Included / Not Included –
Included: Accommodations and meals at the lodge, guided fishing as noted on invoice, round-trip ground transfers to/from Calafate and lodge.
Not Included: Airfare to Calafate, accommodations and meals in Buenos Aires and Calafate, transfers in Buenos Aires, alcohol, fishing license, staff and guide gratuities, airport departure taxes.
Travel Logistics:
Arrival Information: To get to Jurassic Lake you will need to make travel arrangements to Buenos Aires, Argentina. Most guests will overnight in Buenos Aires then take a flight out to Calafate the next day.
Getting to the Lodge: You will be met at the Calafate airport and driven to the lodge, approximately 5 ½ hours.
Departure Information: On your departure day you will be driven back to Calafate for an afternoon flight to Buenos Aires and points beyond.
Travel Recommendations in Argentina
Documentation Requirements:
US Citizens will need a valid passport to enter Argentina and it must be valid for six months after the last day of your trip.
There is no advance visa application requirement to travel to Argentina. You will automatically be issued a tourist visa upon arrival at the first point of entry.
Currency:
The dollar is widely accepted in Argentina, and you can change dollars for pesos at your hotel in Buenos Aires or at any bank. When paid in dollars, most merchants will give change in pesos. With that said, when traveling into remote locals such as Jurassic Lake, it is a good idea to have at least $50 US changed to pesos so you can purchase drinks or snacks at the local gas stations many of which care little for US dollars or a have a credit card minimum.
Travel Cash:
We recommend that you have about $50 US a day for gratuities and at least $50 peso for small in town tipping and / or on the road snacks/drinks.
Gratuities:
We recommend gratuities in the range of 10 - 15% of the trip cost, which can be given to the lodge manager to be split among the entire staff.
Fishing Licenses:
Fishing licenses are not included. You will have the opportunity to get your license in Calafate.
Climate:
The region is very windy so come well prepared! Temperatures can vary widely and the area can be hot, especially in February. Later March and April can be cold. Sunscreen should always be packed as should quality wind proof clothing.
Medical Facilities:
Calafate is the closest hospital and 5 ½ hours from the camp. Due to the remote location, we strongly recommend that anglers purchase travel insurance and medical evacuation coverage. We recommend Global Rescue.
Power and Communications:
The lodge has installed a new power system, an eolian power generator, which will provide
electricity 24 hours a day. This will provide 220 volts power to the lodge. There is a backup generator with a 12 volts system.
Communication is satellite driven at the lodge. There is an internet connection, and computer for clients to use. There is an internet/broadband phone that is free for clients to use and call home. We ask the guests to be considerate and not conduct extensive business on the phone. There is WiFi at the lodge for those who wish to bring their own laptop. Note: International phone calls are free at the lodge.
Water:
Plenty of bottled water is on hand and is considered the only safe drinking water.
Clothing:
It is recommended that anglers layer their clothing, enabling the adding and subtracting of garments throughout the day. Pack windstopper fleece jackets, thermal underwear, wool socks and a wool cap, to be prepared for the extreme wind and weather that the area is rightfully famous for. Layering with wool or synthetics is always recommended and avoid cotton. A reliable windstopper fleece and a high quality rain jacket are mandatory. Several pairs of gloves are also a good idea if traveling to the lake in late March or April. Rugged waterproof camp shoes are also a good idea.
Laundry:
Due to the remote location laundry is not available.
Beverages/Alcohol:
The lodge provides alcohol. Guests may bring in their own.
Tackle/Equipment List:
Rods: For single-handed rods we recommend 9 to 10 ft. rods for an 8 and 9 weight line. Two handed rods are increasingly popular and allow anglers to cast a comfortable line with less effort, particularly on windy days. We encourage you to bring one of 12 to 14 ft. for line weights 7-9. For the tributary creek you may want a single-handed 9 ft. four to six weight rod. It makes sense to bring a back-up rod as well.
Reel: A strong, smooth drag is a must. Reels should have capacity for the fly line and 200 yards of 30 lb backing. For the inlet stream a direct drive trout reel is adequate for your needs.
Lines: Weight forward floating lines, versi tip lines (with intermediate tips as well as type 3 and 6 tips), and either a full intermediate line or intermediate shooting head type line will be the most effective lines. Keep in mind that this is windy place and any line that you feel will give you an advantage in the wind is worth packing!
Leaders/Tippet: Spools of mono should include 20, 15, 12 and 10 lbs breaking strengths. We recommend straight Maxima for sinking line leaders and for floating, have a knotless tapered leader from 9 to 12 ft with 15 pound breaking stregth. Umpqua’s Big Game florocarbon leaders are good choice here.
Flies: Because the lake is relatively undiscovered, we suggest that all clients bring a good assortment of flies. We want to encourage the joy of experimenting and determining new and more effective flies. That being said our list of flies has been determined to be the most effective patterns in the last couple years.
Scuds are the primary food source in the lake, so typically size 10 - 12 nymphs have been the most effective.
#8-12 Foam Hopper (Assorted)
#8-12 Parachute Hopper
#10-14 Stimulators
#10-14 Parachute Adams
#6 – 10 BIG FOAM (Assortment of Chernobyl’s, Fat Albert, etc)
#10-12 Pheasant Tail Nymph (weighted, with and without beads)
#10-12 Copper John (Nymph)
#10-12 Kaufmann’s Rubber leg Mini-Stonefly Nymph
#4-8 Woolly Buggers (Wide Assortment, including rubber legs and beads)
#4-8 Sparkle Buggers (Olive, Brown, Black)
#2-6 Muddler Minnow
#4-6 Matukas (Olive, Black)
Note: All flies should be tied on heavy hooks, as the hooks are often broken here before the tippet.
Other Equipment:
Breathable chest waders and a good pair of wading boots with felt soles or rubber cleats.
Capilene fleece pants are a must, worn under Gore-tex waders, given that water temperatures can be in the 40’s. Long johns and thick wool or capilene fleece socks are also a must.
Gravel guards and a wading belt.
Gortex windproof rain jacket with hood.
