chile “Chile,” is a country that “was invented by a poet.” Situated south of Peru and west of Bolivia and Argentina, Chile extends for over 2,880 miles in a serpentine ribbon along the western coast of South America. From the parched, mineral-rich Atacama Desert in the north to the haunting spires of Torres del Paine National Park in the interior, and further south to the windy and inhospitable Tierra del Fuego, the country is best described as “nature on a colossal scale.” The towering ranges of the Andes cover one-third of Chile and the landscape is often compared to the U.S. Pacific Northwest. Today, tourism plays a major role throughout the country, and since the 1980s, Chile has continued to develop a reputation as one of the world’s foremost destinations for freshwater fly fishing. The Patagonian region of Chile is typically fished from mid-November through late-April, when many rivers in the north are still cold or frozen over. Spring conditions can be expected during the months of November and December, summer conditions January through mid-March, and fall weather from mid-March through the end of April. As every trout fisherman knows, each season presents something special and distinct from the others. Spring, for example, offers rivers at their highest flows and fish that have not seen flies or anglers in many months. The Patagonian summer offers the most consistent temperatures, the longest days, and fantastic terrestrial insect hatches; without a doubt the finest dry fly fishing of the entire season. Much like July in Montana, this is the most popular time to visit and fish Patagonia. The fall, on the other hand, offers the beauty of fall colors, cooler temperatures, aggressive trout willing to chase big streamers, and generally lower, clearer water conditions. All in all, the fishing seasons and typical conditions in Chile are very similar to those found in the American Northern Rockies. Cold springs, warm summers, and unpredictable fall months can all offer great fishing with varying weather and water conditions. The temperate rainforests and glacial peaks of the rugged Andes Mountains run parallel to the entire coast of Chile, creating a wild and isolated landscape that is both rugged and untouched. For many years, the majority of these fisheries were either impossible or extremely difficult to access, and many of these waters remain that way. With the construction of a few gravel roads and bridges, however, there is now a minimal amount of infrastructure, allowing access to incredible water by the knowledgeable guides and outfitters of the area. Fly fishing towns such as Puerto Montt, Chaiten, La Junta and Coyhaique are home to Yellow Dog’s favorite fishing operations in Chile. Chile offers a fantastic level of diversity for species as well. With shots at sea-run browns, steelhead, Pacific and Atlantic salmon, and resident browns, rainbows, and brook trout, the typical Chilean fishing scenario can accommodate total novices and experienced anglers alike. While some insect hatches can be found throughout the season, many anglers are drawn to Chile by the chance to throw big streamers, giant beetles, hoppers, and large foam surface attractors. chile wrote Nobel Prize winner Pablo Neruda, MARTIN PESCADOR LODGE [Santa Barbara and La Junta, Chile] One of the finest lodge programs in all of South America, Martin Pescador’s incredibly diverse program gives anglers the chance to fish out of four different lodges and camps, with direct access to twelve world class rivers, eight lakes, and numerous streams throughout the region. Expert fly fisherman and lodge owner Frans Jansen has used his years of experience in Chilean Patagonia to establish a one-of-a-kind fly fishing program, and over the years, he and his talented team of guides have developed a reputation for guiding anglers to some exceptionally large trout. The lodge’s professional, American guides utilize a combination of jet boats, lake boats, and rafts to ensure access to even the most remote and untouched waters. Careful placement of Martin Pescador’s main lodges – the Puerto Cardenas and La Junta Lodges – allows for flexible and convenient access to the Yelcho, Futaleufu, Palena, Rosselot, Figueroa, Pico, and other rivers, where you can expect to catch rainbows, browns, sea-run browns, and occasionally salmon and brook trout. You can expect to be changing rods often (while both wading and drifting), casting big streamers to the banks, nymphing, and sight fishing for large trout using beefy foam patterns and at times, small dry flies. At certain times of the year, fishing on Lago Yelcho includes casting large dragonfly imitations into the reeds, producing incredible takes and some seriously large fish. 54 • phone: 406-585-8667 • toll free: 888-777-5060 chile A typical week-long itinerary will have you fishing the Lago Yelcho region for three days out of Puerto Cardenas Lodge before transferring to the La Junta Lodge on the Rio Rosselot. Longer itineraries can also include the Lago Verde Outpost Lodge, located near the border of Argentina in the XI region. This small camp operation sits atop a rocky bluff with panoramic views of the lake and access to some of the most scenic rivers found anywhere. Lago Verde, Rio Claro, Rico Pico and Rio Precioso are all waters that are accessed and fished from the Lago Verde Lodge. For the more adventurous angler, the ultimate package at Martin Pescador is a 10-12 day, three location trip, allowing you to experience a variety of different areas, fish numerous waters, and catch some of the largest fish in all of Chile in a single trip. 7 night / 6.5 fishing day package $5,800.00 per person (double occupancy). email: info@yellowdogflyfishing.com • website: www.yellowdogflyfishing.com • 55