Kau Tapen LodgeArgentina
Kau Tapen (“house of fishing” in the native Indian Ona language) is the original sea-run brown trout fly fishing lodge in Tierra del Fuego and the standard of elegance by which other fly fishing lodges are measured. What started as the brainchild of Jorge Donovan and Jacqueline De Las Carreras over twenty years ago has revolutionized the way in which the fly fishing world views big trout. Kau Tapen has made the Rio Grande a household name for fly anglers the world over with impeccable accommodations, plenty of elbow room on the Rio Grande, talented fly fishing guides, select vehicles and equipment, Argentina’s best wines and menus, and enviable fishing records since 1984. Location: Fishing Program: Expect to spend about 9 hours per day fly fishing among two fishing sessions, with lunch at the lodge and a siesta in the afternoon before returning to the water. The afternoon session starts later during the months of December and January to take advantage of the magical fishing hours at dusk. Kau Tapen is a strictly a catch and release fishery. Kau Tapen guides are first class professionals from Argentina and abroad. Guides are equipped with nets and will assist guests in weighing and releasing fish without damaging them. All are able to give casting instruction with both single and double handed rods. Rio Grande Brown trout history: John Goodall stocked the first brown trout in Tierra del Fuego in 1935. One hundred thousand eggs were shipped in milk cans packed with moss and water from Puerto Montt, Chile and planted in the Candelaria and McLennan rivers, both tributaries of the Rio Grande. 60,000 Salmo trutta eggs survived and even prospered and eventually found their way to the sea. A theory is the fish are attracted by the rich nourishment of the estuary. Sea-run browns in the Rio Grande remain in the river from one to four years after hatching, before they become smolt and head out to sea. They will feed and grow in the ocean for about 6 months to a year before returning to the Rio Grande for their first spawning run. Upon the first return, the fish will average about 6 pounds in size. Unlike Pacific Salmon, which die after they spawn, sea-run brown trout often survive the spawn and head back out to sea to feed and grow until it is time to spawn again. A brown on its fourth return can weigh over 20 pounds. There are few natural enemies to the brown trout from the Rio Grande and researchers have found some brown trout to have spawned up to six times. Fisheries: Non-Angling Activities: Accommodations and Meals: Kau Tapen has nine bedrooms total, six of which are double rooms (each with two queen sized beds), and the other three are single (king size beds). All bedrooms have private baths with bathrobes provided. Single rooms can be requested based on availability and an upgrade charge. Guests enjoy gourmet dining with Argentina’s famed beef, fine wines and desserts. A traditional Asado (BBQ) will be held once during your stay, and you can sample different cuts of meat and wonderful salads. Sample Itinerary: Typical Daily Schedule |
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