Fly Fishing

hawk · Newbie Joined: May 01, 2006 Posts: 2 Location: NEW YORK

Anyone have experience with the sea-run browns of the Rio grand in Tierre del Fuego. Specifically looking for info on line weights do I need more than a floater, 250 and 375-400 grain? How about flies anything special I should have extra?

jeremy · Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2008 7:20 pm Post subject: Rio Grande

Hey Hawk,

Once again, I know zippo about Rio Grande or Argentina. However, Alex, Miguel, Mateous etc.. and that whole crew who live there and fish there constantly know alot about Tierra Del Fuego and Sea Run Browns and all sorts of Argentina fly fishing. Alex is "The Gringo" of the bunch and his wife is Argentine, so he has been living down there for 8 years or so. He speaks fluent Spanish etc.. and has fished many locations in Argentina and is friends with lot's of phenomenal Argentine fly fisherman. The videos and stories that you may have seen on this site are representative of the amazing stuff they do in Argentina on a regular basis. Do a search on this site for "Argentina" and you will see .... Anyway, I just sent Alex an email with a link to this post .. I am certain he will be able to help you out with questions about fly lines and flies for Sea Run browns down there. And, if he doesn't personally have any solid info (which in this case, I think he does because he has fished for the Sea Runs several times) the guys he knows certain will help him. Alex is kind of our "Argentina Connection" .. Speaks fluent spanish and English (so he is able to translate for us) and is friends with many hard core seriously good Argentine fly fisherman from many regions of Argentina.... Anyway, I am sure he will help you out.

PS. I am seriously planning on finally going down to Argentina this year .. and I too think I will be targeting the sea run browns .. It is a toss about between the sea run browns and the atlantic sea-run steelhead of Santa Cruz.

alex · Newbie Joined: Oct 11, 2004 Posts: 10

Well depending on what month you are going you should be in great shape with what you mentioned, however the climate will determine what you will use for example if the river is low and clear you would be best to use smaller nymphs such as prince nymphs and rubber legged nymphs or smaller bugger patterns natural colors, with 250 grain or so.. also skaters such as big floating flies can be very effective depending on wind conditons,the use of spey rod on really windy days can make things a lot easier, however not 100% necessary. When the river is high you might want to try heavier lines to get the flies into the strike zone, the rio grande is very forgiving in that there are not too many snags, however in high water watch out for the big chunks of grass that have recently fallen in you can lose big fish as the line gets tangled in them,stay tight to the fish and walk to it don't let them run too far... also use what you feel comfortable with in that if you are covering the water well this will be the most important part.. have a great trip and enjoy the amazing island... cheers
Alex

jeremy · Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2008 9:23 pm Post subject: Rio Grande

Hey Hawk Or Anyone Else Who Might Travel To Argentina,

Just wanted to note that Alex lives in Buenos Aires. He travels and fishes with all his friends down in Patagonia all the time. If you check out his website patagoniaflies.com - you will see that it is a blog geared towards helping the traveling fly fisherman coming to Argentina. Because of the cultural differences, language barriers and those type things .. Alex and patagoniaflies.com is good resource just for general knowledge and interest. Obviously, if someone were looking for guides or whatever in Argentina, Alex has many good friends he could get you in touch with. But, I forgot to mention this. Alex's "gig" is pretty cool. Alot of people don't realize that within very short distance of Buenos Aires is some AMAZING Dorado fly fishing opportunites. So, whether you have a layover for a day on your way down to Patagonia to fish or whether you are on business or personal travel to the city of Buenos Aries .. consider going fly fishing with Alex for a day. As I said, he speaks fluent english and spanish, lives full time in Bueno Aires, is an Argentine citizen and offers very affordable day or even 1/2 day guided fly fishing trips for Dorado.... So, just as a way to help my good friend Alex and a way to let people know, who otherwise might not have known, consider checking into the possibility of doing a day trip for Dorado ... Basically, if you're going to be in Buenos Aires, ya mine as well Fish for Dorado. I, personally, can't wait for that part of my trip .. and I am sure it will be a highlight .. I especially like the idea of traveling from the USA and being able to basically get off the plane in Buenos Aries and fishing to dorado that day! Then, we will venture down to Patagonia from there ...

hawk · Newbie Joined: May 01, 2006 Posts: 2 Location: NEW YORK

Thanks allot guys that is incrediably helpful just don't want to leave anything at home I might need.

pheasman7 · Newbie Joined: Dec 09, 2008 Posts: 1

I fished the Rio Grande and the Rio Gallegos last year. Rio Grande is unbelievably swift, I estimate it at 8 knots in the deep pools. I have never seen a river with that much current. The full drift on an 80' cast might only be 7 or 8 seconds, so your fly needs to be able to get down very deep (5-8 feet) very fast. Count on losing 10 flies a day if you're fishing deep enough. If you're 18 inches off the bottom you won't catch anything, one foot off the bottom you'll catch a few, right on the bottom is money.

I had the densest shooting head I could find, 18 inch per second sink rate, cut to balance with my 8 wt SP. Since then I've bought an 896-4 XP and an 8136-4 Spey so I'll be better matched against the river, the faster you can get your line out the better, and the more rod you have to throw mends into the wind across that swift water the easier it'll be and the more you'll get out of your drifts.

We had sustained 40 knot wind the entire time I was there, no gusts, just a constant howl. Dense dense heads cut into that wind easier, too.

If you're going that far to fish, having extra fly lines is a cheap way to make sure you'll get into the fish. I'd have the densest lines with the highest sink rate you can get. Grains are nice as a relative measure, but sink rate is what you must must have. #4 bead head olive wooly buggers are good, not too painful when you break them off on the bottom. Big black tunghead aticulated leeches work well, too, but at 4 bucks a pop I cry when I lose them.

Wear a windproof shell, bring a good hat. Tight lines!