    
Robert Parker
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 | | Posted on Tuesday, November 13, 2001 - 3:06 pm: | |
Subject: 2001/2002 Chilean Season Opener Report
2001/2002 Chilean Season Opener Report
by Robert Parker
Sometimes it’s better to expect less and get more. I’ve never liked to hype the fly fishing here too much, there are enough rumors about trout in Chile being stacked up like cordwood in the rivers. Sometimes the fishing can be downright challenging and is never easy, but if this past season opener weekend is any indication of things to come we’re in for a great year.
Ríos Austral Fly Fishing Outfitters kicked off the start of the 2001/2002 Chilean fly fishing season on November 9th with a three day staff trip to some of our favorite rivers in our Northern Territory of the Tenth Region. Myself, along with guide John Joy and guide trainee Rodrigo Moll set out to get back into the rhythm of the chase and to see in advance what our guests could expect to encounter – what flies would be working best for the early season, what changes had occurred in the rivers – and not in the least, to have fun and catch some fish. We didn’t expect much, just a good time with friends and fellow guides in Chile. We got more than we ever imagined.
Friday found us on the Río Maullin, a spring creek-like river that drains Lago Llanquihue into the Pacific Ocean. We wrapped up last season on the Maullin with a great day and thought it would be a good warm-up run for this year. We were into our first brown trout of the season within the first 15 minutes of fishing, and our first rainbow came shortly thereafter. The Atlantic salmon were running as well. Spotting schools of 20 or more of these 1 to 2-pounders running along the bottom of the river, we broke out the Mickey Finns and set up in our favorite run for Atlantics. Everyone was soon getting his share of these hard fighting fish. Even though the dry fly fishing remained slow, the fast sub-surface action would continue throughout the day as a friend who accompanied us on the trip proceeded to land more fish than we had had ever seen anyone catch on the Maullin.
Day two of the journey and we were finally where we’d been waiting to be all winter long – on the banks of the private access section of the Río Petrohué - getting rigged up to search for the Pet’s famous rainbows and browns as the first fishing party to be on the river this season. The action started before we even launched the boat, getting hook-ups right off of the beach at put-in. Unfortunately, the infamous Patagonia weather took a turn for the worse on this day. Overnight, ominous clouds and often pouring rain had replaced the sunny spring conditions that we’d been experiencing for weeks. The Petrohué fishes well when it rains however, and so we headed downriver to the awaiting hungry trout.
The Petrohué is a big river, offering a great selection of side channels, gravel bars, pools and riffles, and woody structure where the fish are typically found. Primary production in the river is low, but the abundance of baitfish and Pancora crabs ensure a healthy population of large rainbow and brown trout that eagerly take well-presented sub-surface patterns. Choosing Olive Rabbit Leeches, Black and Flesh Rainbow Bunnies, and our own Olive Glass Bead Crystal Buggers it wasn’t long before we were hooking up with trout that were incredibly strong and hungry (and easily fooled?) after the long winter. The buzzing of line being stripped away by these rocket ship trout continued at a consistent pace throughout the day, with each angler hooking up with very respectable numbers of 1 to 3 pound fish. We even saw an unprecedented three doubles (both fishermen hooked up at the same time) from the boat. Despite the rain, this would go down as one of our best days ever on the Pet.
Our expectations were definitely being raised at this point. A dangerous mind-set when considering the unknowns of early season fishing. How could it get any better? Cayutúe was the answer. We’re really not still water fishermen, preferring to stalk our trout on rivers and streams, and the Cayutúe area although having four streams, is primarily a still water fishery. We couldn’t turn down however, an invitation from Cayutúe Lodge owner Rodolfo Reichert to explore the area and go after the fat brown trout that inhabit Laguna Cayutúe.
Rodolfo is a gracious host and after shuttling us across Lago Todos los Santos in his motor launch we arrived at his beautiful and secluded lakefront lodge. A tour of the lodge itself left us wanting to just sit and relax, enjoying the view of Cayutúe Fjord and Volcán Puntiagudo out of the front window, but there were fish waiting and time to rest would come later. Mounting our sturdy and well-mannered Chilean horses, a beautiful 45-minute ride through the native Valdivian Rainforest brought us to small laguna from which we would access the area’s complex of streams, and shoreline flats and pools of the lake. Embarking in skiffs we exited the laguna and turned upstream into the Río Cayutúe, getting our first view of the abundant trout in the crystal clear waters of the river. Entering Laguna Cayutúe itself was like entering a paradise. Completely uninhabited along it’s shoreline, the lake is surrounded by high Andean peaks and virgin forest that includes 2000-year old Alerce trees similar to California’s redwoods.
The fishing? Our first destination was one of the numerous reed bed flats lining the shore of the lake. My first cast with a Black Poxyegg Leech brought with it a violent strike and stripping line as the big brown headed for the bottom. After a few minutes of fighting I was rewarded with the sight of one of Cayutúes brilliantly colorful brown trout along the side of the skiff. The next cast brought the same. The next cast… you get the picture. While exploring the complex’s feeder streams, small bays, and of course more reed beds the action literally never stopped, with everyone catching dozens of deep-bodied browns and a few rainbows. As we sadly needed to leave a bit early to safely navigate back across Lago Todos los Santos I was forced to practically drag the protesting guides, who were still getting hook ups, away. I hear they’re still smiling two days later.
Cayutúe is a special place, and we have secured access and will be working with the lodge to offer both day trips and overnight packages to our guests this year and in seasons to come. Rodolfo tells me that for those staying the night that the dry fly action during the evening can be spectacular. We hope we can share the experience with a few lucky guests.
Three incredible days of fishing later we’re now ready to host our first guests who have, I imagine, expectations as high as ours are now, and who will be arriving throughout the upcoming weeks. I’m sure we’ll be in for some tougher days, but we’re certainly off to a good start and hope that the precedent set will only be exceeded. I really try to not expect much – just good companionship, the beautiful Chilean scenery and warm hospitality, and the chance at a few good fish, maybe a lifetime record - I know it’s possible. Still, Chile just keeps on raising the bar. We’ll have to wait and see how things go, but for now, here’s to an incredible start.
Best regards,
Robert Parker
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Rios Austral Fly Fishing Outfitters
Specializing In Exceptional Fly Fishing Travel To Chile
In Chile:
Viajes Rios Austral Fly Fishing, Ltda.
Casilla 1229
Puerto Montt, X Region
Chile
Fono: (56) (65) 258663
Fax: (56) (65) 258696
Celular: (56) (09) 7622144
In the United States:
Rios Austral Fly Fishing USA
North American Operations Office
PO Box 2906
McKinleyville, CA 95519
Toll Free Phone: 1-866-GO-CHILE
Phone/Fax: 707-839-9885
Email: info@riosaustral.com
Web Site: www.riosaustral.com
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