range from tiny midge pupae to huge streamers and giant foam dry flies. Visiting anglers are advised to concentrate on stocking up on large terrestrials and streamers to compliment their normal favorite patterns. Here on any given day, you may fish a variety of techniques including waking and skating large dries, dead drifting dries, swinging and stripping streamers and both deep and shallow nymphing.

Stonefly, Caddis and Mayfly hatches are relatively common and a selection of  sizes and colors is good to have. In December,  Caddis hatches can be so thick that they literally cover the sky. Mayfly hatches are less prolific but at times can be equally important. Elk Hair Caddis and Parachute Adams can be effective in sizes 14-20. Rusty Spinners in size 16 and 18 can be deadly at times as the morning Mayfly spinner falls are often much larger than the hatch. In the Futaleufu there is a good Stonefly population and size 8-10, weighted Black Stones are a good bet if the dry fly fishing is slow. In March there can be epic flying ant hatches throughout Patagonia and size 16-20 Black Parachute Ants can bring up lots of fish in a day.

Generally however, we will be fishing with large attractor type dries including: Chernobyl Ants, Turk’s Tarantulas, Fat Alberts, Hoppers, Beetles, PMX’s, Damsel and Dragonfly patterns. Dragon and Damselfly hatches on the lakes can be amazing with large trout crashing the water all around your boat. Throwing a large dry is not only exciting fishing, it can be the most effective way to hook up with a large Patagonia trout.

Streamer fishing is equally exciting as you never know what kind of monster you may hook. Pounding river banks and weed beds with big streamers often produces giant fish that pull hard. Patterns should include Black, White and Olive Wooly Buggers with coneheads and rubber legs, Smolt imitations, Clousers, Muddlers, Rabbit Leeches and your personal favorites.

Nymphing is not as prevalent as it is here in the States. Many times searching water is the name of the game and large dries and streamers are better for this. However there are times when fishing a nymph is the only way to go. Nymph selections should include your basic Pheasant Tail, Hare’s Ears, X Caddis, Copper Johns, Bitch Creeks, Girdle Bugs, Damsels, Dragons and a variety of small Midge Pupa and Scuds. Most of these should be weighted or beaded. Depending on the time of year and where you will be fishing, I will recommend specific patterns, sizes and colors.