Las Buitreras Fishing Lodge 

Argentina

Las Buitreras Fishing Lodge and the Rio Gallegos River offer adventurous anglers the opportunity to match wits with the explosive sea run brown trout of southern Patagonia. These heavy weights can push 25 pounds or more and when hooked will routinely bolt to deep water with mind numbing speed or be sent cart wheeling across the river in high flying acrobatic displays. Induced strikes can be arm-wrenchingly vicious as anglers routinely fish single or two-handed fly rods and trigger bites by stripping the fly. Guests will enjoy the rustic elegance of the Argentinean esthetic, warm hospitality, fantastic local wine and comfortable yet extremely remote accommodations.

The magnificent sea run browns of the Rio Gallegos seem to be getting even bigger. More 20 pound fish are being caught every year and it seems that increased protection and new local catch and release regulations are having a substantial positive effect on the fishery.

Las Buitreras is a sheep farming estancia that sits on nearly 290,000 acres of privately owned land and is home to over 40,000 sheep. The lodge is comfortable and clean, and features 5 rooms with double beds and 2 with single beds. A new annex with an indoor barbeque, a fully stocked wine cellar, a wind protected courtyard and a huge veranda overlooking the estancia adorn Las Buitreras.

The extremely knowledgeable local guides of Las Buitreras Fishing Lodge will be your hosts while you explore over 40km of private water consisting of 50 named pools from both sides of the river. The spectacular beauty of the rugged Patagonian countryside is otherworldly and the likelihood is high that you might find yourself fishing alongside silver foxes, guanacos, rheas, flamingos or horses. Fishing for the mighty sea run browns of the Rio Gallegos can be very challenging but also incredibly rewarding. Together with the highly skilled and experienced guides of Las Buitreras, the warm and rustic charm of the Argentinean culture and the extreme beauty of the remote Patagonian wilderness, you’re assured to have an angling adventure of a lifetime.

Location:
Las Buitreras Fishing Lodge is located in southern Argentina nearest to the city of Rio Gallegos.

The time in Argentina is 5 hours later than Pacific Standard Time (during U.S. winter).

Fishing Program:
Like Atlantic salmon and steelhead, sea-run browns are most active early and late in the day. At Las Buitreras the fishing hours are scheduled accordingly, providing the best angling opportunity. The guides and staff are quite flexible about the timing for fishing sessions and meals, but a typical day at Las Buitreras starts with breakfast at 7am. Anglers depart for the river around 8:30am and are fishing soon after. At around 1:30pm everyone returns to the lodge for a full lunch and time is allotted for relaxing and a siesta. Starting at 4:30pm tea is served and anglers depart for the river between 5pm – 5:30pm with sandwiches, soup and fresh fruit. When fishing is over for the day, anglers return to the lodge and a buffet style dinner is waiting for you. This "split-shift" angling schedule is typical of lodges in Tierra Del Fuego and southern Argentina which enables guests to get the most out of their fishing week. It is not unusual to fish through the evening hours so don’t forget your headlamp!

All of the guides speak good English and are talented instructors, casters and anglers. Guests can use single-hand or two-handed fly rods as most of the time it’s a matter of personal preference. Depending on the particular pool or water conditions anglers will find themselves swinging flies in a traditional manner or more likely imparting motion to the fly by stripping the line in. In faster water or when the wind picks up two-handed rods work great, although many times single-handers are preferred as they can provide for a more stealthy approach. Traditional Atlantic Salmon and Steelhead flies can work well in most cases. Typical trout flies also are good to have on hand including those like the Muddler Minnow, Bitch Creek Nymph, Yuk Bug, Egg-sucking leech or various Wooly Buggers. When the water is stained from rain and runoff, bigger tube flies and leeches can also be good. Stout and heavy wired hooks are advised.

Accommodations and Meals:
The lodge at Las Buitreras is furnished with traditional “campo” style antiques and was completely renovated and updated with new heating, water, electrical and gas systems. The wine cellar houses a fantastic selection from the Mendoza and San Juan regions of Argentina. Cerveza Isenbeck is a local beer and is always on hand. A large veranda, a spacious wind protected courtyard, a large fixed stone grill and a beautiful terrace for outdoor barbecues are all hallmarks of Las Buitreras. The lodge features 5 bedrooms with two beds each and 2 rooms with one bed. An extra room with 3 beds has also been added recently.

Meals are represented by an eclectic mix of local cuisine and international fare. The traditional Argentinean Asados (BBQ) will show you what beef is all about!

Sample Itinerary:
Day 1: Depart home
Day 2: Arrive Buenos Aires and overnight
Day 3: Depart Buenos Aires for Rio Gallegos and onto lodge
Day 4-9: 6 full days of guided fishing on the Rio Gallegos
Day 10: Depart lodge for Buenos Aires
Day 11: Arrive home

"I have been fishing far off destinations for the last thirty years. I have been fortunate to have fished all over the globe. Fishing some of the most wonderful places and having caught some great fish. But to the point, I have never returned to any of those destinations as often as I have to Las Buitreras on the Rio Gallegos. The reason, well its simple, a fishing trip abroad is about so many things, the more things that are right the more you remember the trip, the more you want to return.

At Las Buitreas the Lodge is like home, the food is fantastic, the guides are like friends with fishing knowledge to surprise even the most experienced of anglers and the quality of the fishing will take your breath away. What more could you want from your trip. I cannot wait to return."  -Howard Evans

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