Southern
Chile contains a myriad of excellent trout waters for the fly
fisherman. For the North American angler coming to fish in Chile
there are a few things that can make your trip there as memorable as
it is fun.
To
begin with, the fishing in Southern Chile is not easy. Rivers are big
and hard to access, lake fishing can be moody and the weather can be
temperamental. Additionally, there are nowhere near as many fish per
mile in Southern Chile as there are in the Western U.S. and the
hatches are less predictable and epic.
The
best thing that you can do when visiting Chile to fly fish is to hire
a reputable Guide service that knows the area you are fishing in.
This can save you lots of time and money in trying to figure out
where to go. Most Chilean Rivers are HUGE and the walk and wade
angler is at a serious disadvantage. Access can be tough and
fishing the big rivers can be intimidating to say the least.
In
preparation for your trip to Southern Chile, the best thing that you
can do is to become a proficient caster. Practice makes perfect and
good casting can greatly increase your odds of hooking into a trophy
Chilean trout. The wind can blow hard down here so practice casting
into the wind and learn techniques such as the Belgian wind cast to
use the wind to your advantage. Eliminate unnecessary false
casts and learn to shoot your line quickly and efficiently to take
advantage of sudden opportunities.
In
conjunction with becoming a proficient caster, when fly fishing in
Southern Chile, it is important to carry a variety of lines to meet
the current conditions. While we would all like to use a floating
line and dry fly, many times this is not the most effective technique
in Patagonia. The key to success often lies in figuring out where in
the water column the fish are holding. In both the rivers and the
lakes, a variety of sink tip and full sinking lines will enable you
to experiment until you find the fish. Practice casting your sink
tips before coming to Chile as you will find them very different than
your weight forward floating line. Combine a big, heavy fly with your
sink tip lines and things change yet again.
When
floating many Chilean Rivers, it is a good idea to carry 2 rods in
the boat with you. Many times, you will find very selective trout
sipping tiny midges in the eddies and yet as soon as you leave the
eddy, a sink tip and large streamer become the weapon of choice. Be
flexible and ready to change techniques if what you are doing isn't
working.
I find
that for most of the fishing I do in Chile, a 5 and a 6 weight rod
are the best. Bigger rods can be helpful at times but have a tendency
to wear one down after a long day of fishing. One of your rods should
be a stiff one and even though I am generally a soft rod advocate,
there are times when the wind is howling and the fish are biting and
the stiffer rod is a better choice for penetrating the wind. Reels
are of minor importance and as long as your reel has 75 yards of
backing and winds in the line, it will be fine. A worthy
consideration in purchasing a fly reel is the cost of extra spools
for your lines as you may want 4-5 extra spools per reel. Tippets in
Southern Chile lean towards the heavier dimensions of 1x-3x yet be
sure to bring some finer material for dry fly fishing as well.
Before
heading to the Southern Hemisphere, make sure that your gear is in
good order. It is very hard to buy replacement gear in Chile so you
want to have your bases covered before leaving the U.S. Obviously,
double check your waders for leaks and bring a repair kit for
streamside accidents. Good rain gear may be the best thing that you
can buy to prepare for the Southern Chilean climate. Lightweight
raingear is best left at home as it tends to leak during extended
rainstorms so make a wise choice and buy some gera that will keep you
dry all day. Polaroid glasses (and an extra set) are a must. Not only
do they help you see fish, they can make wading much easier as you
can see where you are putting your feet.
While
the fishing in Southern Chile can be tough, with correct preparation
and planning, a good guide, refined casting techniques and
persistence, your odds of success skyrocket and you may just find
yourself attached to the biggest trout of your life.
In the
next article, I will discuss effective fly patterns and techniques
for fishing in this incredible land.
Fly Fishing in Southern Chile
Patagonia Fly Fishing 
